New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-01
Expert Fears Repeal of
Act Means No End to
Subway Troubles.
UNION LAWYER SEES
WHITMAN IN DANGER
Governor VIII Run Into Hornet
Nest and Not White House,
Is O'Leary's Warning.

10 aid the present subway situation. II
must 80 further and DO something to
strike out the alien labor clause in the
present contracts. Thi. was the argu-
meNt made yesterday
That the law would be repealed
within ten days was the prophecy Of q
man with his fingers on the pulse Of
the legislature On its heels came the
declaration that Governor Whitman
would Stir up hornets nest" if he
| by jeremiah A. OIeary. counsel for
! John Gill, OF the Bricklsyers' Union
who made the test case out Of which
the Court of Appeals decision arose.
"Ihe repeal would affect al future
contracts, but how will II affect the
existing contracts ?" said man who has
studied the alien law case ever since
e came up. Mere repeal won't cure
the trouble. The Legislature must pass
an act striking out the alien clause in
the contracts that now apply. other
e'Ao NpiAN AVIS IiEuN nave ~ NC
Rbrogsted and advertised for again.
And then think OF the complications
that wowuld ensue. and the delay.
There is p precedent, I think he
continued. "The City Of New York has
changed the face OF contracts, if ! am
not mistaken. believe II was in 1902
after the eight-hour law went into eff
feet. that John r. Mcdonald was build
ing the Jerome Park Reservoir, part OF
the Croton Aqueduct. He was working
on a ten-hour basis. One way TO have
solved the problem would have been
for the city 10 pay a great deal Of
money. But the unions got together.
J think. and had the Legislature change
the terms Of the Jaw
Labor Will Fight. Says O'Leary.
Mr.. OLesry prophesied tina; the
labor unions would theoretically fght
any attempt 20 repeal the law.
81 think" OTeary said, the Gov
ernor is handling very dangerous
question. He is putting himself in
great political danger not only IN New
York state, but all over the nation. II
e said he has ideas % 1915. This
question 81 alien labor is Burning
issue in the West. i has been up in
Arizona. California and severaF other
Western states.
The contractors say they Il T get
Americans TO dig. In tho hrst'place.
they are not acting in good faith when
they say that. The digging IS pract-
rauv finished. The argument does APP
n,v 20 the barge canal and the sque-
duct Thew need men 10 dig, I'm told.
The real trouble with the subway con
tractors is thew can get Americans TO
dig. out they cant hire them Tor 81 %
dav. The union rate is s..
Nov. this is where the question OF
me standard o. living comes IN ne
American workman "a seli-'espectlhe'
He has family he wishes 20 educate.
He must have a home and something 10
cat. The Italians family IS often IN
Nslv. lie lives often under the
padrouo system, huddled up four or
i've in room, and eating practically
.othirc. so far a. the cost IS CON
cerncd
PAY Is Niger in WoodDile.
.Tbe allegation Of the contractors Is
@ libel on the American worklnCman.
Mr.. OIeary continued. "Ninety-hVe
nor cent of our buildings constructed
=, tho last ten to fifteen years have
benn built BY union men Tonworhefs'
hrictlaver. cement men, and what not.
Rrt tba+'s not what the subway CON
-rac+ors want. They say they want
,bandv men and when they get them
tbov often turn them into temporary
lsrnen+ers or steel workers az CuV
"a concrete man should get 50 a
lay. hut the subway contractors p6H
81 30 A day TO aliens who DO inns Woi n.
A regular hard rock man Sho"Id Eel
g 80 day; the subway coh'rHc' 81
raw 81 IS. That's the n'gger lh lne
woodpile. It's not that the con'racI,oIs
can't get American men. US thaV t"eE
don't want 20 pay them the money.
Just after the decision was handed
down Mr.. Gill said he would insist on
gl;ore boing Immediately discharged on
Tho acoueduct and other public WORKS
Mr. OTeary said last night, IN view OF
tho fact that the Legs lature intended
"a discuss the bill, he did not think MI
can would insist on The laws lmmedl-
ata enforcement. However, II was
ioer,od that the Beaver Engineering
Gompanv. which is handling the Silver
TaEe Reservoir on Staten Island
TortIou Of the aqueduct system VIII
ebut down work to-day until the aliens
are veedcd ont.
More Work To Be Stopped.
"Tbe matter is out Of the hands o.
Mr. Gill or anybody else, sald :: a
80 eecrctarv Of the General Con
,ractors' Association. last night. ne
contractors have TO protect themselves
/ en- isn't the only man. The con
.roc+or, would be at the mercy OF any
/ dieCruntled employe if they continued
,o cmnIov aliens. They do not intehn
~ ,,iyc any opportunity for complain.
IL ;s anticipated that to-day Will De
ONO 81 much activity. Foreigners Wa"
Gave secured first citizenship papers
y.iII nrcsent them in an effort TO DC re-
cmnloycd. In addition. II IS expected
,bat many o. the city'S unemplo!eU
vii annear at the various shails anu
aek for a chance 20 20 20 W0lh. ~:
Tbe League for Foreign Born 'itl-
80 a., organization with hcadquar
80 IN Fifth Street. has begun 70 take
~, octive interest in the SITUATION
..Tbc law as il stands is SOUND, sara
VotbenioI Phillips. head o. the league
,0Tbn state has as much right 10 d'IeI-
- 80 character Of its employees as
o.Lor emplover. But this Is