The sun., 1915-02-27
Give $500. 900 Citizens Immediate
Relief.

NeI1et.
Section II OF the labor INV con. |
tains the provision discriminating
against the employment of aliens on
public works which has just been
held to be constitutional ry the Court
Of Appeals. 1t is as follows
I'm the construction Of public works
by the State or a municipality. or by
persons contracting with the state or
such municipality, only citizens ot the
United States shall be employed and
In all cases where laborers are employed
on any such public works. preference
shall be given citizens Of the state OF
New York
"ln each contract for the construction
OF public works a provision shall be in
serted. to the effect that. II the provi-
sions Of this section are not compiled
with the contract shall be void.
IAN boards, officers agents or en-
ployees of cities OF the first class OF the
State. having the power to enter into con-
tracts which provide FOR the expendi-
ture OF public money on public works
shall file in the Office OF the Commls-
sioner OF Labor the names and ad-
dresses OF all contractors holding con-
tracts with said cities OF the State.
Upon the letting OF new contracts
tho names and addresses OF such new
contractors shall Likewise be filed.
Upon the demand OF the Commits
sioner OF Labor a contractor shall fur
ulsh a LIST OF the names and addresses
of all sub-con,ractors in his employ.
Each contractor performing work FOR
any city OF the first class shall keep
list of his employees in which IL shall be
set forth whether they are natural!zed
or native born citizens of the United
States together with, in case OF naturali-
zatlon the date OF naturalization and
the name Of the court where such nat
ural!zation was granted
Such lists and records shall he open
TO The inspection Of the Commlssioisr sr
Of Labor
"A violation OF this section shall con
s,ltute a misdemoanor and shall be pun
ishable by fine OF not less than $50
nor more than $500. or by imprisonment
FOR not less than thirty nor more ;han
ninety days, or by both such fine and
imprisonment
This is the form i'm which the pro
h!hition appears in the Consolidated
Laws. enacted i'm 1909 1t is taken
practically verbatim from Chapter
ia Of the Laws of 1902 by which this
important inhibition was put on the
statute books, STTH Low being Mayor
of New York. BENJAMIN B. ODfLL.
Jr.. Governor of the State. and the
Republicans in control of the Legis-
lnIurr. II was the product OF labor
union agitation. ana its particular in
cilence on This city is made clear by
the specific reference 70 "cties of
the first class" u phrase high in Re
publican favor when this town is 10
he especially affected hy legislation
which it is desired TO dub general
II has taken thirteen years to get
This enactment before the higheS'
court of the State. II has never h"en
enforced In spite nf the portentouS
list Of officials charged with compel
ling obedience to its terms contractors
have continued to hire their labor re-
Cardless of its penalties; although this
does not tel the whole story. In
mnny cases estimates for public works
have been la sed on the theory that
Americans would he employed at hiGf
wages. and the taxpayers have hecr
mulrtel accordingly, while workers
have actually been got AZ the Lowest
possible prices, without thought o.
their national allegiance.
The fact is that unskilled citi2er
In hor cannot be gul now, and has no
since this law was adopted been avail
able. in anything like the quantit,
needed to supply the demand II tn,
law is obeyed literally the works 10
dnv under construction cannot he com
pietel within u reasonable time, an'
the beginning of new projects vii
have to be Indefinitely postponed. n
is dsregarded rs II has been in tn
past. II will simply line the pocket
Of contractors at mhllc expense, con
fcrring no benefits on the people gen
orally, and merely increasing the COS
Of essential public enterprises.
In this situation the duty Of IN
Legislature and the Governor is plair
They should not wait for thP Suprcm
Court of the United States 10 pas
on me Jaw In the hope that II may n
pronounced void because II contra
ycnes our treaty obligations. thong
this would -""m tu some polilica
leaders iu Ice 'l.r CAUTIONS course I
follow, They should repeal the lo'
at once. r",ca>" his city ard It's ~
and half million inhahitnnts fror
the mcnacing and intoicrabc pligt