The Detroit times., 1915-09-18
CAN'T BAR
NON-UNION
WORKERS
Court Ruled Against
Plan, Says Library
Board
ANSWERS PLANT
OF LABOR FOLK

Relative 10 the complaint OF the
Detroit Federation OF Labor that
hon-union labor Is being employed
on the new public library building
the library board makes answer in
the following letter TO the council:
September ls. 1918.
To the Honorable comr on Council.
Detroit. Michigan.
Gentlemen:
The Detroit libra. commission
bees tp acknowledge receipt OF your
communication OF the 18th isst con-
Federation OF labor relative TO the
employment OF labor on the NV
main iibrnry. building.
un A sssgsa ar tie employment Of
that tue library commission has al
ready had this matter under con.id-
eraton and found itself confronted
court OF the state OF Michigan
March I, 1905. In tho case OF Henry
IL. Lewis as relator. and the Board
OF Education OF the city OF Detroit as
respondent. wherein the court held
as regards the provision TO employ
union labor exclusively that The ef-
feet OF the provision is TO lint. COM
petition by preventing contractors
from employing any except certain
persons. and by excluding therefrom
all others engaged In tha same work,
and such a restriction 10 illegal and
that the question OF this commission
having the legal right TO employ
union labor exclusively has been re-
ferred TO the corporation counsel.
Immediately upon receipt Of this adj
vice. the same viii be laid before
your honorable body.
We would further invite your at
tention To the fact that. in giving out
the contract for tho excavation and
foundation work last winter. the
library commission too. this step
wholly out OF consideration Tor this
best interests OF Detroit vorkingmen
and the welfare OF unemployed labor
at that time Insofar as the building
operations OF the library commission
were concerned. ~ was OF no advant-
age TO the commission or TO the city
TO let contracts for only part of the
building Such action was governed
wholly by the desire Of the commits
sion 10 furnish employment TO De-
troit labor.
In giving ont the two contracts APP
proved for the new main library
building. the commission earnestly
Detroit labor In preference 70 out
siders whenever available, The con-
tractors willingly agreed 20 do SO. In
the case Of Irw,p L ;s . gen,
ana foundation work. the library
commission Is satisfied that. with the
possible exception OF the supertnten-
dent and forem"n permanently en-
Moved by the contractors concerned,
nothing but local labor was en-
A. regards the American Bridge
co. the contractors for the erection
~ the structural steel. the library
commission was advised that all the
steel would be fabricated In the local
plant The engineer IN charge OF the
erection Of the steel states that tho
company is ready and prefers 10 ern-
pIoy and put to work at once any
Competent Detroit structural IRON
worker or other skilled WORKMAN re-
siding In our city. needed for the
work In hand, the only condition ~.
ing that such an applicant, when ply
10 work should prove competent. ~
can Bridge Co. Is under bond with
this body TO complete It's contract
Within specified time. under penaI.y,
and that !, cannot ano ora TO Se ~1 The
case IL the local supply OF skiheo
workm.n il not sufficient
n any skilled structural iron WORK
er residing in Detron mas n,rar,ov,
row-eperating at the new NAN
library site. the Detroit library COM
mission viii he pleased 20 learn Ok
such specific e ssss; yours.
orrper,iyr I1uRApY COMMISSION.
President
THE city has no power 10 iorce
contractors 20 employ union labor
exclusively on municipal work. saio
cornoration Counsel Dingeman 10
The Times Friday. That question
is definitely settled by the supreme
court decision in the case OF Lewis
va the Board OF Education. The city
denartments. however. may suggest
70 contractors that they eE,r'oy only
k,sfr.