The Detroit times., 1915-04-09
WAGE LAW
PUTS CRIMP
IN BOARDS
Several City Depart
ments Admit They're
Hard Hit
ADDS THOUSANDS
TO THE PAYROLLS
P Ollie e and Firemen
Are Affected, Off
Gals Claim

what tnt IDlulnuIu wage amend
ment. adopted by the people in Mon
days election. is going to mean to
them. and after studying it closely,
they have decided to wait until Cor.
pcration Counsel Barlow hands down
en- opinion. when is promised in a
few days. telling each department
how II will be affected.
In brief, the amendment provides:
An eight-hour day for all city EN-
ployes.
The eight hours OF work must be
consecutive.
Permission to work more than
eight hours day, In case OF "emerg
eacy which would result In serious
loss, damage or impairment OF the
city's service" unless the work wen,
oil.
Six work-days per week.
Double compensation for work on
Sundays and holidays.
One and one-half pay for all other
extra labor.
A minimum wage of 1925 per day
for common labor.
The highest prevailing wage fol
skilled labor.
These conditions to prevail for EN-
ployes of contractors who undertake
city WORK.
II looks as II the eight consecu
tive hours of work would hit the fire
department. but Secretary George j
Finn doesn't beheve so.
Il don't think we come under
the amendment at ALL says Mr.
Finn. II haven't given 1t any con,
sideration."
Secretary Walters, of the police
department, also declines to worry
claiming that the state law governs
By Implication at least, the work Of
the police.
The legislature Of 1913 passed ar
act which requires that In cities o
lover 100000 population, members o
the police department be given on,
day off in every IA. and a furlougl
OF 20 days per year. The same leg
islature provided that firemen have
one day OF In every four, and 20
day annual furlough. The contention
is that the city, by charter amend
ment. fs unable to interfere with
laws already passed by the state.
Secretary Walters admits, how
ever, that certain employees OF the
department will have TO be given
double pay for Sunday and holiday
work. He Is having estimates pre-
pared of the probable cost to the de
partment.
The department OF public works
will be hit hard by the amendment
Commissioner Fenkell says, but he
will not say how much the cost viii
be until he is told just what the
amendment means. Common labor
employment by the department nov
gets 81 day for eight hours. and
% cents an hour overtime. Under
the amendment, II will receive 1925
PEI day for eight hours. and 4.
cents an hour for overtime. The
park department and the water
board will be similarly affected.
The public lighting commission
has force of linemen, station mer
and other employees classed as skill
ed labor, who are now drawing from
s2.25 to $3.50 day. They will have
to be given time and one-half fol
overtime, and double pay for Sunday
and holiday work. Secretary Bowler
has not yet computed the entire cost
Commissioner Fenkell, OF the ID
p. W., says that IL Is likely that his
estimates for 1915 will be seriously
affected by the new amendment. Il
is likely that he will ask for supple
mentals. as soon as he learns how
much the passage Of the amendment
will cost his department. Supple
mentals will probably be asked by
the other departments affected, also
There is considerable dispute as Il
Just how the amendment affects tn,
NATURALIZATION of the street rail
way lines. Motormen and conduct
ors now receive 25 to 80 cents al
hour for 10-hour day, the 25-cen
rate applying to novices, or three
months" men, who are raised Al
soon as they receive that amount o
experience. The charter amendmen
would mean little increase in tn,
hourly pay. The eight.hour day an,
the eighs consecutive hours ma,
cause trouble. Commissioner Dodg,
has expressed the belief that TIL
hours of the men can be regulate,
better than they are at present, 5,
as to provide enough men for th'
rush of business during the earl,
morning and the evening, withou
any great difficulty. The commits
sion Is not worrying over the situa
tion, aad has scarcely discussed thu
matter.
Corporation Counsel Barlow Is ex
pected 10 state in his opinion wheth
er the terms, OF the amendment ap
ply to contracts which have already
been entered into with the city by
private contractors.
The new amendment goes into es