The Detroit times., 1915-09-22
From the public Library Committee

To The Honorable the Common Councf1.s
conference.-the Detroit Library
commission begs to acknowledge rs-i
ceipt OF your communication or the
18th inst. containing a petition from
the Detroit Federation OF Labor relaS
tive TO the employment OF labor 81
the new main library building.
AS regards the employment 81
union labor only. we beg TO state
that tho Library Commission has "a
ready had this matter under consid.
Grafton ana found itself confronted
with the decision OF the Supreme
Court of the state OF Michigan.f
March eth. 1905. In the case OF Hcnrv
u. Lewis AZ 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-.ThN-
effect OF the provision Is to limit com-
petition by preventing contractors
from employing any except certain
persons and by excluding therefrom
all others engaged in the same work.
md such restriction Is illegal and
void. We further beg to advise you
that the question Of this commissions
having. the legal right TO employ
union labor exclusively has been re-
ferred to the Corporation Counsel.
lmmedtately upon receipt Of his adj.
vice. the same Will be laid before
We would further invite your at
tention 10 the fact that. In giving
out the contract for the excavation
and foundation work last winter, the
wholly out OF consideration for the
best interests OF Detroit workings
men and the welfare OF unemployed
labor, at that time Insofar as thu
Commission were concerned. IL was
81 no advantage To the commission
or tn the city to let contracts for
only part Of the building. such ace
IgONarpa1 pr.tptiW hr he A.
sire, Of tho commission to furnish
employment TO Detroit labor.
In giving out the two contracts ap.S
B ndng Tor the he LSfSry mm Drsoy
earnestly advised the contractors to
employ Detroit labor In preferences 70
outsiders whenever available. The
contractors Willingly agreed TO do so.
eral contractors for the excavation
and foundation work. the library
Commission IL satisfied that with the
possible exception OF the superintens
dent and forercn permanently ems
ploved by the contractors concerned.
nothing but local labor was en-
ploycd
As regards the American Bridge
Company. the contractors for the
erection Of the structural steel. the
Library Commission was advised that
all the steel would be fabricated In
the local plant The engineer ~
states thar the company Is ready anA
prefers to employ and put to work at
once any competent Detroit struc.
tural iron worker or other skilled
workman residing In our city. needed
for the work In hand, the only cone
dillon being TINT such an applicant
when put 20 work, should prove COM
petent. II must be understood that
the American Bridge Company. IN uns
der bond with this body 10 complies
their contract within specified time
under penalty. and that they caus
not aNord to work shorthando2
which would he the case II the local
supply OF skilled wotkmen Il not
sufficient. nj
II any skilled structural ieoo
worker residing in Detroit has boeG
refused employment sy the contrAc-
tors now operating at the new main
library site. the Detroit Library Gone
mission Will he pleased to learn e
such specific cases. @~s
Very respectfully yours ~
DETROIT LIBRARY COMMISSION.
DIVE r. DUFFfELD,
Presidsot.
Accepted and placed on fle.