The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-04
NEW SUBWAY TUNNEL MEN
STRIKE, HOLDING UP WORK
Ten Thousand Walk Out, Say Leaders, but Only $500
Leave, Assert Contractors-Higher Wages De-
m~anded-Both Sides Appear to Be Firm.

tors concerned. and l am quite sure they
will not confer with the men. We will
not employ strike breakers. however.
though several agencies called me up
to-day. This strike IL going to peter out
In a few days"
Unless something like that happens. II
may be a long time before work can he
continued at full Roadway on the new
subways. MIR. Crane has referred rep
resen;atives Of the Labor Department
who wished 20 arbitrate to the individual
| contractors, about thirty In all. saying
that the association could give them no
ENCOURAGEMENT. II the strike lasts org
Mayor Mitchell probably will appoint an
arbitration committee.
Every city official concerned denied
the strike leaders statements made on
Sunday that the latter had asked the
Mayor, Comptroller Trendergast and the
Public service Commission for a confer
ence 10 avert the strike and that the re-
quest had been refused.
TO support their denials letters al
most Identical were shown at the offices
Of all three. The letters, written early
In March by Frank y. sullivan OF 70
Liberty street, attorney for the Tunnel
and Subway Constructors International
Union OF North America, which called
the strike, rather nalvely Informed the
recipients that "after April ! the scale
Of wages will be" what the letter said
they would be.
The letters did not, however. ask a
conference with any OF the recipients,
but said tina they would like "A rom
ference with the contractors. The
Mayor and Public Service Commission,
Il Is understood, will receive the strike
leaders II they wish to call, but comp
t-oller prendergast says tina: would
hardly he proper in his case.
The question that affects me is about
the prevailing rate of wages. which
tho contracts say must be paid" said
the Comptroller. This office is the
Judge as TO whether the prevailing rate
Is being paid. We have hearings il "a
complaint " made that the rate Is not
being Paid. and II VI find the complaint
sustained we forfeit tho contract-the
contractor loses every cent he has put
In.
M Complaint "a Comptroller.
mo such complaint has been made
TO me. and ] understand there has been
no charge made anywhere that the pre-
va!iing rate is not being paid. AS a
matter of fact. the prevailing rate OH all
such work is about what the men may
/ get-there IS no other work by which
W va" u d ~ Nbuti te llI-
proper for me TO confer In this matter.
when later ] may be called upon to act
as a Judge"
Mr.. Prendergast explained that II the
contractors handling the present work
gave the increases demanded the loss
would come out OF their own pockets
because OF the terms Of the contract.
lie added That tho city In letting rom
tracts for such work in future would
have IN nfl.tyls NJ 90, a.. r-a,gl
for the increased waGes-in other words.
that the taxpayers would have to pay
just so much more money for their sub
WAYS II the strikers get what they want.
Il cannot tell the exact amount Of
contracts still to be let" said Mr.. Prem.
dergast. compared with tho whole
fob. it is small-certainlr less than x25.-
600. 900"
Figuring or Mr.. Cranes basis, the IN
creased cost on SIS. 100000 worth OF con-
tracts because of Increased wages would
he $4,000. 600.