Denver labor bulletin., 1918-10-05
LOW WAGE SCALE
ATU.S. ARMY CAMP
MEN ARE SEEKING EN-
PLOYMENT ELSEWHERE.
Carpenters and Bricklayers Renew
Claims and Contractor Goes to
Washington for Purpose Of Urg-
ing Adjustment by Government

Progress upon the new unit at the
United States army recuperation camp
near Aurora is handicapped by a
shortage of labor, caused chiefly by
the low wages being paid. During the
past month there has been an exodus
in other fields at higher pay, and
Washington has been asked to pro-
vide remedy So acute has the labor
situation at the camp become that C.
S. Lambie, general contractor in
charge of the government, left Tues
day for Washington to present the
matter to the federal authorities. The
contractors favor more wages, which
are fixed at Washington for this job,
but SO far no relief has been given.
Pay Less Than Denver Scale.
In the last few weeks, since the
government has been recruiting Colo
rado men to work in nitro and muni-
tion plants at from $3.50 to $40 day,
the force of common laborers at the
hospital has dwindled from over 500
to $50. The wage for common labor
at the government project in Aurora
is but SO per day, yet private en-
ployers are paying $3.50 and over for
the same work here in Denver. Con-
tractor Lambie will ask the govern
ment to pay at least that wage here,
and possibly more.
Another matter which has added
complication to the situation is the
demand of the carpenters for pay for
an additional hour spent in going and
coming from work. This is based
upon the distance of the hospital from
their homes in Denver. Officials say
they are not disposed to oppose the
claim, because it is customary for
contractors to grant this TO work
men who have to go out Of town on
jobs. The carpenters get 75 cents an
hour, and request pay for an extra
hour, making their wages $6.75 per
day.
Wage Long Overdue.
In the meantime the government
wage board has never adjusted the
demands Of the bricklayers for an IS
day. This scale is being paid on pri-
vate contracts, but the scale set by
the government in letting the hospital
work called for 81 wage. The brick
layers, altho short controversy arose.
over the matter last spring, waived
their demands and went to work for
81 per day with the understanding
that the wage arbitration board would
take up their claims and, adjust them.
This has not been done, and Mr.. Lam
bic. while at Washington, will endea-
vor to bring the matter to n head.
The general contractor has favored
the increase from the start
II is feared that if the Washington
authorities delay further in redeem
ing their promise to the local brick
layers union, delay may occur when
the new units of the camp are ready
for bricklaying. 1t has been about
four months now since the local con-
tractors and the union men jointly
submitted their appeal to the wage
board for the increase
Ask for Special Train
Another matter to be taken up with
the Washington officials is the put
ting on Of a special employees train,
to be run from the union depot to the
camp this winter. A spur from the
Union Pacific main line is now operat-
ing direct to the camp. During the
winter months the trucks which now
carry employees from end Of the street
car line in Aurora will be tied up a
good part of the time by inclement
weather and bad roads. Hence it is
essential to have the special train
morning and evening to get the thou
sand or more employees to and from
their work.
Novel Heating Plan.
The threatened delay in the opening
of the army recuperation camp at
Aurora TO patients owing to the fail
ure of the large boilers for the per-
manent heating plant to arrive, has
been averted by the temporary in
stallation of four large 250-horse
power boilers from the Great Western
Sugar Company.
Some of the buildings, including the
infirmary ward, have been completed
and furnished, and are in readiness
for the reception of patients. Heat
was turned into the finished build
ings for the first time Tuesday.
Work on the smokestack for the
permanent heating plant is advancing
rapidly. The stack will be It's feet
high and 80 feet wide at the base.
buy LIBERTY BONDS
REGENERATION COMMITTEE.