New-York tribune., 1918-06-12
Fail to Agree
On Way to End
Subway Strike
Contractors and City Rep
resentatives Differ ON
Who Shall Pay Costs
By BRIGGS

There were no prospects yesterday Of
settlement of the strike on the un-
finished subway construction work.
City officials and. contractors showed
no disposition to change their attitude,
proposition of meeting an increase in
the wages of the men. The unions
decided to remain on strike until as
sured of better wages.
Meanwhile some of the laborers are
accepting other work at better pay.
Union leaders declared however, that
it was their intention to hold as many
of the men available as possible until
after the next meeting Of the Board
of Estimate Friday with the hope that
some adjustment of the matter might
be reached at that time.
Frederick L. Crawford, president of
the General Contractors Association,
sent a letter to Mayor Hylan, in which
he resented the Mayors statement on
Monday. He declared the Mayors crit
icism was unwarranted by facts, and
that he was attempting to "befog the
issue" The Mayor said that to carry
out the plan OF relief for the contrac-
tors and the laborers under the Lock-
wood law, as suggested by the Public
Service Commission and the contractors,
would cost the city from $25,OO0,Ooo
to $5O,O0O,OOO He declared the con-
club to force the Board of Estimate
to adopt the plan of the Public Service
Commission.
Corrects Mayors Statement
"If your statement of yesterday is
anywhere near correct" wrote Mr. Gran
ford, "you are certainly justified in the
position you take. I am glad of the
opportunity your statement gives to
present the facts.
Mr.. Crawford pointed out that when
this country declared war on Germany
on April 6, 1917, there remained twen-
ty-eight subway contracts of total of
about s7o,ooo,0oo of work still under
contraction. On these contracts up to
April l last, Mr.. Crawford said, the
increase of the average rate of wages
paid was from $2.25 day to 1884, and
about one-half of the material that
was required in the construction in
creased proportionately
"On these contracts the contractors
have sustained loss due to an in
creased cost caused by the war of about
$7,000,000. of which $4,5OO,o0O was in
creased war cost since April 6, 1917.
The total amount of work necessary to
finish these contracts does not exceed
S15,000,000 The members of this as
soclation have done hundreds of mill
IONS of dollars worth of public work
for the City of New York. No mem
Der has ever defaulted his obligation
to the city, and under this emergency
they have stood up under adverse cir
cumstances to the verge of bankruptcy.
1--WE appealed to the Legislature for
relief, and the Legislature passed the
Lockwood law, which briefly provides
the war cost since April 6, 1917, is a
valid claim against the city on condi-
tlon that we finish the contracts at
cost and waive all legal claims against
the city since that date. 1t further
provides for the adjustment of anv
claims Of the contractors prior to that
time. The Lockwood law, after its en-
actment by the Legislature, was sent
to you for your approval, as required
by the constitution. Your veto of il
would have killed it. Under these cir
cumstances we feel that you are
estopped from the criticism you now
make"
Controller Craig and Borough Pres
ident Bowling of Manhattan issued
statements yesterday blaming the con-
r." ctors for forcing the strike. Con
troller Craig declared they were insist
ent in their efforts to mislead the pub
lie in regard to the strike. He said it
was now the duty of the Public Service
Commission to go ahead and finish
the contracts at the expense of the
contractors and the suretes. Borough
President Bowling said he was not de
ceived or stampeded" by The sudden
interest in the convenience of the pub
lie manifested by the subway contrac-
tors. He declared, however, that there
should be a thorough understanding as
to the merits of The contractors claims.
and that each individual contract was
entitled to separate consideration.
"The plan of settlement proposed by
the contractors" said President Dowl-
ing, "seems to be all profit to them and
their sureties, and all loss to the city.
| want labor to receive its just COM
pensation, but l do not want the city
treasury thrown open to special plead
'ers,