Evening journal., 1921-10-20
WRANGLEOVER
-HOURLAW
contInued from FIrst Page.

not accurate.
In reply to these accusations Of
the labor men, IL was declared that
the City Solicitor had been working
steadily since his return from his
vacation on the opinion; that Pres
ident Ward has not been connected
since 1919 with the DUPONT Engin-
eering Company, although he now
was an employe OF the main or par
ent DUPONT organization; that Coun-
ell was not trying to evade the issue,
and that the data submitted by the
engineering company had been laid
before Council by II. M. Pierce,
president Of the company, in good
faith.
Bickering began within fve min
utes after President Ward had call
ed the conference to order. He read
the communications which have
passed between the labor union and
Council. and then said he would
read the reply OF the DUPONT Engin-
eering Company TO the charges made
against II.
Councilman McManus promptly
moved that all persons present ex-
cent members or the Council COM
mittee and the union delegation be
reouested to retire. Protest at once
arose from the labor men. MT NC
Maus explained that he made the
motion only because he believed 'er-
tain portions OF the engineer com
panv'e reply would. n made public,
he detrimental to labor's Interests
This information. Il later develop
od was relative TO the prevailing
nav Of common labor in Wilmington
which. Il was maintained by the
engineering company, was only 70
cents an hour.
Councilman McNabh. although not
a member OF the special committee
protested against being obliged to
retire and the labor representatives
deciared they we're perfectly willing
10 abide by whatever Information
should be brought out. SO the
meeting stayed open.
President Ward proceeded TO read
the reply OF Mr.. Pierce. OF the Engi-
noering Company, in full, as follows;
IT herewith hand to each or you
photostat copy giving a tabulation
OF the various rates paid certain
skilled and common labor by twenty
three representative general con-
tractors ana firms in the city Of Will
mington. employing common labor
and mechanics. This also shows the
length Of workday for each. The
total number OF men OF all kinds and
classes involved Is approximately
POO. Il will be noted that the next
TO last line shows the rates paid at
the present time by the DUPONT En-
Fineering Company on the now IL
brary for the labor and trades now
employed. The letter 'P' opposite a
rate indicates prospective rate for
certain other trades yet TO be en-
Moved. The last line shows the rates
paid at the Marine Terminal, the
letter P' having the same signih-
cance as under the library.
I'm view OF the work being scarce
ly started and shortage Of material
we have as yet employed very little
skilled common labor. As soon as
SUFFICIENT materials have arrived and
other tradesmen are put to work, II
Is our intention to advance the best
Of common labor to skilled common
labor. In addition TO employing other
skilled common labor, which viii be
rated higher.
During our investigation OF the
prevailing rates OF pay for Whining
ton. we found that many OF the Arms
who are now paying common laboi
80 and 35 cents per hour have thi'
rate because the men are old anG
experienced men who have beer
with them a long time and have be
come to them skilled common labor
In practically all cases new common
labor hired by these firms has beer
! started at 25 cents per hour.
'The plumbing and st,am-flttint
for both the terminal and the librar,
have been sub-contracted and VI
will not employ any men OF thes
e trades. except possibly one or tw'
q pipefitters at the terminal for run
4 ming construction lines. We there
!. fore did not secure any rates OF
1 plumbers. There are other portion
] OF the work sub-contracted wher
- certain other trades not mentione
= here will be employed.
Only Thirteen Men Nonresident.
Z There are at present employe
n at the marine terminal 215 work
d men. Out OF this total numbe
h there are only 13 men who are non
= residents OF Wilmington. these bein
parts Of the organization OF the con
tractor, specialized in their particu
lar line OF work, including genera
= foreman, special employees. stear
. shovel operators. pile driver foreme
b and the like.
II "All persons at the marine terml
nal are working eight hours per da
with the exception Of the dredg
crew. who work with the tides. an
Il grading contractors men, who ar
s working ten hours per day TIL
e contractor is using as many me
9 as his mechanical equipment wi
= allow and II he worked eight houi
;. per day he would not employ an
7. more men but simply proiong III
work. Winter Is approaching an
this class of work must be as +;
n ahead as possible before freezir
II weather, otherwise we will not
Is able to proceed with certain other
Is the Industrial construction woi
l. which is dependent upon the compl
= ton Of the grading.
Is I'VE are employing at the librai
at present 16 laborers. all residen
Of Wilmington, Del.
I'VE are also employing 16 ca
y -, ,., rr,--,. =.