Evening journal., 1921-10-07
WANT LOCAL MEN
ON CITY'S JOBS
Council Committee TO Con-
fer With dupont Engi-
neering Company
COMPLAIN ALSO
OF WAGES SCALE

A letter from the Central Labor
Union. asserting that workmen from
New Jersey and down-State towns
are being given preference on the
erection Of the new library building
at Tenth and Market streets and at
the river-front terminal buildings
at the mouth OF the Christiana river
and calling attention to the low
wages being paid for labor, was read
in city Council last night and pre-
cipitated a lively debate.
The matter was finally adjusted
by adoption OF a motion by Coun-
cilmal McManus that a committee
OF five. Of which president OF Coun-
Gil Ward should be one. should be
appointed TO interview the dupont
Engineering Company on the sub
iect. while a wide difference OF opin-
zion had been shown in the debate
which preceded the vote. all voted
In favor OF Il. President Ward ap-
pointed the following committee:
Chairman. President Ward: Council
men McManus. Vincent, Mulvena and
Henry.
At the Offices OF the dupont Com
pany today IL was stated the COM
pany did not desire to enter into any
controversy over the subject. when
the Council committee or any other
authorized body wants to know
what's going on, Il can obtain all
the facts and figures at moments
notice from this company" It's rep
resentative stated.
The Central Labor communication
vas as follows:
The special building commit
tee OF the Central Labor Union
made its report at our regular
meeting last evening. wherein
e was stated that local men. es-
pecially carpenters. were grad
ually being discharged at the
public library operation. at
Tenth and Market streets. and
men being hired in their places
who reside In New Jersey in and
about PENIS Grove. also that
others we're being transported
from Lewes. Delaware. This
seems contradictory 10 the plans
as outlined by tho Council and
the library board which were
publicly made known TO the ef-
feet that Wilmington mechanics
and iaborers would be given
first preference. The secretary
was directed by motion passed
at the meeting to present this
matter to your honorable body
in the form OF a communication
and to urge that you withdraw
the resolution recently adopted
by the Council pledging hnan-
cial aid 10 the extent Of $780,
600 N needed unless library Off
cials and the contractors adhere Fl
TO the plans as outlined. Know
ing as you do the great unem-
pioyment problems now con-
fronting our city we sincerely
urge you TO give this matter your
earnest consideration. toward
the end OF seeing 10 Il that our
citizens be given preference on
this work.
FRED W. STERILE.
Secretary.
Following reading OF the letter
motion was made by Mr.. McManu
that the letter be received. recorde
and filed. Councilman Mulvena oh
jected 10 this and quoted what h
said are the wages paid at the Il
brary building and on the harbo
Improvement. He urged that Coun
Gil direct the secretary TO write {
the dupont Engineering Compan
and call attention to clauses in IN
contract requiring that no one en-
ployed by the city. or on contract
given by the city should work NOR
than eight hours a day He ais
criticized City Solicitor SatteI
thwaite for delay in answering a r,
quest Of Council for an opinion as
the constituuonality Of the eigh
hour day law affecting city work
In reply Mr.. McManus stated tn,
Mr.. Satterthwaite was out OF n
city and that he had promised a
early opinion on the validity Of n
eight-hOur law.
He also called attention TO n
way In which the contract FOR Il