Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-10
FIGHT ON CITY
LABOR STATUS
Letter Received BY Aldermen
in Reference to Wage Paid
on City Garage Job.

OllO"IlAS a otA9 h'@N
heated discussion in committee ses-
sion on the question OF forcing the
contractor to continue work on n
CITY stables now being erected In II
northwestern section of the city. the
aldermen last night continued TINS
argument in the council
the majority, led by Alderman-at-
Large John N. Wester winning over
Alderman John ]. Clark's minority,
ronsistlng of himself and Alderman
Thomas Patten.
The receipt of a letter from AS
x;stant Prosecutor John f.. Toolan,
as representing the Building Trades
Association and requesting the al
dermen to force the contractor 10
continue the work on the city
stables, marked the beginning OF the
discussion in the council chamber.
Charles f. Welker. a contractor,
was present and announced thai he
was officially from the BUILDING
Trades Association n that mat
body had never authorized Mr.. TOO
Ian to write any such letter.
Following the reading of the let
ter which suggested that the alder
men force the contractor to go ahead
with the work, Alderman Clark
moved that the matter be referred
to the city attorney with power to
enforce the contents OF the letter.
Alderman Benjamin A. Riedy an
nounced that Jorgen T.. Jorgensen,
the contractor. had been notified
last week that he must proceed with
the work and he had promised to do
80. but owing to the adverse weather
conditions it had been impossible for
him to start any of his men. Al
derman Riedy declared he had not
heard yesterday, the first clear day
in a week. whether or not work had
been resumed. He said he would not
favor voting in favor of the hfth
ward alderman's motion.
Alderman-at-Large Wester de-
clared it was his understanding that
the letter from Mr.. Tooian had not
been authorized by the Building
Trades Association and therefore he
was in favor of referring 1t to the
city attorney and the proper COM
mittee for consideration but not en-
forcement, as was called for by AL
derman Clark. Alderman Albert G.
Waters was also of the belief that
more time should be taken to con-
sidert the matter before following out
Alderman Clark's idea.
The motion was put to a vote, AL
dermen Clark and Patten being the
only ones TO favor 1t. Alderman
If1eut DdSbSu anu tlC fCiiioiiioti "
the board voted against the motion.
Alderman Christian Andersen was
prevented from attending last nights
meeting because of illness.
Alderman Waters then moved
that the letter be referred to the
committee of the whole and the city
: attorney. Alderman Clark declared
this was not the proper course as it
was putting off resumption of work
at the stables for another week.
He aiSb said it vas an opportunity
for tie contractor to evade the Or
dinance. When put to a vote this
motion passed. Alderman Clark be-
ing the only one to oppose it while
Alderman Patten passed.
THE letter from MI. Toolan fol-
~
Honorable Mayor and Board OF
Aldermen,
City of Perth Amboy, N. J.
Dear Sirs:
The Building Trades Association
has requested ME to communicate
with your honorable body concern
ing action that might be taken to
compel the contractor engaged in the
construction of the city stables to
pIOCeeu WITH lle WOTh.
feel that all you gentlemen are
conscious of the condition of the Ia
Dor market at this time and particu-
larly to the great status of the I'M
employment problem. Unemploy-
ment and the inability of the work
men to support and maintain his
family breeds bolshevism and radi-
calism and it is encumbent upon all
governmental officials to check this
tendency, particularly when it Is
within their power to do so. In this
particular instance, | feel that your
body has within its power an oppor-
tunity for vigorous action hat will
in a degree help conditions in this
vicinity. Your board may do it's
part by insisting Immediately upon
the contractor proceeding with the
work of the construction of the city
stables.
Under the contract signed by Mr..
Jorgenson to construct the city stab
les. the city has the right at any
time that Mr.. Jorgenson neglects or
fails to provide sufficient labor OF
materials, to proceed diligently with
the work to give Mr.. J%orgenson three
days notice in writing to prosecute
T. the work and If he negleets to do so,
the city may employ its own labol
and buy its own material to finish
the work. / feel that your board
would not be doing an injustice te
the contractor. but rather would be
performing a public duty If you in
sisted upon this course. This jol
means employment for a consider
able number of men and employing
them Immediately is no hardship t
the contractor, because tha figur
which he submitted for the con
struction of these stables was basel
upon the rate of wages that prevailed
at the time the contract was signet
and he should be in a position TO con
tinue to pay that rate.
] trust your honorable board will
take no offense at this letter, blu
rather regard II in the light of
suggestion to assist you in the tasl
of performing your duty I'm regar
to the unemployment problem.
JOHN f. rooLAN.
When questioned today c|oncernin
his letter to the aldermen Mr.. Toola
explained that he was waited upo
by four men last Saturday, only on
OF whom he knew, and vas aske
to write this letter to the aldermen
Robert Mcclure, a delegate of tn
plumbers union, was the only on
OF the four men he vas acquainte
with, Mr.. Toolan said. The nam
Building Trades Association" is ell
roneou in the letter, he continued
as he is representing the "Buildin
Trades Council' composed of II
union men. The master builder
comprise the Association"
The only work being done OF I'll
city stables today was by skaters WI
wera working on the roof. All otht