The New York herald., 1922-02-25
NEW BILL OF RIGHTS
PUTS END TO ABUSES
Continued from First Page.

work in all of the larger cities of the
land the labor union required that the
stone be imported in the rough and
dressed and finished locally by union
labor.
''ln addition to that various other re-
strictions have been imposed by labor
organizations not only upon materials
that were non-union made, but likewise
even though such materials were union
made, which restrictions sought to die
tate to the builder the source and the
locality from which he shall purchase
his materials. The effect upon the COM
munity of any such restrictions can be
readily imagined. They constitute un-
doubtedly one of the most potent factors
for the high cost of building. the conse-
quent shortage of housing and the enor-
nous increases in rent tkat have OBJ
tanned during and since the war period,
and are clearly illegal
'"The third is directed against a series
of nationwide abuses which have as
sumed various forms and aspects in the
relations between organized labor and
trade associations. Innumerable in
stances have been found in the various
building trades where in consideration
of some bonus or other inducement Of
fered to the labor organization the lat
ter would In turn agree to grant a pref
erence or to furnish some cooperation
to the trade association member as
against his independent competitor
at Is manifest that such "A state OF
affairs is likewise one of the most potent
factors in the exorbitant prices that
have prevailed in building and related
materials. all of which have tended TO
create and continue the acute shortage
of housing in every large city in the
land.
On Debt Collection.
"The fourth strikes at what has like
wise become n general practice for con-
tractors and builders to use labor unions
as an instrument for the collection of
their debts. Instances have been reported
to the department from both Chicago
and New York and no doubt the practice
prevails In the other large cities, where
the labor union refused to work on the
completion of job where they had been
compensated fully and had every assur-
ance of future compensation only be-
cause some previous owner of the same
building had defaulted in a. payment to
some material man. Oftentimes 1t was
shown that the exactions and demands
of the material man were unfounded.
"In one case in New York a collec-
tion system was used which resulted IN
extorting payment of the same claim
two and three times over again. The
contractor by virtue of this collusion
with the labor unions was In the all
powerful position of exacting his full
demand whether In Justice he was en-
titled TO IL or not by the mere threat
that the dealer could not secure the
labor to complete or finish his Job II he
did not pay.
"In conclusion It may fairly be said
that this decree incorporates a. set OF
principles which make for independence
on the part of the employer in the pur-
chase of his materials whenever and
wherever he may desire. 1t frees the
employer from the shackles that nave
been thrown around him by these ru-
mer GUS illegal restrictions as to tho
quantity of work to be done In Il given
time irrespective of whether his mate
rails are or are not union made. ON
the other hand, it recognizes all the law
full aims or objects of labor unionism."
The reports received by the Depart
ment of Justice from all OF the large
cities i'm the investigation of the brick
layers, masons and plasterers interna-
tional union have convinced the depart
ment that the executive heads In charge
of this organization have honorably and
unselfishly striven to conscientiously
administer the affairs OF the organiza-
ton for the best interests of the men,
bers of that organization.