Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-19


This has given rise to conSid-
cradle agitation and a concerted
movement for passage by Con-
greSs of legislation designed to
check cheap labor groups from
rowing from place to place at the
call of equally rowing contractors,
who thus have been able to I'M
derbid local contractors who must
pay higher wages to local labor.
While little public attention has
been centered as yet on the pro-
posed legislation, serious study is
being given the matter, since 1t
would bring about a radical
change in the practice of letting
Government construction work
contracts affecting labor, the en-
ployer and, no doubt, the tax
paying public.
The question is timely, since during
the past six months the Federal Gov
eminent, industrial organizations, State
governments and the District have
adopted the policy of pushing construc-
ton programs with view TO renewing
unemployment problems.
Lowest Cost Under Law.
The District law and the practice in
almost universal use, however, is that
on public works the contractor who
submits the lowest cost bid, and other
wise fills requirements, must be award
ed the contract, regardless of where he
is a resident and regardless of from
what Jurisdictions he may draw his
labor supply.
The theory back of this, of course, is
TO obtain such projects at the lowest
service cost to taxpayers and to avoid
favoritism in the award of Government
contracts.
Supporters of the proposed new leg
islation, however, claim that great ben
efits would come to a community and
its taxpayers if local citizens and tax
payers were protected from the COM
petition of citizens of other commune
ties.
The suggested new law, covering the
various States of the Union and the
District of Columbia, would seek to
change the present conditions by re-
quiring that all contractors on Gov
eminent building projects pay their
building aradesnlen no less wages Tor
the various lines of work than the low
est existing wage rate established Tor
such services in private industry in the
city where the work is done.
Setting Up OF wage Kate.
The Lowest existing wage rate" Is
described in the bill as that established
either by the joint action of private
employers and an organization OF en-
ployes belonging to or affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor, or
by the acceptance of such wage rate
by these groups if there be such an
established wage rate for such services
at the time the contract is let
The wage rate as established or &C
cepted by bodies affiliated with the
Federation of Labor, it is explained,
was inserted in the measure to avoid
difficulties over legal Interpretation OF
what otherwise might be called the
standard" wage, scale of community.
While the law, If adopted for Wash
ington, would prevent successful bid
ders on Government construction from
paying lower wages than are stand
ard" here, and thus possibly bring about
some increase in the costs listed by the
successful lowest bidder, it Is declared
by proponents of the measure that it
is not designed to hold up the scale OF
wages or the profits Of the successful
contractor.
The measure, introduced by Repre-
sentative Sproul of Illinois, has the
backing of numerous union trades lead
ers, including number of officials OF
- 1Cortinued on Third PAqe)