Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-29
LABOR OFFICIALS
DENY NEGOTIATIONS
Rose Concern Charged With
Attempting to Use Influence
With United States.

Charging the W. p Rose & Co.. North
Carolina building contractors, with at
tempting to influence the Government
in its award of a contract for the con-
struction of the 100000 tuberculosis
building at ST. Elizabeth's Hospital. Of
ficials of the Washington Building
Trades Council today fatty denied that
any negotiations were under way with
the Rose concern toward settlement OF
labor problems.
Charles E. Young, executive secretary
of the council, made the statement to-
day that w. P. Rose, head of the build
ing firm which Is low bidder for the
hospital job. has made no proposal to
local organized labor which is accept
able, and that SO far as the Washing
ton Building Trades Council is con-
cerned the Rose company is not regard
ed as a responsible" bidder for work
in the District.
Reports in newspapers that negoti-
ations are under way between Rose and
local labor officials toward reconcilia-
ton are absolutely untrue" Mr.. Young
said. LAS matter of fact, Rose did ask
for a conference with us, but made no
proposal that was acceptable. 1t is
purely an effort to influence the award
Of the contract for the st. EliZabethS
job, and we feel that 1t is an injustice
to U.s."
Labor Stand Maintained.
Mr.. Young stated in behalf of the
council that, in view of the vigorous
objection raised last week, when dele
CATION of local building contractors and
tradesmen appeared at the Department
of the Interior to oppose the award of
the contract to Rose, organized labor
could under no circumstances recede
from its stand it has taken in opposi-
ton to Rose"
The North Carolina contractor,
Young pointed out. has under way in
the District several other jobs, which
he is conducting on an open shop"
basis. Even If he agreed to use union
labor in the event he we're awarded the
hospital work, it would not be salts
factory to the organization to continue
non-union men at lower than-standard
wages on other jobs. Young declared.
In communication to w. B. Acker,
chief clerk of the Interior Department.
who is a member of the special board
appointed by Secretary Wilbur to con-
slider bids of the tuberculosis hospital.
Young today requested the department
to ignore published reports about
negotiations with local labor"
I'VE met with Rose at his request,
as a matter of courtesy" Young de-
clared, but no definite negotiations
were entered into by our organization"
Time Given for Substitute.
Engineer Commissioner John c. Got
walls said today that the Rose company
had been given until next MONDAY 10
find a substitute for Raymond N. Rouse
as superintendent of the construction
of the Stuart Junior High School ad-
dition under the Rose contract with the
District. Rouse and a foreman. 0. l..
Bordeaux. were ordered laid off all Dis
trict work because of two accidents on
the Stuart job under their control; one
of which resulted fatally to colored
workman.
Mai. Gotwals said that it was choice
between shutting down the job or giving
the company a reasonable time" TO
get a new man. and he chose the lat
ter course. Bordeaux has already re re-
signed. The new men must be salts
factory to the municipal architects
Office before they may be employed.