The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-07-17
LOCAL LABOR ON
HIGHWAY WORK

Information from his office says
that a delegation representing the
Montana State Federation of La
Dor called on Congressman Scott
Leavitt on the 9th Of July with the
statement that it would greatly
help out the unemployment stu
alton if more hand labor could be
performed in the building of roads
in which the federal government
and the state are cooperating. 1t
was also stated that greater pref
erence ought to be given to local
labor. Congressman Leavitt as
sured the delegation that it was
the intention of Congress. when it
passed the emergency road legis-
lation and increased the federal
highway funds, to help in the I'M
employment situation and he wir-
ed the secretary of agriculture to
ascertain how far the federal gov
eminent could go if the State of
Montana desired to give greater
preference to local labor and to
hand work.
A telegram from r. w. Dunlap,
acting secretary Of agriculture, I'M
der date of July 10th, to Congress
man Leavitt set forth the stu
alton fully from the standpoint of
the federal government, and indi-
Gated that the federal government
has no objection to a clause in the
highway contracts requiring that,
other conditions being equal, local
labor shall be employed when it
is available. The wire also stat
ed that. under the federal highway
act, construction work and labor
in each state shall be done in
accordance with the laws of that
state. Congressman Leavitt ex-
pressed the hope that the stu
alton could be worked out to give
much more advantage to local la
Dor and to hand construction, and
stated that he would cooperate |
fully with the highway commits
sion.
Reply of Secretary
The wire he received from Act
ing Secretary Dunlap is of inter-
est to all Montana people, and is
as follows:
"Hon. Scott Leavitt. Great Falls,
Montana, July 10, 1881. Answer
ing your wire of the 9Th, section
%, federal highway act requires
that construction work on forest
roads and trails estimate to cost
$4,000 or more per mile exclusive
of bridges, shall be advertised and
let to contract. AS to federal aid
projects section u, federal high
way act requires that construction
work and labor in each state
shall be done in accordance with
its laws and section 1890 of 1921 |
Montana revised codes provid-
es that when the estimated cost of
any piece of work shall exceed
1000 the State Highway Commits
sion shall let same to contract by
competitive bidding, but if com
mission shall find such work may
be done by force account in more
efficient manner it may be so per-
formed. Project agreement for
each federal aid project provides
work shall be performed by con-
tract unless performance by force
account shall be approved by this
department and that payment for
work performed by force account
shall be on basis units of work
performed at unit prices in ap-
proved estimate except that where
actual cost is less than estimate
so approved total federal pay
ments shall not exceed federal pro
rata of actual cost. Regulations
adopted for carrying out of emer-
gency act of December 20, 1880,
provide that in order give as much
free labor as possible employment
preference shall be given hand Ia
Dor methods where reasonably
economical in performing work on
emergency federal aid projects.
Chapter 102 of 1881 Montana laws
requires provision in contracts
preference to Montana resi-
dents where same does not con-
f1ict with preference provision of
federal aid legislation and this de-
partment has taken position
where question raised by some of
other states that objection would
not be made to clause requiring
that other conditions being equal
local labor shall be employed
when available. (Signed) r. w.
Dunlap, Acting Secretary OF Agri-
culture"
wind Stavta MormpD Sprainnd his l