Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-16
PAINTER PAY FIGHT
IN COURTS LOOMS
U. S. Building Contractors
Refuse to Abide by Doak
Decision.
1continued Prom FIRST Pase )

Continued From First Page)
are paving less than the $l1-a-day scale
set for painters In the Labor Depart
ment ruling, stand to sustain some loss
in nrofit from what they calculated
when they submitted bids on the prof.
ects. figuring wages Of painters at q
lower level than the union scale
II it should develop that the SecTe-
tary of Labor. in other cases. tnvoly-
ing other classes of building mechanics,
should hold that the union scale TO be
the prevailing wage" non-union con-
tractors engaged in Government prof.
ects here would face much larger loss
of profit.
Only contracts let by the Government
since April 3. this year. when the Bacon
Davis law became effective, would be
subject TO its operation.
Cite Federal Wages.
Both Mr.. Goodman and Mr.. Morris
In declaring yesterday that they would
not abide by the decision rendered by
Secretary Of Labor Doak. contended that
their concern now Is paying the pre-
vailing scale OF wages" Tor painters
They cited the wages paid by the Gov
eminent and those paid in non-union
contracting organizations.
They said they would continue to work
their men under their present scale,
which they said ranged from So to $l2
a day, and would fight the case through
the courts as soon as the official action
OF the Secretary Of Labor was placed be-
fore them. They said they would consult
the firms attorney as to whether 10
seek a court review Of the ruling OF Sec
rotary Doak or TO ignore it and walt
until the Government acted TO enforce
lis ruling.
The Bacon-Davis law, the authority
for the action by the Secretary Of Labor,
does not contain q penalty clause as q
means Of enforcing the rulings OF the
Secretary Of Labor, but heretofore, the
Treasury Department, Government
agent in its construction program, has
anticipated no difficulty In this regard.
For one thing. it has been explained,
the Treasury might withhold payments
to contractors for work being done IN
case the wage ruling were not obeyed
Also, It is said. the contract Itself might
be declared nuliifled since the Govern
nent contracts state thai the contra etor
must not pay less than the prevailing
scale" OF wages
While the Alliance Co. heads claimed
theg were paying their painters from 81
70 si2 day, it was reported In author
itative sources that the investigation
az the matter made by he Labor De-
partment showed that only q handful OF
the men were paid as much as sic ard
$l2. and that the great majority we're
receiving between 81 and So, which Is
commonly tasInea the oPen-sfop scale
Government Pays So
Mr.. Morris declared yesterday that
he could MOI understand wing his con-
Germ Sh0li,d b. forced to pay painter $
81 for an g-;scur dsy when the United
States Government itself was employ
ing its own painters directly at wages
amounting 10 about SO a day, He de-
ciared, Further. that the Government
had Scnne OF its own painters at work
IN the Interual Revenue Building, at
wages II 1920 a day
rs TIE law made for me and not for
the Governments own contractors? he
asked.
Union labor officials told The Star
they we're not concerned OYER the re-
ported scale Of wages pad by the
Government to is own pairters and
indicated they planned 20 take no ac-
ton ir such a matter. Charles +
Young, secretary of the Washington
Building Trades Council. pointed out
that Government efnp'CYes ertoy an
annual so Gays vacation, sick leave
snd can court upon being employed TIE
year around, while the mechanic in
private employ works when he can ind
employment.
The Alliance Construction Co, In
addition 70 tire wage question, was
charged with working its men logger
than eight hours per day.
General SUIT. Hunt Of the w p. Rose
Co. declared his company would make
a fight TO the last ditch" II any effort
Is made 70 enforce such q ruling A.
handed down by Secretary Doak.
Hunt said he did not think II would
stand and that certainly Controller
General McCaTl would be asked for an
opinion.
The Rose company has recently been
awarded a contract for a t1iherculcSis
building at St Elizaheth's Hospital 10
cost sl90. COO and an addition 70 Wood
4