The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-29
Mckinney SEES
VIOLATIONS OF
PACT ON WAGES
Some Workers Receive
Less Than 35 Cents an
Hour, Inquiry Shows.
rs CENTS TO FLoATERS
SubcontraCtorS' Men Get
Amount Nearly Double
for Same Work.

Probe into the alleged violation
by a paving company of agreement
with the city to pay construction
workmen on a 35-cent hourly basis
was launched today by E. Kirk NC
Kinney, works board president.
McKinney's action followed an in
vestigation by The Times of re-
ports that laborers. working for the
Indiana Asphalt Paving Company
on the East New York street widen
ing project are receiving more than
5 cents an hour below the figure
specified under the contract.
The probe disclosed that common
labor on the project is receiving in
some instances Is to 30 cents, and,
according to Mckinney, violates the
agreement made by the city with
construction companies less than a
year ago.
Claude I. Brilliant, superinten-
dent Of Indiana Asphalt, when
questioned by The Times, admitted
unskilled labor is being paid IS
cents.
Lower Pay for Floaters'
He qualified workmen under that
scale Of "f1oaters."
Brilliant did not know how many
are receiving the 25-cent wage.
There are only a few" he said.
Reports that applicants for work
at the project are referred to the
city hall garage" for recommended
ton were denied by Brilliant. He
admitted, however, that several
applicants had been given jobs
because they were told to come out
and see us"
Brilliant stated further that 80
far is I'm concerned, the wage
agreement with the city still holds
good.
THE reason we are paying some
Is cents is because only our regular
men get over 35 cents"
Others Paid More
IF the fioaters prove to be good
men, we raise them up to the SCALE"
Brilliant added.
The inquiry disclosed further that
unskilled labor working on the same
project for subcontracting compa-
MES is being paid almost double the
wage earned by workmen for the
Indiana Asphalt Company.
Pick and shovel men for a plumb
ing firm working in the East New
York street job are being paid IS
cents an hour, several of them
stated when questioned today.
Their duties are almost Identical
with those of laborers working for
30 cents for the asphalt paving
company.
Laborers on the street widening
are, in the majority, Negroes, Truck
drivers, when questioned, verified
reports received by The Times as
sorting they are receiving the
S0-cent wage.
Get 35-Cent Scale
At the same time, a probe of sala-
ries paid by the Million Population
Wrecking Company revealed that
unskilled laborers working at the
Randolph street clearing are re-
ceiving 35 cents an hour. Only two
men, it was admitted by Henry Fox
worthy, superintendent, are receiv-
ing 80 cents, and they are qualified
as pickup labor" ~Foxworthy said.
I'VE are paying them just to give
them work" he declared.
Workmen for the wrecking COM
pany under the 35-cent rate all are
Negroes.
With launching of the inquiry by
city officials, Mckinney declared
that in his opinion the wage agree
ment with contractors still is in
effect.
w. C. Richter, an official of the
Indiana Asphalt company, was
called in conference today with the
works board, this morning shortly
before Brilliant appeared at the
city hall, and told officials that
laborers are receiving from 35 to 40
cents, except a water boy, who gets
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