The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-04-18
ASK
CAPITOL BOARD TO
SPECIFY PAY SCALE
Want Specifications For New
Building to Include Rate
of Wages

Representatives of North Da-
kota general contractors appeared
before meeting of the capitol build
ing commission here Saturday night
with a list of six suggestions. -Four
/ of which were accepted and two de-
ferred for later consideration.
The commission agreed:
To allow the contractors six weeks
to prepare bids from the time plans
are available.
To furnish North Dakota contrac-
tors interested in the construction
project three sets of plans, two sets
gratis and one at cost.
To set time limit for construction
of the builling at not to exceed ID
months.
And to divide the work into gen.
eral contract and mechanical con-
tract.
Action was deferred on request
for Qualification Of that section of
the capitol commission act providing
for preference to North Dakota con-
tractors, over out-of-state contrac-
tors. The commission, however. agreed
to obtain legal Interpretation on
this phase of the law.
Seek Legal Advice
A request that the commission take
action so that "a fair rate OF wages
should be paid all labor and that this
rate should be incorporated in the
specifications" and deferred for fur
Their consideration as to the legality
Of such action.
George Bangs. Grand Forks, chair
man of the commission, G. A. Fraser,
Fargo, and F. L. Conklin. Bismarck,
commissioners; Frank Anders, Fargo,
secretary, Horatio Hackett, Chicago,
representing Holabird and Root, as
sociate architects, and William
Kurke, Fargo architect, attended the
meeting.
Ben Meineke, Fargo, was spokes-
man for the contractors and sub
mitted a written list of requests
drawn up by the contractors meeting
here earlier in the day.
The contractors, in resolution
presented to the commission, stated
they understood "lineS Z to II of Sec
ton 8 of house bill No. 70 to mean
the commission will add to the con-
tractors bid any difference there
may be between his low bid for the
sub-contract from without the state,
and the bid Of local man up to five
per cent of the low bid.
Want Clause Clarified
1--WE believe" the resolution added,
ut would be we'll to clarity this
clause in the specifications in order
to avoid later conflict"
In the request regarding wages, the
contractors resolution said I'VE sub
NIT fair rate of wages should be
paid labor and that this rate should
be incorporated in the specifications.
Fraser declared he appreciated the
contractors desired to pay fair wage
to men employed and that North Da-
kota contractors were interested in
protection against outside contractors
undertaking them by obtaining
cheap labor.
He assured the contractors efforts
would be made to protect North Da-
kota workmen and the contractors
against imported cheap labor.
Bangs expressed the view that the
commission was in complete harmony
with the contractors desire to guar
antee fair wage for workmen en-
gagged in constructing the capitol
building.
Hackett told the group he was in
sympathy with the plan Of using
North Dakota products and labor
whenever feasible and that the ar
chitectS would assist In carving ont
such plans to the best Of their ability.
After hearing the contractors, the
commission members devoted them
selves to study Of the building design.