Evening star., 1933-07-06
HEARING IS URGED
|NPR0BE OF WAGES
0NSCHOOL PROJECT
Carpenters Charge Contrac-
tor Is Paying Less Than
Legal Scale.
BRIDE RECOMMENDS
ACTION TO D. C. HEADS
Declares Firm Must Show Cause
Why Contract Should Not
Be Revoked.

Dc httOheu.
Corporation Counsel William w.
Bride today recommended to the Dis
| tr1ct Commissioners a public hearing
in the wage dispute between the Cata-
lano Construction Co. and certain of
its employees so as to bring to light
has been paying less than the wage
scale provided under the Bacon-DaVis
act
Mr.. Bride said that If the fact was
established he would recommend that
the contract be declared forfeited and
the work done by some other con-
tractor.
The Commissioners have not vet
acted upon the recommendation, but
it is understood that it will be ap-
proved and that the hearing will be
held either Tuesday or Wednesday Of
next week
VIII Conduct Inquiry.
Between now and that time Mr..
Bride will direct an intensive investiga-
tion based on three written complaints
already filed at his Office, alleging that
the construction company has paid its
employees less than the prevailing rates
OF wages. The complaints are also
under investigation by the Department
OF Labor's Bureau of Cancellation.
At the Labor Department today, IL
was said that these matters had already
been called to the attention of the Dis
trict authorities and that the Labor
Department would expect the Commits
sloners to pursue vigorous investiga-
lntn r,tc
ment itself, it was said, would not take
a direct hand unless the Commissioners
fail to do so.
Mr.. Bride said that in the public
nearing the contractor would be sum-
moned to show cause why the contract
should not be taken away from him on
the allegations of violating the wage
scale law and that the burden of proof
would then be upon him to show that
the law had, In fact, not been violated.
Additional Complaints.
Two additional complaints against
the company, which were unearthed in
the corporation counsels Office today as
that office began its investigation into
charges made yesterday that the con-
Germ was paying less than the legal
scale of wages to its carpenters.
These complaints were filed June 19
by two men who said they were hired
as carpenters, but that the company
endeavored to pay them off as carpen-
ter's helpers. The scale for the former
employment is 81 an hour and for the
latter SO cents. The men said that
when they protested they were fired.
1t also developed that a group OF
with Corporation Counsel Bride last
Thursday and complained about the
labor practices on the vocational school
job. At that time, it was learned, Mr..
Bride planned an immediate investi-
cation, but owing to misunderstand-
ing between the corporation counselis
Office and the Office of the inspector of
claims the inquiry was postponed.
Paid 81 Rate and Fired.
The complaint filed yesterday by
John Thomas, formerly carpenter on
this job, was to the effect that ha was
hired as carpenter at the dollar-an-
hour rate, but that the construction
company endeavored to pay him of at
60 cents an hour. He said when he
protested he was paid the dollar rate
and then fired. He also charged the
carpenters now on the job had signed
cards for 81 an hour, but were being
paid only 60 cents.
Another carpenter, now on the job.
told Star reporter that in SEVEN
weeks of work as carpenter at the
dollar rate he had never received more
than so cents an hour and sometimes
as low as SO cents. He said he would
lose his job should it be discovered that
he had furnished the information.
The construction company. through
AL Klingenberg, its representative on
the job, emphatically denied the men
were being paid less than the legal
scale
The contract for construction of the
school contains clause giving the Dis
trict power to terminate the contract
by written notice should it be found
by the District Commissioners that
any laborer or mechanic employed by
the contractor or any subcontractor on
the public work covered by .his con-
tract has been or is being paid rate
of wages less than the prevailing rate
of wages as aforesaid.
Demand Copy of Pay Roll
This clause has been inserted in all
building contracts since passage of the
Bacon-Davis act providing for pay
ments at prevailing wage scales in 1881.
1t has never been invoked on any job
up to date, although there have been
complaints in at least 20 cases that
men were being paid less than the
prevailing scale. In at least two of
the cases the contractors admitted the
short payment and make good the diff
ference to the workers.
Shortly after the Bacon Davis act
became law the Commissioners an
nounced their intention of requiring all
contractors to furnish copies of their
pay rolls certified on oath to be true
and correct. 1t was learned today this
policy has never been put into prac-
tice on any contract since the Bacon.
Davis act was passed. Harold w.
Baker, District director of construction,
however, late yesterday filed with the
Catalano Construction Co. a request
for such a certified pay roll. 1t had
not been received at the District Suild-
ing up to noon.
Corporation Counsel Bride said that
under a ruling handed down May 4 of
this year by Controller General McCarl
lowed to keep out of the contract price
enough money to pay claims Of work
men who had been paid less than the
prevailing rate even If they should
be able to prove their claims in court
and obtain judgment. Should they
be able to do this their only remedy
would be against the construction
company.
Inspector Must Explain.
Harold w. Baker, District director Of
construction, said today that he would
call on Roland Nichols, an inspector
employed by the municipal architects
office, to explain the circumstances that
two Of Nichols brothers are employees of
the contractor on the school job which
Nichols, as a District inspector. is called
upon to supervise. He said he would
take no action until after Nichols has
stated his side of the case, but that
he expected to recommend to Nichols
that either he or his brothers give up
their johA