The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-10
REPAIRING WORK ON
STATE-0WNED FARM
BUILDINGS HALTED
c. W. Lewis of Bank Of North
Dakota Issues New Order
Thursday
LABOR GROUPS OBJECTED
Had Been Employing Relief
Workers on Jobs With
Federal Money

Employment Of relief workers to
paint and repair buildings on farms
owned by the state Of North Dakota
will halt Immediately, it was an
nounced Thursday by G. w. Lewis Of
the Bank Of North Dakota, In charge
Of state-owned farms.
The fact that labor and unemploy-
ment organizations have objected to
the plan Of employing relief workers
ir the painting and repairing program
was given as the reason for halt
ing it.
The state convention Of unem-
ployed councils Tuesday adopted q
resolution attacking the program,
declaring that relief workers are
forced to work for 80 cents an hour
and IS hours per week, doing skilled
tradesmen's work for $10.50 per week,
and will be paid with grocery slips
paid for by the federal government,
In addition to which they must fur
nish their own tools, pay their own
room, meals, lodging and transpor-
tation."
Lewis full statement follows:
No Appropriation Made
mo appropriation was made by the
legislature to repair and paint build
ings on farms owned by the state of
North Dakota.
I'm view Of the fact that labor and
unemployment organizations have
seen tit to object to the plan of re-
pairing and painting state-owned
buildings located on state-owned
farms, all work win stop immedi-
ately.
1.-THE only time Governor LANCER
was consulted In connection with this
project was during the spring when
negotiations were under way with the
work relief section of the Recon
struction Finance Corporation for an
advance with which to pay for labor
in connection with these repairs.
Under date of May 20, 1888. I fur
nished complete statement to the
federal government and quote para
graph regarding labor recommends
tons:
"'The average wage paid
throughout the state Of North
Dakota covering labor of this
kind Is from 40c to coo per hour.
This covers common labor, paint
ers, carpenters, and masons for
concrete work on foundations.
This, of course, includes an al
lowance for board and Transport
tation. We feel that the average
wage paid on labor of this kind
will be 60c an hour. It will re-
quire on an average 500 man
hours at 60c per hour or total
Of $4,000 for labor for each
farm
I'VE were unable to secure the ad-
vance with which to carry out THU
work in harmony with our recon-.
mendations Of May 20, 1888.
1.-THE net result Of our work wa.
to secure the approval Of funds tx
be expended according to Rule o.
the federal emergency relief admin.
istration. which Is as follows:
"'No. 4. Rules governing con-
ditions Of employment on work
relief projects:
"T. On and after Aug. I, 1888,
state and local relief administra-
lions may not employ any per-
sons under 16 years Of age on
work relief projects.
III. Rates Of Pay-On and
after Aug. l, 1888, grants made
under the federal emergency re-
lief act Of 1888 can be used in
paying work relief wages only at
or above thirty cents (3Oc) an
hour. The local prevailing rate
Of pay for the type Of work per-
formed should be paid II 1t is In
excess Of soc per hour.
Limit Is IS Hours
"'III. On and after Aug. !,
1888. no one employed on a work
relief project shall be allowed to
work more than eight co hours
in any one day, nor more than
thirty-five (35) hours In any one
week Tor one hundred. and fifty
hours (l50) in any one month";
II the work involved is physical
labor. II the work relief project
is In an office Involving the use
Of clerical employees, ct cetera)
no one shall be allowed to work
more than forty (40) hours Tn
any one week. The number Of
hours Of work-relief given per
week or per month should be only
enough to provide for the budget
airy needs of the family.
Sincerely yours.
HARRY L. HOPKINS,
Administrator
"The state relief committee ap.
proved the plan Of permitting mar
to work more hours per week thar