Evening star., 1934-07-12
D. {. HEADS WARN
ALL CONTRACTORS
Letter Informs Them Con-
tracts May Be Cancelled
for Wage Violations.

Carrying out a policy announced
last week. the Commissioners today
notified all contractors orr District
government projects their contracts
may be Cancelled if and when it is
proved legal wage scales and other
contract requirements have been vio-
lated
This action was recommended by
Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Pretty
man. who informed the city heads
the cheating of workmen by use of
the "kick-bac scheme and other
measures employed to evade rules set
up for protection of labor warranted
used of summary action in dealing
with recalcitrant contractors.
Text of GotwaIs' Letter.
A letter sent today by Engineer
Commissioner John c. Gotwals to all
firms holding District government con-
struction contracts reads. in part
The Commissioners entertain the
belief that a great majority OF District
government contractors in the past
have observed, and now are observing.
these requirements. As to such con-
tractors the Commissioners express
confidence that they will continue
their cooperation with municipal
authorities.
For the purpose of ferreting out
and eliminating from existing and
future contracts with the District of
Columbia all those who are unwilling
20 Cooperate with them in the prem
ises. the Commissioners have appointed
a representative board of municipal
officials charged with the duty of de-
termining whether violations of stat
utory and (cr) contract requirements
have occurred and, when such viola
tions have been established, to recon-
mend to the Board of Commissioners
the immediate cancellation of the con-
tract involved or parts thereof wherein
violations are found to exist"
Wages Ma jor Items.
The Commissioners also notify the
contractors that wage and other regu-
lations prescribed for public projects
are major items in the policy of the
Federal administration, with which the
Board of Commissioners are in hearty
accord"
The Wage Compliance Board. Gre
ated by the Commissioners to stamp
out the "kick-back practices, was to
meet again this afternoon to perfect
plans for checking pay-offs to assure
payment of full wages to contractors
employees.
Labor still is dissatisfied with the
appointment of Capt. Howard F. Clark.
Assistant Engineer Commissioner, as
chairman of the wage board. it was
stated today by John Locher. secretary
of the Building Trades Council. He
charged that Clark not only is "un-
friendly" to labor. but himself has
ordered wage scales in violation of
Federal wage rules.
Asks CIark's Removal.
Locher suggested that William H.
Wahly, assistant corporation counsel.
a member of the wage board be
named chairman of the body. Speak
ing for his group, Locher asks again
that Clark be taken entirely off the
wage BOARD.
Commissioner GotwslS appeared to-
day to be willing to name some one
else chairman of the committee if
labor continues to refuse to cooperate
with the board as long as Clark is
chairman If it will make any differ
ence as to who is head of the Wage
Compliance Board, say that I am
chairman and Capt. Clark is vice
chairman" said Maj Gotwals.
Replying to this however. Locher
insisted that Clark should be taken
of the board if the Commissioners
want the cooperation of labor.