Evening star., 1934-07-27

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president Of the Boilermakers, Iron
ship Builders and Helpers. told the
committee that the progress Of work
both in navy yards and private yards
on naval contracts awarded last year
has not been satisfactory and that a
large number Of men are out OF en-
ployn1ent because last years ship
building program is not going ahead
as fast "a was expected
Blocking Of Funds Debated.
Legislation to enable Government
departments tn withhold payment OF
money due contractors on public
buildings II disputes are pending be-
tween the contractor and workmen
over prevailing wage scales. was sug-
gested for consideration by Congress
by Chairman Walsh at the start OF
today's hearing.
Senator Walsh suggested that this
proposal be noted in the record for
after Col. l.. H. Trip, director oi
construction for the Veterans Ad-
ministration. had explained that the
controller generals office has ruled
departments may not withhold money
due q contractor because Of unsettled
disputes over wages.
Funds Unavailable.
Capt. Howard r. Clark. deputy ad-
ministrator in charge Of the work
division of the local relief set-up, told
the committee yesterday that because
Of budget limitations, his ONCE Is not
furnishing skilled workers at present.
except in a few cases. He said the
present effort is TO provide men on the
relief rolls with unskilled or semi
skilled work because we flnd that is
the best we can do for 80 per cent Of
them"
He explained that funds are not
available to supply trucks and other
materials necessary TO carry on prof.
ects that would call for skilled work.
He also contended that the work-au-
thorization cards given men on the
relief rolls by the case workers are
limited to the specific sum needed TO
make up the deficiency in the in
dividuafs budget, and that these limi-
tstions made it difficult to assign men
to work calling for skilled rates of
pay.
Plumbers Protest.
Earlier in the day a group of car
penters and several plumbers testified
they had performed skilled work while
being paid at unskilled or semi-skilled
rates. The carpenters were working
on upkeep of buildings occupied by the
relief organization itself and the
plumbers were sent to Gallinger Hos
pital to work by the relief agency.
Replying to the charges of Charles
MCGUIRE and several others that their
work as carpenters in the relief agency
ceased after they wrote to Commis-
sioner Allen to complain that they
were doing skilled work at less than
the prevailing wage. Capt. Clark and
william c. Cleary, general manager
of the work relief division, told the
committee the project on which the
men we're engaged had not been ap-
provide as a skilled project. They said
they had no knowledge the men were
doing skilled work until the letter OF
complaint was referred to them And
because it had not been approved as
a skilled project, they said, they or
dered George L. Penn, The foreman,
to abandon the project.
MCGUIRE had testified yesterday
morning that after he and the other
carpenters had sent the wage COM
plant to the District Building, Penn
told him he had no more work and
referred him back to his case worker
for some other work authorization.
Testiiies on Change.
Penn testified the men received the
prevailing wage until April /. when
the C. w. A. program ended. He said
he wanted to keep the same crew and
took the question UP with his su-
periors, who decided to give them "a
hours a week at rs cents an hour.