Evening star., 1934-05-28
.BU|LD|NC|NDUSTRY
PROBE IS PLANNED
Byrnes Seeks Action on
WaIsh.Davis Bill as
Strikes Grow.

As a general strike took about three
fourths Of the union workmen off the
"triplet" buildings in the Federal tri-
angle this morning, Chairman Byrnes
of the Senate Committee on Audit and
Control, called a meeting of his COM
mittee for tomorrow morning to act
on the WalSh-Davis resolution to make
a sweeping probe of the alleged kick
back" racket and other alleged abuses
in the building industry here in Wash
ington and throughout the country.
The strike. growing out of a juris-
dictional dispute, apparently had re-
moved about 275 workmen. leaving 125
still on the job, according to the best
estimates available. The men still at
work on the triplet buildings, Inter-
state Commerce Commission, Depart
ment of Labor and Government Audi
torium, are members of the Bricklay-
ers. Masons and Plasterers' Interna-
tional Union and of the Electrical
Workers Union.
Trade Head Calls Strike.
The strike was called by M. J. Nc
Donough. president of the building
trades department of the American
Federation of Labor. So far as could
be learned, all crafts belonging to this
department of the A. F. of L. obeyed
the strike order and were off the job.
The crafts remaining on the JOB do
not belong to the building trades de-
partment of the A. F. Of L.. but do
belong to the A. F. of L. itself
Meantime, the striking carpenters
called a meeting for Wednesday
morning at 10 o'clock at the audito-
rum Of the National Press Building
to vote on the recent wage agreement
approved by the Carpenters Wage
Committee This agreement, which
increases wages of carpenters from
81 to SIPS an hour, continuing the
8-hour day, will be recommended to
the membership of the union by the
Wage Committee, but must receive
approval Of the membership before
becoming effective.
Senator Byrnes, who has had the
Walsh resolution before his commit
tee on audit and control for some
time, promised action tomorrow
morning in an executive session of
his committee. An item of 5000
expenses is involved, to be expended
by the Senate Committee on Educa-
ton and Labor. Of which Senator
Walsh is chairman. The probe
would be made by the Education and
Labor Committee, which already has
conducted a two-day hearing of a
preliminary nature. disclosing sensa-
tional charges, particularly regarding
the kick-back.
Walsh Confident
Senator Walsh is confident the
Senate will pass the measure as soon
as it is approved by the Committee
on Audit and Control, and he plans
to make a sweeping investigation.
Local labor leaders who have already
appeared would be called to testify.
In addition, Senator Walsh plans to
call before the committee also Gov
ernment officials charged with carry
ing out the Governments building
plans in several departments, and
contractors who have been charged
with taking money from labor,
through means of the "kick-back."
Workmen of the Bricklayers' Union,
who were on the triplet buildings this
morning. included tile settlers, terrazo
men, stone masons, marble settlers and
plasterers who were casting the dis
puted acoustical stone Men of the
international Brotherhood of Electri-
cal Workers went to work as usual
on the job this morning, awaiting
word from their international officers
as to whether to strike or remain on
the job still further.
Seeks Aliens Support.
James Buckley. financial secretary
Of the local plasterers' union, an
nounced that a committee of this
organization will call on District Com
missioner Allen tomorrow to solicit
his support for the Walsh resolution.
This local has been active in working
for the Walsh measure, and recently
received assurance that Senator Byrnes
would obtain action early this week
from the Senate Audit and Control
Committee.
The plasterers also are on strike
for an increase from $1.50 to SITS an
hour and a six-day week.
Engineers, firemen and oilers were
still on strike today in the ice cream
plants of Carry's and Southern Diaries
to enforce their demands for an in
crease in wages.