Montana labor news., 1935-11-14
Silver Bow Trades and Labor Council Committee
Discovers Shameful Inadequacy of Funds in Sill
yer Bow County to Feed and Clothe the People.
Ask Federal Government for Additional $780, 900
for the Month of November.

nber.
signed to WPA sufficient to adequately
clothe these workers in zero weather?
Answer MOI $2,500.O0 is entirely
insufficient to clothe some 1000 work
ers in zero weather, especially so, in
view of the fact that they have been
receiving only a very small clothing al
lowance for the past several months.
Question Could you state, just what
allowance has been made to each indi-
vidual on relief for clothing-that is,
during the past several months
Answer: Our clothing costs have
averaged approximately 80 cents per
person per month for the past six
months.
Question: Under these circum-
stances you could hardly expect these
men to have surplus supply OF work
clothing.
Answer: mol
Question: Did not the officials Of
the WPA inform you that workers
were suffering, because they were
poorly shod and insufficiently clothed,
and that they feared many would CON
tract pneumonia?
Answer: Yes, and for your informa-
ton, here are two letters from WPA
officials in regard to this subject:
We submit to you an exact copy Of
letters
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINS
TRATION
Montana
District No. 4
Silver Bow Club Bldg.
Butte, Nov. 2, 1885
Mr.. Ralph Flynn. Administrator
Montana Relief Commission
Butte, Montana
Dear sir -
On my inspection OF projects that
were started on WPA yesterday I
found that many OF the men were in
adequately clothed for the type OF work
which they were assigned due to the
severe weather which prevailed.
We found men who had nothing but
low cut oxfords, no gloves and very
few had heavy coats and as there is
no shelter on any Of the projects these
were suffering due to the cold
even with the small fires that could be
started.
Mr.. Davis is having cards made to
be taken to the different projects that
will certify that the men are employed
on these projects and that they are
badly in need Of clothing, they will be
sent to your office and unless they are
adequately clothed they will be taken
from the work.
This is very important from the re-
lief standpoint as these men will come
down with sickness if allowed to work
their present condition and as the
WPA will not be able to take care of
them due to sickness I think they
should be taken care Of before this
happens.
Yours very truly,
J.. P. CARROLL
State Safety Representative
District No. 4.
=
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINS
TRATION
Montana
District No. 4
Silver Bow Club Bldg.
Butte. November 2 1Q3s
Mr.. Ralph Flynn
ERA. Administrator
Courthouse
Montana
Dear Mr.. Flynn:
In putting the relief clients to work
on WPA Projects, we have found that
a great many Of the men are improperly
clothed As you know there is s
inches of snow on the ground at the
present time and many of these men
out %endeavoring to work wearing
oxfords. Others have not sufficient
underwear and coats to keep them
warm and a great many Of them are
without proper protection for their
hands. To remedy this situation we
are having the foreman on the various
jobs send in the men for a clothing
requisition from your office. We would
appreciate it very much if you would
keep your office force at work this
afternoon in an effort to eliminate this
emergency by issuance of a clothing
to the men sent in by the fore
men on the job.
Thanking you in advance for your
kind cooperation in this matter, | am
Sincerely yours,
EDWIN K. DUNCAN, Asst.
Supervisor Labor Management
Question Did you take this matter
up with the Helena office?
Answer: Yes, and | was informed
hat they had not as yet, received funds
from Washington to carry on relief in
Montana for the current month. For
your information, | wish to state, that
have been beseiged for the past
week, with committees from organiza-
tons, demanding that clothing be fur
men working on the WPA, and
also for children attending school. We
have at all times, done everything in
our power, to overcome this condition.
but have met with no success.
Question Is it not a fact, that many
~, tII~a., moe. ....I1. a. .44..t ..t.-f