Montana labor news., 1935-08-08

cations, working and living conditions, the re
port is a total and complete failure. On the
face OF the report it is a commentator Of the
progress of the project under the direction Of
the u. S.. Army Engineers and affords no re-
lief for the abuses presented to the Glasgow and
Fort Peck hearing.
The Montana State Federation of Labor, many
State Councils, Local Labor Councils and Local
Unions have appealed to the u. S. Senators and
Congressman from this state for relief and the
removal of the inhuman eatment residents of
the State Of Montana have suffered while en-
ployed at Fort Peck.
Every u. S. governmental agency set up to
right the wrongs Of labor suffered on the Fort
Peck project by reason of the policies of the
U. S. Army Engineers and the profit plucking
contractors, has been appealed to, and have af-
forded no relief.
Your committee therefore recommends this
State Federation of Labor petition for a con-
gressional Investigation Of the wage scales paid,
the wage classifications upon which the wages
were paid, the living and working conditions on
the Fort Peck project from the time work start
ed on this project.
Only by a congressional investigation can the
vicious and sordid facts be established and those
responsible for the grievous wrongs enforced
upon the workmen Of the State of Montana be
placed before the bar of public opinion and made
to suffer the consequences of misusing and abus-
ing their offices and authority which has result
ed in insuring and securing profits for compe-
titive contractors than for the wage, working
and living conditions of the workmen employed.
Only by a congressional Investigation can the
workmen of the State Of Montana be granted
the relief from the wage chiseling on the Fort
Peck project and the policies and practices of the
Army Engineers in enforcing the policies of the
federal government as set forth in contract
forms be established.
Only by a congressional investigation and con-
gressional action in holding those responsible for
short paying workmen on this project be es-
tablished and a congressional appropriation made
to pay the workmen employed on the Fort Peck
project the wages that congress intended should
be paid.
Respectfully submitted,
Walter Smethurst, Chairman; ]. E. WHISKY,
Lawrence Nelson, P. w. Dowler, J. Mcdonald,
B. /. Steinmetz, Tim Lynch.
This report gives a fairly adequate idea, as far
as words can convey, of the terrible wrongs that
have been inflicted upon hundreds of workers
by the Government and employers at this pro-
ject. However, it is impossible for words to tell
the crimes and the industrial murders and the
exploitation that has been going on at this pro-
jeot. Mr.. James Graham president of the Fed
Grafton has raised heaven and earth to correct
these conditions. Herewith is quoted a section
of his report at the thirty-seventh convention
at Helena:
FORT PECK
The Fort Peck dam project has suddenly turn
ed an agricultural community into an industrial
center. Under the circumstances the job was an
unorganized one from the beginning, and the
contractors and the army officers in charge of
the project desired it to remain an open shop
job. ssa
1t is estimated that eight thousand men are
employed on the project and the work will last
for five years. To allow this vast army of men
to remain unorganized would jeopardize the en-
tire labor movement of the state. The work Of
organization has been proceeding at a fair pace.
At present unions of carpenters, plasters, plum
bers and pipe filters, hosting engineers, pile
drivers and truckdrivers have been organized at
Fort Peck and Glasgow.
The Building Trades code wage scale is sup
posed to be in effect, but the contractors have
cut wages and lowered working conditions, with
the support and cooperation of the army Off
GERS in charge of the project. Protests were
made to Washington against the working con
ditions and the wage chiseling by the %contrac-
tors.
The Board Of Labor Review held a hearing
at Glasgow and Fort Peck on July % and "a.
Evidence was presented to the board proving
conclusively that the contractors were violating
their contracts by refusing to pay the wage scale
provided for in the contracts. The Board of La
Dor Review, on August 18th, gave a report of
their findings, which was a magnificent white
wash for the army officers in charge of the pro-
ject. The report of the Board of Labor Review
will be no surprise to those who attended the
hearing, as most of them anticipated that white
wash would be used; in fact, one of the army
officers, Lieut.. c. H. Chorpening, acted at the