Evening star., 1937-03-03
Bridge Firm Official Tells
Probers Wage Row Caused
Difficulties.
"OPEN SHOP" GUARD
LAID TO "POLITICS"
Garner Tells of Beer and Lunches
Purchased by Company
for Police.
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

The American Bridge Co., a sub
sidiary of United States Steel Corp,
spent $289,462 for protection" from
labor troubles during the S2,000,000
Pulaski Skyway construction job in
New Jersey, it was brought out be-
fore the La Toilette Civil Liberties
Committee today, although the threat
of difficulties arose from the concerns
determination to pay Is cents an
hour less than the union scale for
skilled workmen.
The disputed wage difference would
have amounted to only $4,000. it was
estimated, but Curtis S. Garner, gene
eral manager of the company. empha-
sized that allowing union ''racketeers"
on the job would have meant more
than the $4,000 increase.
The concern hired large guard
forces and finally obtained public
police protection ION account of pol
itics' in Jersey City, it was disclosed
Better cooperation of local police
forces was obtained in some other
communities on the bridge job, it was
shown, particularly happy condition
prevailing in Kearney, where the chief
was good sport"
Soda pop, near beer and lunches
were items in the protection expense,
ledgers and memoranda showed, al
though there was movement to get
the officers on a diet of good, cold
water"
General Manager Testifies.
The practices of the company. known
in the trade as Ambridge, were brought
out through Garner'S testimony and
considerable documentary evidence
The concern formed united 'front.'
with two competitors in some of the
anti-labor policies, it was shown, al
though Ambridge correspondence re-
ected some measure of company pride
in being able to obtain policemen
without paying for them
A climax of these protective" prac-
tices was riot on November IA, 1881,
in which one of the union picketS,
Edward P. ergin. was seriously wound
ed by gunfire. Ralph Golden, a COM
pany guard. was indicted for the
shooting
Ambridge paid legal fees for Golden's
defense, finally resulting in acquittal,
and paid him $50 per week during dis
position of his case. Although denying
he approved Golden's use Of firearms,
Garner wrote on one occasion that he
believed Golden did ''the best he could
under the circumstances.
Continued on Pay Roll.
Although the acquittal came in
March, 1884. the company continued
Golden on the pay roll until No.
vember, 1885, in order to keep him
around where he would be accessible I"
Bergin, in that period. was pressing
a civil suit for 100000 against Am
bridge.
Senator La Toilette announced the
committee had great difficulty serv-
ing subpoena on Golden and since
serving it had been unable to relocate
him.
Garner, first on the stand, told the
committee he has never done any
work under other than an open-shop
policy, which he defined as giving
every man the right to work at a
fair days pay for good days work if
We need him"
This policy, he continued, is estab-
lished by the Steel Corp. for its sub
salaries, being applied most directly
to Ambridge by S. A. Paddock, presi-
dent; E. H. Heald, contracting vice
president, and G. NJ Hunter. another
vice president. Paddock and Heald
both are directors of U. S. Steel,
Garner said.
Ambridge was one of the charter
(See LA TOILETTE, Page A-2)