The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1937-10-30
INVESTIGATION
BARES PLIGHT
OF EMPLOYEES
Probe Launched On
Workers Charges
In New Haven


mors that colorL workers In GER
tain factories and business estab-
lishments In New Haven. Michigan.
are being cheated out Of their
wages in violation OF the law, two
investigators and an official steno-
grapher from the Office OF the sec
rotary OF state made a recent trip
to that city to probe into the mat
ter.
According TO the accusations
which are supported by signed
statements from colored citizens,
conditions among many Of the al
legged victims In New Haven are
somewhat similar to peonage. 1t
Is also claimed that scores OF
wage-earners in the community are
Systematically being robbed OF
their income through an alleged
"garnishee racket"
Sends Prosecutor Letter
The following Ia Q letter, writ!
ten by a colored New Haven cliff
zen 10 the Prosecutor OF Macomb
County. II reads:
II wish 10 list a complaint re-
IA yiing the garnishee racket be-
ing conducted in New Haven. oil
nearly all of the colored people
here. who are employed by the New
Haven Foundry. 1t appears that
some of the law-enforcing officers
have grouped themselves with 9TH
er designing persons. to inflict
peonage upon myself and others OF
this community.
II wish you an dyour staff would
investigate this vicious practice.
Hoping that you will give this
matter your serious and immedi-
ate consideration. / am"
Sincerely yours.
Z. Simpson
j. l.. Cowling and Robert walker
the two investigators who were
sent to New Haven to probe into
the situation. were interviewed b,
the Tribune Tuesday. They submit
ted several signed testimonials
from New Haven citizens. which
were taken In shorthand by ste
nographer from the secretary Of
! states department. Two OF these
, testimonials. In which damaging
accusations are made, are as fol
lows:
SIGNED AFFIDAVIT
II am a member OF the u. A. w
A., working In the New Haver
foundry. New Haven. Mich. where
they do not recognise the agree
ment to the union where Coloret
people are concerned. I have beer
working for two years at the rate
OF 5sc per hour. have tried. aloni
with other Union members. Il
straighten out this condition ant
to date I have been unable to re
ceive any consideration. I am an
, other victim OF the garnishmen
| racket being conducted by thu
business men and the Justice o
the Peace and the paymaster OF thu
foundry which Is vicious practice
feel that this condition should b.
looked into by the State authors
ties.
Robert Cathey, Willow st.
New Haven. Michigan
Il know that the Colored peo
/ pie Of New Haven, Mich. are no
being treated fairly. II isn't RICH
for some one person to receive thu
mems checks. pay what bills HI
likes and then take out what HI
desires for himself. and then give
whatever small portion Of none,
is left to the man who worked iol
II. feel that II a man Is capable
of earning his pay. he. himsel
4, should be capable OF spending II
There are so many garnishment'
exacted upon the workers here
that the most a man can expec
back from two weeks pay fol
hard labor Is between ten and M
teen dollars. which Is causing
destitute condition among Colore'
citizens OF New Haven"
Mrs. Matte Harris, 1855 Rear st
New Haven. Michigan
The offce OF the attorney gen
eral OF Michigan, II Is stated, vii
be asked TO make further investi
cation into the charges. The Ma
tionai Association For the Ad
vancement OF Colored People vii
also take an active part in TIL
probe. t+e *