Evening star., 1939-07-07
W. P. A.
Continued From First Page)

with Col. Harrington at o'clock
to discuss particularly the Commits
sioners ultimatum that men must
be separated from the rolls If absent
for more than the flve-day period.
Plea Made to Congress.
Critical of the blunt order that
workers must be discharged If they
are absent more than five consective
days, the National Administrative
Committee of the Alliance, meet
Ing here yesterday, called on Con-
gress to restore the prevailing
hourly wage rate provision and to
give greater discretion to admins
trative officials in disbursement of
w. P. A. funds.
The Alliance directed its men,
bersh1p to cooperate with other
groups in protest action and that a
time be fixed for local one-day
stoppages or other necessary
orderly action"
The Workers Security Federation,
claiming membership of more than
100000 in 81 States, issued similar
protest instructions, with specific
direction that the federation CO.
operate with A. F. L. unions which
may be on strike.
Such strikes by A. F. L. groups
whose members have been working
at prevailing wages on w. P. A. Jobs
were ordered officially yesterday in
New York City, Cleveland, Will
mington, Rochester, Duluth and
other cities.
In New York. Building Trades
Council President Thomas A. MUIR
ray asserted
I'VE will strike to a finish on all
W. P. A. work. We recognize that
the w. P. A. administration has no
discretion in this situation. We all
know that 1t is the law and that the
only ones who can change the law
are the people who made it.
Congress has not had the fore
sight to envisage the effect of the
change In w. P. A. wage scales.
The best way to demonstrate that
effect is by the action taken here
today
Mr. Murray estimated 25,OOO to
10000 who quit would be Joined bv
an equal number.
At once, New York State Welfare
Commissioner David c. Ardie an
nounced, I'VE are not softies and
w. P. A. workers who refuse to work
Will not 60 on home relief" A
similar declaration came from Will
liam Hodson, New York City COM
missioner.
In Washington, officials OF the A.
F. OF L. Building Trades Department
have been in consultation with their
local councils, but have left the
privilege OF deciding protest policy
to the local groups.
Strike to Continue.
George Meany, president of the
New York State Federation of La
Dor, conferred with Mayor La Guar
dia today but indicated that the
strike in New York City would con-
tinue
Both Mr.. Meany and Mr.. Murray,
representing l25 American Fedora
tion of Labor building unions in
the city, expressed their hope
however, that the conference would
lead to something"
In Rhode Island State Admins
traitor Farrell D. Coyle said the
strike had ended with return to
work of about SO carpenters and
bricklayers in Providence and the
promise Of 275 workers on a sewer
project in Cranston to come back
to their jobs. All quit yesterday.
Ross Haworth, assistant w. P. A.
administrator for the District. said
there still were about so off local
jobs today but that they will not
be replaced unless they overstay
the f1ve-day limit.
Work is continuing on the Water
Gate concert barge, he said, and
although ~ of the strikers were
from that project he promised COM
pletion by time of the first con-
cert next Wednesday.
Prepare for Mass Meeting.
Local w. P. A. workers were being
solicited today by the District Prof.
ect Workers Union, an independent
group, to attend protest mass
meeting Monday night at 1923 H
street NV. Handbills announcing
the meeting were being distributed
in front of local w. P. A. headquar-
ters, at 460 G street NV.
Although official figures were lack
ing on the Nation wide total of
workers refusing to continue their
jobs, an A. F. L. spokesman ventured