Evening star., 1940-12-17
Enge| B|ames Law
For Outrageous Pay
On Capitol Stee|work
House Member Lists
Wages and Says Rockets
Foreshudow Curb


Representative Engel, Republican,
of Michigan said today the out
rageous" wages received by struc-
tural steel workers who erected tenn
porary supports for the age-weak-
ened roofs over the Senate ard
House chambers were made possible
by the Labor Departments rulings
under the Davis-Bacon Act.
Data given the House yesterday
by Mr.. Engel showed the foreman
on the job received $26483, minus
the social security tax of $267, for a
weeks work ending December II. A
so-called "pusher" or straw boss"
he declared, drew a net of S12098.
These wages included overtime.
"It seems to me to have people
draw money out of the Treasury at
that extent is outrageous" Mr..
Engel declared. Il am opposed to
anti-strike legislation, but if 1t Is
passed 1t will be men of this type
who are making it a racket that
will be responsible"
Advised on Wage Scale.
Mr.. Engel explained that David
Lynn, supervising architect of the
Capitol, asked the Labor Depart
ment for a wage predetermination
under the Davis-Bacon Act with re-
spect to the construction of the
temporary supports for the ceiling
Of the Senate and House chambers
and was advised of the prevailing
minimum rates for this locality for
the various crafts that would be in
volved in the work. These wage
scales, he said, were followed.
Despite the size of the pay checks
made out to the structural steel
workers last week, Mr.. Engel told
the House the men refused to accept
them until they were paid an extra
half hours pay. He pointed out
that under union rules when double
shifts are worked, day is counted
as five and a half instead of six
hours.
Il am hoping he declared that
labor will clean its own house before
public sentiment becomes so strong
it will be forced to-
Business Agent Explains.
The rate of pay and hours of the
men, who are members of Structural
Iron Workers Local No 5. A. F. of
L. affiliate, were set September 5,
1888 in an agreement that is
registered at the Labor Department,
Eugene Wells, business agent. said.
Two shifts are being worked at
the Capitol, Mr.. Wells explained,
one shift beginning at $50 am.
and ending at u noon, at which
time the other starts and runs to
$50 pm.
Under the agreement. which sets
hours as full work day when
only one shift Is worked, work day
shall consist of five and one-half
hours when two shifts are worked,
he said. Thus, the men at the
Capitol are paid for six hours work,
although they only work five and
one-half hours. The agreement
provides for this, Mr.. Wells stated.
Overtime work is paid for at time
and-half the rate of the regular pay,
Mr.. Wells said. The foreman on the
job is a highly trained workman, he
said, and probably is working both
shifts. Some days the foreman prob
ably does not get away from the
job until 7 or pm, he added.
Lists Names and Pay.
Mr.. Engel named Ernest Luih as
the foreman whose pay for the week
ending December II crossed $267.5O.
Other names he mentioned on the
House floor were those of Jean P.
Jones, whose net pay was given as
S12098: Arthur de LIE Leu, Sl1918;
Lee S. Griffith, S12098. and Clarence
Burks. S9108. These men were
classed among the bosses" but the
complete pay roll of all the en-
ployes who worked on the project
showed that most of the steelWork-
ers each drew net of $10296.
Mr.. Engel said the regular pay of
a foreman is $3.50 an hour, that
of 'pusher," or straw boss"
$2.35 an hour and that of a STEEL
worker So an hour. The large pay
checks in this case, he pointed out,
were due to overtime pay After six
hours, he explained, overtime pay
begins at IL times the regular pay,
whereas double time is paid for
Saturdays and Sundays.
The total number of hours for
which the foreman was paid for the
seven-day week ending December II,
Mr.. Engel said, was 107, although he
did not actually work that many
hours due to overtime credits. The
same Is true, he explained, with re-
spect to other employees who were
credited with overtime.
68 Workers Listed.
A condensed version of the pay roll
of 66 workers, showing the number
Of hours for which they were credited
during the week ending December
II, and the net amount of the pay
check (minus tax follows:
Total Hrs. Net Pay.
Ernest Luih lot S264.83