Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-16
U.S.Connives
With Union,
PegIer Says
Government Disreeerds
Notices Of Truth
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER


first national convention Of the
Hod-Carriers' Building and Com
mon Laborers' Union of Amer
lea since 1911.
This union is beyond the COM
prehcnsion of Americans who
have always believed in a credu-
louS, unqucStioning way that
unions were idcalistic groupings
Of workers devoted to the COM
mon good Of the members.
The national officers of this
union elect themselves 10 their
respective offices and the ma
tional headquarters frequently
has made a practice of suspend
ing the elected officials of local
unions and Superseding them
with appointed viceroys when
members OF the locals became
obStreperouS regarding their
\ rights or their funds.
When the autonomy Of local
is thus revoked the books and
money pass into the hands Of
the small group Of self-elected
national officials and the APP
pointed boss Of the local car
ricS out the orders Of these few
men.
In other words, this group led
by Joseph Y. Moreschi of Chi
caco. the president. who never
was elected 10 that office by
the rank and file or by vote
of local units. j. thus enabled 10
boss without possibility OF chal-
lcngc. not only the national body
but a sufficient number Of the
locals 20 prevent any effective
uprising.
1--WE national union year ago
L claimed 100000 members
and this number doubtless has
been increased by AT least $4,000
and probably by 100000 by n
process practiced on defense
workers of various kinds within
tho last year.
The national government Of
the United States has connived
ut this for il has been the sub
iect Of much discussion but has
not been interfered with.
Men applying for work on
defense jobs have had 10 pay
from $40 10 $50 each for initia-
ton and pay dues which vary.
Many men who paid their ini-
tiatlOn fees in instruments were
fired as SOON as they were paid
up and replaced by other new
members, sch m @ which
brought IN extra initiation fees.
The national headquarters of
Morcschi IN Washington gets
50 out Of each initiation fee and
the local keeps the rest.
The average annual dues arc
not known 20 me but must be
at least $50 a year which would
mean that the annual rakeoff
exclusive Of initiation fees. must
be- Sl2SO0 600 on the basis Of
go 600 members or $4,000 900
on the basis of 300. 600.
out of this the national head
quarters gets IS cents n month
per man, a total Of Sl050 600 a
year for the maintenance Of the
headquarters and the death bcnc-
IN fund, on the basis of 250. 900
members. or 81 go 900 on the
basis Of 100000.
TIlE death benefit fund gets
y cents out of each men,
ber'S monthly per capita Of 35
cents which would be SlS.750 n
month on the basis of $500
members or So, 500 on the basis
Of 100000.
However, the benefits actually
paid, which cannot exceed 5000
IN any case, were only a little
over $1,000 a month for a typi-
cal period OF three months. April,
May and juno. 1910.
The financial statement for
that period states that an UNI
specified amount was paid for
legal service 10 John MoreSchi.
which IS the name of the son Of
Joseph V. Moroschi, the presi-
dent.
John MorcSchi, the son. was
for a time an assistant United
States district attorney in Chi
Cago, which was the scene Of
the fabulous operations of the
late Mike CarroZZo.
He owned outright the char
tiers of abou. > locals. obtained
millions Of dollars from and by
means Of thc workers and died
last year under bond TO secure
claim from the internal rev
cnuc department of S250,000 as
deficiencies in his income tax
returns for two years only, plus
penalties and interest.
THE account of the death
Il benefit fund reports that the
administration expenses incurred
in receiving the contributions
and paying out $4,000 in benc-
fits for the three months period
mentioned were S12,557. or more
than half as much as the total
Of benefits paid in that time.
It would be idle TO wonder
how much the national union
and all the locals have collected
from the hOd carriers, ditch
diggerS, garbage handlers and
paving workers in the 30 years 1
since the last convention or what
happened TO the money.
copyrighted by United Features synd. Ina