It is a period of time today of debates about immigration, workers from other countries on Government funded jobs, or even Americans of variety of races working together on jobs.
Mid Century America has not changed that much as we look back on events. In researching and reading original documents from the National Archives, we can find similar debates.
In these files one can find letters to the Supervising Architect complaining that some of those working on the buildings were sending most of their pay back to their home country to families left behind. This seemed objectionable as the complainants felt that money should stay in the USA. In response A B Mullett said it was their money and they could do what they wished with it and as long as they did the job well, they could keep the job they were hired to do.
Then some were complaining about the amount of pay each one received and the response was similarly, that those hired to do a job and did the work the pay was the same. One was paid for the job and not for the differences between the workers.
This was also a time just following Lincoln’s assassination and freedom of slaves, that many of the workers, especially the tool sharpeners and stone cutters were former slaves, white laborers, and foreign workers. Letters to the Supervising Architect complaining that these workers had to share the same workers sheds. Again the response is those doing the same work have the same arrangements in the same sheds and anyone who was not happy with that arrangement could quit and find work elsewhere. It appears that in each instance there was not a big turnover and everyone remained at work in their assigned jobs and quarters.
Of course in the case of those who were not citizens working on building projects, these were in the country legally so we will not address that complication. Aside from that it is a shame so many of these concerns are still with us today.
