Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-29
Meeting Of Master Mechanic.

Meeting of Master Mechanics.
An adjourned meeting of the employing me-
thanics of Washington was held last night a,
the rooms of the Builders Exchangs. on +
street, opposite the General Post Offiea The
oineIent trades were well represented with
employers, drawn together to take into conSid
.ralOn' as stated by the members, the recent
acton on the part of employees tending to-
wards sirike. MIR. I. Il EntwisIe, the tenn
Porary chairman, presided, and Mr. George K
nix was appointed Secretary.
MI. MIX, chairman of the committee an
pointed TO prepare business for the association
submitted preamble and resolutions, in ex-
planatlon OF which he said that himself and
colleagues were much embarrassed in the ?
Preparation so as to avoid all semblaace of n
desire TO array capital against labor, or to en-
courage an issue between the EMPLOY er and en-
ployee. The preamble citFs the uncertain con-
uitlon OF our national affairs the prime
cause OF the depression and stagnation in busi
nesS, and exhorts a union of feeling and action
between The master and the journeyman as the
surest guarantee of mutual advantage and To-
cal prosperity. In order 10 the faithful perfor-
ma nee OF contracts made by master workmen
n calls Tor some permanent basis of LABOR prices
Tor the mutual protection of the connecting
Inks OF mechanism, and recommends the an
pOlntment of a committee TO revise and estab
hs a a list OF prices, based upon the present in
CHASED price of labor and material The fire.
quent changes in the scale of wages of Journey
me- o is adyerted 10, and an appeal made to them
10 Tx upon some tar and Ornament standard
IN ordsr that employers may make and conform
to " hateyer building contracts may be entered
into by them. With these objects in view a
s. rles of resolutions are appended embodyIng
tue provisions of the preamDle.l
An Interchange of sentiment having been in =
SIfed upon the report of the comm tee, Mr.
JOB Angus remarked that the only objection he
had 70 Its adoption was, that it did not go far
enough The organization of MASTER kmen
had been endered necessary in consequences of
the onsrOus eXactlons OF EMPLOYEES in their
demands
eight-hours labor. He wanted such by-laws
ana reSu laiIons adopted as would protect en-
ployers IN the pursuance of their business and
isolate them from entire dependence upon the
purneymen.
MIR. Wilson f. Brown called for the reading
OF the preamble and resolutions by sections:
winch was ordered, and the same adopted till
reaching the third resolution, which suggests a
revision OF the book of prices. To TINS Mr.
Angus objected, as impractieable and inoper-
anLe. 90 lar a. ne was concerned, he never
had worked by such rules, and never wouid
Mt. Brown thought the passage of the resolu-
ton at this time unnecessary After a while
the subject might BE- considered and an estah
Ilshed bill OF prices for contracts fixed upon
DE moved that the resolution be laid ON the
table. VIZ 'He
Mr.. Kirk advocated the expediency of forth
win providing for revision OF the book of
prices. II such not done there would from
bic ensue. Parties dispensing contracts would
refer 20 the old price book and demand COM
pliance with the figures, unless the same was
N Rre2S
IN the price of labor.
Mr.. Angus had no objection 10 those who
wanted a book OF prices for their government
having NJ but he was indisposed to have the
matter interfere with the permanent Organiza-
ton Of the employers society Ii wouid take
PEI haps, six months 10 execute such a work as
II OF ht TO be. There was no man in this COM
the book of prices at all
Mr.. George W. Hardness differed with Mr.
angus IN so lar as working by rules of prices
was concerned. but dId not see the necessity of
immt diate action on the subject In New YORK
and other large cities, mechanical contracrs
were almost invariably based upon a standard
book of prices.
Mr.. Angus information had been the reverse
OF the statement OF MIR. Hardness. He would
bet wine for the crowd that In New York the
socletFs weregoy erned by no rules of that char
actr. III was time to organize against the i'm
poSluon OF the Journeymen, who were at thi,
nme contemplating strikes against the employ
ers.
The question recurring upon the motion TO
lay the third resolution upon the table, II was
ADOPTED: and upon a suggestion that the COM
mittee appointed 10 DRAFT a constitution and by
laws should be composed of majority of those
who would be most affected by the contprn-
plated Increased exaetions OF the journeymen,
Mr.. Hardness 1nterposed objections, as tbs.
strike interfered with plasterers mostly. and
there being four of them present, to place them
all upon the committee would give them all
the control.
The suggestion was withdrawn and the chair
fheTeupOn appointed the following gentlemen
10 compose the Committee:-Messrs Wilson r
Brown, George W. Hardness. NJ Merrill J. A
Powers, /. A Brown, Hiram Richey and Jno.
"A. Stuart. Tn motion. the chairman's name
was added thereto
Mr.. Hardness moved that the meeting 90 into
an election of permanent officers
Mr.. Merrill thought such a proceeding I'M
parliamentary, until the presentation and adop-
ron of a constitution and bylaws In tins no.
sltion he was sustained by Mr.. Kirk: but the
meeting refused to concur, and thu reupon pro-
ces ded 10 rird rOce election, when the follow
ing officers Were chosen for the next six months:
For President, Thomas b. Entwistle; first vice
President, Jerome Davis; second vice Presi-
dent, George W. Hardness; Secretary Augus
tus Davis; Treasurer, Wilson T.. Brown
On motion, the meeting then adjourned till
Wednesday, 5th proximo.