The New York herald., 1868-06-20

The Proposed strike of Bricklayers-Th6
Master MnsOns in CounciI-Their Opposition
TO the Eight Hour Observation-Disclosures
Not 10 Submit.
IL has already been announce In the HERALD that
the jonrneymen brickaycrs at a meeting lately
held, determined to demand from their employers
the concession that eight hours should constitute
days labor allowing deduction of ten per cent
their pay, agreeing to receive but four
dollars AMI fifty cents instead OF five dollars
per day, which they now get. Proper notice OF this
resolution and OF the fact that the ourneymen brick
layers would insist upon this demand from and after
next Monday or leave work in OF
refusal, was given to the "bosses" and
they, in turn, called a meeting OF all the
builders and employers of bricklayers, which
convened at the Mechanics and Traders Exchange
Rooms, No. 81 Liberty street, at two O'Clock yeser
day afternoon. The meeting was quite large, and on
being called to order, Mr.. John 7. Connover the
President OF the Exchange, nominated and
elected chairman, and William II. Jackson was ap-
pointed secretary. Mr.. Connover on taking the
chair stated the object of the meeting to be to take
Into consideration the eight hour system for daily
labor now insisted on by the bricklayers Mr..
Tosteven believed 1t best to ascertain first how
many employers of bricklayers were present, and
an actual count it was ascertained that forty
seven representatives of the heaviest firms Of
master masons were In the room, the rest
being pasterers, stonecutters ana what are
called material men, Mr. James WebD tnen
Wso had right to 5S vote at the meetng he
hoped master masons and employers OF brlcklayers
only would participate: He himself had peen poor P
workingman and has been all along friend OF the
workingman and would go as far in concessions to
them as reason would admit; but when they demand
unreasonable things he for one would not accede:
Ex-senator Laimbeer asked that all the material
men, iron men and others would withdraw. At this
suggestion nearly half OF those present withdrew.
until the chairman, at the suggestion OF many, asked
master plasterers to remain, when several returned
The janitor was then ordered to lock the door and
keep watch outside, and not to admit any except
those who had right to participate In the pr0ceeu-
also also occasioned % trouble and some debate was had
whether he should not be excluded; put tne
ah M mr. hev src doing
and he wished that every paper In the city
was @ at the meens broke It. the
mover withdrawing his proposition. The real busl-
ness Of the meeting commenced now, afer this pre-.
OF members was called and several new names were
added, making hfty-three firms of master masons in
sense Of the meeting, that no master mason will pay
any advance over the present rate OF wages which
hours only a days work the pay shall be the Same
in proportion-that Is, fifty cents per hour or four dol
passed pass ed ua' law " lesallzing @ ing eight hours as
days work, but that the employers could intro
e pay n hof as
to recognize the introduction Of the eight hour
system. Mr. Edlitz spoke warmly against 1t, saying
that the question OF wages, OF dollar more or less
per day, was not the object; their purpose was 10
oppose the reduction of the hours Of labor from ten
to eight. The following preamble and resolution
were then introduced
Whereas We the master masons and brsklayers Of the
and house building generally the cost of the
% " s en r Of a1
win be driven from the market and turned into other cham
.aas
we fully understand the proposed reduction OF ten per
and that the old rates viii be asked in less
Resolved. THAT VIII sa5m: 10 The demand Of the
| willing to work ten hours as a days work.
The reading Of this resolution was followed with
loud loud cappng Of hands and stamping ,s Of feet as
tion OF applause subsidized Mr.. Eidtz submitted two
further resolutions, the first of which reads as fol-
| lows
Resolved That member of this organization signing his
allow amy s S
or work s upon sp sd n sss SRs
hours DAY, except Saturday shall he aid, under
1 % n s Of s he n
himself or others or allow them the use OF his Materials
The second resolution OF the series introduced by
Mr.. Eidz to the effect that each member should
deposit before two O'Clock to-day in the hands of a
master mason to be designated from $500 to $4,000,
the amount to he fixed by committee In proportion
s HSg 4 Of to for 9G % Ss
passed by two-thirds majority OF the assocotion
and that the amount so deposited should be forfeited
In case the conditions OF such resolutions should not
be strictly complied with. These propositions gave
rise to lengthy and animated debate, In which the
honor and the faith Of the word OF the members
were Appealed to- and Mr.. Joyce remarked that the
deposit part Of the resolution was mere claptrap and
had no legality in 1t. Finally the first resolution
introduced, with the many whereases affixed to 1t,
was unanimously adopted; upon the passage OF the
second and third, In body, the yeas and nays were
called and they were both rejected by vote OF IA to
27. This was certainly wise decision, for 1t Is
probable that the courts upon the application OF u
member recaiming his money thus deposited, would
declare the combination as contrary to sound public
policy and as In restraint Of trade.
The closing proceedings left the whole matter in
doubt, for several members declared themselves not
bound by the resolution as passed, and finally u
committee Of tve with Mr.. TOsteven at its head,
was appointed to propose other resolutions for the
action OF adjourned meeting to be held at tho
same place at two O'Clock 7. NJ. next Monday, to
which hour the meeting adjourned amid considerable
confusion.