The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-23

/ I
Illegal Combinations.
much larger number Of master masons aud
brcklayers than met last Friday assembled yesterday
afternoon at the Mechanics and Traders Exchange
Rooms, No. 81 Liberty street. Mr.. John T. Connover
acted az president and William H. Jackson as secre
| tary. As the meeting was called to order Mr. James
Webb remarked that number Of journeymen brick
layers were in the room and he submitted to the
meeting the propriety OF their remaining and listen
ing to the proceedings. The president, In answer
said that 1t would be useless to exclude them, since
all would be informed OF the action OF the meeting
through the report OF che HERALD. This view met
with general assent, and nothing further was done
about Mr.. webb's suggestion. The minutes Of the
last meeting being read and adopted the roll OF
members was called and fortytwo firms answered
to their names. Those not yet members were then
requested to step forward and give In their Names to
which number responded, the entire ROLL after con-
GLIDING the entry OF all additional names proposed
showed seventy-four firms Of master masons as
solved that no member be allowed to leave the room
before adjournment, without leave first obtained
from tne chair and the anitor was directed to take
charge OF the door In execution OF this order. The
regular order OF business was then called for, being
the report Of the committee appointed at the last
This report was made by Mr. Tosteven, as chairman
OF the committee. 1t is q somewhat lengthy d0cu-
grievances which the master %asons AND brcE
layers have against the Journeymen Brick.
layers Unions, giving historical details OF
the effect OF strikes, the miSChievOuS results fol-
lowing the rules OF the Union in regard to the ap
prentice system, and prohibiting master brcklayers
they are members of the Union, concluding with
three resolutions the two FIRST containing the gst of
their action, read as fOlOws:-
We, the master of the city of New York. view
Kssoys stop wsrE until The men in our employ
That We e. employ test the %
S. q
S on him s quite h % % e
for its support
The third resolution calls for the pledge OF the
honor Of each firm represented to stand by the
action embodied in the resolutions, and that each
the expenses hereafter to be incurred CThe report
among today's advertisements in the HERALD.) The
report was received, and motion made to adopt 1t
brought 1t before the house for debate.
Mr. MARC EIDLITz inquired what specific purpose
Is sought to accomplish by the adoption Of the re-
port that would fully meet ths case as now stands
since he himself could discern none from the reading
Of II.
Mr.. TosTEvEN, as chairman Of the committee, re-
piled that by the adoption on Friday last OF the
luton heretofore published 1t was already deter
mined to oppose the claim OF the Ourneymen to have
eight hours allowed for days work That resolu
intended was to encourage each other to stand back
to back that none should falter but all join hands in
II every master mason will stand firm we will win.
He had rather lose two thousand dollars by forfeit
Of being robbed. He thought it an outrage that an
employer should be denied the right OF using the
trowel and working on bis building without the risk
Of all his hands leaving him and gave several in
stances where such was the case. He believed that
such combination OF workingmen was an indictabe
would pay them literally, and willingly give them
five dollars for ten hours work day.
and tne as % mo
ton OF last week. but he wished to have the amount
named in the last resolution reduced from $50 to
the bad faith OF some few OF the members who voted
for the resolution last week and In defiance Of had
hours He believed that influences should be
brought to bear on them to join the rest Of the
master masons IN resisting the movement. He said
for brcklayer was nfteen hundred bricks and that
average, with few exceptions is about the laying Of
seven hundred and fifty bricks day. Considering
nj ess but ney %
altogether they have only themselves 70 blame II
ay s e or acn q should be
employed them to build that they should know how
the case really STANDS. There are but few induce
ments operating now to build; plenty OF stores and
up town dwellings had been erected. As there was
plenty Of paper money people prefer to put 1t in real
the men goes on there will be no building done next
year. The result now iS that houses cost $40 for
every one they ought to cost and that poor people
pay at least hve dollars rent Tor every one they ought
Mr.. STEWART advised all to be careful as to how
they will vote; each man should consider well his
own situation and the condition Of his contracts
not vote aye on the spur OF the moment and then
regret 1t and back out; they should resolve what
they are not able and willing to carry out
The men, he said, were now stronger and
better organized than they ever were and we
in body the difculty would soon be over and we
shall win. II these resolutions were adopted and
before. He as well Mr.. Ross after him, gave some
incidents OF the hardship OF the Union rule about ap
nsamCns rae case 81 tbS Two T young men
DESTROYS OF learning the brckayers' trade but were
refused because Of being eighteen years Of age
be paid was then adopted without division and
upon the passage Of the whole report and resolutions
being called Mr. Elditz asked to be excused and on
his request being a. first refused he said
that though not willing to vote for 1t, ne
would stand by the report and resolution AZ long
as all other members would abide by It; but
n one should submit he would also 60 TO work with
longer. He was thereupon excused from voting
The report and the three resolutions were then
passed BY the following vote: Yeas II. nays l. ex
The following gentlemen were then appointed a
committee to see those master masons who sub
mitted to the eight hour claim aud continued work
Yesterday. with a view to induce them to Stop
Messrs Sares, Tyson, Burchell, Ross, Tosteven and
Banta The $40 contributions came In quite freely
and over seven hundred dollars were collected. The
report and the resolutions as passed were then
ordered to be published In the HERALD In full and
the meeting adjourned to wednesday next, at two
O'Clock p. NJ, at the same place.
The Strike Of the Operative Bricklaycrs.
For some time past the employing and employed
brickIayers Of the city have been agtated over the
proposed introduction OF the eight hour system.
Meetings have been held on the subject by both par
ties and much feeling has been manifested in the
matter. The journeymen nave long since expressed
their determination to carry out their intentions Of
working but eight hours day and the en-
ployers have expressed themselves as equally reso
lutte I'm their opposition to the proposed reform.
Yesterday was the day upon which the journeymen
announced they would attempt to put their proposed
system into operation. For months past they have
been outstanding their resources In fear that the
employers would refuse to accede to their demands
and such opposition would lead TO strike. In TAX
ing this view Of the situation they were correct.