The New York herald., 1872-04-20
THE GOVERNMENT STONECUTTERS.
History Of the Strike on the Federal Buildings
at Columbia-The Presidents Promise APP
preciated-The superintendents
Crotchets- Shall the Eight Hour
Law Be Carried Quit

COLUMBIA, s. O., April 10, 1872.
The strike Of the stonecutters employed on the
United States Court House and Post ONCE here has
attracted considerable attention, mainly on account
Of its being the first OF the kind raised by this
class Of w0rkingmen under the act Of Congress
passed in July, 1858, which prescribes eight hours
q days labor. Up to this time the law has been
virtually dead letter, and the men have submitted
to all kinds Of hours at all kinds OF prices. About
fifteen months ago the mechanics In the govern
ment Navy Yard at Washington, then working ten
hours, struck for eight hours under this law They
had hard time of 1t; but, having carried the mat
ter before President Grant, he decided that they
should work eight hours for the same wages and be
paid for overtime and the time they had lost while
on the strike. Mr.. L. s. Kingsley, superintendent
of Construction, being unable to obtain suitable
men here, sent north in January last, to New York.
Boston, Philadelphia aud other cities and obtained
q sufficient number OF stonecutters to carry on the
work on the buildings. The men commenced work
on the 18th OF January. The days becoming longer,
however, Mr.. Kingsley issued an order that on ana
after the lst of March the should work ten
hours for the same wages they were receiving for
eight hours work. The matter talked by the
stonecutters and committee appointed to wait on
Mr. Kingsley and inform him OF their right, under
the act of Congress, asking him II he was acting
under orders from Washington. To these he re-
piled that
'HE WAS BOSS OF THE JoB,'
and had received no orders. The stonecutters then
quietly LEFT work and appointed committee to
proceed to Washington to lay the question
before Congress and the authorities there.
They met with cordial reception at the
hands or such men as congressman Hoar
and Dawes, and Senator Wilson, OF Massachu-
setts, besides prominent friends OF the working
mems cause and newspaper correspondents who
interested themselves in the matter. delay OF a
week, however, induced them to send on another
delegate-Harry Rattersoy. an old wheel horse who
has been successful in carrying his points iii the
more trying times of the past. He endeavored to
enlist the sylnpathies OF Senator Thomas Robert
SON. of this state but was repealed by the assurance
that Mr.. Robertson would do anything and every
thing to sustain Superintendent Kingsley and COM
pei the men to work longer hours for the same pay
But Battersby, through Congressman Hoar secured
AN INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT GRANT,
who assured him that the matter would be nvest
gated, and II the facts were as he stated the men
should be reinstated and the work go on according
to law. The President gave note to this effect to
Congressman Hoar for Secretary Boutwell,, and 1t
was not long before Kingsley received orders to
start the men to work at eight hours. Instead Of
reinstating the stonecutters, as was evidently the
snSn reaceS e S hs Time e ns aooS KDgy
laborers on the work, who had raised
no question whatever as to time. When this
was specifically instructed to reinstate the men,
This he did on Tuesday, the 9th inst but at the
uSSureu tHc men IndJ he WOulu DC even WITH
them before long. 1t was only two days afterwards
that the three members Of the stonecutters' COM
mittee were discharged, and no reason given what
ever. They are now out OF employment and are,
In peaceable way, striving to maintain their rights
advising the men to avoid another strike. Kingsley
has not only got even whith these men, but he has
reduced the wages of some, thus virtually leaving
the question where 1t was at first.
The whole secret or this matter as alleged Is
this Kingsley does not and cannot object to giving
the workingmen their rights but the additional
tme imposed on the men Is represented as being
part OF scheme to make something ont of the
work, and the men, instead OF the government, are
to suffer.
THE ENEMIES OF TIE woRKINGMEN
have endeavored to prejudice republicans against
question involved OF recognizing the
rights of colored men; but, as there are no
colored men to come in competition with them, the
charge Is grOundless. The stonecutters have pub
they state that they have no objection to working
with colOred men, and are always willing to accord
fellow workingmeD their right whatever their race
or condition In life. kilograms received from Con-
gresham De Large, OF this State, last night,
assurances that the stonecutters will be fully
protected In their rights under the law.
1t must be conceded that the stone
cutters have urged the settlement OF this question,
If firm, yet in most orderly and temperate
manner Not q man has been deferred from work
ing, and hardly harsh word spoken.
They are full Of praises OF President Grant who
has in this matter raised up host OF friends among
the workingmen, and proportionately denounce
the men whose chief aim seems to have been to
prejudice them against the administration, ana to
persecute them for claiming fair Interpretation
of a law enacted avowedy for their benefit. The
passage OF a law indemnifying the men for lost
time, and ferretng out In Congress of the private
contract system, are confidently looked for every