National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-18
gHz LAgoR ooKrRoHKRsE
HISTORY OF rae CASE AS ssrBMrrrEr
By THE BOSSES.


As members Of the snpIoying Brickisysrs,
SooictF Of the Dist-iet Of Columbia. Ne fssl &c
our dnty 70 reply TO the erroneous explanatory
address Of this Bricklsyers' Union Of this city.
We have formed society for cur mutual profess
ton, that there may b some STABILITY to the hours
OF labor, snd TO encourage capitalists WHO may b
DESTROYS to invest their surplus funds In bufldlnx
up and besutffying our city, but who are deterrsd
from doing 80 because Of the uncertainty Of labor.
We are equally dosirious TO protect our journey.
men and laborers for Esfssi eonadsEt that the sod
carriers can stand no Reduction OF wages although
the brieklayers with proprfety could do 80 but
No do not ask It. for the demand and skiil VIII
regulate that but We do AK that ten hours shall
constitute days work, and TO do justice % our
ieou-eitirens, who are anxious and willing % AZ
pend their money in building, We are dstsrmlned
70 resist this eight-hour Law, snd IN doing it u
out right and proper that We should enumegata
some OF the tyrannical laws Of this Brscklaysrs,
Union, which We have been compelled 10 laboe
under since Its organization 70 the present TINA
Ono OF Its first acts AFTER organising was 70 de-
cree that We should have but two Apprentices.
and those OF rs who were working more we're COM
PEELED to turn them OF st the time they had Be-.
come Of some profit to rs We submitted 70 this
infringement Of our rights. TheIe next move vas
TO establish eight hours on Saturday without any
reduction Of wages. We submitted to this Ia
the fall OF 1858 they adopted law Of hour By sun
and shutdown without any reduction Of wages.
We submitted 10 this, but closed up our work 40
soon as possible. Finding that this lgw had .
tendency TO paralyEs. building, they repealed &c
the following season, and nxed their wages -
s4so per diem for ten hours. In the spring Of 18TH
nifer the employing brieklsyers had commenced
their works and made contracts for the season,
this Brickiayers' Union increased their wages 10
| IS per diem and ten hours.
This we submitted TO with great pecunlary loss.
In the faii OF 1873 they passed . resolution IN
that union 70 work for 80 cents an hour, and a.
the weather was cold and the days short, shIs
arrangements was satisfactory TO all and things
were working together harmopiously; but good
feeling and harmony does not suit majority Of
them; they must repeal this law and decree that
eight hours shall constitute . days work and
$50 per diem their pay. an advance Of 50 esnts
per day on their wages, which was the cause Of
legislatiny all their members out Of work who
were employed upon Government buildings, and
keep them walking about all the winter.
These facts they cannot deny, and this srbi-
trary Law Of theirs intend to resist to the end
and ask the cooperation Of fellow citizens to
1 establish some permanent basiS that We may an
derstanding!y contract for work, which must
necessarily prove beneficial to those employed 70
perform the labor which ID essential for the fath-
ful execution OF allcontracts.
| AUGUSTUS DAVIS, s--
| RoBKRrCLARKsoa,
/ HENRY CosRADIs,
| Committee. =