The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-25
THE WAGES QUESTION.

Contractors Aeeeding 10 the Demands q
The BPieklayers = Statements Of th
Sligo Iron WORKERS - An Advance a
Robinson, Rea d Co.'S. Foundry.
PittSbutgh Dispatch d yesterday. M
Avery fair meeting Of the bricklayers O
the two cities was held at Quincy Hall
l21 LacoCk street, Allegheny, last even
ing, for tho purpose Of receiving report
In the matter Of the increase OF wages
Thirteen firms were represented, and tel
ofthese had agreed to pay their men TIL
s. per day demanded. The others, who
were awaiting the turn Of events, woult
likely, II was asserted, follow suit, Us soor
as they saw that the increased pay was
becoming general. Last evenings meet
ing was characterized by perfect harmony
The speakers emphadcally stated thai
there was no strikej that the bricklayers
had quietly represented to their employ
ers the proprlety and necessity OF raising
the wages from g 80 to s. per day, and
bA@S "VA0 BNGIy lGAogu " u0llbto
the firms would accede In a day or two.
The meeting then adjourned until next
Tuesday, when Il Is proposed TO effect o
permanent organization.
Conversation with q number Of those
present drew forth the statement on their
behalf that they refused to be regarded In
the light Of strikers. In the first place 1t
was claimed that although itseemed some
what late In the season, the fact that the
business boom had extended only recent.
" to the building line, and that all other
classes Of mechanics were obtaining in.
creased pay, was in their favor. Two or
three months before the men were in.
formed, the contractors knew from the ar.
chitects the extent to which building was
to be carried on, and were in a position to
average their bids accordingly. When
bricklayers were getting s. 4 day, and
owing 10 the depression Of the times the
contractors determined TO reduce wages TO
u, y and g 80, they the contractors) had
no hesitation In taking snap judg-
ment on the men, even when they
had made their bids on the s. q day basis.
Said one Of the bricklayers: Gwen in the
very best seasons there Is work for US only
eight months In the year on an average Of
but twenty-five days to the month. This
would give US no more than 176 working
days, and considering how often We are
disappointed by rain, by the delays Of the
contractors in supplying stone, joists and
brick, that is rather too high all average.
We will do well Il we run 125 days this
season" .fs ll.'
Another briCklayer remarked that con.
tractors did not generally give bonds, and
In many II not most instances they could
arrange with the owner to pay the differ
ence between the increased and the old
rate. Certainly the former left sufficient
margin In their bids to cover the few dol.
lars-from $50 to Sl00-which the extra
htEy cents would oblige them to expend.
The iron-Workers' boom still continues,
and Is attracting much attention on the
southstde. 1t Is said that some employers
have expressed themselves to the effect
that politicians are TO blame for the dis.
content Of labor; that they have made so
much Of the Improvement In business, for
political effect, that workers have been led
10 expect more than the conditions OF
trade will justify. As most OF the advances
have been conceded SO far, it would ap-
pear that toilers' expectations are not
yet beyond the profit line. Some Of the
nachinists have made a table Of reduc-
lions in american iron works since 1873,
BY which they show that they have sub.
mitted to four or five, aggregaing Sl.30
per day. They claim, in view Of this show
Ing, that their demand for o5 cents is rea-
sonable.
For some days back Robinson, Rea &
Co., the Thirteenth ward founders, have
been considering proposition from their
men that wages should boom dollars
worth on a weeks pay. One Of the men
stated last night thatthe request had been
granted. and that the only objection made
by the firm was that some OF the men had
made their demand with rather more pre-
cipttancy than was desirable.