The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-06-29
5~lechanics' Union.

Editor Butte MINER:
1t is an old time saying that the laborer is
worthy of his hire" But when the pay is re-
duced to a sum insufficient for support, he
certainly is worthy Of more. Among line
different trades followed in this city, none
needs the regulation Of price so much as the
carpenters, ii great many Of whom have their
families here depending on them for s'lsten-
ance, and are necessarily under greater OK
pense than those who are weekly coming, not
by twos or ~tllrees, but coming, L may say. IN
gangs, and be consistent with truth.
ANY one who has been a resident of this
section of Montana a length of time knows
that the severity and duration Of our winters
curtail the line of labor. Now i'll order to
make enough over and above present needs
to keep him and his dependents the time he
is idle, it is imperative that he be paid proper
ately.
The laborer who never has served Il humble
of years to learn the use OF the tools whereby
he makes a living is at the present time COM
mandiug as much pay as the majority of the
Iii t'CillSlSy uiii II lth tSoNS "a '' -
not lust. Not that the laborer gets too much
for the Lord knows it is little enough-but
he is at no expense for tools and incuIs no
responsibility. 1t is not so with the mechanic.
Every man who takes a pride in his business
| all good mechanics dO-inCuIS to a greater
or less degree, according to the work III hand,
| responsibility tor the manner in which it is
doue, propoItionate to the mental adapta-
ton of u man to his trade and The length of
time he is at it is his proficiency. When they
attain a certain skill at it they arc classed as
iourneymen workmen. Previous to this they
are obliged to wolk for avery small remuner-
alton. Is it for support Hardly, as the
wages paid to beginners at a trade are Insult
ticient for that. 1t is because they wish to
educate themselves and receive instruction IN
a calling that promises them chances of Il
competency and freedom from toll when adj
vauced in years. In order to secure this lie
must be ~rcconpenscL fairly for his labor, and
at The present time he Is not receiving that in
this camp.
In the principal cities of the states the
average wages of iourncymen carpenters are
81 37aa per day, or $l4 % per week. The
maximum rate of board is 81 per week, or
sixteen titty-seventhS Of his weekly income.
Here you pay 81 50 to 50 per week for board
and lodging. Calling his sixteen fifty
seventies Of the weekly incomc-proyiaing
you make full time-it would make q week
labor worth So approximately. The prices
nj nlnt HING nj other nSSprlpS Grl nrri1lnS
not so proportionately deal, but average the
price of all articles necessary for comfort and
you will find | am not far astray in my calcu,
lations.
Where there is all evil the only way to re
pair it is to find a remedy. That an injustice
exists in the pay Of carpenters | thin! no fcl
low worklncn will deny. The only way
can see out of the difficulty is 10 form Il uniol
for SELF protection and mutual interest
Such an one, if h~arnoniOuSly combined
I would soon eradicate the evil. Men who ar,
ROW going around with a saw and l~arclet-
their who'll knowledge ni Tie business Irprc
> scNlcd in the Two ~tool,-WOulu tiut lhciI
y levcl,and skilled labor would command a fail
> consideration 1t is to the interest of every
= contractor to support any steps that may l.,
}, taken toward such an organization, as tleil
. contracts would agree proportionately in Inc
:. price received to the wages current at til,
time. OF course. there ale some who woull
be opposed TO any measures of this kind-tht
exponcnts of dis!ntclcsleI charity. What
mean by this is IL man who may happen to b,
applied to by a new conner for work, the appli
cant in need, perhaps, of food. lie is oblige,
. to work for what he can get, be it ever S,
beSsarly Il pittance, from the EMPLOYER, VIII,
grinds him down according as his need. tn!
Kind of charity is sometimes called business
but it is mighty selfish business. j. li1ll
- thought of the future would convince sucl
- contractors that in SO doing they are cuttin
down their own support, ana would max
. them willing converts to a fair way of think
ing. Hoping, MIR. Editor, you Will give thi
of a place i'll your columns, | remain yours "a
specially, A CArprvrrp
!: Butte, June "A.
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