Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-13
EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
A Rule Which Work men Propose to En-.
force Here I'm May.

Next Tuesday night a convention Of delegates
representing the various building trades of the
city will be held for the purpose of arranging
nnal details OF the movement to enforce the
eight-hour rule in this city and after the first
Monday in May. All of the trades assemblies
have agreed to putting the eighthour rule In
force on that day. The details to be arranged
concern the hours for beginning and quitting
work and matters of that kind. Nearly all the
trades are now organized assemblies of the
knights of Labor, aud every trade assembly
concerned directly in building operations, ft is
stated, is pledged to the enforcement Of the
rule The carpenters, bricklayers. painters, plas-
vanized tronworkers unite In the movement.
Naturally builders, contractors, and others in
terested In building operations are awaiting
with interest the outcome of the movement
knights of Labor to whom STAR reporter
has talked have expressed themselves as deter
cessful issue. They deny that the effect will be
in anywise injurious upon the building inter-
ests Of the city; ON the contrary they claim that
the city will be generally benefited on account
of the greater number of men to whom they
contend employment will be given. Under the
are somewhat apprehensive and in some in
stances builders SLY they have either declined
10 take new work, or have met great embarrass-
ment In competing for work on account of the
uncertainty In calculating the cost OF labor.
HOW THE MOVEMENT STATED.
The National Bricklayers' Union held at st,
Louis some time ago, resolved that a legal days
work for the trade should not exceed nine hours
per day; but the Federation of the Labor of the
United States and Canada went one better on
the number of hours, and resolved at the ses-
sion OF ] SS4 that the eight hour rule should be
put into operation, commencing with the
present SeaSon-theSe resolutions being manda-
tory. At the session held in this city last fall
this resolution was changed so as to leave 1t dis
cretlonary with the state and other assemblies
to act If they should deem it expedient, or, in
other words to make this rule if they considered
that they were strong enough and could en-
force 1T. The first Monday in May was fixed
as the time to put the rule into operation.
The Federation Of Labor of the District, which
is made up OF representatives of all trades have.
after canvas, concluded that the trades here
are In position TO carry out the rule, and, at
the time named, it will be put into operation.
There are yet some details to be arranged, such
as the hours for going to and striking Off work,
and convention will be held this month to ar
ran these details: 1t Is represented that
carpenters, painters, and both branches of the
Carpenters Assemblies are unit in this move
ment. The bricklayers here have determined
to ask for less hours than their National Union
recommended.
THE SITUATION AS STATED BY MR.. BILLINGS
GAS early as we could in the new year." said
Mr.. j. F. Billingsley, of the Carpenters union,
1--WE notified the bosses of our intention to work
only eight hours, SO that they would know how
10 inquire In putting In estimates. We gave
them early notice SO that they might not be
u.s. The building trades are unit in this
movement. and we propose to carry it through.
How will we do it? Well, If the boss builders
lock us out we propose to work for ourselves.
We have organized cooperative gangs and
propose to estimate Oh work and take it.
There are a number OF these gangs, and some
OF them think will remain in existence even
if the bosses concede all that we ask. We can
take the architects drawings and work from
them. All we expect to get is wages and SO
there Will be no contractors profit to pay. You
ask about the material and about bonds. There
ms har hot
willing TO go upon our bonds and supply ma
terial, provided that the title upon the property
concerned Is perfect. In that case they would
have lien on the property which will make
srocers, the butchers 'e and others, W whom on"
to stand by US, and If they have work to be
DONE to give it to US or to have it done under
the eight hour rule. We 90 not want to an
tasonize business men of this city; when we
have resorted TO the boycott it has always been
with the greatest reluctance. We want BUSH
ness men to see that our interests are their
interests. sometimes a business man gives out
contract and it is done by scab labor. Then
when We see him he says he knew nothing
about it, and thinks We are hard upon him.
Now we cannot notify everybody person.
ally They ought to consider beforehand
u wnsaher they wan. the work dor done by
that this movement will deter men from build
ing, and have a detrimental effect on the build
Ing interests or the city, all that need be said il
that the building permits issued during the last
month, as stated by the building inspector in
year. Why don't builders say that building in
terests will be affected when the prices OF ma
terials are increased? One dollar a thousand
was added to the price of brick, and no one
Thought OF saying that 1t would put stop to
building"
THE TIMERS AND THE EIGHT-HOUR RULE
''The timers put the eight hour rule in force
on the 14th of December last" said Mr. J. W.
COnsidine, of the Timers assembly, 1.-THE re-
suit has been that 20 per cent more men have
hes M colIx
have been out Of employment during the win
ter. The plasterers also have enforced the rule
during the winter They began a week ahead
OF Us When we made eight hours days work,
we reduced wages fifty cents day, but We will
restore the old rate on the LIST of May. The
great question now is to get men at work
employment for all, and then wages will regu-
late themselves. Last year when brfckIayers
were all employed, and there was really a scar
city OF men, wages advanced in that craft. 1t
Is not true, think, that this movement will
affect building interests. 1t is weil-knOwn that
on a lowering one The movement will be a
benefit TO the whole city. We find when mon
are employed constantly they able 10 pay
their blIIs 10 the grOcerS; the grocers in turn
are able 10 pay their bills to the larger whole
sale houses, and so on. All enjoy a season of
prosperity. The moment the wOrkiugmen are
thrown out of work the big dealers, as wei as
the little ones, feel IL. think that before the
list OF May We will have an amalgamation of
trades-the building trades in pariicular-and
the rule will be not to work with a non-union
man anywhere"
A BOSS TIMER WHO FAvORs IT.
Mr. I. h. Pruitt, a member Of the timers
union, and also boss timer, states that the
hours OF timers now are 1Ia to with IN hour
at noon, and the wages $3.50, and the PROPOSE
Ton is To raise to $3 per day. Some OF the
BOSSES, most OF them In fact, do not object To the
number of hours, but TO the hour for stopping
work, for In the summer time o'clock is too
soon 10 stop work. 1t is well known that a tim
her OF "A roof can do as much work from to 6
as ne can OH d hot day from IL TO 4. The men
VIII, however, succeed, for there seems to be
plenty OF work ahead and perhaps there is
more work in sight than there was last year
The wages used 10 be SO per day and should
nave been kept at that figure. There is one
thing about the reduction OF hours which some
people have not regarded To keep up the work
demand Will make II necessary to open ways
for boys getting into the trades. The assemblies
Will have To open the way for boys TO learn
trades. There are hundreds of men in town
now, said Mr.. Pruitt, "who are unable TO read
HE STAR, as when they reach home after six
CLOCK they are too fatigued. When, however
\ they get home at four o'clock they will have
plenty OF time TO read it, and they will all want
IL. Mark my words, the movement will be "A
benefit, no, only To the workingmen, but To The
newspapers and places OF amusement and
churches Will feel the benefits"
| WHAT A PAINTER SAYS
ave anticipate no trouble at all in enforcing
the rule" said Mr.. r. S. Denham, of the
painters assembly. "The bosses here have
| tried TO make a compromise, but we will
not compromise on ANYTHING short Of
eight hours We have made no demand tor