Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-05
THE EIGHT HOUR MOVEMENT.
Master Mechanics Resolve 10 Resist tt
The Result Of Saturday Nights Con.
ference.

ference.
At the conference ofsub-contractors or bosses
held at Carroll hall Saturday night at the call of
the Master Builders association, resolutions
were adopted in line with the action OF the
Master Builders association Friday night, ex-
pressing determination to resist the demand
for reduction of the hours OF labor from ten TO
eight. There were present delegates from the
oricklayers, painters, plasterers, plumbers,
mantleworkers, tin roofers. stone-workers. mill
workers, bell-hangers slate-roofers and iron.
WORKERS; Mr. robert /. Fleming. president OF
the Builders Association, presided, and MT.
AnonAssS - AAus asted as secretary.
THE RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions were adopted setting forth that
this convention views with alarm the demand
OF the workmen for a reduction of labor from
ten to eight hours after May /, 1856: while we
SeiIeve tbat no adequate reason exists for such
0enanu, ano that zach action at the present time
Will seriously interfere with the building opera
ions, retard the general improvement of the
city ana cause an unnecessary advance in the
price of the necessities of iife.'
ihat the convention of master mechanics
3eevlng 10 be TO the interest of all concerned
90 nerepy pledge ourselves to resist the demand
and firmly insist upon the old established rule
OF Ten hours to constitute a days work, except
a sa.uruay' wnen eight hours shall constitute
That the delegates representing the different
orancnes OF trade be and are hereby requested
10 report tnese resolutions to their respective
bodies and earnestly urge favorable action
thereon"
The resolution adopted by the M aster huild-
ers Friday night was submitted and ratified bv
an present, except the stonecutters and brick
layers, VINO desired first TO present them to the
oouies tney represented. Another meeting
VIII be held next Saturday, when the reports OF
the various organizations of ''boss'' mechanics
upon Tie resolutions will be heard.
THE ISSUE JOINED.
The action of Saturday nights conference If
ratlned by the different organizations repre-
sented In the conference, will at once make an
Issue between the bosses and journeymep
Many OF the workmen expected that some
p ho post looking TO compromise woulpbe
the outcome OF the conference. The boss me-
ehanlcs, however, regarded the notice served
upon them by the woIkinsm mems unions az their
uitlmatuhl, ana they did not consider the
question OF acom promise. In some of the trades
organizations there members who favor
r aKapg haE eompFSmse on the wage question
there are enough OF those to carry the day"
salu prominent member of the Painters
union, remains to be seen if the matter is ever
brought toa vote. In the case OF the PAINTERS
some members of the trade have expressed "A
Willingness TO suffer reduction oil % cents a
gay IN order TO secure the desired reduction of
hours. This proposition however has not been
approves app oy me Painters assembly The mem
putting the eiSht-hour rule in force
NOT A STRIKE BUT LOCKOUT
we do not intend to strike" said one of the
leaders I'VE will present ourselves at the shops
as usual on the first Monday in May, but we
will work only eight hours II the bosses do not
want us on these terms they will OF course shut
us out. Ii will, You see, not he a strike on our
part, but Il lockout on the part OF the Bosses"
ANOTHER MEETING To BE HELD NEXT sATUR-
DAY.
There will be another joint meeting of the mas.
ter builders and sub-contractors next Saturday
night to further consider the questions arising
from the eight-hour movement
WHAT Is SAID BY BOTH SIDES
Several in
STAR reporters this morning did not seem to
TANK that the proposition to have an eight
hour day with eight hours pay, instead of ten
hours pay, would lie agreed To. They say that
as soon as the eigbt-nUur day became estab-
llshed, then tie next move would probably be
TO have the wages increased. The contractors
claim that the wages are now better here than
IN any other place; that there is Il prospect of a
busy season, and mat this movement viii only
result Iii inJarins instead OF improving the con-
dii:on of Inc workingmen. The employees
however, express Il Willingness TO discuss this
question, and say that they have no disposition
10 Cypress any one, but, On the contrary. thew
rom being oppressed. Some OF the builders in
Speaking oil the proposed plan of the working
men to form cooperative bands and undertake
the construction ui buildings said that they
nave not the nnanciat responsibility which is
required OF all contractors. The worlmen
think, however. That tuis, trial, will be found
TO be iiilacious, as they think they win be able
10 receive ali the financial aid necessary TO
make the movement Il success.
TALK WITH "A KNIGHT OF LABOR.
In case Of no agreement being reached be-
tween the bosses and men before May lst, the
workingmen say they will try the experiment
of working cooperative shops or gangs. To a
STAR reporter one OF them said today that
there need be no cessation OF building
ii think, said DIR. Joseph Fana,n. a stone-
cutter, and a prominent nae m Der oI tIc knights
OF Labor to-day, THAT the master builders nave
passed their action on "a misconceptioD OF what
Mr.. Powderly said in reference 10 the eight
hour movement in his recent circular can
speak OF Mr.. fowderiy "a warm personal
friend with whom l ;t,u in constant com,nuni-
cation. botn privately and officially know
when he issued the circular in reference 10 the
eisht-hour movement he spoke oi the move
mcnt as a universal movement, and his
remarks did not apply To any locality where
the ofdef Va, strong enough 10 put il into exc
caton. The present movement is the OUT
growth OF years OF agitation, and there is no
doubt In my mind that ii the employers persist
In their efforts 10 duie;.t the eignt-nour move
ment, such action on their part viii be the
means OF bringing into operation here a CO.
Operative SYSTEM, Il system tuat has been
strongly advocated ia our order. ain one OF
the men wno Eeco. nize the 1aiiacifS of The wage
system. The man who labors should have a
proportiomate share Oh tae capital created by
his Labor.
ado YOU Think" asked THE STAR reporter
THAT the order Is powerful enough, financially,
TO carry the cooperative s. stem into eifect?"
There Is no doubt about IL said Mr.. flaming
moneys have been accommodating for the pur-
pose OF meeting an emergency of this kind. L
am satisfied, too that When the people once be-
come accustomed TO this system of doing work
1t will give more satisfaction than the present
wage system. L Think. continued Mr. ram
nang, that the employing builders are CEN
suraDle for the lateness OF their action. We
were generous enough to give them am pie time
to prepare themselves; they should have been
lalf enough 10 have given an early answer,
either In tie affirmative or the negative, SO that
people might not be kept in suspense and
anxiety
New Building for the Boston Store.
Messrs. Woodward & Lothrop, the proprietors
OF the Boston store, have abandoned their pur-
pose of erecting a building for their business on
the property recently purchased by them on
the north side of F street, just east of 18th
street, and will occupy the building which Mr..
Calderon Carlisle proposes to erect at the north
east corner OF 18th and streets. This build
ing will be four or five stories in height, with a
frontage of about 90 feet on + street and 100
feet ON 11th street, and Will correspond in style
TO the building already erected by Mr. Carlisle
on portion OF that site. 1t will be, it is stated
one oI the finest business buildings ever erected
in this city.
Real Estate Sales.
James Donald Cameron has sold to Elizabeth
B. c. Rodgers for $5,60o.5O, u lot 24xl4O, on
the north side OF Rhode Island avenue, between
18th and 18th streets. The same has sold to
Jane r. r. Meigs for 5000, the adjoining lot