St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-10
made if the offenders are given few hours,
as heretofore, in which to make their

escape.
Nm
''Innocuous desuetude" is about the most
fitting term to be applied to the board of
trade OF Minneapolis, an institution which,
since the chamber of commerce was insti-
tuted. has become an amusing concern, in
its earneStness, as Ed Stevens corn ex-
change was in imagination. Last Monday
no quorum appeared, and of the few
present. all were gray-headed men but one.
The board has considerable young blood,
but it has been so crowded to the wall,
with few exceptions, that it has almost
been frozen out. 1t is noticeable, however,
that when the young men do turn out they
carry everything before them, even at the
board of trade.
~
The most interesting organization in
Minneapolis just at this time is the Minis
terial association which, with each Mon
day morning, covers itself all over with
fame, if not glory. So interesting have
their meetings become of late, that in sew
eral newspaper offices it is considered a
special mark of the city editors good will
by the reporter who is assigned to report
them. They fritter away no time on dead
subjects. Their discussions TEEN with
pith and are right to the point and they eX-
press themselves in language so plain that
misconstructiOn is impossible. Some of
the other organizations in the city might
take many valuable pointers" from the
Ministerial association.
-
A gentleman who claims to know whereof
he speaks dropped into the GLOBE Office
last evening and delivered brief and free
lecture for the benefit of the public at large,
as follows: 81 am taxpayer. and object
most decidedly to the bungling manner in
which the work of sinking the shaft at the
corner of First avenue north and Fourth
street, to aid in completing the sewer limit,
is being prosecuted. Thousands of dollars
and several months have been spent in
starting the shaft and the result is dan
gerouS hole and worthless pump plant.
Since the first of January the shaft
has been sunk not over ten feet and force
of dozen men have been at work all the
while. They have got a couple of worth
less old pumps that don't carry off the wa
ter as fast as it comes in. The best record
these pumps have made to my knowledge
is to run three days without it's being ne
cessary to STOP work to repair the valves.
1 think it's simply outrageous for the work
to be dragging along at this snails pace.
Somebody should make an investigation,
bounce these men if they can't do the w DIRK
and then go ahead.
~
It appears that the carpenters intend to
boycott outside manufacturers not opposing
the nine hour system and not the local sash
and door factories. The home manufac-
tuners claim that if they adopt nine hours
as a days work at the price asked that they
will be unable to compete with others in the
same line of business from Wisconsin and
Iowa, who by working their employees
longer hours for less wages will be able to
manufacture goods cheaper. The carpen-
tiers, in good faith, undertook to remedy tn is
difficulty by resolving not to work
on buildings in the erection of
which doors and sash made by
outside concerns compelling their men to
work over nine hours. are to be used. An
unfortunate typographical error made the
notice read that all factories not granting
the demands were to be boycotted. Hence
arose the misunderstanding that has
widened the breach perceptibly.
~
There seems to be no reason why the
differences between the carpeters and con-
tractors cannot be readily adjusted. The
men state that they will not urge the uni
Aoih Idle VI oo CeHtS, UuG Will allow Tile
wages of workers to be graded as hereto
fore. The contractors say they do not
object strongly to the nine-hour system.
So here are the three leading points of diff
ference practically removed. and there
seems to be no excuse for any further delay
or postponement of the conference, at
which an amicable adjustment is almost
assured.
"a
There is no doubt that the present attitude
of the carpenters and contractors toward
each other is not only embarrassing build
ing operations, but is causing the postpone
ment or abandonment of many extensive
projects, and the feeling of uneasiness is
gradually spreading. 81 The. sooner settle
ment is effected 1the5Ib better for all con-
cerned.