St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-12
SANITY CITY DOINGS
Opinions of Employers and
Employed on the Need OF
a Wage Scale.
Some Prominent Men in Court
for Violating the High
License Law.
West Side Republicans Are
Beginning to Get Very
Enthusiastic.
Summary Of the Doings of
One Day Gathered From
All Sources.
WAGES FOR WORK.
Ideas Of Contractors and Work.
ingmen on the Scale OF Prices.

Ot1 hAAS SSotS OA AhSNcs
1t caunot be said that there is una
nimity of opinion upon the wages scale
question among either contractors or
workingmen. Timothy Reardon, re-
ferring TO the editorial, said he did not
believe there was any occasion for such
a scale. Il never had any trouble With
my men," said he. DOminick Feely
talked in different strain, however.
He said:
Its right; it's something which
should he attended to in time. Let the
bricklayerS and the carpenters get to-
gether and make the rate of wages. then
we will know what to do. And the la
borerS ought to be included also. Mind.
L say, all classes of labor. The labOrerS
are just as much entitled to it
as any other class of work
ingmen, and some of them need
more wages to meet their daily wants.
Another thing: If everything is pro-
portioned nicely. SO that the men work
ing for me get a fair percentage for
their labor, they don't have to apply to
the board of control or the society for
the relief of the poor, when winter comes
on; that Is, if they are careful and say
ing"
Contractor T. f. Scribner, president
of the Contractors and Builders board
of trade, is in the South. and Contractor
George Grant is on his way hone from
Nova Scotia, so they could not be seen.
James ChildS, late president of the
BricklaYerS' union, has gone to Kansas
City, and the president, during last
summers strike, Ed Christian. is now
on the police force, so neither of them
were interviewed. Henry RymerS, of
the BricklayerS' union, said:
81 believe man ought to get all he
can. 1t wouldn't be right for good
mechanic to work for the same as
poor mechanic would work for"
OTHER OPINIONS.
Hugh Grant, the foreman for Con-
tractor George Grant, said: IL think
that is about right" referring to the
GLOBE editorial. j. Ii. Hanson, Secre-
tary of the Contractors and Builders
board of trade. had quite another view,
however. He said:
How silly thati is! These men ought
to know what they are doing whether
the editor does or not. He's simply got
the wrong end of the question, that's
all. There is market price for labor,
the same as for lumber. The carpen-
ter who is worth 81 per day will get
that much; the pressed bricklayers get
45 or 50 cents an hour, and the column
bricklayer 35 cents an hour. Labor is a
thing which regulates itself. We have
agreed to give nine hours day this
year, to be paid for by the hour. The
day will be from a. m. to 5 pm.
allowing an hour for dinner. If man
works half day he gets paid for nalf a
day; if he works overtime he gets paid
for it. There was no question of wages
In the strike last year. The carpenters
wanted nine hours day-that was all
there was to it. The thing will settle
ITSELF"
AT meeting of the Trades assembly
last night to discuss the subject of
wealth." both Joseph Grady and
James Johnson, of the carpenters
union, were present. Outside the meet
ing room, and referring to the editorial,
Mr., Grady said: "As a delegate to
the Trades assembly, and as member
of local Union No. 81. l can say that all
the carpenters are in favor of an amica.
bic adjustment of wages and time
but Individually l ask if it is
right that a poor mechanic
should get as much as good
one? Mr.. johnson said: "Tl tell you
what l think about the matter: l don't
think it's any use. because l don't be.
lieye the contractors will stand by any
agreement that is just and equitable
anyway"