St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-30
BUILDERS QUITE SHY.
The Eight-Hour Rule Deity
Referred to Local Organ
iZations,
But the Convention Goes on
Record as Favoring Arbi-
tration.
Officers Are Elected, and New
York Chosen Next Meet
ing Place.
All Broken Ends Brought To-
gether and an Adjourn
ment Had.

The galleries of the chamber of COM
merce presented an animated appear
ance at the opening of yesterday morn
ing's session. The animation was due
to the presence of large number of
ladies, wives of delegates who had come
to hear their lords spout fiery eloquence
on the eight-hour question; nor were
they disappointed in their mission.
There was lack of promptitude about
getting down to business and it was
1890 before the work of the session was
begun. After roll call Secretary Say
ward read cablegram of greeting from
the Master Builders Association of
Great Britain, the annual convention Of
which is now in session in London. and
reply was sent to the dispatch by
the unanimous consent of the conven-
ton. The resumption of the discussion
on the eight-hour question was the first
regular business, which was continued
from the previous days session.
Thomas P. McKelleget, of St. Louis,
offered the following amendment to the
resolution offered by the executive com-
mittee on Tuesday:
That the Fourth National Association
of Builders recommend as far as prac
ticable in the construction of buildings,
that eight hours shall constitute
days work for all mechanics employed
on or III the construction of the same.
The following substitute was offered
by the Boston delegation, and meeting
with the approval of the convention.
other substitutes, presented by the Chi
cago delegation, were withdrawn in its
favor and it was adopted:
RATHER A STRADDLE.
Recognizing the agitation for shorter
hours of labor than those now prevail
ing, the National Association of Build
erS, in convention assembled, declares
that as a central body representing SO
many different constituents it is not
competent or proper for it to define
certain number of hours for the build
ing trades generally to adopt, but that
it should be left to the local bodies to
adjust the number of hours of labor,
as circumstances and conditions by
which they are surrounded may dictate,
but we do believe that this body should
perSistently urge upon all local bodies
that the thorough establishment of the
system of payment by the hour'' is an
absolutely necessary safeguard, and
they should earnestly labor to secure
the establishment of the system. Ad-
uiCSoCO Oll OCIldll vi bllC OuooUlUuIC nO1S
made in explanation form by many of
the delegates, Secretary Sayward and
Mr.. Deeves, of New York. talking in
an explicit manner. characteristic of
both gentlemen, Oh the question. The
adoption of the amendment was by a
vote of Ill to 4,all the delegations voting
SOlidly for the measure with the eX-
ceptions of Detroit, East Saginaw and
st. Joseph; Detroit casting one affirm
alive and one negative. East Saginaw
two negatives, and st. Joseph one
| affirmative and one negative. Presi-
dent Scribner Thought the action of the
association on the subject was simply
| in the light of
| A RECOMMENDATION, AND NOT BIND
ING
| on the local branches. Mr.. Deeves, Of
New York, said he believed in eight
hours for days work. 1t was bound
| to come, and the fact must be recog-
niZed. 1t was best as preliminary
measure to adopt payment by the hour.
| The tariff question was an issue in this
matter. and while he did not want to
| bring politics into the convention, this
was most important matter, and
should be settled. Mr.. Hager, of Buff
| falo, said that in that city no meetings
| had been held on the subject, but his
hdo JiiO duNOCdIVo vi JuO
eight-hour scale were those who could
load their chattels into toy eX-
| press wagon and move from one
place to another any night in the week.
He was the employer of 200 men. of
whom 49, were on outside work. Those
outside men could work all the hours
they wanted to, but inside men wanted
| ten hours work. Eight hours with the
mechanics meant payment by the day
not by the hour. The hour question
was being discussed from the pulpit
and in the schools. The contractors
| should not overlook this matter, as by
so doing they would place themselves
between the mill stones. Neither me-
| chanics nor contractors want strikes,
| but were looking for an easy solution of
the existing difficulties. T. J. King, of
Washington, said that he thought there
was grit enough in that city to fight
the matter if necessary. He was not on
earth to encourage strikes, and, for his
part, he would only place the money of
the owners where they would be salts
fed the best.