Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-14
Formed by a Number of Allegheny
Knights of Razor and Shears, to
RAISE THE PRICE OF HAIR-CUTs.
Their Use of a Union Placard, While All
Have Eon-Union Shops.
AN ATTEMPT TO BOYCOTT OUTSIDERS

roar from the throats of scores of BARRIERS on
the other side.
Trouble has been brewing for some time,
and yesterday the agitation eliminated in
the display OF printed placards tackled in
conspicuous places in nearly all the Fart
parlors" of Allegheny. The cards were
headed: "Union Prices" Following this
business-like announce cement came the state
ment, in bold, black letters: 20 n and after
Monday, June 16. 1890, all hair-cutting will
be % cents, including children" Then, in
more cold type, was this resolution: "This
will be strictly adhered to by the following
members with big S in "strictly."
After this preamble comes the following
list Of tonsorIal professors, who have de-
clared their intention of complying with the
new schedule of prices: Andrew Huether,
August Huether, Trautmann Bros, John
DALEY, Peter Guibert, George Strobel, J ohm
Remlinger, Charles Zieg, Henry Mehrmann,
Jr; Gustav Otto, H. J. Suebert, E. He'll,
John NJ. Herrchen, f. William Rics, Frank
H. Kline, Joseph L. Burger. Peter B.
Allen, John A. Laux, John V. Faith, John
B. Ingersheim, E. j. Williams, C. F. Horn
becker, Fred Liniuger, August Becker,
Oscar C. Marterer, c. F. Wittmann, Mich
ael Lieninger, William Walther, A. B.
Hughes, G. F. Bair, Fred Ferd Manz, j.
C. Alleback and j. H. Smallwood.
A SLY INVITATION.
Tackled on the tail end of the placards is
this short and comprehensive sentence, full
of hidden meaning: "PartIes not charging
these prices are non-union."
In these days of multiplicity in all things
and duplicity in a great many, it behooves
BARRIERS to be wide awake and keen as their
razors to keep up with the velocipeding
world, and the Allegheny BARRIERS do not
| take back seat when it comes to spring.
| ing new and fruitful schemes on an un-
suspecting public. The brief but startling
explanation of the appearance of the cards
mentioned above and the commercial i'm
portance they bear is nothing more or less
than that the BARRIERS of Allegheny have
formed a combine-a tonsorial trust, TO
| crush out competition and raise prices.
Nothing of the kind has ever been at
tempted BEFORE" said Mr.. j. G. Seibert,
last evening, to a DISPATCH reporter. Mr..
| Selbert is secretary of the BARRIERS Protec-
tive and Beneficial Association. II never
heard of such a move in the II years
history of our organization. There is not
man on those cards who belongs to the
union, and 1 fail to see where they derive
the use of the word union, unless it is pos
sibly combine of their own. Our associa-
tion is made up of bosses and journeymen.
| The union is intended for them to work in
| harmony. We don't attempt to agree on
one price and have nothing to do with reg
ulating rates, except in so far as prohibiting
any barber being a member who charges
less than 10 cents for shaving and 10 for
hair-cutting.
| NOT A UNION MOVE.
"This step to agree on one set of prices
| has not been considered by the Union. It is
only the action of Allegheny BARRIERS.
| Eight years ago a move was made not to cut
children's hair on Saturday, but that is a
dead letter now.
"I think, though. the Alleghenians have
a good case. They ought to have more for
hair-cutting. Twenty-Five cents is not any
too much. believe the general public will
agree that it is little enough. Some people
appreciate the work, and don't consider the
prices. They are the class that will be sat
| isfed. Others object to anything like q
| quarter or more. / know certain men who
spend dollar in the saloon and squeal on a
| 15-cent shave. As a matter OF fact, 15-cent
shave will improves mans appearance more
than 15-cent drink of whisky. charge
80 cents for first-class clip. That is top
shelf price, and 1 think the Allegheny bar
bers will have no trouble in getting %
cents"
Early in the afternoon call was paid to
| Pittsburg's sister city, and the trials and
| tribulations of the tonsorial artists learned
| from their own lips. Mr.. A. B. Hughes,
| one of those whose name graces the plac3rds
| distributed over the town, was seen.
"High rents are at the bottom of it all,
| he said. Few people realize that after we
settle with the landlord there isn't much
left in the treasury. Our expenses are
| heavy, and we had to raise the prices on
hair-cutting to come out even. Hitherto we
have cut at 20 cents, but after this shingle
| will cost % cents, man or boy"
UNPOPULAR ON FEDERAL STREET.
Mr.. George Reese was interviewed and
the following facts learned: "I have not yet
signed the card, and don't know of any
Federal street BARRIERS who will put down
their names. I am q member of the Pro-
tectiye Union and want to see what the
association does in the matter first before I
sign. understand the prime movers in
this matter are Messrs. Frank II. Kline and
Charles Zeg, who solicited names for the
cards you see in the different barber shops. B"
Charles Nunge, of 245 Federal street, was
one of the BARRIERS called on by the commit
tee to sign the card. "They told me in, a
yery significant manner that they would
cause my customers to boycott me, +" said
Mr.. Nunge, 'if refused to join the COM
bination. I don't understand how they
could do that II we cut hair for less than
their standard, 25 cents, it seems to me that
people would most likely boycott them and
patronize u.s."
Charles Lang said: "There are so many
different organizations Of BARRIERS at present
that 1 would much rather see one general
union than have a new association come up.
In that way we could better agree on one
price that would be reasonable and just. In
this way one man charges his price anG an
other asks for something else. >"
The combine of union prices" announced
on the placards was the talk in the barber
shops in Allegheny yesterday, and some
interesting opinions on the subject were
advanced by the deft manipulators of the
scissors. 81 have shorn locks for years, u
remarked one knight of the razor in John
ii, Stern's emporium, land find it as much
work to cut children's hair as a grown per
sons. the little ones find it so hard to sii
still. The price ought to be the same fol
both, and will be glad to see the 25-ceni
rate 20 into effect as soon as possible. -.
WAGES WON'T GO UP.
INQUIRIES were made as to whether tht
increased prices would advance the present
, waaes of BARRIERS. No change of that kinG
is looked for, aud, while the prices to Gus
toners go up, the wages Of employees viii
remain about the same.
On these hot days, when the sun shinel
Al