Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-01
EIGHT-HOUR CONTEST
Master Builders Do Not Favor a Lin.
itatiOn of the Days Work.
NO VIOLENT MEASURES URGED,
But Workmen Will Insist on Shorter Hours
and the Same Pay.
VIEWS OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYES

are expected before Sunday or Monday.
Mr.. Linsey came home on account of feel
ing unwell. The rest of the delegation in
tend to visit different places on the way in
reference to trade matters.
A number of architects, building trade
men and members of the Federation of
Labor and K. of L. were seen yesterday
about the position taken by the convention
on the eigkt-hour question. The general
opinion Of employers is that there will be
no opposition to the movement if the work
men are satisfied to accept eight hours
pay. A diversity of opinion exists,
however, on the question of put
ting q limit to the number of
hours for work. Some take the system of
payment by the hour to have no reference
to the the eight-hour movement, but take it
to mean that workman shall receive pay
only for the time he works, and that he
snail work more than eight hours if re-
quired. Several intimated that it is not
declaration against eight hours only, but
condemnation OF any effort to limit the time
a man may work, even so far as the present
nine-hour limit is concerned.
ABoLIsHING RESTRICTIONS.
1t was learned that the intention of the
convention was to abolish all restrictions In
reference to any limit TO the time for work.
At present nearly all the departments of the
building trades are paid by the quarter or
half day, while the new system implies that
pay will be given only for the actual time
at work.
John U. Barr, Jr., architect, said: $50
far as l know none of the Master Builders
have as yet received any demand from their
men on the eight-hour question. Several of
the men have been heard to say that the de-
mand will be made, but it can be certainly
said that if they attempt to get ten hours
pay for only eight hours work it will be
absolutely refused. 1t is unreasonable for
the men to ask pay for time and work that
they do not do. 1 am in favor OF the pay
meut by the hour system. and I think it is
the only way a man should be paid. do
not believe in paying men for some
thing they do not do. I am also
opposed to having the hours for work lin
tied. If the workmen insist on working
eight hours, even though they do consent to
receive only eight hours pay, it will not re-
suit in the employment OF any more men,
for we will simply see that they work harder
in order to get as much work done.
SOME TIME WASTED.
'There is at present considerable time
wasted by the men, and they do not seem to
have their hearts in the work. 1t amounts
to Just this: A man with $40, 900 at his back
can wait longer than the man who merely
depends on his labor, and it is not likely
that the master builders are going to grant
any unreasonable demand. The state of
business would be upset, and we are deter
mined to resist the effort to establish eight
hours on a nine or ten hours basis of pay
ment"
One of the members of the Pittsburg
Tiling Company said: "We have given the
action OF the convention no thought as yet.
There has been no request made of us for
eight hours work. We are in favor of pay
ing by the hour, and we would have no OBJ
lection to accepting the eight-hour working
dav; in fact we rather favor such an idea.
We think that a mans capacity for work
would be increased. o. course the state of
business is such that we could not paw ten
hour payment rate for eight hours work.
We are on the most harmonious terms with
our employees, and we are disposed to act
fairly with them"
one of the firm at III Second avenue,
carpenters, said: 1--WE think that if the men
demand ten hours pay of John McCor-
mick & Co. for eight hours work, it will
result in people using iron in many places
where wood is now used, and business
would be injured to that extent"
MAY UPSET BUSINESS.
L K. Becker, plumber on Penn avenue
and Eleventh street. said that he had given
the matter little thought. He had received
no demand, but he felt that business would
be turned topsy-turvy if the request for
eight hours and full pay was made. He
linz IN ~ hrIV, ahnrr
shorter working day in any manner that did
not upset the condition of trade.
Several other builders and contractors
were seen, and they all agreed that eight
hours and full pay could not be granted, and
that such demand would be resisted.
Mr.. j. j. Flannery said: at is hard to
say Just what means will be adopted to
secure the eight-hour working day. 1 do
not know what the men in the building
trades will do. There is absolutely nothing
known as yet about the matter. The A. F.
of L. will not insist on any particular trade
making the attempt. That organization
has merely declared in favor of the eight
hour system, and allows each trade to deter
mine when it will make the effort. Only
those trades which have a national organi-
cation will be asked to make an attempt,
because it is felt that to push the movement
in any one trade which is not organized
thoroughly is to place the employees of the
city in which the demand is pushed at
disadvantage with other places.
BUsIN Ess WON'T BE HURT.
"The policy is to secure ten hours pay for
eight hours work, but nothing will be done
to cripple business in any way. The coke
men in their new scale will demand the
eight-hour day. We are disposed to adopt
fair means to bring about the eight-hour
system, and it is hoped the employers will
also act fairly in the matter, and do what
they can to assist the movement along"
Mr.. VIM. Martin said: "The Federation
has declared for eight hours work and eight
hours pay, and will only make an attempt
to secure it in those trades that are most
likely to succeed. The building trades men
will probably be part of those who will
make the attempt No general strike will
be ordered. The A. F. of L. guaran-
tee each trade the right to man.
age its own affairs, but Whatever trades |
decide to act in the matter, they will receive |
all necessary support from the Federation, |
VIM. j. Dillon said:
The question as to what trades would ask |
for the eight-hour day has been left in the |
hands of the Executive Board, which is now |
very probably acting in the matter. Each |
trade will decide for itself what means it |
will adopt to secure the system"
NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
l. n. Ross, of the K. 6f L., said he did |
not think the time was yet ripe to inaugurate |
the eight-hours system. "The X. of L. will |
do nothing to retard the movement and will |
do what it can to assist if any effort is |
made he said. "Our purpose is to reduce
the hours of labor by degrees instead of in
augurating general attempt"
Many other workmen in the building |
trades were seen, and while they all declared |
in favor of nine hours pay for eight hours
work, none were ready to say that it would |
L. 4ad upon