Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-29
LABOR INTERESTS HERE.
No Strike OF the Building Trades An
ticipated Next Thursday.


THE voRKIYoMrN HOPE TO OBTAIN TIE EIeHr-
HOUR DAT WITHOUT ANY DENOMINATION
THEY ARE NOT DISPOSED TO DO ANYTHING 10
CAUSE An INFLUX OF OUTSIDE woRkERs
The labor situation in this city is more or less
affected by the movements in progress through
out the country in favor Of shorter hours. For
some months the labor organizations have dis
cussed the question Of inaugurating an eight
hour day in this city. A committee repre-
senting the various labor interests had a
conference . few weeks ago with q COM
mittee from the Builders Exchange. The
request was then made that the eight-hour
day be established here. After consider
ing the question in all its phases the committee
reported the request to the exchange That
body decided to leave the matter to the action
Of each trade. This conclusion was reported to
District Assembly No. &c, knights of Labor
and at q meeting held last week that BODY came
substantially to the same conclusion and agreed
to leave the question of enforcing the eight
hour day TO each trade. The District Assemble.
however. agreed, in the event that a trade
decided on q movement Of this character TO
give all the support and assistance possible.
WILL THERE BIB STRIKES HERE2
Those best acquainted with the situation in
this city claim that no strike is anticipated but
say it is the intention Of several Of the trades
later in the season to ask their employers 30
grant them the eight-hour day. 1t is not ex-
pected that this request will be denied. The
labor representatives. however, desire to avoid
any agitation of this question. They want to
bring the change about quietly. so that bust
ness will not be lnterfered with and those in
vesting their money in new building en-
feFprs Is. VIII nro.n no. become frigatened
in prices and conclude to postpone
making their investments. The labor men say
that bricks are now 81 more per thousand than
they were last year. and that this advance adds
more to the cost OF building than the conces-
sion OF one hour day to some of the building
trades would. They say that there has been
no agitation about the advance IN the
price of bricks, that il has been done
quietly. and 80 far il has not been claimed
| that the advance has checked building opera
tons in this city. 1t 10 asserted that the eight
hour day could be inaugurated in the same way
| and no injury be done to the general interests,
but the labor people are Of the opinion that the
agitation is started on purpose to defeat their
aims and expose them to the unjust charge that
they are standing in the way OF the business
progress of the city.
AN INFLUX OF OUTSIDE WORKERS FEARED.
There is another phase of the matter which
| is regarded by labor organizations as a serious
ooleCtiOn W estaohsnlus tue elgnt-nOur uaY at
this time. The remuneration for labor in the
country and cities in the vicinity OF the Dis
trIct and especially to the SOUTH is less than il
| is here. A further reduction of hours, 1t is
thought, will have the effect Of adding TO the
| influx OF workmen to this city which occurs
each season. This latter consideration will
probably have the effect of checking the eight
hour movement in this city at least as far as
some of the trades are concerned.
THE CARPENTERS ASSEMBLY
Knights of Labor, held their regular weekly
meeting last evening. The question of the
eight-hour day, however, came up only incl
dentaliy, as it had been considered at previous
meetings and there was other business 10 at
tend to. While the Carpenters Assembly have
taken no positive action, yet they believe. as
most of the other trades do, that request for
the shorter day at the present pay would not
be refused by the bosses. Still they are doubt
full as to their action, owing to the uncertainty
as to the effect it might have IN bringing work.
men from other places to this city.
OTHER TRADES.
The journeymen plumbers have asked for a
conference with the master plumbers on the
eight-hour question. and 1t is likely that if they
make a demand for eight hours il will be
complied with. The bricklayers, painters and
plasterers are spoken of likely TO make such
a request, but il is stated that so far no posi-
tive action has been taken by any of these
trades.
ATTITUDE OF THE BOSSES.
In conversation with a STAR reporter today
number of the bosses representing different
trades said that they would make no opposition
to the demand of eight hours if one should be
made. Neither side seemed to think that there
will be any strike here this year, but the
opinion seems to be general that what
ever is done will be the result of agreement