St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-19
RIVETS IN BOILERS.
Boilermakers Would Like to
Reduce the Number Of
Boiler Explosions.
Towards That End RivetS in
Boilers Should Be Ham
mered, Not Driven.
Other Important Resolutions
Passed Upon by the Dele
gates.
Official List Of the Partiei-
pants in the TupnfeSt
Parade.

A strike has been on the past six
teen weeks in the city of East Brooklyn
among the boilermakers and the iron
steamship builders. 1t has cost the
brotherhood vast deal of money, but
the expense to the master boilermakerS
and shipbuilders will mount up to
sum ten times greater. 1t has, indeed,
been bitter strife for "the survival of
the fittest' that has occasioned all par
ties interested heavy lossIin money and
wages. But the strike has just cul-
minated in victory for the strikers.
This intelligence was received by the
brotherhood of the United States and
Canada, now in annual session in this
city, with enthusiastic applause. The
story reached the presidents chair,
through communication from
the South Brooklyn secretary, just
as the days session was about 20 be adj
jOurned, and the sturdy workmen were
greatly elated. They departed for Min
neapoIls, where they were the guests OF
the branch of that city for the evening,
as is related below.
The history of this difficulty, although
clothed with multifarious unpleasant
features, is quite interesting. 1t is,
moreover, an eXemplifcation of the re-
Liza bility of the axiom that "hiStory re-
peats itself" A year ago walk-out
was ordered on technical grounds. The
masters were confident that they could
and would bring the worknien to their
feet as SuppliantS for reinstatement in
short order. But they reckoned without
their host, as the phrase goes. The work
men were Obdurate instead of du ctile
servants, as had been estimated. The
brotherhood throughout the en-
tire country sustained the course,
and it proved almost ruinously
expensive to the millionaire proprietors
of The shipyard. Meanwhile, the strik-
ers had been cared for by the brother
hood without superficial evidences of
distress. The strike succeeded, and
terms were reached through arbitration
agreeable to the brotherhood.
This time the cause of the strike was
an obnoxious foreman. He had deep
seated prejudice against organized Ia
Dor, and was moving in plan to
DIsPIace Union Wen
for non-nnion workmen. For this the
union men walked out. But yesterday
information arrived that for the second
time the strike in this Shipyard had
been successful.
There were 175 men engaged in this
STRIKE. said President Curran TO GLOBE re-
porter yesterday. Let me EXPLAIN he con-
timed, this yard is an immense affair. 1
can illustrate the fact by simply saying that
1t pays an annual rental of SG2, COO for its
shops. 1t occupies the two dry docks and
they are great and capable of receiving the
biggest vessels that cross the Atlantic and
he explained the modus operandi at some
length of receiving these ships in the docks
1T was a very foolish thing, in my estima-
tlon, Tor the company to have refused the re-
lief asked by the union men. Another fore
man, fully as competent, and who would
have been perfectly satisfactory to the work
men could have been engaged readily, and
the whole trouble would have been avoided.
But they were blindly led away. They became
determined ID do as they pleased, whether it
was in accord with the reasonable wishes of
the union or not. But l am heartily glad the
thing is over''
Less actual important business was
transacted at yesterdays session than
on the previous day. At the meeting of
the mechanicafenginee in lndianapo-
lis, some time ago, it transpireS, reso-
luton was passed, and the same has
been forwarded to the international
union for an indOrsemenE, protesting
against certain charges that have been
in vogue which initiate against the
efficiency of work turned out from the
boiler shops and ship yards of the
country. This resolution, in substance,
is to the effect that united effort
should be made to secure an act of
Congress ordering peremptorily, that
all holes hitherto punched in boilers
shall be hereafter drilled, and. also,
that the system of employing the but
ton set or cup shall be done away
with in all boiler shops, and further
more, that no riveter shall be allowed to
y in Hrtx,
holding button sets, or using boiler
makers tools. The brotherhood, after
protracted discussion of the question.
unanimously adopted the resolution,
and a strenuous effort will be made look
ing toward the passage of a law that
Will inhibit the practice.
President Curran stated that most of
the boiler explosions
Can Re Traced
directly to this mode of driving in the
rlvets. "The hammered rivets are the
best and safest always"
Another resolution of great import
ance TO the trade was passed. 1t takes
the form OF d memorial to congress to
exercise certain precautions in award
ing contracts for steamship building.
Ii was declared, in Illustration of the
necessity of the course, that Samuel
Moore IL Sons, of EliZabethport N. j.,
are building practicing cruisers for use
by the federal naval schools. The
brotherhood declares that the work
turned out by this concern is faulty
below the standard that should be set
in all ShIpyardS. The resolution pro-
videS that only good work shall be done,
such as will pass the most rigid and
critical inspection, and to provide for
the enforcement Of such regime it is
asked that only competent and practical
inspectors be appointed by the govern
ment and that their duties shall be
clearly outlined so that no mistakes
may creep in. The real trouble, it was
recited, lies in the custom of making
boilers and other fittings for the boats
by the piece, and in cutting the price to
such plane that good workmeu are
forced to slight their work in order to
earn a respectable competency. The
rates the employers have been in the
habit of paying has been So per 100 for
putting in rivetS. for instance. 1t is
claimed that three men and two boys
can not earn to exceed 50 by working
hard, if they do ordinarily good work.
The result is the rivets are simply
thrown i'll. They are never plugged
up tightly, and this argument,
it is asserted, applies to all
der such conditions the working of
the vessel, the raeking and movement.
soon loosenS up and dispfaees the rivets
and machinery and serious accidents
are caused. This resolution will be sent
to the secretary of the United States
navy.
The sheet iron workers are evidently
"a p 90 50 Z