Telegram-herald., 1891-03-20
CONTRACTORS REPLY
They Produce Telegrsms showing
Rates Of Wages
LESS IN OTHER CITIES IHly HERE
The Whole Matter faiiy Explained aud
Their Position Clearly D.hR~a-1Asy
Say They Are 1iiltse ss Pay
Stated Scale 81 sses

To the Editor Of the TFLseRAN- HsksIRs
We wish 10 call the attention OF the
citizens OF THIS city TO the statements
which have appeared in the press CT
late, aud present 10 them a few facts
and figures, as gathered from compet-
ent authority during the past tweaty-
four hours.
We wish 10 state arst, that these are
presented, not from malice. bat de-
sire 10 define position which. ia al
equity. seems last ana honorable. and
protect ourselves from imposition and
extortion.
We have endeavored 10 do all that
MAS in the bounds of reason 10 preserve
the peaceful relations which have pre-
viousiy existed IN Grand Rapids be
tween employer and employees, and are.
as businessmen, bound 10 rrotect oar
rights and interests. We make THIS
statement and produce the evidence.
Grand Rspids contractors arc paying
higher wages thaa almost any city east
of the Mississippi.
The following telegrams were re.
ceived by the secretary al The CF4u1
Rapids exchange today, IA response 10
his asking Tor scale OF wages:
MuwAUKEE, March ~, 1891.
Minimum FOR masons 3sl 10 IS cents
per hour.
4. II NOGEI, Secretary.
Builders anu Traders Exchange.
CIScISNATI. u. March l9. 1891.
Rricklayers 30 cents per hour. Satur-
days 55 cents. Masons 50 cents per
hour.
1Hus. ID. HcRSFR. Asst. Secretary.
Builders Exchange.
ST. PAU. Mimi, March ls. 1891.
Average per hour-Bnckiayers 42s
cents. Masons, p cents.
III. l.. l.. HAMILTON, Secretary,
Builders Exchange.
BUFFALO, y. y, March 70, 1881
Thir,y-ibree and one-third cents Or
hour; will probably increase 10 SO cents
June Let.
q. II. MCNAMARA. Secretary,
Builders and Traders Exchange.
DETROIT, March 10. 1921.
Brick masons pay $50 per day stone
masons 1926.
W. G.. VINroS, Secretary,
Builders Exchange
SAGINAW. Mich, March 70. 1871.
Mssons $500 per day; brIcklayers
$500 per day; Dine hours.
L. y. BAMFoRD, Secretary.
These speak for themselves. showing
g. 90 ff.r 49, St
3elc, for rtone masons SIC per hour,
while Grand Rapids masops demand
45c per hour fer their poorest men.
Further, IN two cities, st. Psul an
Milwaukee, the sliding scale of wages
are IN use and they, with the balance
snow an average much less than We
pay here.
In regard 10 the number Of working
days IN year, 235 Is short number 10
allow as an average for working DAYS
for masons. which, at s4.O5 per day
makes a yearly average OF 500 per
day. and day not as most mechanics
work, of ten hours. but nine hours m
stead, as eur time books will show,
leaving the balance of the year TO those
who have no other trade, for improving
homes or seeking employment ia other
cites. thus taking bread from the
mouth of their fellow craftsmen. who
pay taxes IN those clues.
The ifficulty IS not so much on wages
as totally Ignoring the COMMUNICATION
sent to the union, and the arbitrary
rules Lard down foT the conducting Of
cur business by them.
We furthermore SAY the contractors
have no objection TO the brick layers
becoming contractors. but we do deny
the right of union man debating what
wages VIC shall pay and how We shall
do our work and then step out oi their
meeting aud 60 into direct competition
with Us the next morning. We DO not
believe anv reasonable society will dare
deny this right.
Now by their article they admit that
they have a grade of mechanics IN the
union. and a. we have shown by other
cities that we paw higher wages iof poor
men than they pav for their best men.
We have adopted the following scsie 81
wages which We MAINTAIN is above the
average.
Br.cklsyors, FIRST clss.. g. cents per
hour.
Brcklsyers, second class, 81 cents per
hour.
stone mssons, first class, - cents per
hour.
stone masous. second c'ass, 80 cents
pcr hour.
Signed. John sullivan, J. \. Bolsnd,
Hosken A NawSsf. Jsmes Curtis. &.
Cent?, l. c Davidson 4 Co, A. Breni-
eartner. Frank Eckert. o. ~ David
son, Nm. koerke.
RY Damn COMMITTEE.
-
Indicted for Burglary.