Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-09
RATES CANNOT RISE.
Employers in the Building Trades
Hold That to Increase Wages
WILL LOSE THEM MORE CONTRACTS
Outside Contractors Get More Than Their
Share Of the Work,
BECAUSE THEY CONTROL CHEAP LABOR

A good many people in Pittsburg are
curious to know why the construction of the
larger proportion of new erections is
awarded to outside architects and contrac-
tors, to the detriment of home talent and en-
terprise, and, in great measure, to the loss
| of native artisans. The newest building of
| any size just commenced is C. L. DAVIS
| theater, on Sixth street, and in this case the
architects are from Indiana and
the contractors from Philadelphia. With
| out stopping to inquire into reasons,
it will be pertinent to point out that a
strong connection exists between this gen.
eral employment on Plttsburg work Of out
side contractors and workmen, and the de-
mands of the carpenters-rather section of
that body-for eight hours work at nine
hours pay.
Local contractors are wont to urge, when
asked why they allow so much work to slip
through their fingers, that they cannot COM
pete with builders from other cities, because
the difference in wages is so much in favor
OF the latter. This is the reason why Henry
Shenk, of Erie-as one example of an out
side contractor-is so successful in obtain
Building by Outside Contractors.
Mr.. Shenk is now building the Telephone
Exchange on Seventh avenue, and among
the larger erections constructed by him are
the Duquesne Club House. the Ander son Ho-
tel, the Lewis block and the Y. NJ. G. A. build
ing. besides many private residences in the East
End, such as Colonel Schoonmaker's. The men
employed in the rough construction on these
g vUnT npin nnnl 1rIrl
though very frequently men we're imported
and placed at work at lower rates than obtained
here. But the advantage of the outside
contractor began after the root had
been put on. The carpentry and joining
and fine fittings were made at Erie. and by
workmen who were paid from % cents to 70
the lumber and stonework we're shipped from
Erie and landed here at less cost than
similar material could be purchased in this
market. because they were wrought by men at
low wages.
The trade is familiar with the fact that con-
tractors from Washington, Beaver Falls and
neighboring towns find good deal of business
III the city and suburbs, and that they use local
material and workers-which are cheaper than
Similar stuff herein the execution of their
work.
against the concession of higher wages to the
carpenters is found in the foregoing. Con-
tractors declare that to grant any increase IN
wages will result i'll their losing still mo:e>of
the trade than is now passing them by. and they
are, for once united in determination to re-
sist all attempts in this direction. Mem bers of
carpenters their demand for eight hours at
present wages would be only holding out an
lnducement to the plasterers to make similar
demands, with some fair show of logic, when
preparing their scale next August. If one
should get eight hours there is no reason why
another trade should not, if it could, and such
concessions this year would be surely followed
by general eighu-hour demand by the rest of
the building trade next spring.
The Argument of Employers.
Prices paid workers in the various trades
here, the employees urge, are already as high as
they can go and leave them any competing
chance with outsiders, and to increase rates
would be tantamount to going out of business
There is another view which employers take
OF the eight-hour demand. They are opposed
TO it on account of its Incidental cost. The re-
duction in hours would necessitate the employ
ment of additional help, and accommodation
for increased number of employees must be
found by enlarging shops and furnishing addi.
tional machinery. incidentally would follow
additional clerk hire and increased rentals for
larger premises. So that urge employers, the
concession of eight hours for nine hours work
is not alone question of higher wages but in
wolves increased expenditures which there Is
no probability of recovering
The manner in which the employers hope to
settle the difficulty is by fixing the scale of
wages in each trade at so much an hour, and
then allowing those who consider eight hours a |
days work TO LABOR tnat period, The feeling
of the trade generally over the country is that
this is tie best way to solve the difficulty and
the Builders Exchange have all adopted and
intend to urge tho adoption OF the system on
their men.
1t Is no secret that the majority of the car
penters are opposed to the eight-hour plan
sought to be made an issue by the radical wing |
among them. The officials have received in !
structions from headquarters to push the aues-
ton at all hazards. and even to accept eight |
hours at eight hours pay rather than fail to
carry the point of the shorter day. The senti-
ment OF the majority is opposed to this plan, |
and is in favor of obtaining the most money for |
a days work. They are content to wor,. nine |
hours. and it is believed that they will prove too
strong for the radical element