Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-13
AFTER THE PAINTERS.
Bosses Consider New Rules to Present
to Their JOurneymen.
ALL TRADES MAY YET STRIKE
President GOmperS Conferring With Leaders
in the Coke Region.
A DAYS GRIST FROM LABOR CIRCLES

The master painters met last night, in the
Builders Exchange, and considered the ad.
visibility of presenting new set of working
rules to their men, which may be given out
| within q few DAYS. This matter was con-
sidered at a former meeting but was de-
ferred, in the hope that the present trade
| difficulty would be settled. Harry Kalkof, a
| Southside contracting painter, said he be-
! lieved the action of his association will be
| followed by similar moves on the part of all
| the other master associations and that a
general lockout will be the result.
The Carpenters Council held a meeting
last night in Saller's Hall, corner of Smith
field and Diamond streets. The General
Secretary, P. j. MCGUIRE, was present and
made lengthy address to the men, and ad-
vised the leaders of the strike as to the best
manner to proceed with the management of
the trouble. He said very confidently that
if the men would remain firm in their pres
ent position they would win. He regards
the attitude of the bosses in declining to
confer as an evidence of weakness, and
thinks there are indications that conces-
sions will soon be made by the master build
ers.
Union 1856 met last night and appointed the
work at Murphy & Diebold's West End
-
day evening of next week.
Resolved to Remain Out.
The plumbers who are out ON strike met
yesterday and reaffirmed their former ac-
tion, to remain out until the obnoxious rules
are withdrawn by the bosses. About ten
firms have taken this step and their men re-
turned to work yesterday.
At the various headquarters yesterday,
leaders of both sides were taking things as
they came in a very unconcerned manner.
Mr. Swartz was seen, but he said there was
nothing new in the situation. A few more
firms had conceded the hours. "They are
coming gradually" said he, "and it will be
just as Mr.. MCGUIRE. says: the contractors
will give in, one by one, until we have won
the whole fight"
An official of the Carpenters Council pro-
duced list of figures yesterday that shows
how the carpenters wages compare with
those paid other tradesmen, and is intended
to prove the justice of the demands so far as
the question of wages, at least, is concerned.
stonemasons receive 45 cents an hour; brick
layers, so cents; painters, So a day; skaters,
So 80; plasterers, So 30; plumbers, $S 80; tile
layers, 81 so.
A report was started yesterday that large
numbers of the strikers are leaving the city.
A thorough investigation proved that very
few. men left. The twenty carpenters asked
are determined for the present to remain
firm and fight it out. A few bricklayers have
left the city, but none from other trades are
reported as having gone. .
The Builders Exchange presented sort
of deserted appearance yesterday. The
usual meeting was held, but beyond that
very few of the contractors put in an appear
ance. Large numbers are reported as being
at work finishing up few odd jobs that
were incomplete when the strike COM
menced. The Builders Exchange will hold
another meeting in Lafayette Hall Saturday,
at which proposed change in the bylaws,
reducing the Initiation fee from $50 to $40,
will be voted on.
No Conference With Contractors.
Mr.. Mcguire was supposed to have been
out of the city yesterday, but he was quar-
tered at the Duquesne Hotel all day answer
ing official correspondence. He was seen in
the afternoon by a DISPATCH reporter, to
whom he said he did not believe there would
be a conference with the contractors. He
put different color to the claims of the
strike committee, who have been insisting
that from ], 200 to 400 men are at work. Mr..
Mcclure said his inside information on
the matter was to the effect that from 45O to
500 men are at work under the eight-hour
system. He desired it to be understood that
the feeling between himself and Mr.. Swartz
had been blotted out and that they are now
friends. He explained the late difficulty
over the general treasuryship by saying that
Mr.. Swartz had not been legally elected at
all and therefore could not assume charge of
the office,