The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-29
BUILDERS And TRADERS.
Fourteenth Annual Banquet and
Meeting ofthe Exchange.
PROVIDENCE ARTISANS FEAST.
They Celebrate The Fourteenth
Anniversary or The Exchange
with Appropriate Exercises and
' Speeches.

The fourteenth annual meeting OK the
members of the Builders and Traders
Exchange was held last evening at the
rooms on Custom House street The
meeting was called TO order at 1880 o'clock
by the president. +. c. Markham. who
opened the meeting with few brief re-
marks on the business on hand. urging a
stronger unison of all tho members aud
advising those present that in union
there is strength.
The secretary, William +. Cady, then
presen ted his annual report, showing
total membership to date Of l0l members
eight of which are new, members and
eleven OF which are either dead or re-
moved. According Co his report the com
bination was in n most hourishing condi-
tion and the future prospects were better
than ever before. The report Of the
treasurer showed balance on hand of
$3.50.
The election of officers for the ensuing
year then followed: Richard Hayward
was chosen president; William w. Batch
elder. first vice president; Spencer b.
Hudson, treasurer; 4. q. Markham, L.
Titus. vi. III. Shattuck, j. II. Thornley,
and ii. J.. Cott. executive committee for
two years.
John j. Mahoney was appointed to fill
any vacancy in this committee for one
year.
committee consisting of Spencer Is.
Hopkins, William Chadsey and Richard
Hayward was appointed TO consider the
matter OF re-admission OF members re-
signed. Richard Hayward and A. j. G.
Larned were elected delegates TO the Ma
tional Convention of Builders, with James
S. Hudson, James Sheridan aad Henry
X. Mason as alternates. William w.
Batchelder was chosen director at large.
Previous to the election of delegates TO
the convention, a motion that the Prov-
dence Builders and Trades Exchange
Withdraw from the national association
was made. Considerable discussion en-
sued, some In favor and some against the
motion, and the president, 4. T.. Mark
ham, expressed his views as follows:
The subject under discussion is one of
great Importance to the builders of this
country AS well as 10 this exchange and
am glad that IL has come up at this time
when SO many of our members are pres
ent SO that we can feel that in tue con-
clusions We shall arrive at, we shall have
the sentiment OF this exchange. 1 believe
that in order to bring this subject prop
erly before the exchange it is necessary
to consider what are the effects Of the
National Association or builders and
what called that body into existence.
II will try as briefly as possible TO state
some OF Those objects. One of the first
changes which tney undertook to bring
about was the custom that prevailed of
contractors signing contract to do some
thing that WAS not called for either in
the plans or specifications. Under those
various forms OF contract there seemed To
be no end to what might be demanded in
order TO complete his contract. Ia fact
the end WAS only reached when the
owner or architects conscience, or the con-
tractors pocketbook, had reached their
end, and l doubt very IN uch IL the con-
tractor would have ben any more con-
sciousness IL he had happened to have |
had hold of the same end Oh the stick that |
the other fellow had.
THE National Association Of Builders |
took this matter in hand and appointed a |
committee. which In connection wita "A
committee appointed by the American
Institute OF Architects, drew up form
of contract which is called the uniform
contract which is believed TO be Just and
fair To all parties. This form Of contract
you can demand and the owner or archi-
tect refusing To grant IT., would snow at
once that they did noG intend TO deal
fairly with you. The facy that we have
this form OF contract and that ycu can
demand the use OF IL is OF untold value TO |
all Of US. There is one clause in that
form Of contract that may save TO con-
tractor all IL ever cost this exchange TO
belong to the National Association OF
Builders, on single contract. refer
10 the strike clause.
Zone of the matters that has received
the serious attention OF the National As
sociation OF Builders which is well
worthy OF our attention, is the abuses
that the sub-contrsctor has had to put
up with. His Judgment is asked as to
the cost or certain par. 8 OF the work, and
his estimate used IN securing the Job. |
But this does not always secure the work
for the sub-contractor. The first con-
tractor often seems to think that he has
the right to put the work up again and |
see II he cannot secure a lower bid than
the one that he secured the job with. The
National Association of Builders has
recommended a plan TO correct this
abuse, and 1T only remains for us TO
adopt those recommendations to secure
the oenefits of them. There are great
mahy reasons -why=we should, -ia-my
opinion, continue ia our aifiliatlon.
we ought as builders to be willing to
pay our part toward correcting the many
abuses which have been allowed to creep
Into our business methods aud / firmly
believe IL we ever are able TO take the
position in the business community
which we are entitled TO it will be
through the efforts OF the National As
ISOLATION OF Builders aud hops this ex-
change Will not take any indifferent Do
sition in the matter" 8
Tbe motion was finally indefinitely
postponed, aud then tue meeting ad-
Journed 70 Gelb 81 Norton's, here the
annual banquet was served.
Alter the good things provided had .
been duly discussed, President HAYWARD
called the assembly 20 order and intro ,
auced ss the speakers of the evening His
Excellency Gov. Brown, ex-Goy. John w
Davis, Richard Comstock, President o.
>. Kendall of the Worcester Exchange.
aud others, all of whom spoke in a gen,
eral way on the good resulting from "A
cooperative Effort OF the artisans.