Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-12
TO HELP EACH OTHER.
Builders Exchanges to Hold a Big
Convention Here Soon.
MANY INTERESTS CONCERNED.
Come Weak Points in the Present System
to Be Strengthened.
HOUSES CAN BE. BUILT MORE CHEAPLY

around Plttsburg have been laboring unde
a great disadvantage for some time from
the lack of better understanding between
each other. This is becoming more ap
parent each year; for as the shipping facil
tiles to various points are improved, thu
contractors of the surrounding towns arr
brought into such close contact as TO max,
them actual competitors with those of thu
city. Through the advantage OF Longer
hours and lower wages they are enabled tt
make their bids at so low figure that the
men actually on the ground can scarcely
compete with them. The city builders find
themselves taken at such disadvantage
that they are casting about to find some
remedy for the trouble.
Accordingly at the last meeting of the
Builders Exchange arrangements were be-
gun for . convention of all the builders
exchanges in the surrounding towns to be
held in this city January II. This move
had been contemplated for some time. but
until last week nothing definite was done.
| A committee will have the arrangement OF
programme, the securing of the necessary
speakers and everything connected with
such a convention. The members of the
exchange are all greatly in favor of the
meeting, and when the motion came up it
was passed without opposition.
Formed an Independent Organization.
The exchange here, with a number of
other exchanges in smaller towns in West
ern Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West
Virginia, severed all connections with the
national association about year ago, and
since then have been existing as independ-
ent organizations. They include Wheeling,
Youngstown, Washington, Pa, Uniontown,
Greensburg, with many others. All these
will be invited to take part in the conven-
tton, and will be allowed representation in
proportion to the number of interests repre-
sented in the various exchanges, as'it is
thought it will be necessary to have each
trade present the needs of their different in
dustrIes so as to enable all to be satisfied.
The questions that will cone up have not
all been decided upon yet, but those that
will receive the most attention will be the
ones relating to the hours of work and
wages. In most of the exchanges in the
smaller towns the men work ten hours and
sometimes even more for q days work.
The exchange here has taken the lead in
adopting the nine-hour rule, and has
been one of the most earnest advo-
Gates OF the eight-hour law, though
not in favor of 1t now and
will not adopt it as long as the other ex-
changes work under the 10-hour rule. 1t is
intended at the meeting in January to try
to come to a mutual understanding as to
what will constitute days labor.
The Exchanges VIII Aid Each Other.
It is also probable that the contractors
will make provision to Withstand a prom
ised demand from all the labor unions for
the eIght-hour law during the coming year,
and, in case it should come, adopt some plan
of action that will enable them to act in
unison. They have not heretofore been
of aid to each other during strike and
when one was declared in town, the build
ers of that place had to fight it out without
help. With the coming together of all, and
reaching a better understanding, it is
thought they Will be in such q position as
to win the contest that may occur in short
time.
Secretary McAfce, in speaking of the
convention and questions likely to be
brought up at that time, said: Zone of the
most commented on subjects among the
builders at the present time is not one of
wages or hours, though these oc-
cupy good deal Of attention,
but the relations between contractor and
With all the exchanges that come in COM
petition with US coming together and ar
ranging some plan whereby they can work
together understandingly houses could be
put up much cheaper. AS it now is q man
must have q large amount of capital on
hand to go into the building business The
house is usually completed before any of
the money is paid to the contractor, who,
in turn, gives it to the sub-contractor
In small structures it is usually required
that the money be paid as the work prog
resses, but in all large buildings the
work must be complete before pay can be
asked. Now, when a man has q number of
houses on hand, as is the case with most
contractors, and goes a whole season with
out receiving compensation, there is too
much capital outstanding to do business
without charging heavy commission.
Getting Money on Accounts.
sit is expected that to remedy this an
arrangement will be made whereby the
money can be paid in at stated intervals,
and in this way allow the bills to be dis
which would amount to quite o
good deal in large buildings This rule
would have to be general to be enforced. 1t
would make q difference of hundreds of |
dollars in many cases and that would mean |
good deal for contractors. With the present |
the sub-contractor has simply |
to await the will OF the chief to get his |
This SO badly embarrasses him |
sometimes that he must borrow money, |
upon which he has to pay interest, and he |
simply adds this to his bill in making his
estimates In the end the owner of the |
house has to pay the difference, and the con-
tractor is put to no little inconvenience. |
All these and a dozen other questions can |
be discussed intelligently during few days |
and everyone would be the |
gamer, as with the present arrangement |
there is q good deal of dissatisfaction among |
the contractors. We want change and |
can have it if we make the effort.
The programme for the convention is ex-
pected to be completed and all necessary |
made when the exchange |
holds its quarterly meeting, which will be |
held in about two weeks It is intended to |
take up the work in earnest SO as to insure