New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-26
WAGES IN NETWORK,
THE BUILDING TRADES-WAGES AND HOURS
OF WORK FOR FOUR YEARS.
wORK1NGMANs HoME-wHAT THE TARIFF


DOES FOR HIM
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The men employed in the building trades
Of New-York constitute representative class OF
artisans They are sturdy men, strong of arm
and brave of heart, intelligent, and generally more
generous than wise. They are quick to respond
to appeals for help from any aggrieved section of
their extremely diversified organization, and prob
ably have to their credit a greater number of
sympathy strikes" than has any similar body OF
organized labor in America II is in this ever
readiness to strike that preponderance OF gener-
oeity over wisdom has been shown.
II is a wel-known fact that during the last
four years almost innumcrable individual strikes
have occurred which might have been terminated
successfully by simple conference between EN-
plcyers and employees: yet, by nducing depart
ments Of kindred trades to strike IN sympathy
more or less prolonged struggles have been causeo
in which some degree Of bitterness has been man
ifested for the time being.
No one can deny the completeness OF the or
rsnization of the building trades lhae c0'-
p1eteuess Is the more remarkable when CONSUMERS
fion Is rven to the fact that the trades are SP,i'
nm into all sorts Of unions and ASSOCIATIONS III
the old days when there were no orgahlzauon'
~ labor. an artisan was paid according 10 inc
we've only a second-class carpenter ne would re-
csive only second-class wages. An inferior mason
cnuld not command and did not receive the pay
~ a frsf=class workman. OF course, at thao
time. the employer was the sole Judge OF man
CAPABILITIES while that man was IN MS empty
Fl IL possible even more than likely uia' SVi'o
unscrupulous employers took advantage OF 'No
oarerso circumstances surrounding a really cap
ab,e workman 10 exact first-class work for second
Nass DAY. This is one of the things tha' 'lie
examination Of the building trades soush' "
regulate. In the early days Of the organiza'i'o
the evil was reversed. The competent ana III,
competent men were all placed upon an ee""i
tootine in the unions formed by the various
trades, and there is no doubt that gfeS. many
conscientious employers were compelled 10 pay
first. class wages to second or third-class men
II is to these latter conditions that the iarge
Number Of divisions Of the building trades or
.an;zo,ion is due The injustice of the primary
conditions were 80 apparent, and the intelligence
a, Ybe men was Of so high degree, thai q more
~ ,ess effective solution was inevitable mus ~
w.s that there came to be formed various sup
examinations composed Ct men not oulte up "
the standard OF frst-class ability THESE tu"-
organizations are called helpers unions ror
examples there are associations OF the rlas'ere'e
ueIrers the Marble Cutters Helpers MOSAIC
workcrs, Helpers Steam Filters Helpers anu
arY,e LAYERS HELPERS" There are still otheN
.h.t have not vet joined issues with the man
examination. These helpers unions form tie
;rtarmediary between apprenticeship and compie"
ooc.r,ance AZ a skilled workman in nnmoef
~ tho trades H. is seldom that an appren'ioe'
having COMPLETED his prescribed term OF service III
thai capacty, is able TO step at once 10 ."c "o,'
os a skilled workman. lie may De apie !" Wv
rood work but an employer Is haoe 10 IAN
on older man in preference to one who has JUST
been graduated, a. it were, just as many Pop,
show preference for a physician who has ma"
80 .. rractice over ono whose sheepskin Is
now In their way these helpers unions achieVe
an excellent purpose, in that they enable COM
,e+ent man to gain the experience which IS sure
20 n,aco him in the rank to which he properly
belongs n,
The binding trades are net so directly anected
br tariff legislation as many others, out they are
affected to certain extent, as every INDUSTRY
hound 20, be in a country where the issue A. P'on
,oi. ar diversity according to the economic psll-
cics set forth and supported by the two great Pc
Htca, nerties. If the country is prosperous there
10 sure 70 be activity in the building trades As III
all Others and where there is activity ohefe l.
demand for labor Now, all men admit ths.'
under an active demand prices are sure 10 Al"
vance Thus, when wages show steaoy inc'c"s''
~. rov.rsion Of the argument goes to prove that
there is a demand, that that demand Is resui''''''
unon activity and that the activity is due to gen
eral prosperity. ,. :. .,o
Tho head centre of the building trades is the
poors Of Walking Delegates, formed of one repre-
sentative from each of the various ASSOCIATIONS
Tho BOARD has headquarters at NO II East FL
,nen+b-st where 1t holds meetings three times
avery week / had the good fortune 10 meet
tb.re q dsv or two age one Of the leading mem
hers of thc Board who represents one oil tne mcs'
;r,nortant of the unions. lie is himself WORK.
man and earns union wages lie was aVersc 10
discussing the labor or any other question ia ."7
rooms but invited me to visit his nome III hoi-
lem an invitation that gladly accepted the FOL
lowing evening Perhaps there may be many
noon,e WIN would be interested in knowing JUST
how q representative New-York worNngman lVes'
T. NAV he that his wages are litte ABOVE "'e
vvsraee They probably are. lie earns -
day az @ stoneInason, as thousands OF OUTFITS Wv
in that trade hut there are several o'her kiiuiro
trades in which the wages are eq'aiV N's"'
and others still outside OF the oniioihs 'au''
The pleasant-iaced wife greeted me LII
friendly way. and ushered me into the parlor
-, .ho rrettv fat. The three yourS daughters
40 Nv. artisan-all school-grls-were amusing the
hr;cb,-eved baby boy pending the arrival OF
A.. father who had gone to the grocer TO pay
. monthly bill When the father came the firis
nero cont out into the dining-room TO STUDY,
,ho babe was pnt to bed, and with pipe ana
cigar, we talked.
Now, / am not going to reveal this ai'iS'n .
,o,no s;mnly because he asked me not to- lie
.a,a that if he were q single man he woul" never
no afraid TO speak right out in meetin' pu'
Ia rronosed TO take no chances Of exciting pre)u-
dice AGAINST himself on the part Of any strongly
nolitically biased employer when his own pros
neritv or adversely involved the comfort. nap