Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-27
Our Liberties We Prize. and Our Rights We
Will Maintain

sNftttR AH Lpt
Our Liberties We Prize. and Our Rights We
Will Maintain"
We have now thrust on us by the New
England Granite Manufacturers Association
a lockout of all granite cutters, paving
cutters and quarrymen in the employ OF
members of that association. This quarrel
is not of our seeking No conference has
been asked for by the manufacturers asso-
citation; but secret conspiracy has been
formed by them 10 destroy the liberties and
rights of those unfortunate enough to he
employed by them. Without any notifica-
tion of any grievance existing which these
employers consider should be remedied,
they presented us with their nltimatum Nay
5, giving us nine days to accept their terms,
We desire to state to the tradein particular.
and enlightened people generally outside of
our trade that unless in eases of violation
of agreements by them. We give employers
at least three mouths notice of
changes desired in existing agreements or
bills of prices, and it has been CUSTOM
AIRY ever since the establishment of bills of
prices TO stand honorably by our agree
ments; and on May |, in Westerly. Il. l.,
one of our branches, on being notified by
the employers that the agreement had not
been technically carried out. withdrew lis
bill, and were then distinctly told by the
employers that the old agreement held good
for another i2 months; vet in violation of
such assurance, on Saturday, May II, the
men who honorably withdrew their noiifca-
tion after three months notice, when the
technical point was raised by the emyloy
ers that it was contrary 10 the agreement,
were locked out without any notice what
ever, simply at the dictatiOn of the eXecu-
tive committee of the New England Associ-
alton. Other instances of similar nature
can be given where, in violation of honora-
BILE agreements, they have locked out our
members. Had our union ordered a gen
eral strike we should have been very quickly
reminded of our agreements The
issue raised by the manufacturers is
that bills of prices should expire Dee. II of
each year, instead of us Is customary in the
different sections to expire and 90 into ef
feet in the spring of the year. To some ii
NAV seem that the reasons advanced by the
manufacturers are reasonable ones that
they cannot figure on work TO he done in
the summer unless they know in the winter
what the rate of wages is TO he the coming
summer. If it was a hard and fast line
that all building work was let only in the
winter, there might be some reason in such;
but when it is well known that while ii is
true some work is let and some figured on
in the winter. vet some of the largest iots
have been figured on and let after wages
have been agreed ON; and further. if there
were any jobs To be figured on in the win
ter, and an employer was in doubt as to
hafb tI,ar,, xx-aE IN t.o mo for
increased wages by his employees, why
could he not inquire of them whether they
were satisfied to cut the job under the
existing bill, or whether. if there were any
changes desired, To make known what those
changes were likely to be, so that due pro
vision could be made for it in estimating
The plain facts seem to be that the en-
ployerS desire bills TO expire in the depth
of winter when workmen are practically at
their mercy But how that will improve
the situation. when employers themselres
acknowledge that there Is cut-throat com
petition amongst themselves, we fail to soc
and we fail to understand how it will
remedy the method of figuring usually
adopted for it must be plainly evident, from
the disparity in the figures published of
contracts let that some contractors pay but
little regard to bills of prices in their esti
mates, or if they do they differ largely in
their scholarship, as it appears
singular how contractors in localities
paving S3 80 per day can figure
below and get contracts where
their competitors only pay from S2.1j up
wards. How can this be. explained? In the
bids recently opened for the Lowell post
office, five Lowell contractors hid on the
work, and their bids were as follows G.
Runels two bds), SSl ,7iS and $50 ,is2
Patrick D'Hearn zone bid, 500, ,693; G,
Foss & Co, Zone bid on grantee, sS1 .52S
Staples Bros. 1.-TWO bids 500 ,o2l 30, sSa-
$3.50; White & Sweat, one bid), SSGt
Sl4 "a. The highest bid was from G.. W.
Corbett of Washington zone bid sl23 900,
a difference betwixt the highest and the
lowest of the Lowell bidders of si7 ,27G.jo.
and between the highest bid and the lowest
of all bidders difference of Sll 2j2. The
disparity in figures may be owing to bills of
prices, but we fail TO see it.
The monumental business is not governed
by hard and fast lines as to seasons and the
same disparity in figuring exists as in buiil-
ing work. but how such should be. if they
depend for figuring for such work on bills
of prices. is remarkable when where there
is considerable difference in figures on q
monument the party who il highest wonders
how the party can do the job, pay the bill
of prices and come out whole, yet they do
pay the bills of prices and appear to come
out whole, az they do not fail, but continue
in business year after year and apparently
prosper better than when at the banker.
The pathway of the association is strew n
now with broken promises; honorable
agreements recently signed are ignored as
if never made, and il the members of the
ASSOCIATION act in their other business tran
sactions as they have with their smployes
since Nav II, then we would like to know
what business man would place any reliance
in any promises made by them in future
Seeing the indefensible position they have
taken, they now claim they have not locked
out their men, but il is simply
suspension of business for
an indefinite period and great
deal Of special pleading is INDUCED in to
endeavor to show they are right in the posi-
ton they have taken; but they stand IN the
ewes of all honorable men as unreliable,
and We sincerely hope if there are any
amongst them who consider themselves bon
orable men. hui have been misied hy the
agita,ors of this trouble, that they will a.
sert their manhood and fulfil their contracts
with their men.
As far as heard from up to the present
time the men are out 81 Barre. Montpelier
William.town, East Barre. IardwIck, St
.Iohusbury, Fi,zwillsm. Redstone. part oi
Concord, Worcester, SoutbviIle, M0nson
Milford, Boston, Quincy, Cape Ann, Rock
port. Wbitinsvilc, Providence. Westerly
Mantle. Groton and New London, Stony
Creek, Leete's Island, oneco, RoSbury
Portland. HallowelI. Hurricane, yinal
Haven, Long Cove. Clark's Island, Green.
Landing. Red Beach, Blnehili and Iona
Island. Yours fraternally,
y. L. COMMITTEE.
CHESTNUT COAL