The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-10-09
BY PEN AND INK.
An Appeal Made to the Builders
Association,

The committee of the union carpenters
having the eigbt-hour question In hand
came together yesterday afternoon and
decided to communicate with both the
Mdwinter Fair Commissioners and the
Builders Association. They SCI forth
their positions and meet the objection Of
Colonel Andrews that the contractors had
not anticipated any eight-hour day In
making their bids by suggestion that all
Midwinter Fair work in future be bid for
and let out on an eight-hour days work
basis. Following are the tons:
BUILDING TRADES
HEADQUARTERS.
To the Midwinter Fair Comm isssoners-
GENTLEMEN: Our committee which was APP
pointed 10 ask your assistance In persuadlng
the contractors now engaged on The Midwlnter
Fair buildings, and working their men zen and
eleven hours per day. to reduce the hours 10
the legally recognized eight-hour work day, has
made report TO US that is very unsatisfactory.
IL was unable to give US any information as 10
your intentions.
We regard that report as more IN the nature
OF narrative OF controversy bad with the
contractors than OF any conference held with
you and would request some statement from
you that can be submitted 10 The organizations
Interested.
We would also lay stress upon the point that
an eght-bour clause ought to be inserted In all
contracts TO be let by you or under your SUPER
vision, and request that you decline to allow
any buildings 10 be let unless such clause be
incorporated.
We send this by our duly authorized COM
mittee, who VIII await your reply and be at
your service TO answer any questions. Yours
respectfully,
Executive Committee Organized Carpenters.
BUILDING TRADES
HEADQUARTERS.
To the Builders socidtiOn-GENPLEMEN:
We respectfully submit the following for your
consideration:
Owing to the fact that the buildings on the
Mdwinter Fair grounds have been let without
any eight-hOur clause IL the contracts the con-
tractors, with one exception. have taken adj
vantage OF that fact and have heightened the
hours OF labor per day TO an unreasonable eX-
lent
We recognize that the competition of con-
tractors bidding upon the eight-hour day basis
against others who cont mplate employing
workmen ten and eleven hours per day Is DOT
fair. We also know that the Builders AssocIa-
ton has In the past been fayorably disposed TO.
ward the elght-hour work day, as your actions
have demonstrated, and, therefore, believing
that your members use the eighT-hour day as
the basis upon which 10 estimate the item Of
labor, we feel that you will agree with US that
your Interests are jeopardiZed as well as ours.
Accordingly, we would ask your support In
our present efforts to reduer the hours OF labor
on the Mldwlnter Fair buildings, aud TO bring
about the insertion OF an eight-hour clause in
all future contracts there.
In Colonel Andrews statement to US he said
that contractors would not bid on PROPOSITIONS
containing an eight-hour clause. but our COM
mittee ELECTED the fact from him that no at
tempt had ever been made to secure such bids
and that at no time had any eight-hOur clause
been inserted In the con racts.
This statement coming TO us from an official
OF the exposition carries weight and we believe
that clause pertaining TO the number OF hours
ought to be inserted Ia all contracts.,to The end
that no one bidder should have an advantage
over the others.
We send this to you by a committee duly
authorized. asking that you give 1t your i'm
mediate attention and the committee will
await your reply Yours respectfully,
Executive Committee Organized Carpenters.