New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-04


TO BE AN ABODE OF MAGNIFICENT LUXURY
NO EXPENSE SPARED on THE DECO
RATION OR ON ANY OTHER DETAIL
A question which is considered OF great i'm
nertanoe has arisen in the Board of Walking
Delegates Of the Building Trades. 1t relates to
the difference now existing between the board
and Baumgarten d Co., contracting wood-carvers.
Already the disagreement has developed an in
tereeting feature in connection with the building
Of a splendid white palace for the man who, with
ont holding odice, rules New-York as no Office
holder ever dared. The workingmen who have
been employed in putting the finishing touches
On The white palace have struck. They have
dared 10 quit work, just as they would on a
common tenement house
That all the men employed in the different
trades 10 finish the new mansion of Richard
Croker had struck became generally known among
labor meu yesterday. 1t surprise TO the
workngmen throughout the city. They could
scarcely believe it,
The story of how the strike happened TO be Or
dered was told at meeting of the Board of Walk
ing Delegates on Wednesday afternoon. in Claren-
don Hall. at No. ia East Thirteenth-st. AT this
regular sem-weeky meeting of the board there
was a long discussion of questions relating to the
future of the building trades in this city The
meetings of the board invariably secret, vet
the delegates did not hesitate to tell what was
done at the meeting on Wednesday
A special committee composed of delegates of
the various trades recently employed by Baum
garten 4 Co.. on Mr.. Crokcr's and several other
new houses. reported to the board that its efforts
to secure an amicable adjustment of their differ
ences had been fruitlss The committee was CON-
posed of delegates representing the Plasterers'
yarnshers', Painters, Plasterers' Laborcrs. Flee
tic Wiremen's, Carpenters, Woodcarvers' and
Cabinetnlakers' unions. The chairman Of th@ com
mittee reported that he and the other members of
the committee had had two conferences with the
contractors without accomplishing anything
The last conference was held late on Wednes-
day. when Mr.. Baumgarten is reported to have
said TO the delegate of the WOod-Carvers' Union,
Rausch. that something would happen soon if
Busch did not stop making trouble. il ap-
peared that Mr.. Baumgarten left it to Bausch 10
infer what dreadful thing might happen if he
did not cease trying to adjust the differences
concerning hours. wages and unionism. What
this dreadful thing was that might happen
does not appear Many of the workngmen be-
lieved that Mr. Croker's power was being held
over their heads as a threat. The men entertained
some decided opinions on the subject and II IL
scarcely necessary to say what they inferred
The Board of Walking Delegates, having re-
ceived what they believed 10 he complete report
on the subject, decided promptly 10 enter into
the fight with a determination to win AT all
hazards. Accordingly strikes of the trades named
have occurred Mr.. Cookers splendid palace AT
No. 5 East Seventy y-fourth-st., and on several
other houses where his contractors have been work
ing. The Board of Walking Delegates has decided
70 call out the fresco painters and decorators
Mr.. Croker's home is large and handsome.
It's exterior is impressive. Its interior promises TO
be beautiful in every detoi The facade
of the structure is pleasing, and its air of solidity
gives TO it the appearance of a home of great
wealth and Mxury. The interior decorations are
said 10 have been planned without reference 10
cost There is much fine wood carving. There
are mantes which involved long weeks Of labor
The frescoiny, il is said, will not be- eXcelled in
any other New-lork mansion in artistic merit.
The present trouble has been caused by Baum
earten Il Go. employing w0odcarvers alleged 10
be non-union. Where the trouble will end no one
can tell. Nearly all the building trades are al
ready involved. The members Of the Building
Trades Club have. il is said. decided q call
special meeting to consider the advi>ability OF
ordering general lockout of the members of the
unions represented in the Board Of Walking Dele
gates IL is said that Baum-arten & Go. are
using their influence to induce the club TO take
this radical step