Evening star., 1895-07-19
THE CARPENTERS COUNCIL
All Union Mem in the City Reported as
Employed
Discussions at the Meeting Last Night
The Trouble Over Mrs.
Chflds' New House.

In Washington out of employment was the
pleasant announcement made at the meet
ing last night of Carpenters Council at
their hall, No. 627 Massachusetts, avenue
northwest. 1t was also stated that some
of the union builders have been looking for
union men who are out of work, but have
not been able to find them.
The session of the council began at s
o'clock, with President r. r. Rhodes in the
chair and Mr.. Victor F. Montgomery secre-
tary, and continued for four hours during
which many matters of interest were con-
sidered.
The Catholic University Work.
Previous to entering upon the considera-
ton of the regular business of the evening.
the grievance committee held session and
considered the charges preferred against
the members who were recently called off
the work at the Catholic University, as
heretofore stated in The Star, the allega-
tion being that they had violated an es-
tablished rule of the organization in con-
tinufng at their place Of employment after
being ordered off by the council. The evil
dence both for and against the accused
was listened to patiently. The committee
finally decided that the rules must be
obeyed and the penalty prescribed under
them enforced The committee 1t was an
nounced. was much pleased to learn that
all those who had been charged with dere-
iiction Of duty had secured better jobs at
more pay than they were receiving at the
Catholic University.
Mrs. ChiIds' House.
Secretary Montgomery read letter which
he had received from Messrs. Furness &
Evans. the architects, fer the building of
Mrs. George w. Childs' house, in reference
to the long continued difficulty between
thee members Of Carpenters Council and
that lady. The letter and the various in
cidents which called 1t out w3re discussed
at great length by Messrs Rose, Heisley,
Murray, Harries, Montgomery, Nusbaum,
Magee and others. During the discussion
II was stated, among other things, that Eat
the time the controversy began Mr. Lowrie
the superintendent for Messrs. Furness &
Evans, was paying the carpenters s.. 75 for
nine hours work per day, which was the
rhiiadeiphia price. and that he required
every day, Saturday included. Both these
matters were in direct violation of the
rules governing the carpenters of the Dis
trict of Columbia, whose rate was and is
- per day OF nine hours and eight hours
on Saturday, the latter to rate as a full
day.
Mr NJ D. Rose was appointed commit
zee 10 see superintendent Lowrie and ask
nim 10 raise the pay Of the union carpen-
ters to - for nine hours work, or 81 50 for
eight hours. Mr.. Lowrie. it was stated last
night, refused, after Mr.. Rose had stated
me OBJECT OF his visit, to discuss the mat
Ter turther with him, and ordered Mr Rose
TO leave the premises Mr.. Lowrie was also
It was charged last night, very offensive In
mis- language toward Mr.. Rose and in re
gard to organized labor.
Mr. Rose then called all the Union man
Off the work. The men at once ceased their
operations and Mrs. Childs, who was near
by, according to the statement made last
night asked what was the trouble, and was
informed fhoS u
hey were union men and wanted union
pay. Mrs Childs replied: well. can't do
anything for YOU
me Following day the pay Of the men on
the work was raised to the figure asked by
the council, but this increase Mr.. Lowrie
IT was said last night. has on several occa-
sions stated was paid by him out of his
c"h II pocket The letter Of Messrs. Furness
q Evans says: Mrs. George w, ChiIds
has already expended between five and six
hundred dollars more than was necessary
to obtain good and competent workmen for
her house. This she has done from a feel
ing of good will toward your organization.
ana we are greatly surprised that any rep
utabie labor organizat ton should persist in
annoying her in the way which you do.
Hoping that you will see ct not to SO an
noy her in the future, we beg to remain.
&C." w iiA'
The members take this letter to show
that MI. Lowrie did not, as he claimed,
hear the expense incident to the increase
OF pay to the men out of his own funds.
Sometime after the interview referred to
an effort was made to have an interview
with Mrs. Childs, but she refused to see the
representatives of the council.
Tne council then, according to the narra-
tive of the trouble made last night got the
sworn affidavits of the union men, who had
been employed on the work, setting forth
the facts in the case, and these were for
warded to Mrs. Childs. She, however ac-
cording to the letter read last night, refer
red the matter to her architects, who sent
the letter to the council above quoted.
No further action in the matter will be
taken for the present at least.
Music for Labor Day.
The committee on music to accompany
the members in the Labor day parade re-
ported that they have not as yet succeed
ed in getting a band, but they intend to
procure one even If they have to send out
Of the city for it. but they do not want
any but a union band.
The committee appointed to confer with
similar committees from the various unions
Of carpenters and joiners in the city re-
ported that a meeting Of the several COM
mittees will be held at 419 10th street north
west, next Wednesday evening. A vast
amount of other business was transacted.
but it was decided that in the interest of
the council 1t would be premature to pub
lish it at this time.
THE COTRTS