The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
CONTRACTORS At STRIFE,
Agreement of the Carpenters
Objected To by Other
Branches.
MAY BE A GENERAL REVOLT.
Brickmasons Determined to Have
Separate and Independent
Contracts.

Among the builders of the City, particu-
larlv the brickmasoDs and plumbers, the
recent action of 100 contracting carpenters
in bonding themselves by an ironclad
agreement not to submit estimates on jobs
the work of which was to be segregated,
calls forth considerable unfavorable COM
ment.
The action of the contracting carpenters
is based upon resolutions adopted June l
by the Brickmasons' and Plumbers asso-
Citations. Those two bodies then pledged
themselves not to do any work on build
ings where it exceeded $500 worth except
by direct and separate contracts, and so no.
titled the architects. The object was 10
have the work segregated and to do away
with the supervision of the contracting
carpenter. According to an old-time Gus
tom the carpenter has been regarded as
the master builder and handled the money.
So many jobs had, however, resulted in
unfortunate pro rata settlements that the
other classes OF builders concluded it would
be advisable to do business independently
OF the carpenters.
The carpenters agreement is very full
and explicit. It is in effect that from Sep
TENDER Is none of those who signed 1t will
submit any estimate to any owner, agent
or architect who segregates any portion of
the work, or omits any portion from his
specifications, the purpose being to force
the building business back into the control
of the carpenters. The kinds of buildings
to which the agreement is to apply are
frames, brick dwellings, and any brick,
stone or iron building the cubic capacity
of which is not over $50 900 cubic feet. For
larger buildings than those of 900 feet
capacity, no estimates are to be submitted
when more than three separate contracts
are TO be let. OF course State, municipal
and Federal buildings are exempted. The
agreement also pludged its signers not to
handle any materials unless they are sup
piled through themselves, save where the
owner is bona-fide dealer IN such mater
ials. Following were the names attached
to it:
Francis V. Acker, Ackerson e. Patterson, John
G. Adams, Anderson & Greig, Anderson Bros,
J. S. Burpee, D. L. Brehant, Bassett Bros, Fl.
Behrens, Brennan Bros, F. A. Blanchard, Bate
man Bros, ]. Butcher. L. G.. Bergren, P. j.
Brennan, J. c. Bassett, J. ". Bougman, Alex-
ander Campbell Campbell g.. Peters, ]. c.
Carr, G. Christy, Charles F. Coady, G. H.
Childs, Peter Crechton, Robert Currie, P. c..
Oochrane, William Chatham, Donald Currie,
James Cochrane, George Conner, Cameron &
Mcdonald, Z. Cook, James b. Clark, Paul Car
John !. Dunn, r. g. Davis, Charles
Douglass, T. II; Day Sons, Thomas Elan, M.
J. Feely, w. J. Field, j. w. Fish, John Furness,
L. T. Frichette, Francouer d Bowers, Hugh
Foote, George W. Flick, Gardiner & Boyden, W.
J. Grant, James Geary, G. c. Gillespie, John b.
Grieb, F. L. Hansen, ]. F. Hills, J. D. Hendry,
r. P. Hurlhut, ]. T. Hayes, D. V. Harrigan,
Winslow Hall, william Helbing, W R.
Kent, Joseph Kennedy, F. W. Kern,
Ferdinand Klatt, William Knowles. Knox &
Cook, ". B. Kreger, Augusta Kahn, j. Kenealy,
William Little, J. T. Logan, 9. Latsen, Letter &
McKillican, D. Mcleod, James Mclean, John
McFeary. Mahony Brothers, James 4clnery, W.
Adam Miller, McBain, G. II. Moore, P. Ma
loney, James Mooney, Allen Macdonald, A.
Moore, John Massey, Ed Mooney, J. A. McDon-
aid, John Miron, Albert Morton, c. f. Nichols,
John ]. o. Brien, John Ogle, James ]. O'Brien,
Daniel Powers, Psaf Bros, w. c. Premus, II. w.
Henry Rolling, George Reichley, Robins on &
Gillespie, Rountree Bros, c. 7. Ripple, c.
Riosso, Henry Rowe, G. Ratio, r. P. Sanchez,
J. s; W; saunders, Smile Bros :, J.; W: Smith,
soule Bros, Q. V. Steinmann, Tim Sullivan, NJ.
]. Scott, R. Sinnott, H. NJ. Smith, J A. Smile,
Simpson Spence, John Trotter, Il. c.
james Toohig, V. S. Vincent, W. veitch &
Bro, George H. Walker Seth Walker F.
Weinochl, White Bros, w. H. Wickersham, E.
C. Worden & Son, S. s. Worden, ]. r. Wilcox,
Henry J. Weiss William Winnie and Casper
Zwierlein.
One of the greatest opponents to this
move on the part of the carpenters has
been George H. Wolfe, editor of the Build
ing Review. At the time the agreement
was made he wrote:
Tho carpenters claim that they are the first
to begin work building, and therefore
should have supreme control. How is it, though,
that in scores of buildings fully $50 900 worth
of work is done before stick of timber can be
hauled. In foundations for downtown build
ings where piles must be driven, .oftentimes
the amount named Is sunk out OF sight. In
the school bids lately opened there is $4,000 to
be used for concrete foundations long before
the carpenter need appear on the scene. Con-
crete is fast becoming necessity for founda-
lions, and it seems strange that after mechan-
les in that line have placed thousands of dol
lars for work and materials they are to be told
they must wait thirty-five days after the build
ing has been completed before they can get all
their money. In the meanwhile the sewer
men must place in position the sewer-pireS,
etc., as they oftentimes run under the walls;
and so this work, which must be done before
anything else is not to be paid for till months
afterward.
Sifted down, the carpenters broad claims are
that they must be responsible for the entire
building. II separate contracts are let, stin it
is the carpenter who must bear the brunt, and
damage If any, before the building can be
turned over as completed. Individual con-
tractors place their material in the building
and call the architects or owners attention TO
that fact. In case mantei is defaced
after being placed in position, although the
carpenter contractor has nothing to do with
the same, an accept lance of the building is with
held till same is repaired, and as a rule the
carpenteEsmust attend to the matter to save
his credit.
He appended these figures to show just
how the contracts had been let:
We herewith annex the number of contracts
aMarded to those belonging to the Builders
Exchange and those outside of the same. For
the first seven months of the year there were
noted in the Review 667 contracts represent
ing ZIG buildings:
Built by days work 80
Built by members of exchange. ...............3G S
Built by non members. sos
IOtel.
He made the statement, too. that ont of
the number who had affixed their sigma
lures seventy-seven were men outside the
Builders Association.
On the other hand the carpenters con-
tended that:
The claims set up by the various sub-con-
tractors that they, as body, lose heavily by
the contractors, who pay pro ratas, is not con-
sistent with the facts of the case, there being
State law requiring the contractor TO furnish a
bond in the sum of 25 per cent of his contract
made to inure TO the benefit OF all sub-con-
tractors, laborers and material men.
This is guarantee of % per cent more than