The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-16
PATRONIZE HOME LABOR.


Sir:-With reference to the pre- sent agi-
tation now going on with the building
trades Of Scranton would desire to throw
little more light upon the subject.
don't think the public generally are aware
of the present deplorable state of affairs.
One OF the greatest evils we have to con-
tend with Is the large amount OF work
which is sent out Of the city, while We
have plenty OF good mechanics here walk
ing the streets, who could do the work
as cheaply and as well from a mechanical
point of view, as 1t can be done in any part
of the Union.
have a score Of buildings in view (some
constructed and some In course OF con-
structiOn) where there are from two TO
eight rooms finished In hard wood. All
these rooms call for superior class of
Workmanship. Now in view of the fact
that we have in Scranton, mills and shops
where they employ mechanics inferior to
none In the country, the query Is sug-
gested why these same mills and shops
are not worked to one-third of their ca
pacity. In the face OF this fact the con-
tractor will let the whole of this work to
some out-of-town firm, which agrees to
do the work a few dollars cheaper and
who will send their men here to do the
work. while the home mechanic is walk
ing around whistling for a job ! have
known instances where the men sent here
have been paid double the rate of wages
paid the carpenters of Scranton. At the
same time | know Of instances where the
OtItHtOn tdEpcItcI mas Hdu u tHeiT
work after them, they not being compe-
tent to do the work. Bear i'm mind. these
men are transents anu the money paid
them goes out of town, the home mer-
chant deriving no benefit therefrom. There
are other instances again where these men
are paid less wages than those paid In
Scranton. They also work ten hours per
day and when their work Is done they
are left here in Scranton to compete with
the already crowded home mechanic.
All the DeQOle who own these houses are
residents of this city. have gained their
money here In Scranton and i think 1t
would be nothing but fair that they should
see to it that the people upon whose Gus
tom they have always depended to gain
their riches should be first considered
when they have a house to build or any
other work to be done that could be done
by a home workman. They could have 1t
inserted In their contracts that nothing
but home union labor be employed and
can assure them it will not cost then one
penny more on the original bid, at the
same time they will be giving the people
of Scranton some return for the help
rendered them In their business.
The contractor doesn't always win by
1t. either ! have in view one Of the larg-
est buildings In the CITY, The interior fin
ish being all hard wood, the milling and
preparing Of this finish was let to a
Williamsport firm, they being about $500
less than the bid of the lowest home firm.
Their contract called for the furnishing OF
the whole of the interior finish. But what
Ia the sequel? The contractor had to pay
to home mills something in the nelghbor-
hood of $500 to $4,000 for work that should
have been furnished by the Williamsport
firm. thus making him pay $1,000 more for
the work than If he had let the whole to
home firm. This Is only one instance, l
could quote several others.
When you are dealing with home firm
you know who you are dealing with and
you have some hold upon It. But you
may take 1t for granted that the Out-Of-
town firm is going to beat you every time
II 1t can.
There Is a house being constructed In
, Scranton at the present time. the owner
Of which Is one of the most successful
| merchants I'm the city; yet because the bid
of the home firm was paltry $25 more
than the out-of-town firm, the out-of-town
man got the contract. You may ask what
are We going to do about all this. can
only answer that we will do everything
prevent 1t going on in the future. Time
will tell II we are successful or not.
| This Is not carpenters complaint
alone. The same state of aaffirs exists
| with all the other trades unions In the
| city. Then again. while we have as fine
sash, door and blind plants in Scranton
as exist In the country. yet % per cent.
of the sash, doors, and blinds used In
| Scranton are the products of Out-Of-tOwn
I manufactures. while the Scranton mills
are working about 90 per cent. of their ca
| pacity. We know we could not manufac-
ture 1t ALL but in the name of justice and
| fair play, let us do what we can.
] would again say that you must not
| think that the out-of-tOwn products are
the best. Don't run away with the idea
| that because they come from Boston, New
York. Philadelphia or Bnghamton they
| are any better than the Scyanton product,
| for l can assure you, and think that l
am in position to know of what I speak,
| that the Scranton building products can
mol he beaten on the whole continent. |
would say that any information relative
to the foregoing will be cheerfully fur
nished by the Building Trades Council
of Scranton or the Carpenters union.
| Again, the architect sometimes inserts
| the finish will be furnished by the owner
| (mantles. for instance). Now there Is no
earthly reason why they should not be
furnished by the original contractor. and
be included in the original contract. !
| have always noticed that 1t was some spe-
| c.al firm furnished them, and on examina-
| tiOn found that We could turn out supe-
| rior article at considerable less cost
| right here at home. Why this Is so, can
| only be surmlsed.
| We know well that the contractors path
| Is not all sunshine and that he has n great
| deal to contend with but we think that If
we could be drawn little nearer together
| and use little cooperation. we could
! considerably remedy the present existing
evils. All we ask is fair play and justice.
| BE sure we will not make any exorbitant
| demands on our employers, but are will
ing to have everything treated fairly and
! squarely Philip j. Thomas.