The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-11

to some extent at least, the public good, which of course includes our own,
 This subject of competition recalls the story of the gentleman who entered a drug store, in the days of three cent postage, to buy two stamps. After se- curing the stamps and asking the price, which was given as six cents, he re- marked, very earnestly, your competi- tor few doors below only charged me five cents the other day. Well, was the retort, take them then for five cents I'll be - if I will be undersold by any competitor.
 I would like to say a few words in re- gard to our non-corporate members. It seems to me that there should be more frequent meetings; as often as once month, for instance, so that they may have opportunities to become interested in the Exchange, and in it's work These annual meetings, at which these mem bers alone can be present, do not give them sufficient opportunity to express their views on subjects of common in terest to both. They should be recog- nized, although not to the extent to which the corporate and subscribing members are entitled. There would be less misunderstanding on important matters if they were allowed more ire quent opportunities for discussion and consultation. The Exchange should be union meeting place for all members for men of all trades for men of diff fering circumstances If we could be- come so strongly established that the public would understand that at cer- tain times we were to be found at the Exchange rooms, that there we could be consulted upon plans and estimates, that their inquiries might be made an answered, it would be not only con- venience for them but for us also. We would become in fact an exchange. | Not only for ideas, but for material and work. Moreover, if 1t was known that here was the common meeting place, and that here at certain times our &C., | tive busy men could be found, much in- convenience and annoyance to our cus- l toners would be avoided. who now do l rot know where we are to be found, or when. This seems to be one of the most 1 important features of our association and would go far towards building 1t l up into a living institution.
 | For instance, one of our prominent | material dealers joined the Exchange. | upon my recommendation and my l statement that he would find here an 1 excellent opportunity to meet the busi-
 ness men, with whom he naturally l would come in contact, but after few l calls he became discouraged, and like l the rest of us, now seldom attends. 1 I am not one of those who think that l the wholesale dealers should be exclud- l ed from our membership. have been | a member of this Exchange from it's or l ganization, and must say that some
 of these men have been among our most enthusiastic workers and have | shown much good judgment in the man.
 agement and promotion of our affairs.
 I think that the idea of excluding them from membership should be forever l banished. After speaking of wholesale | dealers there ought to be better un- l derstanding between them and the mas l ter builders in business matters. Out l side of the wholesale dealers in plumbing !! goods, as understand 1t, it Is the prac- l tice to sell building materials to any, l body who may want to purchase, with I out particular regard to the master builders If this is a fact, it seems to
 me that some arrangement between the l dealers and the builders should be made, whereby the builders interests should be protected. This cannot be done without thorough understanding. 1 The relation between the must be mu-
 tual, and the confidence between them
 sure This may seem hard problem, | h1,t hn1 io1ra hot ho jeI
 ed, basilg my opinion upon my own
 knowledge and experience in the plumb- ing trade.
 There are some other matters I would
 like to speak of, did time permit, bear
 ing directly upon our business affairs
 such as the indifference which we show
 to our constitution and bylaws, in the
 internal management of our associa-
 tion; such as the letting of contracts to I each master builder, whose work and
 materials may be required in the con-
 struction of a given building, instead of
 letting the contract for all the work and
 each part of It to the same contractor;
 such as the proper remuneration to the
 contractors for the errors which creep
 sometimes into the plans and specified
 tions, etc
 The question of apprenticeship is one
 to which I wish to draw your attention
 for few moments It would tax your
 patience too much to go into ali the de-
 tails which thorough consideration of
 this question requires. Many of you
 know that the system formerly in vogue
 involved the binding out of the appren-
 tice for a term of years, for the purpose
 of learning his trade. Seven years was
 the length of time required by the old
 English law, and while this length of
 time might not now be necessary in
 this country it seems to me that too
 little time is given to the learning Of a
 trade, resulting in forcing upon us
 many incompetent mechanics who
 nevertheless, demand and expect the
 same compensation as their better and
 more skillful fellow workmen receive. I , think it very unfortunate that no satls- 1, factory substitute has yet been found
 for the old system. The Master Plumb CTS association have adopted rules and ] regulations upon this matter most ex- cellent in their way but not yet suffi-
 ciently established or tested to be judg-
 ed of finally. A more hopeful solution