The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-15

a fiat-footei demand has been made
by the Building Trades council of
Scranton and vicinity that builders,
contractors, etc, cease to award con-
tracts for special kinds of building
material to out-of-town firms. over
100 circular letters were issued yester-
day to the builders and others by the
Building Trades committee.
According to these letters, resolutions
covering the grievance have been
adopted by the council and will be soon
presented for signature. Seriousness Is
added to the position taken by the
Building Trades council in it's refusal
to handle any of the out-of-town ma
terial after April /, 1899.
Following is a copy of the circular
letter issued yesterday to exactly 70
firms and Individuals; it fully covers
the point at issue:
Scranton, Pa, July IA. 1873.
To the Builders, Contractors. Lumber
Manufacturers, Lumber Dealers and
Architects, etc, of the City of Scranton
and Vicinity.
Gentlemen: 1t is we'll known fact
that the practice of awarding contracts
for wood-trim, sash, doors, blinds, stairs,
interior uGCOTdllOllS, metal COIUlCS, Hedl-
ing and yentilating to out of town firms.
who conduct their business on a system
of low wages and long hours, has for the
last five years, or more, been Of great det-
riment to both employers and employees in
the woodworking line of this city.
ITS EFFECTS DISASTROUS.
This obnoxious practice is daily en-
croaching upon us with more disastrous
effect. Many of our city manufacturers
who formerly carried on a prosperous
business are today running their plants
with greatly reduced forces, while some
of them have entirely been driven out of
| business.
The prevailing )custom of awarding
| contracts for material to out of town
| firms has done enormous injury, not only
| to our several crafts, but also to house
| owners, and the entire business commun-
| ity is affected by 1t, inasmuch as through
| it's effect thousands of dollars are going
| out of our city, that should remain here,
| and hundreds of workingmen are thrown
| out of employment and bereft of an op-
portunity to provide the necessaries OF
| life.
| 1t is obvious that if this building mate
rial and decorations be manufactured in
| this city. 1t will bring about an increase In
| the purchasing power of hundreds of mer
| directly and indirectly connected with
| our industry in this city, it will keep oui
| shops and mills (Which at the present
| time are not being worked to one-thirt
of their capacity working up to their full
output, thereby finding employment fol
| hundreds of men who are now walking
| about in semi-idleness.
| Therefore we the several trades repre-
sentcd in the Building Trades council OF
Scranton and vicinity, deelning it high
time that steps should be taken to bal
dc oh tnn ln ugit
the view of placing our city manufaotur
ers and contractors in a position to OBJ
tain contracts Under fair conditions, have
| adopted resolutions to this end, which
will in the near future be presented t.
you by our committee for your endorse
ment and signature.
| WOULD BE A DISGRACE.
In conciding with the plan laid out il
these resolutions we herewith declare
that it would indeed be a disgrace to ev
cry one connected with our industry ii
this city, should they any longer hest
tate to wage war against the prevaiin!
unfair competition, and permit Scranton
the third city in this great state Of Penn
sylvania, to be degraded to the ranks @
a mere repair shop.
We hold that through these circular
and the press the spectators and import
ers of trim and like material will b.
amply cautioned, and there being a larg
number of buildings now in contempla
ton and in course of construction in thi
city, the Building Trades council of Scran
ton hereby gives notice that unless posi-
tive proof is given that the material ha
| been constructed under the strict uniol
rules of this city, that on and after Apri
/. 1890 we shall refuse to handle it, ant
all merchants and others who after tn
aforesaid date will persist in giving thei
work to out of town firms will be deal
with according to the methods alread
adopted by us with such signal success
| and inasmuch as all the differen
branches of the building trades ar
| united under one central body, l. e. tn
Building Trades council, we are all de
termined as one man to bring this move
ment to a successful and conclusive is
sue.
Being desirous of avoiding all compli
cations, we hope that as the date set b
us will give them ample time to arrang
to meet our demands, that the importer
of trim and other material pertaining t
buildings will pay heed to the above nc
tice.
We also trust that the city manufac
turers and contractors will co-operat
with us and render us all possible assis,
ance in our undertaking. All commun
cations relating to the above will receiy
our prompt and due attention. We al
very Respectfully yours,
Philip j. Thomas,
Chairman of Committee,
S45 Adams avenue, Scranton, Pa.
Endorsed: ]. j. Coolican.
Secretary Building Trades Council,
Archibald, Pa