The times., 1899-04-15
LABOR UNIONS Will
Hold MASS Meeting
Protesting Against the Use of
Marble From Vermont.
The Committees Report Relative to
Seab Workmen.
To Protest Against the "Evening
Star" Using the Product of
Non-union Men.


ington has been called for Ap:il "a. at
Masonic Temple, by the Journeymen Stone
Cutters Association, to protest against the
action of the Evening Star Company in
having the stone to be used in the con-
struction of its new building cut in Ver-
mont instead of this city. This step has
been under advisement by the Stone CUT
! ters' Association for some time, but the
! time and place of holding the meeting
was not decided upon uAtil last evening,
at meeting OF the organization held at
| Costello's Hall.
| The meeting was specially called to hear
| the report of John +. Duncan, a member
! of the association, who was sent to the
| Proctor Marble Quarry, in Vermont, where,
| it is said, the stone for the Star build
| ing will be prepared for building use.
| A prominent member of the association
stated that several special committees had
| been sent out to learn the sentiment of the
residents of Washington in reference to the
action CT the Evening Star Company in
sisting that the stone for its new building
| shall be cut outside the District. The re-
ports from these committees. the member
| referred to said, were exceedingly salts
| factory, inasmuch as of the thousands
| approached only three business men re-
| fused to sign the petition protesting against
| the course being pursued by the Star Com
! pany. OF these three, however, il is said
| one admitted that he heartily condemned
the course taken by the Star Company. The
names of those who are in sympathy with
| the stonecutters and protest against the
material for the Stars" new building be-
| ing cut in Vermont, instead of this city,
will be read at the mass meeting.
| AS to the conditions under which men
work at the Proctor marble quarries, the
| report of the committee says:
| There are no labor unions of any character
| there; no union among the men would be permit
| ted, and any cmpoye who talked of forming an
organization would be quickly shown that his
| presence was not wanted there.
| All work is done by the piece system, the men
| having voice whatever in fixing the price to
be paid for the stone they cut but must take what
| is given, and when the company discovers that
| their own prices enable aman by extra exertion
| TO make fair days pay, they Immediately re-
| duee it on the remainder of similar stones.
The highest wages paid would not enable a
man to make S2.5 per day of ten hours, and in
comparison with Washington stonecuttcrs who
work eight hours, Senator Proctor pays his men,
working the Star building, Sl.sO less than
| the wages in this city.
The committee personally examined several
stones that took average stonecutter twenty
| five hours to cut and for which they received
| $50, making their pay but s1.s0 for day OF
| ten hours, and in comparison with the wages paid
| IN TINS city, senator PROCTOR pays MS men IL
| less than the current rate OF wages in Washing
| ton.
1t is also stated that all married men are COM
PEELED to rent one Of the ;cOmpany's houses; rent
| charged being in excess Of those in the surround
| ing villages for the same accommodations; also an
| extra water rental, as well as extra for water
| closet the premises.
The company also runs a general store for the
| accommodation $50 they saw Of the men 1t is
claimed that their eniployes are not obliged to
| trade there unless they want to, but as the COM
| pany only pays once month, the men are com
| PEELED to deal there, go without, as they have
no credit elsewhere, and the pitiful wages does
| not permit them to pay cash in another store.
| At the end of a month, when the men have n
| surplus of few dollars over their account in
| the store, they invariably called into the
Office and asked if they have been trading in any
other store. II so. he had better go and work
for the party he is trading with.
! The company has compulsory insurance
scheme. and compels all employees to Join. extract
| ing from their earnings three-fourths of l per
cent. The policy covers only the actual period
! while at work, and should be unfor-
| tunate to meet with accident and he idle
| for some time his insurance money is kept by
| the company for his house and store bill.
| Should man meet with accident, and not
| be instantly killed on the companys premises,
| but die some little time afterwards his widow
and orphans must the company, and prove
that the husband and father did not die of natural
| cIuses- Natural cause? just imagine the hypo-
| critical swindle; poor mans rranglcd remains
brought home to agonizod wife and babies,
and should he by chance linser a few days the
| company claims he died a natural death, and
| was not entitled to the insurance policy which
his money that he could i'll afford to spare had
| been by force taken from him TO pay for
The stonecutters employed largely Italians
| and French Canadians, few Americans, Swedes,
| and Finanders.
The men are not allowed to make iull time even
| during the busiest season; to Illustrate, should
| Mr. Proctor have employment for fifty men,
seventy-ivc employed and as the work is by
the piece and owing to the extra men, all must
stand around two hours and at time
waiting to be given something to do Twenty
eight stonecutters standing up at one
| time waiting TO be given a stone.
The citizens OF all classes in Proctor and the
| surrounding towns denornce Proctor. VT, as the
hell ship OF the stone industry OF America.