The times., 1899-07-17
THE END IN SIGHT.
A Settlement of the Electrical Strike
Expected This Week.

Expected This Week.
1t is expected that the differences be-
tween the members of Electrical Union
No. 26 and the local contractors will be
settled today, and that the men will re-
turn TO work tomorrow or next day. The
situation was fully discussed at the con-
ference between the labor Representatives
and the contractors on Friday night, and
considerable progress was made toward an
amicable adjustment of the affair.
When the conference adjourned IT was
the intention of all parties concerned to
meet again on Saturday This, however
proved impossible, because a number of
the contractors were compelled 10 leave
the city early in the day. Since the con-
ference on Friday night it is understood
that the contract submitted by the electri-
cal workers has been somewhat changed
These changes, however, do not affect the
material points at issue. So far as the
wages and hours are concerned, the de-
mands of the workmen have practically
been acceded to. The question as to the
number of apprentices which the contrac-
tors shall be allowed to employ, has also
been discussed at length, and it is be-
lieved on account of concessions by both
sides that this matter will be easily ad-
justed at the next conference. While this
matter has caused much discussion the
question of classifying the workmen into
three grades now appears to be the great
stumbling block to the final settlement OF
the differences.
The contractors maintain that all the
3 fng nf NAL
skillfulness and able to do an equal
amount OF work in day. For this reason
they claim that they should not be called
upon 10 pay the same wages to a second
or third rate workman as TO a first class
workman. On the other hand, the union
men claim that if such a classification OF
the members Of the union is made. it
would cause more difficulty and trouble
than would arise from all other causes OF
differences. If such a classification of the
workmen were agreed to the next question
which would arise, It is stated, is who
would rate the ability or competency OF
| the laborers. The union men claim that if
this power were delegated to the contrac-
! tors only very few men, if any, would be
/ classed as Al. because 1t would be to their
! interests to have as few as possible high
| priced workmen. The union men, how
ever, claim that no man is admitted to
! snip uiieSS ne II lul!l dDle pENSl-
Z cally and otherwise competent to do a full
| honest days work. II is for this reason
! that the union men claim that they re-
/ quire that apprentices shall serve for
three years and even then viii not be ad-
mitted into membership into the union
until they have demonstrated their ability
1 10 do first-class work and plenty of it.
Another reason advanced against the
| grading of union men is that while no en-
! ployer would want or expect first class
work done by a second or third rate man.
/ the union men themselves, knowing their
! ability better than the contractors, would
not allow their ability to be classified by
! those whose interests it would be to un-
derrate them.
Notwithstanding all these causes of dis
! agreement between the local electrical
workers and the contractors, it is ex-
pected that the whole matter will be ad-
| justed today. .
At a meeting of the proprietors of the
local breweries held Saturday night the
contract recently entered into by them
with the representatives OF local organized
labor was ratified.