Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-14
ENFORCING UNION RULE
ACTION OF BRICKIaYERs CONCERN
ING WORK AT CAPITOL.
The Conditions a. New Government
Printing Office and Navy Yard.
Also Considered.

Bricklayers' Union. No. /, held largely
attended special meeting last evening at
Typographical Temple, at which it was de-
cided by a practically unanimous vote to
maintain the rules of the organization as
they apply to the membership employed at
the work of extensive alterations at the
Capitol, which is being done under the
supervision of Architect Elliot Woods. The
trouble, as stated in The Star at the time,
occurred last Friday, when about twenty
bricklayers, constituting the night force
engaged at the Capitol refused to work I'M
der the supervision of Samuel Gaskins,
who, 1t Is alleged, violated the eight-hour
rule of the union by working sixteen hours
continuously.
At the meeting of the union held last
evening. after full discussion of the
situation. the action of the men was in
dorsed and the members were directed to
refuse to work at the Capitol either during
the day or night If Mr.. GaskinS Is en-
ployed In any capacity a bricklayer for
any period exceeding eight hours in
calendar day.
Efght-HOur Law.
The action of the bricklayers in the mat
ter at issue, it is said emphasizes the de-
termination of the union to strictly enforce
the e1ght-hour rule of the organization on
both government and contract work. The
decision of the bricklayers, 1t is stated,
will preclude any union bricklayer from
working at the Capitol unless the employ
ment of Mr.. Gaskns, as a bricklayer, is
limited to eight hours in the twenty-four.
II this latter proposition is agreed to by
Mr.. Gaskins, and those in charge Of the
work, 1t is understood the bricklayers will
return to work under the foremanship Of
Mr.. GaSkins
The meeting last evening, while called for
Of
trouble at the Capitol, decided to maintain
the union rule at the new government
printing office, which requires the members
to cease work at o'clock pm.
Several days ago, as stated In The Star,
force of bricklayers employed by Rich
ardson & Burgess on contract work at the
printing office quit work it is alleged. be-
cause Lieut.. Sewel, the engineer in charge,
required them to work until 4:3O pm.
Insist Upon Union Rule.
The bricklayers insist upon the observ
ance of the union rule limiting quitting
time for a days work to o'clock pm.
on all contract work, for the reason, they
assert. that If the time for quitting work
should be arbitrarily determined it would
In many instances result in overtime work
and an infraction of the eight-hour rule of
the union. The disregard of the rule
curing the members to uniformally cease
work at O'Clock pm. by government con-
tractors and public officials having super
vision of government work, has, they say,
tended to extend the time of those en-
ployed beyond the legal limit of eight
hours and that to maintain the eight-hOur
day 1t is absolutely necessary for the union
to insist upon the, rigid enforcement of the
rule requiring the members to cease work
at o'clock pm.
At the meeting last evening it was also
decided to require the members Of the
union employed contract work at the
navy yard to observe the o'clock rule of
their organization. This action was deter
mined upon after a report made that
members Of the union employed on con-
tract work at the navy yard have been
working until 1870 pm, or under the same
conditions as those required at the new
government printing office.