New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-19

ened TO break up the fall festival unless tney
had their way, and even tried to Involve fresl-
dent Mckinley in their quarrel. They compelled
President Mckinley to accept card OF honorary
membership in the local Bricklayers and stone
Masons Union before he handled the trowel In
the cornerstone laying ceremonies WORK is now
at standstiil on the building. and the local
stone cutters threaten TO keep the building tied
up unless the granite is dressed in Chicago in
stead Of at the quarries. at Mount Waldo Me.
as had been arranged by the contractor
The Illinois Theatre, which is to be the finest
house in Chicago controlled by the Theatrical
Trust, cannot be started until the labor troubles
are settled. 1t is to be controlled by the F'roh-
mans and Harry ]. Powers, viii ]. Davis and
Al Hayman and they had expected to nave 1t
ready for the opening, early in the fall, but the
foundations are only half laid The new Chi
cago National Bank Building is another struct-
which has hardly been begun.
THE CONTRACTORS NEW RULES.
The fight is not over a question of wages
hours. The new rules provide for a continuation
of the present wages and hours They abolish
all restrictions in regard to the business of build
ing which have been placed upon the industry by
the labor unions and that is the reason they are
being fought so hard. The contractors take the
stand that they are willing to grant the wages
tend to conduct their own business without die
tation from the unions. The general rules gov
erning all trades which the contractors recently
put into effect and which brought about the big
strike are as follows:
Eight hours shall constitute days work.
Time and one-half will be allowed for all over
time
Double time for Sundays and holidays.
No Limitation to the amount of work man
shall perform in day
t,y,fn da
material.
No restriction as to the use of machinery.
The foreman shall be the agent Of the con-
tractor
The right to employ and discharge whomever
he may choose is reserved to the employer.
The Chicago Building Trades Council, the CEN
trail body with which all the unions of the thirty
two building trades affiliated. is said to be
the most powerful organization of it's kind in the
country. 1t claims that IL has never lost a tight
with the contractors, and that it will not submit
to defeat in the present struggle. 1t is perfectly
organized The unions are only so many cogs in
the machine. So well under control are they
that the labor leaders have been able to dictate
to contractors and property owners. President
Edward Carroll, Of the local council is also
president Of the National Building Trades Coun-
Gil, and in other ways the local body is in close
touch with kindred organizations all over the
country.
THREAT TO EXTEND THE STRIKE.
To force the contractors to come to terms the
tend the strike to all work in other cities in
which a Chicago contractor is interested. Sec
rotary Davis said that he had been commu-
nicating with the officers of organizations in
other cities and that his were in position
to stop any job in the country within two hours.
Grace Hyde, of Chicago. have the contract for
the Grand Central Station and for the Young
Mems Christian Association Building in New
York, and for an important building at Tuxedo,
N. Y. The George A. Fuller Company has
several large New-York contracts. and other
contractors are also interested in the East. They
will not state where their work is located as
they do not wish any interference from the labor
unions
The labor unions were bringing their power to
bear on the contractors individuals to secure
what they wanted, and this looked upon as
an imposition. To combat the unions success
fully the contractors also organized. The con-
tractors engaged in each of the trades organized
separate assoca lions, and then a central body
named the Building Contractors Council was
formed Of delegates from each of the trade asso-
Citations. This central association is conducting
the fight Unless the labor unions decide to
come to a joint agreement with the contractors
as to working rules and board of arbitration
for future differences the fight will be continued
and the places of the strikers will eventually be
filled with non-union men.