The Washington times., 1901-07-20
MAIN DISPUTES ADJUSTED.
The Electrical Workers Now Set
tling New Demands.
Minor Questions Threatening to
Proiong the, Local Strike-Cou-
tracts ImperiIed by the Trouble
Crisis Likely to DE Reached To-day.

The situation in the contention between
the electrical wiremen and contractors is
practically unchanged. The strike is still
on. While both sides have conceded the
! main points under dispute. minor ques-
| keeping still remote the probability of a
final agreement.
The demands of the union men for an
eight-hour day, to go into effect October /
double pay for all over time, and wage
! of $3.50 per day have been conceded.
! These Were the principal points of the
contention of the men.
But other demands of the workmen
have not yet received the sanction of the
contractors
| The wiremen want to go TO work at 1880
o'clock in the morning, and, with half
hour for luncheon, quit at clock in the
afternoon. The contractors desire the
men to go to work at s o'clock. quitting
| at 4:30 p. m. The wiremen demand that
| the proposed contract extend over the
/ city of Washington and contiguous ter
ritory within radius of twenty-five
| miles. The contractors would confine the
jurisdiction of the contract to the limits
of the District of Columbia. This would
permit them to take work at nearby
Maryland towns and pay wages below
the union scale.
The Wiremen's Union will be willing to
concede the first demand for five days of
each week, provided the contractors will
consent to adopt for Saturdays the time
of going to work and quitting as asked
by the men. In the matter of territorial
jurisdiction, the union is at present firm
in its refusal to make any concession
onininp IS 4,
that c. E. Graham, Secretary of the Elec-
trical Contractors Association and man.
ager of the National Electric Company
is the stumbling block in the way of
prompt settlement of the dispute To
Graham's neglect in advising his confreres
of the position taken by the wiremen is
ascribed by them the existence of the
present strike
A preliminary meeting of the Executive
Committee of the local union of the In
ternational Brotherhood of Electrical
Work ers, No. 20, and of the Electrical
Contractors Association was held yes
terday morning at Costellos Nall. The
partial understanding stated above was
then reached. Concessions were made on
both sides, leaving only the matter of ter
ritorial jurisdiction and the hours of be-
ginning and leaving work to be agreed
upon. The meeting concluded with these
questions still undecided the contractors
committee claiming the privilege to con-
fer and consider the questions with the
other contractors. At a meeting of the
union which followed the conference the
position of the Executive Committee was
presented and approved.
There are some large contracts now un-
der way and an immediate settlement is
desired by both sides. The electric line
men, who have an independent union
from the wiremen, have assured their
fellow-laborers of their sympathy, and it
is believed that, should the situation as
sumo a graver aspect, or seem likely to
be protracted the lneElen would declare
a sympathetic strike. Today will proba-
bly, witness the climax in the difficulties.