The age-herald., 1902-05-07
THE POLICY OF
 THE BUILDERS President Allen J. krebS Makes Comprehensive Statement UNION CARPENTERS FIRM RrickIaycra and Plasterers Pledge Their Moral Support to the Car
 penters and Painters-WlIi
 Contractors Resume?

The building contractors and the Union carpenters having failed to agree on the wage scale, the action which will be taken by the Master Builders Association at an adjourned m eeting tonight is being await ed with uncommon interest. It is gen. erally surmised that the association will vote to start to work tomorrow with non-union men,
 Asked concerning this policy President Allen J. Krebs said he could not antici- pate the action of the meeting. Another officer of the association said that if the contractors decided to resume work he thought there would be no trouble In get ting good carpenters at 35 cents an hour. We may find 1t a little slow at first, he said but before many weeks we would have all we needed"
 President Krebs gave out this state ment:
 The Master Builders Association has endeavored to make an agreement with the Union carpenters, but so far the con- ference between the committees specially appointed to take up the matter with each side has ended without any definite result.
 Two resolutions were presented to the carpenters as follows:
 Be 1t resolved, That the Master Build CTS of birmingham, concede the demands of the carpenters for an increase in wages to 35 cents, maximum per hour but on a graded scale and that hours shall constitute a days work, the con- tractor to have the option of employ ing union or non-union foremen.
 Tn lieu of the foregoing. if not ac- certed, be 1t resolved. that we, the Mas ter Builders of Birmingham, recommend that eight hours shall constitute day 8 work for carpenters working on build ings, the present scale of wages to re- main in effect and the contractor to have the option of employing union or non union foremen.
 'The first resolution was for a maxi mum scale of 35 cents and nine-hour day, but on a graded scale. After general discussion with the carpenters commit tee, 1t was found that the policy of the Carpenters Union did not permit of graded scale or a maximum wage. The first proposition not being acceptable, the question at issue was upon the second resolution, which was for an eight-hour day and a minimum scale of 30 cents per hour.
 Could Grade Up.
 The union carpenters in defending their position, therefore, of not being in favor of a graded scale. contended that they could only set minimum scale, and that the contractors could grade up according to the ability of the men employed.
 'In presenting the eight hour and 30 cents minimum as a settlement of the question, the Master Builders Associa- ton explained In detail that while they were as a unit in favor of paying 35 cents to all carpenters who were really mechanics, they assert that with 30 cent minimum our work costs more here than similar work in other cities hay ing a higher minimum scale. This differ ence is accounted for to a great extent in the following manner:
 The mines, railroad shops and fur naces employ large number of men In rough work such as timbering, repair ing, etc. Such men become members of the union and are permitted to work at smaller wage than those engaged on buildings, and the ranks of the unions are sN en, thereby, with an inferior class of workmen who finally come out as house carpenters and demand higher wages than they could earn with the large corporations employing carpenters.
 We are not In favor of paying more than 30 cents per hour to Inferior me chanics which the Carpent ters Union has seen fit in many instances to foist upon the builders and the public in general, but we are in favor of paying 35 cents per hour to good carpenters regardless of the or hour day"
 The Carpenters Side.
 Carpenters local No. 75 held a regular meeting at Magnolia hall last night. MT. J. F. Grimes, a member of the executive board of the national organization of carpenters and joiners, was present and tl.a G~iy tc route from Philadelphia to his home in Galveston.
 After the local had adjourned MT. J. P. Ogletree, business agent of the union carpenters, said that he had no informa- ton for publication further than this: '"The situation Is unchanged and the carpenters will remain firm
 A member cf Birmingham District Council remarked yesterday that while he was sorry the contractors and carpenters failed to agree, the latter could stand it as well as the former. "The graded scale Is out of the question" he remarked '"rhe graded scale has been tried and 1t Is unsatisfactory. Of course, In a large craft like ours there are some inferior workmen It is so in every craft. But employers have the right to discharge men that don't suit them"
 The Bricklayers' Union, No. 1, at their regular meeting last night pledged the carpenters and painters their moral sup port and also asked the carpenters to notify the bricklayers at once of "all unfair firms who are now fighting them. !"
 It is reported that similar action has been taken and will be taken by the plas- terers
 The paint contractors and the union painters are about to settle their differ ences, 1t is said.