New-York tribune., 1902-12-12
CITY HALL REPAIRERS STRIKE.
Say Contractor Must Discharge Brother Who
Gave Plasterer Beating.

The plain and ornamental plasterers, marble cut
ters and helpers, stonecutters and steamhtters,
brfckIayers decorators. iron and steel workers. who
have been trying to get the City Hall fixed up be-
fore the cold weather sets in. all went out on
strike yesterday noon, leaving only few carpen-
tiers earning their money.
Twenty walking delegates. representing various
unions, smoking cigars and some Of them carrying
canes visited the City Hall yesterday morning and
held a conference The drubbng administered to
John ]. Donovan, Of the plain and ornamental plas
terers. by Matthew F. Ryan. the contractors
brother. at the City Hall Monday enbittered
all OF Donovans friends. and they rallied yesterday
help him get back at Ryan Nothing VIII now
satisfy the union men but the discharge OF Ryan.
who is foreman on the City Hall contract They
also demand pay the time they lose by striking
This they call waiting time All OF the plastering
that has been done by no-union men since the first
of last week they want stripped OF the wall
At noon the various union men to the number Of
about fifty went out and their delegates went up
stairs to the Office of Borough President Cantor.
where they presented to MIR. Cantor one or
the delegates named Donovan acted as spokesman.
and told the origin OF the trouble 70 Mr.. Cantor.
adding that when the crisis came on last Monday
Matthew Ryan told the men whatever he did was
none of their business, and firing their tools of
the scafold, told them to clear out
Yes" broke in one of the delegates, representing
the uasons land when had a talk with him
about employing non-union men week ago he told
me We were all a lot OF blathersktes and were
no good
Donovan said that there were over a dozen
union men employed on the job, and that the con-
tractor was not paying the prevailing rate Of wages
to the union men,
Until these objections remedied." said Dono-
van land Matt Ryan is removed from the JOB as
foreman, will not return 70 work It's an
outrage TO think that the city Will tolerate work
on its buildings where the prevailing rate OF wages
.sWeli'' said President Cantor, that's news to
me- I believe prevailing rate of wages should be
paid to all men employed municipal work, and
that union men should be employed as far as
possible. I don't like 10 this work delayed by
any means. Is it not possible 70 allow your men
to continue at work until the United Board OF
Building Trades meet and settle the nlatter?"
NO. sir. IL is not replied Donovan Under the
rules the will remain out until the board meets
tomorrow afternoon at 8 o'clock and takes action
the natter
Then 1 can do nothing in the premises" said
Mr. Cantor until the board arrives at sou9
clusion. and | suppose 1t will be Saturday eefors
I we'll know
IF you will send representative to the nlseS-
ing said Donovan. you can know by toy -r1orrow
afternoon"
At this point the mason's delegate broke h 10
say: While out, Mr. President. th.s r,all
will, expect put non-union men ar work Z /
find he does will put penalty on this work
''Oh, I'll take care of that, replied MI Ca11cSs
The delegation thereupon departed