The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-19
in THE FIELD OF LABOR
CONTRACTORS AND BRICKLAYERS
STILL FAR APART.
Builders Think Men Are Acting I'm
fairly, but Employees Have Their
Side to Tell-Labor Notes.

The contractors and bricklayers are as
far apart as ever and no prospect of an
agreement and a settlement of the strike
is held out by the bricklayers. The con-
tractors met yesterday afternoon and in
formally discussed the situation. The con-
tractors think they have done everything
the bricklayers with being unfair in their
demands. The contractors say they offered
to submit the question of wages to COM
mittee of five men to be composed of two
contractors, two bricklayers and disin-
terested man to be chosen by the four
others. The contractors say that they
offer 50 cents an hour, an increase of 3
cents, and will pay this wage until the
arbitration commission supplies a solution
of the trouble. The contractors say they
have even gone so far as to offer to make
up the back pay of the masons if the COM
mittee decides that the demand for sixty
cents is fair one, providing the brick
layers will go to work Immediately at
either the old rate or at So cents an hour.
In the Builders Exchange yesterday the
talk indicated that the contractors believe
their offer fair one and they are greatly
disappointed that the bricklayers will not
join with them in permitting much build
ing now being held back, to be done In the
city.
There is possibility that the new federal
building may be delayed somewhat by the
strike. Superintendent Strathman, who is
in charge of the erection of the building
representing John Pierce, the contractor,
said yesterday that the work is progress
ing rapidly and the stone masons making
such Roadway in setting the stones that
brick work will be needed soon. The stone
men have been able to set a number of
stones without their backing of brick, but
soon it will be impossible to proceed with
the work. 1t is expected that no cessation
of the work will be ordered until the strike
is ended. as to stop work would work to
the disadvantage of the contractor Other
buildings are also being held back by the
strike and the contractors are beginning
to feel that the strike should end and end
quickly.
BRICKLAYERS SIDE.
The brickmasons think themselves the
abused persons and yesterday delegation
of them submitted the following statement
of their side of the question:
I'm this friday mornings papers we
notice an interview with Charles Wise,
president of the Brick Contractors Asso-
citation of this city. Therein he has made
it appear that in our present trouble with
the bosses We have not tried arbitration,
which statement is misleading, as our COM
mittee has tried arbitration as defined by
laws governing our body.
THE bricklayerS of this city, however
have not had any trouble since the reor-
ganization of the present union ono. g. of
Indiana) In 1888, for the reason that under
all conditions land the public knows that
since that time there have been many
changes and demands made among the
building trades) our union has always
stood by its annual agreement entered
into with the bosses. But recognizing from
past experience and the general cost of
living that our wage was too low COM
pared to ether trades, we asked for 10
cents additional per hour on Jan. 1, 1903,
and notified the bosses of the same; also,
that we had extended the time from Feb.
/ to April l so as TO give them plenty of
time to finish up contracts made under the
scale of 1902.
"Whereat a number of bosses. recogniz-
ing the fairness of the proposition, ex-
pressed a willingness to sign the scale by
April l, which they have repudiated since
the organization of their association. Since
April / the joint committees of bosses and
bricklayers have met and tried to adjust
the differences, and the bricklayers have
at all times been fair and honest. They
have granted all concessions asked for by
the bosses except the wage scale, which
still remains as submitted 10 them.
ssyVe greatly deplore the present condi-