Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23
THE ARSENAL STRIKE
THREE MORE WoRKMEN JOIN
CoLoRED BRICKLAYER.
Capt. Sewell Not Worried Over Out
look, but Union is Also Confident
Stand Pat Policy.

The colored bricklayer, George Taylor,
who was the innocent cause OF the brick
layers strike at Washington barracks. was
not alone on the partly finished walls there
today. He had three companion working
men. who were put to work laying bricks
this morning by Capt. SeweIl Of the Engi-
neer Corps. In charge of the construction OF
the army buildings.
The three new men were selected from
the civil service eligible list If they prove
to be good workmen. Capt. Seweil says
they will be retained. Otherwise they will
not. He also said plenty of bricklayers can
be gotten for the work now under way
After the eligible list Is exhausted. '
added the captain. I'VE can employ men
promiscuously from outside
Stand Pat Policy.
Ansengineer officer gave 1t as his opinion
that II the government will stand pat. in
this strike. work will be resumed all along
the line. as enough men to make up gang
can be easily obtained. The same officer
said the real cause Of the strike was not
so much 1.-The negro in the brick pile" as
1t was the recent discharge from the works
Of certain officials Of the local bricklayers'
union
''These men," he said, would not or
could not do the requisite amount of work
and they were discharged. Afterward to
get even they took advantage of Taylor
employment to bring about a strike. If
the bricklayers union wants to be fair
ana consistent why Is strike not ordered
at the Washington navy yard? l am in
formed on good authority that five non
union men. two Of them negroes are EN-
plOyed there
Star reporter do not believe a revision of
the civil service regulations, eliminating
mechanics ana laborers who are engaged
on construction projects. is necessary.
Object to Civil Service.
Members OF the local trades unions, in
Guiding Mr.. Milford Spohn, leading brick
layer and secretary Of the union Of that
trade, are strongly in favor Of revising the
civil service rules so to leave out per
diem employees from the Jurisdiction Of the
civil service commission. Mr. Spohn had
no hesitancy in prOnouncing the system,
as applied to mechanics and others, IA
farce and fraud
1t Is stated that the best mechanics do
not apply to the civil service commission
Tor work, for the reason that they will not
waste the time required for examination
nor the expense attached to the several
amdavlts required by the civil service COM
mission. Then there is the uncertainty Of
getting work on a government Job even
a1ter they have gone to the trouble of max
ing appicatlon. If they are not employed
by the government within a year after
the application has been made their names
are dropped from the civil service lists and
they have to make new applications in Or
der to become eligible again
1t was also stated that fifty bricklayers
on the eligible list were notified Thursday
TO report for duty at Washington barra cks
and that only the three who joined Taylor
this morning responded to the call This
working men say, bears out the claim OF
the union that enough bricklayers cannot
be obtained outside of that organization to
complete the work. which IL indefinitely
postponed. will tie up 100000 A contract
for limestone for the Army War College
building has just been let. it is said, for
$94, S74.39