Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-29
THE ENGINEER MAKES A STATE
MENT IN THE MATTER.
Can Put Them to Work at Once as
Emergency Men-Wer De-
partment View.

men by the union could not be learned
| The instructed committee. which consist
ed of the three foremen employed at the
barracks before the strike. called this fore
noon at the office OF Capt. John Stephen
| Sewel, in charge Of the construction Of
| the army buildings. The conference which
followed lasted about two hours. and every
phase of the strike situation was gone over.
At its close the members of the bricklayers
committee refused TO make any statement
about the matter.
1t was apparent, however, that the ar
Sument advanced by certain conserva tive
members of the union was having effect.
This argument was that in order to be con-
sistcnt the strikers at the Washington bar
| racks should return to work. or else q
strike be declared at the Washington navy
yard. where non-union bricklayers are said
| to be working with unionists.
Capt Sewelps Statement.
Capt. Sewell stated after the union COM
mttee had withdrawn that the members de-
sired to know on what terms the strikers
could return to work on the engineer build
ings. TO this the captain replied that he
could take them all back as emergency
men first and then If they would reregister
at once he could place them again on the
permanent roll. This could be done with
out diSplacing the wo:kmen already on the
walls.
II told the committee said Captain
Sewell that the work was in such condi-
ton that we could make the increase and
add the strikers to the present gang. l ad-
vised them to come to a decision promptly
before the civil service eligible list for
August is prepared, as then 1 would be
Obliged to give preference to the new
eligbles.'
Whether the striking bricklayers will take
advantage of the situation. Captain Sewell
said he unable to say.
Sfo tod Of ha Va oh r.
racks this afternoon that about one-half Of
the coored brcklayers there would per-
haps be dropped from the rolls for incom-
potency, as they have not come up to the
standard required on government work.
This would make the force there, provided
the strikers return. about thirty seven
men Taylor is said to be unusually
competent workman. He is said to have
broken the record yesterday by laying
1.3oS bricks. several hundred in excess Of
the required number for days work. and
it was added that he laid them we'll"
An interesting point concerning Taylor
was raised today. 1t was stated that he
is and always has been union workman,
and that the only bar against him is his
color When asked about this report
Taylor said when he first came to WASH
ington he deposited his travelling card
from the New York Brieklayers Union
with the Washington union. and went to
work In this city as union mechanic
At that time his color was not in issue
as he was believed to be a white man. He
is very light colored man. and would
easily pass for "a sun-scorched outdoor
workman.
He secured several positions here on pri-
vate work, he said. but after working at
each place for d short time the boss or fore
man discovered through some means that
he was not a white man and he was in each
instance discharged. one boss informing him
that these southern men, meaning the
Washington bricklayers, would not work
with him.
He finally became desperate at not being
able TO hold position, he added and went
to a high officer of the local bricklayers
Union.
Il told him." said Taylor. Il had a large
family to support and could not afford to
BE- walking the streets. The official replied
TO me that he would endeavor to keep me
walking the streets. l tren secured work
| at the Washington barracks"
Taylors friends contend that to all in
/ tents and purposes he is still member of
the union.
When the committee on bricklayers
entered the barracks this forenoon to con-
fer with Captain seweli. the sight which
met their gaze was not very pleasant one.
The walls of the partly finished army build
| ings were fairly alive with non-union col
| ored workmen. The probability that one
| half of these men will be discharged for In
| competency somewhat eased the strained
situation, from a union viewpoint.
| Last Nights Meeting.
that their meeting last night was stormy
| one. There was unusually large at
| tendance, they say but no disorder oc-
! Cured.
| The Washington barracks strike was
| earnestly discussed and a committee APP
| pointed with instructions to call on Capt.
SeweH. This committee was not given
| plenary power. On this matter, as on all
| others affecting it's membership. 1t was
| added. the union Is determined and harmon
icus in sentiment. and is as stable in its
organization as any association of any
craft in the United States.
Mr. Milford Spohn, prominent member
| of the bricklayers union. said today:
out of the twenty-five So-called brick
| layers at work at Washington barracks at
! least twenty-three would not be admitted
| to our union because of incompetency. No
| employer In this city would have them for
| a half hour on private work. The employ
| ment of such men on government work by
| Capt. Sewell has intensified the feeling be-
tween the Washington barracks authorities
| and our union. Had the competent brick
| layers, those who went on the strike, re-
| manned at work Capt. Sewel would not
have employed one of the incompetent strike
breakers who are there now, notwithStand-
! ing their civil service certificates
/ Washington workngmen, members of
| trades unions, persist In stating that the
| Washington barracks strike will certainly
| be brought to the attention of President
| Roosevelt. One of the leaders said:
| SO far as the employment or non-em-
| ployment of twenty-eight union bricklayers
| is concerned ii is mere bagatelle compared
| to the question of the open shop on govern
| ment work. This affects nearly every other
| trade and must be settled once and for all. -
The War Department View.
The officials of the War Department see
| nothing in the labor controversy at the
| Washington barracks to make an issue
calling for its reference 10 the President
| of the United States. According to these
| officials there is nothing in the situation
| that can not be determined either by Capt.
| Sewell the engineer officer in charge of the
| work. or by the civil service commission.
| All the facts relating to the original en-
| ployment of Taylor. the coIored brickayer
| after his term of registration had expired
| and his subsequent unemployment after he
| had been regularly certified by the central
| civil service board of registration have
| been reported to the civil service commits
| sion by the War Department
| No official report has been made to the
| War Department in regard to the latest de-
| velopments I'm the situation involving the
| possible unemployment Of the twenty Ave
union bricklayers who struck because OF
the employment of Taylor on the alleged
ground that he was non-union man. I,
| Is remarked as a somewhat singular fac,
| that the civil service rules governing the
| employment OF skilled laborers on public