Evening star., 1905-10-18
IN LABOR CIRCLES
GafME.IE4S

The plumbers and steamftters or the Dls-
trict OF Columbia are said to be noted 1or
their enterprise in pushing propositions 1ot
the betterment of their craft. during phe
past few months they have been In line
with the members of their trade In otner
cities in the movement for the estapNsh-
ment of home for old and incapacltateo
pipe workers. The home for aged ana IN
firm printers at Colorado Springs, Col, ana
its successful operation has been an object
lesson by which the plumbers and gasfitters
are said to have profited.
The local plumbers union has received
from L. w Tilden, general secretary OF
the craft, communication expressing ms
views on the proposed plumbers home. He
says in part:
TN the first place, the location does not
make much difference so far as the argu-
ment is concerned. because suitable piece
of land would cost about as much In Caii-
fornia as it would In New Jersey. Most sani-
tariums. such as our proposed one' Wouiu
most likely have to be located at some
high altitude where our consumptives couio
be taken care of. The land that Is gooo
for consumptives would be good for most
any old decrepit member. At any rate
from what investigation we have already
made by correspon dence with several m
stttutions we verify believe that the lana
and building such as we want VIII COST
either to build or to buy as 1t STANDS now
in the neighborhood of $4,000 to $3OOOO. In
addition to this figure We must add the
salary and expense of a superintendent,
corps of nurses, janitor, general en-
gineer, at least one gardener, at least one
doctor, besides domestic help-cooks. etc.
In round figures IL would most likely cost
US about $4,000 to purchase and eqGip
such an institution as we want or must
have and then we should have at least
s10,0 600 with which to pay current expenses,
salaries, fuel, etc.
Just what 1t would cost to maintain such
an institution is largely problematical. 1t
depends on the number of inmates. We
estimate that We would have in the neigh
borhood of 100, and that 1t would cost about
$4,000 year for the maintenance and ope-
ration of such a home, with the necessary
medical attendance and all other help. Such
being the case, we can only estimate the
cost per member on the cost for other
items already embodied in our constitution
and system. For instance, during the year
1904 death benefits cost us $500. or "a
cents apiece. Three times SO, 800 amounts
to 500. AGO. or about what 1t would cost us;
in other words, sl.02 per member per an
nun.
Therefore, we conclude that the entire
subject is not one of sentiment; it is hot
a question OF whether we would like to
create a hospital or a nome for our aged.
infirm or diseased, but it is solely and en-
tirely q financial problem. Where and how
can We raise at least $4,000 with which to
proceed sJudicfously and mechanically to ac-
eomplish the undertaking which we are all
in sympathy with? The subject is. a large
one 1t has taken our united association a
great many years to formulate laws and to
establish sick benefit. It has taken
equally as long to establish a fair or re-
spectacle strike and lockout benefit. Now
that we have had this experience 1t should
not be as hard to establish one more bone