Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-30
'BR|c ! TERMS
Mr.. Milford spohn Talks Of
q Matter.
PLAY NO. FAVoRTTEs
MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW
NIGHT.
Construction of Clause In Agreement,
Whom It Affects-Nothing to
Do With Strike.
PLAY NO. FAVoRITEs


union made statements to a Star reporter
today concerning the action that is reported
to have been taken yesterday afternoon at
meeting of contractors and builders OF
the District to consider the agreement be-
tween the Bricklayers' Union and the Mas
ter Bricklayers Association. 1t Is said the
meeting was behind closed doors and 1t was
finally decided to ask the participants OF
the agreement to withdraw several sections
of it. The request win shortly be present.
ed, and another meeting will be held next
week.
An attempt will be made. it was said, to
bring about better terms in. an agreement
which the contractors and builders claim
Is an unfair one to their side. 1t was added
that the demands of the bricklayers for an
increase in wages of from $3.50 to IS per
day will be acceded to, but they will be
asked to withdraw the rule referring dis
puted contracts, to committee composed
OF an equal number Of members of the
Bricklayers Union and of the Master Brick
layers Association, thus taking such con-
troversies out of the hands Of the courts.
The clause referring extraordinary cases to
one employer, one master bricklayer and
the Oldest hand will also be disputed. as
well as some other points not mentioned.
Objection to q Clause.
Particular objection was made to this
clause of the compact:
This agreement shall be in force from
May 1. 1905. to April 80, 1906. and shall not
be construed as interfering with the rights
and duties of Bricklayers' Union, No. l, Of
Washington. D. c.. to obey every law and
command issued by the Brfcklayers and
Masons International Union Of America"
The contractors ana builders are reported
to have declared that this clause contains
a loophole by which it may be annulled at
any time by the International Bricklayers'
Union. while the Master Bricklayers' Asso-
citation is held to it absolutely.
Replying to these structures today Mr..
Milford Spohn, veteran member of the
local Bricklayers' Union. said there would
be special meeting of the Union at Con-
cordia Hail, 9th and E streets northwest,
tomorrow evening which was called for the
purpose Of considering the revision Of the
constitution. But this contract controversy
may come up for consideration, as the re-
vised constitutional will cover some of the
features of the disputed agreement. It is
also possible that at this meeting of the
bricklayers reply may be made to what
Mr.. Spohn designated as 1.-The misstate-
ments made by contractors and others con-
corning =! the briekiayers and their pur-
Terms Of Agreement.
''They evidently do not understand the
terms Gs, the agreement said Mr.. Spohn.
There Is a class, of contractors in Wash
ington and elsewhere who would kick on
any agreement, anu would not be satisfied
with any 2eo1d1tiohs unless they could get
the best Of it,, The. agreement is between
the master brfcklayers and the Bricklayers'
Union. p It does mot discriminate against
contractors or Others. who employ brickiay
ers or ma9% e-aploy them. If a member of
the union Should get a contract for build
ing he cam enplOy union men and he must
conform strictly to the terms of the agree
ment.
.SThe union does not want to restrict the
brfcklayer's field of labor, but to enlarge
it. The union does not exclude its mem
bers from working for anyone. The only
prohibtive CLAUSE is that which applies to
those who lay bricks by the thousand No
member of the union is permitted to work
by the thousand, Or with a man who does
There is not responsible bricklayer in
Washington who does lay bricks in this
manner
Have No Fight.
1--WE have no fight against any contractor
or builder. The men of our union are per-
mitted to work for any contractor or
builder who is in the District or who may
come here. The agreement has been ap-
proved by our international Union and that
the local union will. There is no loophole
about the matter.
The agreement having been approved by
our international board, We will be COM
PEELED to live up to 1t, as well as to our in
ternational laws. Under those laws subor-
dinate unions have the right to regulat e
the rate of wages per hour for general
work; for extra work or overtime, speci-
flying the rate and hours for such; the rate
of wages for holidays, specifying the same;
the number of hours worked per day; the
government and regulation of apprentices;
and such other rules as may be of Joint
benefit to employers and employees and
that agreements shall not be made by
subordinate unions binding their members
to work alone for master builders associ-
atoms.
Mr.. Spohn and other members of the
Bricklayers' Union char cterized as alb
Surd and untrue the statement made by
certain of the brickmaking interests that
the drivers of brick carts and wagons were
induced to strike recently by members of
tt, Bricklayers Union.
We do not care fig what the Washing
ton Machine Company or any other concern
pay their drivers. 1t is but logical to con-
clude that the bricklayers would encourage
the driver to work and supply bricks for
their work at the beginning of the building
season, rather than to encourage them to
strike and cause scarcity of material at
ILLS Lille ne eTS nave enough 10
do to take care of themselves They desire
to be on amicable terms with all, from
builder and contractor to the brick wagon
driver. and We will do so If we are per-
mitted to-"
An important matter that is puzzling the
builders just now is whether Washington
has a condition similar to New York,
where eight buildings recently collapsed
and sixteen more were condemned because
of improper building. One of the most
prominent sof tlIe local builders stated yes
terday thar during the past three of four
years especially a large number of insecure
buildings have been put up here by real
estate men. WHO have had no technical
knowledge. of building and have let the
contracts direct to the trades and that
there is danger of some of them sagging.
He added that an active campaign would
be directed towafu reviving the bill, killed
at the last, session of Congress. establish
ing board of examination for those in the
contracting business in order to prevent the
erection OF cheap and unsafe structures.