The Washington herald., 1906-12-02
PLUMBERS AND THEIR WORK.
4 Master Plumber Presents His Side
of the Case.

Editor The Washington Herald:
Permit me space TO make reply 10 an
article in The Washington Herald entitled
Claim Public Pays" in which a certain
journeyman plumber endeavors to enlist
the sympathy Of the public by appealing
20 that most sensitive article-the pocket
book. Having worked as a journeyman
Cor seventeen years. and for thirteen
as master plumber, 1 wish to
take the public into my confidence and
give them the truth. Fifteen years ago
there was 10 rule Of the unions 10 pre-
vent men from working where they
pleased. The wages were $3.50 per day
Of nine hours. Apprentices were paid
from s. To IS per week. The charge
asked was s.. This was only fifteen years
ago. But how stands it to-day? The
unions only a few years ago declined TO
work with any helper other. than another
plumber each receiving s. per day. No
American boy should be allowed to learn
plumbing. There were enough. The mas
ter plumbers took up for the public and
refused to accede to this demand. A
strike resulted The journeymen We're de-
feated- An agreement was made whereby
a certain number Of boys were 10 be al
lowed to learn the trade. But under
what conditions? Under the eyes Of the
journeyman, who was 10 see that they
did no work except menial; not TO handle
tools or perform any mechanical work.
As an object lesson, let me quote just
few items from their working rules. the
breaking Of which entails a penalty of
S25 or more. "JOurueyman plumbers must
not be at their places Of work before 7-35
a. m. nor after { O'Clock P. m. Should
his work lie outside of the District he
must not leave the District line before
80 a. m If ne comes 10 the shop in the
morning and has not been told the dag
before that there is no work for him, he
must be paid half a days time, and shall
rot stay around the shop. He shall not
ride a bicycle during working hours. but
may ride 10 OF from his work during his
own time. All work done after / o'clock
must be paid for double time" There was
no rule governing the number OF appren-
tees Now plumbers are receiving 81 and
$40 per day. while helpers are paid from
s. 10 50 per week Thus, with an increase
20 the master plumber Of over 81 per day.
he is only receiving s. per day for
plumber and helper. There was no limit
to the amount OF work the men were TO
perform.
But how is it now? Just let me quote
a few articles from their book Of work
ing rules "a copy OF which is furnished to
every member Of the unionl: "WorBmen
must not get 20 their places OF employ
ment before I.90 a. m, nor work after
p III. He shall not get out any material
that may be needed on the JOB next day
but shall leave promptly at o'clock.
Should he come in the morning. and
there is no work for him, he shall be paid
one-Quavter days time: nor shall ne re-
main about the work. but must leave at
once. Should it be necessary to work
after ( o'clock, he must be paid double
time and. as he is not allowed to receive
less than a quarter of a days time he
must be paid for half a day, although the
work may have taken only ten minutes
to perform. He must not ride on bcy-
Gle during working hours, but may ride
20 and from his place of work in his own
time. He is not allowed to run any pipes
except such as have been cut and
threaded by himself. No laborer must
be allowed to clear out a sewer. The
plumber must get down in the trench and
do this work. He must not allow his
helper 10 go 70 the shop TO cut of and
thread a pine, except when accompanied
by the plmuber. and the plumber must
lANA tat 1tiN 0Dlh hililt Ills lltlAtl - tAi-
ting the pipe. Should there be no helper
recognized by their union. and the work
be too heavy for one man, then two
plumbers must do it." The amount OF
work allowed to be done is very carefully
laid out, and any man exceeding this
amount is fined very heavily These are
only Il few of their rules. Many unwrit-
ten ones exist, which appear too vicious
to be printed. These conditions have
compelled the master plumbers 10 take
the step they have taken in demanding
the open shop where every man shall be
allowed 70 earn his living al the Amer-
lean boy learn mis- trade without bar or
hildrance- The time has come when a
master plumber shall be q master con-
duct his own business. and not be COM
PEELED TO have the unions run it for him.
I ask that you show me the same favor
you have the jOUrneymen. and publish
this statement.
WILLIAM KOCH
EOynr7ba- -