The Washington herald., 1906-11-25
CLAIM PUBLIC PAYS
Plumbers Say HOuSehOlders
Lose by Masters Methods.
CHARGE WORK Is INFERIOR
Local Labor Men Pleased by News OF
GOmPeFs' EIectiOn-NO Strike Ex-
pected Among Postal Telegraph
observation-disclosures Aroused In the
Coming Election OF BOOkbinders.

Il wish" said member of Journeyman
Plumbers Union. No. 3. yesterday, The
Washington Herald would publish our side
of the controversy with the master plumb
ers, and leave it TO the public to judge of
the truth of our statement My name is
Downey. and what I am TO tell you is well
known 10 every one of our members.
THE matter is really one in which the
public is vitally interested, because II is
the public that pays the bills. The entire
dispute came about through the rapacity
Of the master plumbers, who desire TO en-
ploy incapable helpers. whom they pay
d few dollars weekly, but for whose serv-
ices they charge full union wages.
Just ask the public what sort of help
is sent TO their houses when they apply
for plumber. what sort Of service is rem
dered, and what prices they pay. a help
er' is not an apprentice, though he should
be know of one man who worked as "A
helper for fifteen years, and now he is
driving an ice wagon. He never learned
the trade. We viii take boys and make
good, competent mechanics Of them, with
one else. But we can't teach them all, for
the reason that so many are employed TO
co the work that we should do
That is true said another member OF
the union 1T was our objections 10 haV-
ing our work taken from US by these IRE
sponsible cheaply paid helpers and boys
that really led 10 the lockout
And it is the public that suffers in the
long run. for the public pays the bills for
leaky pipes. insanitary drainage, and the
thousand and one Ills and expenses that
result from the employment Of this sort of
labor"
Numerous expressions of satisfaction.
though none Of surprise were heard yes
terday in Washington at the reelection
Of Samuel Gompers. as president of the
American Federation of Labor at the
close OF the two weeks session Of that
body al Minneapolis.
Members and friends Of the knights
OF Labor declared yesterday that Mr..
Gompers' reelection was a double tri-
umph. as il emphasized the fact that the
entrance of the American liberation of
Labor into the field OF politics, under
its presidents leadership during the re-
cent campaign. is approved by the Fed
Grafton.
Postal telegraph operators discourage
the opinion that "a strike may RESULT be-
cause Of reported dissatisfaction over GER
tain conditions in the main office in this
city. II is understood that the interview
which ". W Beatte. z. NJ Canada. and
W. y. Patton, representing the operators,
had in New York Friday with W. II.
Baker, general manager Of the Postal
was eminently satisfactory to the COM
mittee.
It is expected THAI the three members
of the navy yard wage board will make
their report TO Secretary Bonaparte dur
ing the present week. No expression is
obtainable concerning the efforts Of the
committee OF Columbia Lodge. which,
representing that orgs snizatiOn. has re-
Quested a general advance in the wages
of the navy yard machin!sts for 1861.
Much interest is evinced in the coming
election of officers for Bookbinders Union
No. 4. which will probably take place
Tuesday night, unless a special meeting
is called for the purpose. The Withdrawal
OF p J Flanagan. vice president. from
The nomination for president leaves two
candidates for that Ofice-J. l. Feeney,
the incumbent. and Joseph McManus
Joseph Van Overmeer. Il IS said Will
contest with Mr. Flanagan for the pO-
sition of vice president
As announced in yesterdays Wash
ington Herald Judge George Gray, OF
Delaware. former chairman Of the An
thracite Coal Commission. has consented
70 act as umpire between P. J. Conion
and Alfred p Thom. the first representing
the machinists of the Southern Railway
Company, who ask an advance of wages
and the second representing the com
p8ny.
1t is understood that Mr.. ConlOn must
file his brief with Judge Gray by Decem-
ber l. furnishing a copy TO Mr. ThOm
who VIII have until December 20 10 make
answer after which Mr COnlUn will be
allowed 10 make rejOndeT any time be
fore the last day OF the year. The de
cision of the umpire is expected early IN
January. In the meantime, matters under
discussion viii remain in allegiance.
While the master builders and the repre-
sentatives Of the various trades were en-
gagged in a three-hOur discussion Of the
controversy between the master plumbers
and the jOurneymen plumbers last night
the latter were making merry AT the bal
given by Local No. >. at the National
Rifles Armory, on G street. near Ninth
The ball was largely attended.