Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-04

Der OF the board Of arbitration. who win
virtually be the umpire, will be left to the
members Of the board already selected
These are: On the part Of the tourneynen
Joseph c. Sheehy. On the part of the mas
ter plumbers-Messrs. ]. ]. Darlington and
A. g. Worthington.
There Is some surmise as to whether the
fifth member of the board will be lawyer
Of what might be termed bona-f bust
ness man. This, of course. cannot be de-
termined until a meeting Of the board OF
arbitration has been held. In some quar-
tiers the election of q merchant as umpire Is
favored 1t Is said the quartet OF lawyers
can argue from a legal standpoint In favor
of the contentious of their respective sides,
and that a merchant could then give the
final decision from the standpoint OF
business man." There are others who de-
clare that as the board of arbitration Is to
have four lawyers as part OF Its member
ship 1t might be well to select as the nth
member another lawyer Of standing and un-
doubted fairness. so that the settlement OF
the vexed question can be brought about
entirely on a legal basis.
Questions to Be Determined.
1t is understood that some of the ques-
lions to be decided by the board will really
require a legal decision. One Of the prin-
cipal bones of contention Is as to the en-
ployment Of apprentices and helpers by the
master plumbers. The employers contend
that the plumbers union has adopted arbf-
trary laws as to the matter OF apprentices
doing away with the helpers altogether,
and that in doing so they violated their
contract with the masters.
The contention of the tOurneymen. on the
other hand. has been that the tendency OF
the employers has been to overcrowd the
plumbing business with boys and helpers TO
the detriment of the men who have learned
the trade There are some other mattess
to
of helpers using certain tools on JoD ano
other things which will have to be. settfed
by the arbitrators 1t rs the opinion OF
some that the arbitration will be long
drawn out. while others say QUICK set
Element will be resched
Duration 81 the Lockout.
The lockout of the journeymen plumbers
by their former employers has been IN ef-
feet about six months. In that time the
master plumbers assert that they have been
able to get nearly as many non-union work.
men as they have required and that the
lockout has not caused any Of them serious
loss The journeymen declare that the
game has been a losing one for the mas
ters- -, .
Giving their side Of the case the journey
men state that the membership Of their
union is 263 journeymen and 1855 appren-
tees and helpers. Had it not been for the
lockout these men would have all Deen EN-.
ployed now. II Is Sald, anu as IeeU
the lockout they have lost IN wages etc.,
in round numbers, $175.000. 600
They figure this out on the basis OF - SoS
iourneymen plumbers at from - to $4.po
day and 1862 helpers and apprentices a a.. a.
average of So a week. the salary loss OF the
men due to the lockout. which has existed
for six months, would aggregate ABOUT
$175,OOO
The Non-Unionists.
The master plumbers decline to say wha'
disposition will be made of the non-unlon
plumbers in the event that the union men
return to their former places OF employ
ment. 1t is believed the disposition OF the
non-unionists will be one OF the vexeo
problems that will come before the arpi-
tration board for. settlement.
Al EFFORT NAV be made, 1t Is said. to have
the non-union workmen admitted to mem
bership in the plumbers union; Wnether
this can be accomplished Is not known.