Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-24

the reason that ii IL the owner who must
ultimately pay the full wage cost of con-
struction. If system in the building in
dustry is in force which by reason of
waste, unreasonable restrictions, decreased
efficiency and high wages makes the price
of building several times greater than 1t
has been in the past. it is the owner who
must pay the price and who must take the
risk of investing his capital and of getting
a fair return upon his investment. There
Is 46 per cent less building in Washington
today than there was year ago. and the
only reason is the greater cost of building
construction. AS a resident of Washington
you are therefore interested in the-build-
ing business and it's conditions.
Agreements With Unions.
For years the contractors and builders
of the city, following the line of least re-
sistance, have made agreements with the
unions in the different trades and have
employed union men to the exclusion of
others The unions thus having a practi-
cal monopoly of the labor market have, as
is usual and natural in the case of monop-
olies, adopted the policy of getting as great
a return possible for as little work as
possible. The number of apprentices allowed
creased until there is a real scarcity Of
labor In one trade the union has closed
its books entirely and will not receive
new members. The policy of restriction of
output has also been followed until the
workmen does less than half the work in
day than was the regular average eight or
ten years ago. Besides these things, the
work has been hemmed in with a multi
tude of petty and annoying restrictions
which mean delay and increased cost.
You will see. therefore. that the reason
for the immense increase in cost of build
ing is not due to the increase in wages,
but to these other conditions that have
grown up in the building business. AL
though the rates of mechanics are higher
than those OF other trades, and much
higher than those of clerks, stenographers,
teachers. bookkeepers, and even of some
college professors, there is no question of
wages at issue"
tween the plumbers and their employees.
which has been frequently outlined in The
Star, ending with the second arbitration and
the proceedings of the meeting over which
Capt. James F. Oyster presided.
This decision. made by Capt. o. ster was
rendered May Goth and has been ignored ny
the unions. None of the men returned to
work. After waiting nearly Two weeks the
Employers Association decided that they
must support those employers whose jobs
had been struck and must take some stand
for Their rights as defined by the three arbi-
trations. The inclosed resolution was adopt
ed and sent out. and in accordance with it,
the members of the ASSOCIATION are dis
charging from their work the members of
the unions that have struck, and
placing them with non-union men in order
for the work TO proceed
The Resolution.
The resolution referred to is follows:
in view of the complicated and unsettled
condition of labor industries in the District
of Columbia, by reason whereof building OPP
erations are seriously interfered with, and
practically prohibited. it rs the sense of the
board of governors of the Employers Asso-
citation of the District of Columbia that
from the sixth day of June. 1907. until such
time as arrangements looking to the free
and uninterrupted continuation of building
operations can be effected that there should
be a cessation of much of such opera
tons as covers work performed by
plasterers. metal-iathers, tile-layers, gall
van:Zed iron workers ornamental iron
workers and hosting engineers. who
refuse to work upon the Improvements now
in course of erection
The Building Trades Alliance has shown
no disposition to meet the situation by re-
ceding from its unfair position, but, on the
other hand threatens to call out all the
trades in the city and preciptate a general
fight un less the contractors shall discharge
all non-union men, including the plumbers
and replace them with union men; or in
other words. unless they shall surrender
their common law right to employ whom
they please and their rights as defined by
the arbitrators, and shall surrender to the
unions of the city the complete and abso-
lutte control of the building industry after
the unions have shown themselves an
worthy to be dealt with by violating the
awards of three arbitrators.
IF building costs have reached an al
most prohibtive point under the rule of or
ganiZed labor in the past because of de-
creased efficiency and increased restrictions
and limitations, what can be expected of it
In the future if it finds itself powerful
enough to override every obligation and
right. and to ignore the decisions of UNI
pires? Do you want the one great industry
of Washington to be in the absolute and
unrestricted control of labor monopoly?
The contractors are not only fighting for
their own self-respect and their independ-
ence. but their fight also involves your in
terests a property owner, and the flu
ture of the city of Washington as we'll
We want not only your sympathy and APP
prevail of our position, but we want your
active assistance and support.
Removal of Ban.
1t was said in labor circles that the ban
had been removed rom the new synagogue
of the Adas Israel Jewish congregation this
morning and number of union plasterers
resumed work on that structure. 1t was
found however, that there was a shortage
of these craftsmen. owing, 1t is said. to
the great demand for plasterers to finish
the incomplete buildings at the jamestown
exposition. The statement made by
labor leader that practically III of the
locked-out plasterers have secured employ
ment on the exposition structures. The men
who went to work this morning were en-
ployed on the union basis. it was added.
-Four OF lHe JODS Oh WHICH NeCndH-
les are still locked out are the Academy of
Music. the work at list and b streets. St.
Cyprians Church and the big building at
18th and V streets.
II was said at labor headquarters
that there is every indication that
the work ST. Cyprians Church
will be Strengthened out in a short while.
The contractors who are erecting this struc-
ture comprise the Chas. ID. Cassidy Com
pany AS this corporation also has the con-
tract for the construction of the Elks club
house and the parsonage of the Shrine of
the Sacred Heart the workingme threaten
that unless the ST. Cyprian's job is straight
ened out all union workmen will be called
off the two latter contracts the moment