Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-27
DISPUTE OF PLUMBERS
PHASE OF TROUBLE BETWEEN
MASTERS AND JoURNEYMEN.
Creation of Permanent Arbitration
Commission-Time Limit for Selec-
ton of Umpire Expires.

Another phase of the trouble between the
master plumbers and the journeymen of
that craft made it's appearance today and
may serve to further complicate the al
ready complicated situation in the building
trades. 1t appears that the award of the
board of arbitration provided for the crea-
ton Of a permanent arbitration commits
sion to settle any disputes that might arise
between the masters and journeymen
plumbers in the future. This commission
was to consist of five master plumbers and
the same number of journeymen with an
eleventh or umpire, member to be selected
by the ten members provided for. 1t was
also provided that unless the umpire mem
Der was selected within thirty days the
original board of arbitration would meet
and select the eleventh man.
The statement was made today that the
time limit for the selection of the umpire
by the other members of the commission
expired yesterday, and that it is now OBJ
ligatory upon the original arbitrators to
hold a meeting and make the appointment
further award.
When Mr.. Jackson H. Ralston, secretary
of the board of arbitrators, was asked
about the matter today, he said no action
had been taken looking to the calling of a
meeting of the board He indicated that
no such action would be taken until the
board had been officially Informed by the
master plumbers and journeymen constitut-
ing the permanent arbitration commission
that they had failed to agree upon an
umpire member.
Placed in Nomination.
1t is also said that the names of several
Washingtonians were placed in nomination
for umpire member by both sides, but an
agreement seemed to be impossible. Among
those named by the master plumbers is said
to have been Rev. Father Stafford, while
the journeymen put forward the name of
Judge DeLacey of the Juvenile Court. 1t
had been the hope of several of the build
ing contractors that the permanent arbi-
tration commission would have been COM
pleted by this time in order that it might
give considerat ton to the yeXed questions
that have arisen in connection with the in
depreciation of articles five and six of the
award which matter Is said to have
brought the situation to the verge of q
building trades strike.
= At meeting of the Structural Building
Trades Alliance last night, it Is said, sew
eral of the more important of the building
trades opposed the proposition favoring a
strike and declared that the matter at
issue between the master and journeyman
plumbers should be settled by arbitration
The ground was taken by some of the dele
gates that strike at this time would be
in the nature of distinct disaster to the
District. member of the alliance sta ted
that there were several stormy passages
between those who favored a strike of the
building trades and others who were for
pacific settlement Of the controversy.
One of the propositions advanced was to
refer the disputed clauses of the arbitration
award to the permanent arbitration COM
mission. composed of five master plumbers
and five journeyman plumbers for its de-
cision. The inability Of the commission to
select an umpire member was also dis
cussed.
To Meet Saturday Evening.
The final decision of the body was to
refer the matter back to the committee
composed Of one member of each Of the
building trades which body will meet Sat-
urday evening.
1t is understood that Mr.. Easily Smith,
counsel for the master plumbers, wrote to
Mr.. Jackson H. Ralston. secretary of the
original board of arbitration, several days
ago and asked his opinion as to inter-
preting the disputed clauses of the award
Mr.. Ralston's reply is said to have been
that in order for the original arbitrator to
take up the matter and interpret the fifth
and sixth clauses of the award, now in dis
pute, 1t would be necessary to have the
consent Of both parties to the contention
the master plumbers and the journeymen.
1t is understood Mr.. Ralston also held
that the duties of the arbitration board
have ceased. with the bare exception of the
appointment of the umpire member of the
permanent arbitration commission, but that
an Interpretation of any part Of the award
that may be in contention may be con-
sidered upon the request of all the parties
concerned.