Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-25
WAS PRINCIPAL TOPIC
Employers Statement Regard
ing Labor Lockout.
THE DEVELOPMENTS TODAY
Correspondence on Phases of the Local
Situation.
LETTER FROM MIR. RALsToN
Employers Send Communication in Re-
ply-Effect Of Trusts on the
Situation.


out of certain building trades, as published
in The Star yesterday. caused something Of
a sensation in this city. especially in me-
chanical trades circles. 1t was almost the
sole topic OF conversation at tie meeting Of
the Central Labor Union last night.
Mr.. jackson H. Ralston, counsel for the
organized workingmen of Washington,
promptly sent the following reply to the
Employers Association today:
Without undertaking to say whether or
not the grievances of which you complain
are real or otherwise. permit me to remark
that in certain respects the circular appears
to overstate your case and to Ignore eie-
ments which cannot be overlooked. The
reduction in the amount of building at the
present time as compared with a year ago
is due to more than the question OF wages.
1t may be due in part to the fact that the
building of year ago more than met the
supply.
fact that in many cases the rise In the
price of ground has been SO great as to
prohibit reasonable returns upon the money
which might be invested in new buildings.
particularly when you couple with this the
further fact that the man who erects an
improvement finds, contrary to all prtn-
ciples of common sense. that for doing this
good thing for the community his taxes are
perpetually increased to a very large
amount. When the price Of land Is low this
grievance may be borne. When the price
becomes too high municipal taxation tends
abnormally to prohibit improvement.
Refers to Trusts.
your letter further ignores the fact that
the price Of building has increased because
Of the manipulations Of trusts, as well as.
in some cases, the growing scarcity Of
material. For instance, in electrical
branches 1t seems probable that the manip-
Lot nf fho YAYfc of haca hoo
ried to extent which has increased the
cost of production much more than has any
advance in wages affecting the same OBJ
jects produced or set in place
FurthermOre, as to cost OF bond
ing being due to increased wages, I take
the liberty Of reminding you that economies
in construction within the past few years
have undoubtedly more than made up for
economy and rapidity Of the construction
of the Hibbs building could by no means
have been eQuaied only few years ago
and must more than make up for any ad-
ditional wages paid out to workmen or any
reduction OF hours-if, indeed. reduced hours
do mean reduced output, which there is
grave reason to doubt.
II do not feel at liberty. Of course. to ex-
press any opinion as to the merits of the
dispute between the master and Journey
man plumbers. can only regret that the
Employers Association considers itself
justified In resorting to a lockout. this be-
corresponding to that of a strike
Letter Of the Employers.
The Employers Association this after
noon sent to Mr. Ralston. and through him
to the interested labor bodies, the follow
ing reply to his communications:
I've are glad to receive your letter Of
June "a in reply to our recent circular let
ter. AS the counsel and attorney for the
associated unions Of the city your views are
entitled to especial consideration.
IF you will reread our letter, how
ever. you will discover that your reply
does not address itself to the real ques-
ton at issue, and that perhaps you have
answered case created by yourself
rather than the one stated by us. There
present controversy. We make on claim
that the cost of building has been alb
normally increased because Of wages
alone. Neither do we anywhere state
that a shorter work day is responsible
for the decreased output of the men.
For instance, a gang Of iron workers In
Washington during the past year drove
from so to 100 rivets a day as an average
New York at present under open shop
conditions. a gang Of iron workers will
drive from 300 to 400 rivets day with
wages at $3.50. You will at once see that
is much more costly than driving them in
New York at a greater wage.
"Our point on this lien is that the unions
having an absolute monopoly of the labor
market have naturally tended to become
less efficient. and that this decreased eff
cheney of labor is the chief cause Of the
present abnormal cost of building con-
struction. This phase Of the question you
do not touch.
You do however, undertake to point out
other reasons for a decrease in building
construction than increased wage costs.
You say it may be due to the fact that
building in past years exceeded the sup
ply. There never was a time when our
present and when building should naturally
increase.
There is no apparent reason for an over
supply other than decrease in demand,
and 1t Is simple economic fact that de-
mand decreases prices increase. 1t is
generally known that building prices have
increased so that the decrease in building
is thus naturally explained.
High Price of Ground.
"You say the decrease may be due to the
higher price Of ground. The contrary
ought to be true, for when the price Of
land is high the owner cannot afford to
hold 1t without improvement, and the in
creased price of ground naturally leads to
building construction.
You say that the increased price Of build
ing Is due partly to the manipulation of
trusts and cite the copper trust as an ex-
ample. Your citation was unfortunate for
the reason that the copper in a building
amounts to about ope-half of per cent of
the total cost. If you desire to include
other materials, we will point out to you
that the chief cost of all materials entering
building is labor cost in fitting the ma
terial ready to be installed. The raw ma
terial itself Is comparatively inexpensive.
You cite the increased economies of con-
struction in late years. These, Of course