The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-04-05

trade. A carpenter is fined SO If an
other workman complains against him
to the union for working too fast. fine
which has far-reaching results in
checking the interest of the men in
the progress of their work. A plumber
has been fined $50 for the same offense.
The contractor or employer is subjected
to heavy fine if he so far forgets him
self for a few moments as to perorm a
little labor. On frivolous pretexts fines
this character have been imposed on
contractors, who have had to suspend
business until the fine was paid. as
none of the unions will permit their men
to work for a contractor who does not
obey strictly their trade regulations.
The city, outside of the steel mills, is
strictly closed shop town. Two years
ago some of the contractors made the
experiment of employing crews of nom
union men, but mysterious educational
committees appeared on the scene and
dealt so harshiy with the invaders that
nonunion workmen now give Gary
wide berth.
Even union card does not entitle q
workman from any other city to en-
gage in his occupation at Gary until
he has obtained a license or member
ship from the local unions Contractors
are often embarrassed by long delays
because they cannot get skilled men for
! special work. although they know of
! outside union men in good standing
who mthey could employ II the local
unions would permit 1t. The carpenters
are relaxing somewhat their monopolis-
tic policy in this respect and now sell
dom refuse the applications of union
man for permission to work in Gary.
and the bricklayers are furnishing good
! men whose work is very satisfactory.
The plumbers local, however, before
admitting an outside union man exacts
a fee which seems to be adjusted on the
basis of making it cost a workman 500,
giving him credit on this amount for
what he paid to join the local in his
home city.
The steel mills at Gary. conducted on
the open shop plan, with no restrictions
on the efficiency of machines or men,
pay high wages and have reduced the
labor cost per unit of product to the
lowest figure that has been reached in
any plant of the same character in the
world. The United States Steel Corpo-
ration, however, is leaving the city to
itself, having carefully avoided the
patriarchal policy which led to criti-
cism at Pullman. Lots are sold to
workingmen as low as 5000, a price
which covers the original cost of the
land, the street paving. sidewalks, sew
gas and water mains. The deed
contains few restrictions regarding
the use Of the property, but the affairs
of the city are left to the citizens and
investors to work out its problems fol
themselves. The contractors have or
ganized an association which has made
some progress in securing protection
agaist sympathetic strikes and Other
forms of union extortion. but they dc
not have educational committees anf
are thus at a disadvantage in dealing
with the building trades unions, as they
cannot present solid a front whel
any difference arises. People must hav,
homes and stores and must pay what
ever price is necessary, but the situa
ton throws curious light on the cos
of living to the workingman, and sug
gests that union restrictions may havi
a greater influence than has been gen
orally suspected on high rents and TIL
high cost of doing business in a larg
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