The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-11
WANT GRANITE CUT
BY LOCAL LABOR
Quarrymen and Workmen Lock
Horns Over Restrictive
Ordinance.
COMMITTEE FAILS TO AGREE
Sends Measure to City Attorney
for Opinion as to It's
Legality.

Quarrymen and stonecutters locked
horns last night before the Council
subcommittee on Ordinances over an
ordnance introduced at the instance of
the Stonecutters Union requiring all
granite used for municipal purposes TO
be iout in Richmond. Representatives.
OF the union who appeared for the
measure disclaircl any intention Of
erecting a stone wall around Richmond
10 Keep out competition, but asked for
It's passage in the spirit of aiding home
INDUSTRY.
Quarrymen saw in the ordinance a
rejection of the recent action of the
union liking minimum daily wage of
81 for its members. The rule. ii was
charged. has resulted in causing many
ctonccutters to 20 id.e who formerly
made living doing piccework The
present measure. the quarryEIer in:i-
mated, was an effort TO take care of
the unemployed through municipal en-
forcement.
Sent TO City Attorney.
AL the end of an hour of discussion
Councilman Moore declared that he
would vote against recommending the
ordinance. while Councilman Haddon
indicated his intention to support it,
Chairman Nondcrlehr thought the ordi-
nance was effectively drawn. and was
not willing TO vote upon 1t until t was
put i'll proper shape. Upon motion Of
referred to the City Attorney. who
was asked to pass upon it's legality.
and If legal in principle 10 draw up
an amended ordinance eliminating
from the restrictive provisions as to
cutting, granite spalls and Belgian
blocks.
John Coalter, speaking for the stone
cutters, told Of the increased cost Of
living, which he said. made 81 day
wage compulsory. The fact that North
Carolina quarries paid only $3.50 a day.
he said. makes it possible for them to
ship cut granite into Richmond for
municipal and other purposes at n
lower cost than that charged by local
quarries. This condition of affairs, he
told the committee, has hurt the de-
mand for local labor. and the ordinance
was asked for the purpose of tempo
iarily at least relieving the situation
by requiring granite designed for muni-
cipal purposes to be cut in the city. The
Stonecuttcrs' Union, he said, would see
TO the rest. The same views were eX-
dressed by II. J. Smith. Thomas Ire
sdder and George Ford. all members
OF the Stonecuttcrs' Union.
Refers to ola Wngc.
a. Netherwood. representing "A local
quarry, was inclined to attribute the
whole agitation TO the arbitrary action
OF the union in laying down tho rule
that no member shall cut stone for less
than 81 day The result has been.
lie said. that the Quarrymcn, compelled
to pay this wage. have DISCHARGED all
OF The slower workmen and retained
only the fast cutters. The ordinance,
he intimated, was an cXpedient to force
the employment of those workers who
are now idle. II the men would work
Tor the old wage Of $3.50 n day. he said.
Richmond quarries would have no diff
Guilty in meeting North Carolina com
petition.
Lee Paschall representing n North
carolina quarry, asked the committee
moi 10 indorsc measure calculated to
icStralh Tree competition, and to place
{; disability upon the 1uarrvmeu of a
state which is in many respects Rich
nond's best customer. Other talks for
the quarrymen We're made by Blanch-
ara Forbes and Harry c. Bcattic