New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-20
No Agreement
Reached i'm NY.
Building Strike
Five Hour Conference i'm
Washington Is Adjourned
for Later Meeting Here
Hitch Is on $3.50 Wage
Men Contend They Made No
Demand During War and
Deserve an Advance Now

WASHINGTON. Feb. 10. - Repre-
sentatives of the Building Trades En-
ployers' Association of New York and
its striking carpenters failed to reach
settlement of their troubles in five
hour conference at the War Depart
ment to-day adjourning the discussion
early this evening to meet in New
York later in the week
This second meeting probably will
be held Friday at the rooms of the
employers association, and in the event
Of failure then to agree both sides have
agreed to return to Washington for an
other conference with Secretary Baker
and Secretary of Labor Wilson.
The nearest approach to a solution
Of the difficulties was the agreement of
the conferrees to submit to a decision
by the governments Emergency Con-
struction Adjustment Commission,
which is to visit New York this week
to determine the prevailing wage scale
10 carpenters on war work. The de-
clslon of this commission will bind the
Employers Association to pay the rate
agreed on for government contract
work only.
While the carpenters looked upon
this agreement as partial victory they
held out little hope that a binding
agreement would be made until the
employers submitted to their sugges-
ton that the War Labor Board be
given jurisdiction in the controversy.
Ronald Taylor. president of the en-
pioyers' association, presented the
case of the master builders, and Will
lam l.. Hutchinson, international presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners. that of the
strikers. In presenting his case Mr..
Taylor was supported b. the officers
of his association. while the heads Of
several building trades unions were
with Mr. Hutcheson
Wage Increase Chief Issue
The main demand of the men was for
$3.50 a day, an increase of 81 above
the present rate. This latter rate, Mr..
Hutchinson told the secretaries, was
fixed i'll 1915 and represented the only
increase in wages given the carpenters
of New York City since 1909. Wages
had not been increased during the war,
he said, although the wages of most
trades had, and he submitted that the
carpenters, having refrained from any
thing that might disturb conditions
during hostilities, should not be re-
fused relief now that peace is near.
The builders complained the carpen-
tiers had failed to respect their con-
tract, which fixed $3.50 as the wage
until January 1, 1919, and had struck
N November to secure the 81 raise.
They further charged the carpenters
had failed to take advantage of the
machinery provided to settle difficult
ties in the trade and insisted that it
IS necessary for trade protection for
the men to return to work and then
seek an agreement.
Baker Issues Statement
At the conclusion of the conference
this statement was issued from the
War Department:
"A conference of representatives Of
the Building Trades Council and the
officers of building trades unions with
the Secretary OF War, the Secretary
of Labor and officials of the American
Federation Of Labor held in the office
Of the Secretary of War this afternoon
adjourned At 7:15.
The controversy between the en-
pioyers and the workers was thoroughly
discussed and another meeting between
these parties will be had in New York
looking to settlement of their DIFF
ferences.
"If the controversy is not settled
smlcably in New York another meet
ing with the representatives of the gov
eminent will be held in Washington on
Aonday. February 24,sat 2:30 p. M"