The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-19

l DaNCN NUk&tcEt NCll MaFkc SaA0D | cloth, Sarah Smith, EtheIyn OIiv' third row, Lucy IioEue. Emmet W I crime WurtcIe, James Marshall V Dorothy Culpepper. Gladys Saxoi Evelyn Cowart, Mari Joe Gaines. | testimony for tweuty years the shoI rules of the union plumbers have for bidden and prevented the use of ap. prentices in the plumbing shops in Bir- mingham for the avowed purpose of re strictihg the supply of plumbers in or der that the members of the plumbers union might be able to dictate price and terms of employment 3. That from the evidence, that the shop rules further prevent the use
 of labor saving and cheaper materia,
 although the same were more sanitary
 in order to provide useless and un-
 necessary work for members of the
 plumbers union.
 4. That master plumbers are re- quired to furnish chaffeurs to drive union plumbers to and from their work and these chauffeurs are not permitted by the union plumbers to do any work on any plumbing contract
 5. That only union plumbers are allowed to work on plubming work and no unskilled labor is permitted to do any work thereon, whether skill is
 leed or not.
 G. That the cost of plumbing is as high or higher in Birmingham than in any other city in the southern states The wage demanded at this time, being SIP per eight-hour day, is the highest at any place named by the union plumbers ex- cept two boom oil towns and compared with S in Montgomery, So in Atlanta, $7 in Mobile and Selma.
 '. That there are in Birmingham shops known in the trade as one-man shops, where the owner of the shop does his own work; that the control of the Jour neyman Plumbers Union has been so ar. bitrary that these one-man shops have been forced to give 50 per cent of their work to members of the Plumbers Union, even though it requires the own CT of the shop to sit idly by for half the time.
 8. That while in 1916 a plumber com pleted what is known as five-fixture job, including the roughing in and setting of a bath tub, lavatory, toilet, sink and boiler in six days, the average time now The wage scale for this work in 1916 be- ing $6 per day, the present wage scale being SIP per day.
 In this connection it was testified by mem bers of the union plumbers that the lack of efficiency had no part inS the present cost of plumbing, stating that 1T they were more efficient some one else would get the benefit, as is shown from the following stenographic record of questions and answers:
 Q. Don't you gentlemen think higher state of efficiency will bring down the cost of living?
 A. do not.
 Q. You are different from most trained minds. I don't consider myself that but the best minds we have today not only executives but many subordinates and mechanics, think that is the solution of it.
 "A. Most every one is trying to put that on us, that higher state of efficiency will bring it down. They want to get a little more themselves. It is not higher state of efficiency that will bring it down.
 g. That wilful destruction of plumbing has been practiced from time to time, and except in one instance, has always been practiced on -non-union jobs which has resulted in heavy loss to the owner of the building or to the contractor having the work in charge. and depredations of this kind continue, as there have been cases reported within the last ten days.
 lO That while it was shown by the proof there was only sixty-seven n1en- bers of this union of iourneyman plumb CTS in Birmingham, it was conclusively
  have so arbitrarily controlled the plumb ing shops and influenced the plumbing progress that plumbing costs in the city Of Birmingham are higher. as before stated, than in any city in the southern states.
 IL That the cost of plumbing can be reduced from 20 to 40 per cent through the abolition of intolerable and inefficient sf op rules, particularly those which for bid the employment of unskilled labor or on work not requiring skilled labor
 That the foregoing evidence has plain l / shown the difficulties surrounding fur ther building of houses in Birmingham. where they are so badly needed to house the people, as it has been reported to us tsat there are as many as four fam flies. or total of eleven people, living in a seven-roonl house, which 1t is admit ted must of necessity create an incani- tary and unhealthy and dangerous con- dition as to the future healthNof Birming- ham.
 In brief, this evidence reveals con dition in Birmingham go intolerable and so prejudicial to the growth and welfare of Birmingham as to demand concerted action on the part of our citizens. and we so recommend.
 (Signed) Birmingham Chamber of Com merce. by w. R. Slagle. Civic Associa- tion. by R. l.. Totten; Community Club, by L. E. Ford; Civitan Club, by A C. Crowder Kiwanis Club, by !. R. Adams Rotary Club by R. J. Ingalls,: Birming- ham Real Estate Exchange, by w O. Oliver.
 At the last meeting of the Birmingham Real Estate Exchange. the following resolutions were adopted:
 .In view of and based upon the findings of the committee appointed by the civic of Birmingham to investi. gate the conditions influenced by the union journeynan plumbers demands, the representatives of said committee and members of said organizations and others present who have the general in- terest and the upbuilding of Birmingham as a foremost consideration, feel that such conditions as reported are deplor- able and in direct conflict with Birming- hams best interest. and further feel that the conditions demand a change; there fore be it
 Resolved, that we commit ourselves to definite policy as to labor empIoy- in rlu,,.hsx,p which cfc11 ba +hot