The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-03-26
PLUMBERS
GIVE THEIR
TESTIMONY
Some Startling Facts Are
Brought Out Relatively To
Cost Of Building In Region
tpART no

(pART III)
J. II. Mcclure. one Of the 4ead1hs
,,,mhers Of Hammond gave some
~ather starting testimony at tne
meeting OF the investigating coEl1nll
80 held last Wednesday when ne
.bowed what Is making the cost p
building mount to impossible heisHts'
Mr.. Mcclure stated that the plum
b.rn are not permitted to hire men
direct but must go to the business
agent for them. he stated th<1
men are doing better work no" thah
they have been doing n the llrAlile -
past. Mr.. MCGUIRE said:
previous to the var re had
x+.amhtter and a helper working TO-
gether on a Job. At the time I think
wares were only 1910 q day and
xtasnrt+er and helper used to aver
axe a radiator a day
Now they have eliminated the
hai,er They have two steanhtters
- the ion, and It takes day and
rsif 20 set q radiator, Now tnat
n-aeticaily boosts the price from $S.oV
or asoo 4oss0 a radiator. There - no
suoh thing as a helper or an appren-
elce any mora"
Mr.. I,EWIs-Is there any compact
- arrsnxement with the working
r,an as to the time that shall be al
lowed for the getting OF various parts
~ n bathroom like the lavatory ana
toilet?
Mr.. McGUIRE-No there is no set
time.
Mr.. Mcguire also made the state
mont that a good man will now 40
more work than the average inddcat-
ing that there is no limit now on
production.
7. o. Donaldson, also plumber
stated that business IS very quiet just
now. In response to a question es =
p.hether or not boss plumbers are al
loved 10 work he said that they were
tIe said some of them took out caros
in the union
George PeArson stated that he has
axured a great deal OF work but that
With a few exceptions the people
threw up their hands when they saw
what it was going to cost them he
comp latned OF the high cost OF money
and the big discounts that are reduir-
cd in order to dispose OF second mort
cages.
panner, the general contractor who
has lust completed work on the
parthAnon Theatre building. gives as
good q. picture OF the trials and triou-
lattors Of q building contractor as
gould be had.
DANNER OPENS UP.
Mr.. Danner said: Il have found that
It takes about two men to do one
mans work in the last twelve months
] do not blame the men entirely It
&. oartly due TO the cost plus method
o. handling war contracts during the
WAR.
Nov q man is supposed 70 do
DAYS work In eight hours and not
xrnoke cigarettes and run UP and down
10 the toielt every hour or two. The
rner are supposed to have only a half
hour for lunch. under union rules. but
BY the time the men get down from
the top Of building and get back UP
flere, they are of three quarters OF
an hour and they don't work q. minute
after POUR o'clock when quitting time
comes
"Noev these are conditions that the
public pays for, because after this
when I figure on a job I am going 70
figure these conditions In. have been
building around in Indiana for 30
years and one OF the worst things ]
have found is this lathing proposition. /
The lather gets SIC a day. We used |
70 pay 81 when / hrst came to Ham /
nlond. The boys commenced to quit |
along about half past one CT two
o'clock in the afternoon, on the first |
Job that / had down South Hoh- I
man street Cthe Presbyterian ohurch> I
i said. boys what is the matter? /
They said. we have got our day I'm, /
they began quitting and going home I
II NE liz ET.af
union prevailed on them TO stay Oh !
ae Job until four o'clock"
Mr.. Danner then said the only other !
oase he had heard Of limiting pro- |
duction was complained OF the pun |
bers but he SAID that he generally i
sub-let his plumbing and heating and +
aid not know so much about that +
Speaking OF the pIasterers Mr.. Danner I
said he had no kick coming about 4
hem.
DANNER CLASHES WITH MCGUIRE I
Danner had stated that his margin I
" profit had always been close. Now /
I would add on a margin of profit I
IN my contract like my brother plum |
Der and electrician--when figure /
Tour Job for $4,000 I would have to 1
make it $4,000. If I figure work /
his summer I want the plumber, tho I
electrician and the whole bunch to
igure the same way. II they are GO
ng to hgure % to 80 per cent on the .
oD, that is the way Danner is going /
% figure"
Mr. McGUIRE-Nir chairman want /
. ask Mr., Danner what percentage he T
you'd charge on doing work on con-
-act?
Mr. DANNER R-Ten per cent.
Nh McGUIRE-Weu you are
amned fool.
MR. ANNER-Prob baby I am. That /
Just " nat want the public to un-
.rstand Now II ! would figure on
iit.ls house that he figures on about
snconfinued On paRe MI