South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-01
WAGE ADJUSTMENT
CONFERENCE ENDS,
SETTLEMENT NEAR
Amicability Features Farley
of Trades Council-Build-
ing Contractors.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNEl
brought about the decision TO sub
init the matter 10 joint committee
action
The builders and contractors were
ready TO meet with committees
from the various crafts this morn
ing. but inability OF the organized
labor groups 20 call their unions in
session % give the committees the
proper authorization 20 proceed with
tEe wage readjustmeut caused final
postponement until next Wednes-
day The various ')cals VIII send
out special calls 20 members for
meetings the last Of this and fore
part or next week TO consider the
wage decreases.
Representative Reluctant.
Following a lengthy presentation
OF labc|s side Of the wage problem
By John Lyons. washington. DC.
member OF the international Broth
erhood OF Electricians. representa-
tives OF the building trades were
reluctant 20 enter into arbitration
scheme OF submit the matter 10
committee action for agreements.
r. Hammond member OF the
Contractors ana Builders association,
told the Representatives Of the crafts
that the statue OF the building trade
in South Bend was such that there
was no discord between the con-
tractors and unions. 'It is all well
and good 10 intimate that the en-
plOyers might lock out their employ
es, that a suspension OF work would
begin. but that is impossible when
in the first place the contractors
have practically TO work on hand
and further it IS impossible 20 lock
out men when nothing exists for
them 90 be locked out from" he
said.
Presented as the contractors side
oftne story the coLcensus Of opinion
was that a reduction in wages OF
20 percent as asked by the builders
association together with tire av-
erage material decrease OF like
amount would Immediately stimu-
late building. it was held that
enough building would be resumed
TO Immediately return a greater
revenue 90 the working man at a
reduced wage than the present
limited operations would bring al
the present scale.
Joseph T. NefG treasurer OF the
Union Trust co.. neutral in the
case. acted rs chairman OF the meet
ing. Barney Neitzei spoke i'm be
half Of the public and Frank
Green. business manager OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, appeared in
behalf Of industrial and financial
south Bend. Edward. IL. Metz
editor of the Interurban Labor
Journal. made one Of the most stir
ring addresses at the forum, and
asked that both sides concede 70
bring about a solution OF the diff
ficuity.
Warn Against Delay.
no group of men or two groups
or men have any right TO hold up
any industry i'm South Bend" Mr..
Metz told the representatives.. Ia
Dor IS willing to cooperate and
listen TO reason. do not believe
I'm any sweeping reduction in wages
but I feel that both sides should
make concessions and that the
matter should be submitted 20 COM
mittee consideration at once without
delaying SO until next week as has
been suggested
The builders and contractors
should not wait and see what labor
is going TO do. neither should the
building and trades council wait for
the builders to submit concrete and
hfuTfvu u~ono-11e can fell the
building trades that the public IS
not I'm sympathy with strikes. The
public wants TO see building go on.
Labor wants to see building 20 on,
and the contractors are looking for
a resumption OF business
Taking part IN the discussion be-
sides Mr.. Lyons were Z. j. Moran,
representing the bricklayers. Harry
III. BeIIair. secretary OF the Build
ing trades council and member of
tho structural steel workers union,
J. B. Fenner for the plasterers. r.
q. Hewson. president OF the building
trades coluncI. and Lawrence Pick
ing. carpenters representative.
Speaking or the contractors and
building association were IT Ham
mond. W. w. Sibiey. Thomas Hickey
and Glenn Smogor. Fred Keller
spoke Tor the real estate and de-
veIopment men.
T. r. Austin. architect. told tLe
various representatives that huns
dreds OF thousands of dollars worth
90 building was tied Up I'm architects
offices awaiting wage reductions