New-York tribune., 1922-02-25
Spokcsmcn for 100000
Union Brichlaycrs, Plas-
iercrs and Masops Agree
With L. S. Prosecutors
Binding Decree TO
Be Filed in Court
End5Limii on Production,
tavoritism and Abuses
Delaying Housing Aid

Fro'n Tbr rr'bp'cs Washington Burtap
WASHINGTON, Feb a. Progre rs
toward wiping clean all the evil prac-
tees existing i'm ali branches of the
building trade and the housing situa-
tlon generally was made to-day at a
conference between Attorney General
Daughcrty, United States Attorney
William Hayward, Of New York, and
other representatives of the govern
mcnt and the interests involved. As Il
result Of the meeting the executive
heads of The International Organiza
ton Of Bricklsyers, Mssons and Plas-
terers, which embraces all the local
unions, taking IN membership os
more than 100000, signed a consent 10
the entry of court decree affecting
tho entire national organization and
ell its local unions
Basic Principles Adonted
The decree, 70 be entered in the
United States District Court for the
down and adopts four basic principles:
/. There Is to be no limit to the pro
ductivc capacity Of the individual work
man within the working day or anv
other given timc
,. There is TO be no limit upon the
right Of the empoyor to purchase hig
materials wherever and whenever and
from whomever he may choose, whether
those materials be union made or
otherwise.
8. There is to be no fsvortism shown
by organized labor toward employers
or trade associations or contractors
associations and no discriminate tions
are to be INDUCED in against the indie
pendent employer who may not be a
member of such an organizations
4. The labor organization is not TO
be used or permit itself to be used by
material men or contractors or sub
contractors Is an instrument for the
collection Of debts or enforcement of
the payment OF alleged claims.
elimination of Inquiry
This conference was the elimination
o. an investigation conducted by
Colonel Hayward and bis staff Of spe-
cisl assistants, covering a period of
several months work in conjunction
with The Department of Justice in the
invest tigation OF building trades and the
housing situation, which has resulted
in the recent Indictment and conviction
OF large numbers of manufacturers and
dealers in building materials, many of
whom have paid large fines and some
Of whom arc now serving sentences in
jail
In addition 10 the Attorney General
and Colonel Hayward, there were at
the conference Colonel Guy y. Goff.
and Mossrs. Podoll and L'Espcrance
and Miss Susan Brandcis special coun-
sci to the United States Attorney; and
Thomas +. Prccce, vice president; vii
liam Dobson secretary; Walter V
Keeling and Hugg, of Indianapolis, as
Organization of Bricklaycrs, Masons
and Plastorors.
The decree directs that it, DC pub
lished by the labor organization and
read fto all of the local unions at their
next regular meeting and be incor-
poratcd as part o' the constitution of
tho ternational union and appended
thereto in the next constitution to be
adopted.
Ends Limits on Output
The first Of these principles" said
q statement from Mr.. Daughertys of
fec, "is directed against a vicious p.ac
tlco which is moro or less an out
growth Of the cost-plus system which
prevailed during the war period. Nar-
Gus local unions of this and other labor
organizations have from time to time
tacitly and often openly limited their
men in the quantity of the work to be
performed by them within given time.
Some locals have enforced the rule that
a bricklaVer must laV ONLY so many
bricks ap hour or mason set only a
certain quantity Of stone Il day, and
so on down the line 1T is gratifying
TO note that the executive heads of this
national labor organization have for
many years condemned this practice.
1t is a heritage of the war period when
unscrupulous contractors operating un-
der the cost plus system were perfectly
content to have fifty men on a job
where half or one quarter of the num-
Der could do the work.
Labor has for years contended that
1t Is not commodity and not to be
regarded as commodity That prin-
ciple has now been incorporated in our
basic law and is recognized and ey-
pressed m the first sentence Of the
Clayton act
Nothing in tho decree prob bits the
regulation Of the hours or conditions
Of labor. 1t does, however, unqualifie lily
forbid any concerted effort at curtai-
ment of production by any such limita-
tons upon the productive capacity Of
the individual. In 4 word it climi-
mates the penalizing OF ability and the
discourageme Of efficiency
Ends Discrimination
"rhe second is directed against the
various examinations which have
been INDUCED in by labor orgsniza
tions engaged in the building trades
whereby they sought to restrict 8
builder from purchasing and import
ing the finished materials from the
sources of their production By way
of example. for many years rule has
prevailed that stone would not be set
by members of this union f an en-
ployer or builder bought stone finished
and dressed at the quarry and imported d
it to the place where it was to be used
in construction work. In other words
in case Of construction work in all o1
Continued ness three
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