Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-23

10 VIZ per day and got It. He also
was not aware. he said. that similar
stnke under like circumstances &C.
CURED In New York yesterday, where
the workmen exacted promises of SIS
per day before returning to the job.
tie did not know. he declared, that
plumbers unions of New York had
been closed to Candidates, except
brothers and sons of members, since
1870; that plumbers refused to install
certain modern fixtures, because they
required less labor hours than other
kinds; that one union had compelled
an employer to pay his men several
hours overtime. because they waited
ten minutes after the whistle for
their weekly wages; that plasterers'
unions forbade the use Of mold for
interior decorations in any building
than the one for which designed, in
order that the mold makers might
remain steadily employed; that more
than 100 nantels intended for install
lation in a New York hotel were de-
stroyed, because they contained a
percentage of cement, and the plas-
terers refused to install them; that
an imitation marble wall. in the same
hotel, was destroyed, because it did
not meet with the approval of a
union delegate and his executive
committee. that certain unions had a
rule that. when only one man was
required for the job, he should re-
ceive foreman's wages; or that con-
tractors from other cities, on jobs in
New York were required to pay the
union scale prevailing in their resi-
dent city, il it was higher than the
scale here.
All of these practices Mr.. Gompers
declared to be ''unwise, regrettable
and unjustifiable." But when, at the
recital of each instance. Mr.. Inter
myer asked. since all your efforts at
moral uplift within the American
Federation Of Labor have failed to
stop such practices, do you now be-
lieve the state should be given power
to grant the suffering contractor re-
dress in the courts?" the labor leader
replied, Il certainly do not"
At one stage Of the examination
Mr., Untermyer sought to compare
trade organizations of employers with
labor unions. saying. You believe one
should be regulated. but not the 9TH
er, do you not?" To which Mr.. Com
pers replied:
Against Price-FixinE Business.
IT believe business men have a nat
ural right to organize for mutual BEN
eft. But am in favor OF their regu-
lation when, as price fixing combina-
tions. they work to the detriment of
the public"
Regulation Of the unions would not
do. however, he asserted, because,
whereas an employers organisation
is formed for profit and deals in prod
things made by laborers. the union
deals in the disposition of human ef-
fort. and Is engaged in an eternal
mass struggle to improve conditions
for the laboring man."
Unions should hold their contracts
sacred, he said. and should discipline
members who violated them. But. he
asserted. 1t would be wrong for con-
tractor to break an agreement. while
a union man was justified in violating
his side Of the pact. II another con-
tractor bid for his services at a higher
figure. Mr.. Gompers objected to the
word "snowballing'' used by Mr.. I'm
termyer in references to this practice.
He had never heard of 1t, he said, until
he came to New York several days ago.
"All these abuses of labor power"
Mr. Gompers asserted. Originated in
the bribery of our men by business
agents." The vicious system" was
originated by Sam Parks in New York
and found an apt though deluded pupil
in Robert p. Brindell, now serving a
sentence for extortion in Sing Sing
prison.
1.-THE truth is Brindell invented the
system" Mr.. Untermyer interrupted.
in eleven months by it?"
Mr.. Gompers said he didn't believe
IT," but that while Brindell should be
held responsible for his deeds the pres
ence Of bribery in the building trades
industry could be traced directly to the
contractors.