Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-02
PAINTERS REFUSE
COMPROMISE PLAN
Union Men Smash Hope for
Strike End by Vote
-, -,
Not to Yield.

- Following a three-hour conference
Yesterday between the leaders of both
=sides in the present union wage con-
=troversy, the union painters at a meet
ing last night smashed all hopes OF
any compromise or arbitration settle
Ement by a unanimous vote to stay out
ON strike until they get SO per day.
- The meeting of the leaders yester-
DAY was brought about by The Even
ing Star It was attended by Herbert
II. Shannon. president of the Opera
tive Builders; Rufus S. Lusk, execu-
tive secretary of the Citizens Fair
Wage Committee; William J. Gala
CHER, international organizer of the
Painters Union; Arthur Chamberlain,
tfocal organizer for the painters, and
81 Robert j. Cottrell, real estate re-
porter for The Star. 1t was decided
{ that both sides of the controversy
should submit proposals for considera-
zion by their respective organizations.
IL Employers Offer Plan.
~ While Mr. Gallagher was not pre-
pared TO submit any proposal at the
stime he indicated that he would be
glad TO submit one at a later date. Mr..
shannon. speaking for the employers,
suggested that the men go back at
50 per day for year with a raise to
50. 50 at the end of the contract. The
Cooperative Builders, who are not en-
Enjoying union painters at this time,
spend $3.50 600 year in wages to non
union painters and it was suggested
athat, in place of a raise over SO for
this year. the Operative Builders
would give the benefit of their work
to the union men. Mr.. Shannon said
he thought that this would be worka-
BILE and MIR. Gallagher said that he
would bring such a proposition before
his men.
Mr.. Gallagher, however, pointed
out that the painters were determined
TO get $40. and a compromise which
would not involve an increase at this
time would be difficult to bring about.
e. Both sides seemed anxious to end the
controversy, Mr.. Shannon pointed out
10 Mr.. Gallagher that an increase in
wages to the painters was the be
ginning of an increase to all of the
4 building trades and this would re-
suit in driving millions of dollars
worth of business out of the city at
time when most needed. He pointed
out that the refusal to grant increases
was the result of the total inability of
the building trades of the city to pay
any more at this time.
Gallagher Cites Hazards.
Mr.. Gallagher, on the other hand
declared that the public was misin-
formed as to the hazardous task of
2 painter whose life is shortened, he
said. by constantly inhaling paint
fumes and the absorption of dyes and
paint into the system.
At a meeting of some 40 contractors
and master painters yesterday it was
decided to back the employing painters
in the compromise suggestion, which
was turned down last night by the
union men. At the same meeting
determination also was shown that
there should be no increase in wages
in any trades and that such increases
would be fought. With the strike en-
terIng its fourth week and the plumb
ers' controversy coming to a head
Wednesday. the labor situation in the
District was considered today to be
In more difficult position than ever.
Lusk Defends Committee.
In his reply to the Central Labor
Unions statement that it will ap-
peal - the United States district at
b torney Tor an investigation of the fair
wage committee and the Operative
Builders on the ground of restraint of
trade. Rufus s. Lusk, secretary of
DCIn THESE OISdiliLdLlOilS, leIIIiSu lIlS
move as utterly diriCulous." Mr.
Lusk further stated that all the rec
ords and actions, both organizations
are open TO public inspection. He
said both the organizations had the
right to refuse TO employ either union
men or contractors who pay wages in
excess of what the members of these
organizations are willing to pay.
Mr.. Gallagher said this morning
that if the builders had agreed to sub
NIT the plan proposed at the confer
ence at The Evening Star yesterday
instead of Withholding it be would
have placed it before the meeting of
the painters last night. Mr.. Gala
cher said that his organization was
Ready now to fight through to the
end. but intimated that he was still
open to suggestions for ending the
strike.