Evening star., 1925-03-31
BUILDERS HOPING
TO AVOID STRIKE
viii Face Issue if 1t Arises,
But Still Seeks Solution
of Pay Fight.

Emphasizing very forcibly the hope
of the organizations interested of es-
Gaping any conflict with the unions
and expressing his hope that the
pending strike situation would not
result in a conflict with the unions,
Herbert T. Shannon, president of the
Operative Builders Association. said
II a meeting of the Washington fair
wage committee today that if the
present increases were insisted upon
the situation would be forced upon
those opposing them of finding out
for once whether or not the city is
to be run by the financial and busi-
ness interests or by the unions. If
we are as good business men as the
union men are then we will run the
city" said Mr.. Shannon, supplement-
ing his remarks with the hope that
no situation of this sort would re-
suit from the present controversy.
IF the predicted wage increases in the
local building trades or any strikes in
cident thereto come about, the present
building boom, the largest in the history
OF the Nations Capital, will stop il was
predicted today by William T. GaIIiher,
chairman OF the board of directors of
the Federal-American National Bank
Arthur T. Smith, president Of the
Master Builders Association, stated that
If the wage increases came about there
would certainly be Withdrawals of pro-
posed contracts because of increased
costs.
Mr.. Galliher. chairman of the COM
mittee, said that everything pointed
to a very successful year, and that
money was now seeking investments
He also added hat the history showed
that If real estate improvements were
good, money leaned that way, and
that when any trouble arose in tina;
field money leaned toward stocks ard
bonds. He compared the present sit
uation with the threatened strikes in
the coal mines and the many mines
being closed down because they can
not produce profitably at the in
creased wage scale. He empha sized
that this was not a fight against the
unions, but simply resolved itself
down to the fact that Washington
business men and builders would not
tolerate further increases. would not
support contractors or Subc:ntractors
who gave such increases, and would
force builders to took for men, union
or non union, who would work L: the
present salary scale.
1T is to the best interest of Wash
intgon and the citizens of the Nations
Capital that there should be no
change upward in the scale OF wages
this year said Mr.. Galliher, in en-
phasizlng that there was no justifica-
ton to be found in proposed in
creaSes.
Samuel Miller of the Master Masons'
Association and Edward Linskey of
the Master Painters Association were
very emphatic in their refusal 10
grant increased wages, and stated
that they would employ any one who
would work at present-day standards.
John Hill of the Master Steamfitters'
Association and f. ]. Ewing of the
Master Plumbers. Association said
that their organizations had arrived
crease, but were considering the mat
ter.
Mr.. shannon stated at meeting
of the executive committee of the
Operative Builders Association last
night it was decided that where any
contractors gave an increase in
wages the contract then in force
would be Cancelled on the ground of
increased costs and that they were
wiling to go into litigation on the
matter.
Mr.. Smith, John A. Petty renr..
senting the Washington Real Estate
Board, and communications from the
washington chapter of the General
Contractors of America, indicated that
these organizations, together with the
Operative Builders Association would
stand absolutely firm against any
further increases.
'These was no sentiment which
showed any desire on the part Of the
committee to go into open shop for
the city unless they were absolutely
forced to do So
Mr.. Galliher said that the purchas-
ing power OF the dollar had Increased
in the last two or three years as we'll
as wages of the building trades. The
II building trades were getting an
average OF 55 cents an hour in 1914
and today are getting SI17