Evening star., 1925-04-29
MASTER PLUMBERS
SILENCE ACCEPTED
ASPAY RAISE 0. K.
Committee on Fair Wages
Charges Employers Stalled
on Reply to Letter.
LURE OF GREATER GAIN
HELD BASIS FOR ACTION
$11 Scale for Men Will Bring
Profits to Contractors,
Lusk Declares.

Receiving no definite decision from
the Master Plumbers Association as
to whether it intends to grant the in
crease from SO to S11 day demand
ed by union plumbers. to be effective
next Wednesday, the citizens fair
wage committee today assumed that
such an increase would be granted A
letter to this effect was forwarded TO
+. j. Ewing, president of the Master
Plumbers Association
A bombshell was also dropped into
the situation when the fair-wage com
mittee, through its executive secre-
tary. Rufus S. Lusk, openly charged
the master plumbers with desiring an
increase in wages so that they could
get the larger per cent of profit due
to the larger amount of money that
VIII be involved in carrying out jobs
When larger wages are granted.
Says Increase Sought.
Mr.. Lusk said it was the sense of
the committee and the builders and
business interests that the plumbers
had failed to do their part in helping
TO stabilize the building industry of
the city. I'VE feel that the reason
OF the silence on the part of the mas
ter plumbers is that any increase in
wages they grant means an increase
it the profits to be gained by them.
The situation, as it now is. is easily
understood, when it is considered that
these men desire to give an increase
said Mr.. Lusk.
He also declared that If a slightest
increase is granted no plumber will
be employed by the building interests
who works at a higher wage than
now obtains. This places us in the
position that the great proportion of
the builders in Washington will be
forced, as a consequence of this dilia
tory stand, to use every available
plumber who can be obtained in Wash
ington or other sections of the country
to work at the present wage scale
Charges Body Indifferent.
Mr.. Lusk explained that the master
plumbers committee had waited
upon him several times. and, he said,
They plainly indicated deliberate
stalling' that indicated Indifference
20 the situation.
Mr.. Lusk said that the committee
felt organized labor's interests would
remain exactly in the same position
il the employing plumbers were to
act on the recognized purchasing
power of the dollar today. There
has never been anything TO show that
the fair wage committee is not cor
rect in its attitude toward holding
down building costs at this time, In
spite of our invitation for arguments
on the matter" said Mr.. Lusk.
Will Affect Others.
The master plumbers today stated
that they had not arrived at any con-
clusion with the union men as to the
! settlement of the issue which will
come to head next Wednesday, but
they indicated something would be
done before that time. They declined
to give any information as to how
the situation stands. The action of
the union plumbers and master plumb
ers will, it is said, undoubtedly in
huence the action of the master
steamfitters and union steamftters,
who also have a controversy which
comes to a head May so.
The letter sent TO Mr.. Ewing reads:
"On February 10th, a meeting was
held in this office at which a commit
tee from the Master Plumbers Associa-
ton and other associations interested
in holding down building costs in
washington was present. Your COM
mittee was told at this meeting that
the general contractors and operative
builders opposed any wage increases al
this time.
On February oath another meeting
was held, in which a committee from
your association was present and at
which meeting Mr.. Joseph Heffron OF
your association said that in previous
difficulties the builders and contractors
| had promised protection for the sub
contractors, but when strikes arose the
support failed to materiaIize. He
wanted something more definite than
the mere promise of protection in the
event of a strike.
Committee Appointed.
"On March &c, a general meeting
of contractors, operative builders and
subcontratcors was held at the City
Club. Although we made strenuous
efforts to have your association pres
ent, none of the officers with whom
/ got in touch would even notify your
members of this meeting. Two plumb
ing contractors were present. At this
meeting the fair wage committee was
appointed.
ION March 80 a meeting of the
fair wage committee was held; al
though you and other members of
your association were notified you
Another meeting of the fair wage
committee was held March 81, at
which you, together with three mem
bers of your association, were present.
Again you requested that some tangi-
BILE evidence be given of the support
that could be expected from the gen
eral contractors and operative build
ers in the event of strike. A reso-
luton was passed that a meeting be
Cared of the general contractors to
obtain this support for you.
Agreements Reached.
Chairman Galliher OF the fair wage
.. committee. on April s. appointed a
committee of five to ascertain from
the general contractors their willing
ness to cooperate with your organiza-
ton in the event of d strike. This
committee Immediately started to
work, and on Tuesday. April IA, they.
together with myself, attended a meet