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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 1903)
THE MOENENG OBEGCKNIAS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1903. 1LICIS BLED Meier Frank Company Store Closed All Day Tomorrow Meier & Frank Company Store Closed All Day Tomorrow Meier Frank Company Store Closed All Day Tomorrow 1 Plumbers Quarrel Only Over Spoils. - COMPETITION 18 KILLED Boycott Enforced Against In dependent Firms. SUPPLY HOUSES AID TRUST Unions of Journeymen and Bouses Dispute Ainonff Themselves, "but the . People Pay fExorhltant Bills Xor Dilatory Work. : TTnrfl mi! fast in the clutches of the grafting plumbers, the public of Portland pays the bills and sighs. Resolved to get all the swag they can, the bosses bleed the public and gloat. Bent on a, share of the spoils, the jour neymen use their flippers on the bosses and wax sleek. Not to be distanced In tho race for "booty the supply trust and Its unnumbered middlemen and jobbers likewise wind then? tentacles around the bosses and grow"fat It's dog eat dog. The game would end if the contestants would stop at feeding on each other. But no; the bosses come back at the public, and the game goes on. One of the closest corporations on earth Is the niaster plumbers' trust. Just re cently the local branch, fined several of its members for buying supplies from the boycotted firm, Crane Company. Until not long ago every member added $25 to each contract for the association's "pot." The members are unaer forfeit bonds to com ply with tho rules of their organization. Their nonunion competitors are subject to a boycott which every good member must perforce observe. Right now members of tho Journeymen's union who work for bosses outside of the association are blacklisted. The new plumbing ordinance passed sev eral months ago was a signal- to the union bosses to Jack up prices, so up prices went, much out of proportion with the Increased cost of materials. So high they wen that independent bosses made comfortable prof its cutting under the union bosses. So the union bosses had to come down. Now they are In the business to get away with every thing they can from the nonunion bosses. The willingness of the union journeymen, whose labor they ' have monopolized, to work for the rival bosses has further stirred their ire. Public Sees Behind the Scenes. itll the grafters until the present strike or lockout have been "Ip. cahoots." Now they've split up, and through the breach the much-abused public catches a glimpse of whatls 'thjnatter. Any hbuse6 wrier 'in "town" can recite a story of how he has been victimized by plumbers. You find him on the corner, in the store, in the street-car everywhere. So long as the public imagined that tho journeymen extorted only from the bosses it said to them "Go It, boys." But the public pays the price, not the bosses. That makes the dear people put on a wry face. So long as the law of competition fixed the number of bosses tho surplus was eliminated by natural process. But now tho bosses In their union stave off that process.- Tho town is overridden with "bosses. Some 46 prey upon the public, 37 "of whom are in the organization. And "depause the world owes them all a living they think they are entitled to large profitsr. The nine Independent bosses arc as thorns in Ihe - flesh of the union bosses. Headed by X-F. Shea, one of the most prominent masters in the city, the nine hold out against the 37. For their pains they are boycotted in conformity with the "Baltimore resolution." They are as a plague which all good union bosses must shun. Xo Second-Hand Material Allowed. A poor man managed to secure a water closet from a house that was torn down. He wished to set it up in his home. Ho called upon one boss, then another. "Would they set It up? No. "Would they put in a new closet? Yes. "Why not tho "old? Be cause they must put In -a new one. At what price? About 530. And this man of small resources must pay $30 for a water closet where $10 should suffice. Somo time ago a citizen wished to add two feet to the vent pipe on his roof. He got an ordinary mechanic to do the job. Tho bosses in high dudgeon had the me chanic arrested for "practicing without a license." The victim was fined $10. A houseowner wished to Install a plumb ing system in his house. He wanted two water closets, a bathtub, a wash baafn. a kitchen sink, a hot water boiler and two laundry tubs. He called for bids. "About $300," said the bosses. The man Js an able mechanic, and, therefore, snorted in disgust He wouldn't pay. Indeed he wouldn't. He knew that $150 would cover the cost of supplies without discount. He knew that $50 would meet other expenses. "But the bosses," said he, "want to make a profit of $100 1'IJ. get along with out the plumbing," and) he is true to his word to this very day. The local bosses in all trades are united In an association called the Builders Al liance. They are sworn to stand by each other through thick and thin. So far so good. But witness the following Illustra tion of how property-owners suffer: On Fifth street, near Columbia, the Dolpb estate Is building four flats. The structures are In that stage where every thing halts for the plumbing. But owing to the troubles between the boss and Jour neymen plumbers, the work does not pro ceed, and all the other contractors are sworn to lay to until tho master plumber can go ahead. Meanwhile completion of the flats is delayedindefinltely. Family Got No Dinner. A man who lives out on Twenty-third street needed a new water-back for his kitchen stove. The plumber was to come out at 1 o'clock, but the time of his ad vent was nearer 2. Ho took down the stove. Then he sent to the shop for pip ing. Three o'clock and no return from the shop; then 4. Thereupon the plumb- New Armenian Lace Handkerchiefs Late Novelties. New Arrivals in Leather Goods Hand Bags, "Reiser" Belts, Etc. New Importation of Cloisonne Ware Immense Variety of Pieces. New Stock Jewelry Just Received Stick Pins, Waist Sets, Opera Glasses. Peninsular Heaters We offer for today 22 Hickory' "Peninsular" wood heaters 36 incheshigh takes 19-inch wood. Built of handsome, ornamental iron and steel, nickel trimmed. The best wood heater for the tnoney ever offered. Regular $8.75,, today $7.75 Bach Merchandise Purchased on Credit Today Goes on Your October Account. BARGAIN CARNIVAL TODAY Today we present the grandest bargain event of the season Values such as you have never before been offered and all the more important because they are bargains in seasonable and desirable things only The store being closed all day tomorrow requires that We crowd two days' business into one We have therefore ignored the cost disregarded former selling prices, on every article advertised for today Profits are tossed to the winds The phe nomenal sales records of the past two days only spur us on to greater deeds of bargain giving You miss scores of money-saving chances if you fail to visit the store today Hundreds of Other Bargains Not Listed Here 81x90 Sheets 45c For today only we offer one hundred dozen 81x90 linen fin ish Bed Sheets at 45c each Considering the sharp advance in the price of all cotton goods, raw material and finished prod uct, as well as curtailment of product caused by labor troub les, this offering is extraordi nary, only 100 dozen, remem ber 1200 sheets for economical housewives at 45c each. 90c Cottojfr Waistings 69c vl III Two thousand yards of beautiful new heavy cotton waistings at less than cost for today. Oxford white basket weaves, with pin dot and small figures a large and pleas ing assortment of good styles that we have been selling regularly at 90c a yard. A chance to secure material for a handsome new Fall waist at a m v,u u big saving. Today only at the very low price of 89c yard (Fairy Soap, 35c for a dozen cakes.) Zibelines at 7 9c yd The same kind a store not a hundred miles from here are offering regularly at $1.25 yard. Flaked and plain styles in a big as sortment of all the lead ing shades. All new Fall dress materials and Zibe line is the most popular, of " 3 all fabrics this season. Buy all you want today at the very low price of only per yard .. . (AT THE REGULAR. DRESS GOODS COUNTERS.) $1.25 Flannelette R.obes 93c Great special offering of Ladies' $1.25 Flannelette Night Robes for today. Plain colors, fancy stripes, round and square yokes, fancy braid and silk stitched trimmed. All new this sea son's best styles, all sizes ' . ' Children's outing flannel night robes, pink and blue, square yokes, 1 to 8-year sizes, 50c values for 9 to 14-year sizes, 6l5c values for (SECOND FLOOR,) i . VCOmiCHT ISO! ai KITH. BOTH COv: Ladies Fine Kid Cloves TODAY ONLY At 73c PAIR One Thousand pairs of Ladies' Glace Kid Gloves at a marvel -ously low price for today's Bargain Carnival all new de sirable gloves in a complete range of colors and sizes 2-clasp overseam. style of great special purchase, &f wc offer for today only at the very low price of Q Shades include wl?if, black, tans, ' browns, modes, reds and grays, Every pair tsiM give the most satisfactory wear. Mor-, rison street window display shows you what they look like. yVe don't expect them to last through the day, so come early' to avoid disappointment. $2.25, $2.50 Umbrellas TODAY ONLY At $1.5? 500 Oregon "Rainproof" Umbrellas for women. The best Umbrella bargain we have ever offered comes to you just at a time when umbrella needs must be sup plied. A great special purchase from the largest manu facturer in America All new goods in a beautiful assort ment of handles, pearl, horn, natural, sterling trimmed, metal and novelty styles in immense variety, heavy Paragon frame, bulb runner Every one guaranteed to give satisfactory service We purchased them to sell regularly at $2.25 and $2.50 each Your choice of the entire lot for to day only at, each $1.5? $1.75, $2.25 Wrappers Ladles', best quality percale Wrappers, braid and Ham burg embroidery trimmed, full flounce skirts, best patterns and colors. We've sold hun dreds past two days all sizes, at 5 each 35c Ribbons 17c Two thousand yards of fancy striped and lace effects in all silk Ribbon big assortment of the best colors 35c value at the very low price 1 fff of, yard 1 ft Bleached Muslin 5jc Five thousand yards of good Bleached Muslin; the price today only, is 5Hc yard. Unbleached 44c Five thousand yards unbleach ed Muslin, good weight, today only, at 4&c yard. Empire Quilting '9 c Yd 5000 yards handsome Empire Quilting in a big variety of the best patterns and colorings great special value, for today only, at, yard $1 Comforter Bats 79c Two thousand full size Com forter Battings, fine, soft and fluffy. We sell thousands of them regularly at $1.00 each special price, for today only, is, each 50c, 60c Waistings 39c Great special lot' of Oxford Waistings in desirable pat terns and color combinations. Go on sale,t for today only, at the exceptionally low Qf price of, yard $2.50 Corset Covers Great odd lot of handsome $2.50 Corset Covers nain sooks, lawns and cambrics dainty lace, beading and rib bon trimmed, round, square andv-shaped neck all sizes, today Jap Crumb Sets New importation Japanese lac quered Crumb-trays and Brush sold ornamented, odd stvle. would be special value at 25c set, today s price, set AH Linen Towels 19c Two hundred dozen pure All Linen Hemstitched H uck Tow els, 19x39 inches, the great est Towel value the town has' ever seen, today only, each $3.00 Rugs $1.95 One hundred Axminster Rugs, 27 x 54 beautiful oriental and floral designs great special Wednesday bar- 1 pain, at dp I (Third Floor) 25c Tooth Brushes 14c Choose from our entire stock of 25c Tooth Brushes today at, each Best bristles 14c is the low est price ever quoted on 25c brushes. Men's Night Robes Fifty dozen Men's Flannelette Night Robes, and a big vari ety of patterns and colorings all the $1.00 values Ar todayV UJiu (Men's Furnishing Dept.) Muslin Underwear Specials Ladies' 85c Gowns, made of cambric, tucked and Torchon lace, trimmed yoke, lace edging neck and sleeves, all sizes, 85c values ! Ladies' fine cambric Gowns, embroidery and ribbon trjmmed, round neck, short sleeves, $1.00 values... . Ladies' fine nainsook and cambric Gowns, high neok, trimmed with dainty Nainsook embroidery, $2.25 c , values for 2LlL2 Special lino of fine Mmona-shaped Gowns, of fine . . ft Nainsook, hemstitchedjlawn trim'd,marvelous val. P H Special lot of Skirts at 83.98 ; 55.00 and $6.00 values. Special lot of lace-trimmed Corset Covers, round and square neck Ladies' cambric and lawn Drawers, trimmed with - wide Torchon lace and tucks, regular 85c values, pr. JC Ladies' Drawers, wide flounce, tucks and embroidory trimmed, 40c values for, pair. crJC Linens. Towels, Etc. One hundred "and fifty, dozen hemstitched huck towels, 18x36 inch. ' Value extraord- "J A iTfl mary at n Two hundred dozen towels, 20x39 inch, at bleached Turkish bath Marvelous value 13c Silver bleached, all linen table Damask. Hand some assortment of patterns. Best value ever offered at, per yard Bleached Damask napkins, large size, very best patterns, ureat special lot at a ridiculously low price, per dozen. . Hemstitched Damask tea cloths, 36x 1 LZ 36 inches at $1.3844x44, at, each H w Hemstitched Damask tray cloth. Size 20x 28 inch. Extra value at, each Continuation of the Great Anniversary Sales in all departments. Lace Curtain Bargains Plain Net Curtains with Battenburg lace edging and insertion white and Arabian three yards long, 45 inches wide. Great spe- 7 cial value at, per pair Ruffled Swiss Curtains, three yards long, 45 inches wide striped design wide ruffle marvelous value at, per pair. . . Scotch Brussels Net Curtains 3K yards long, 50 inches wide. Big variety of neat 27 designs. Great bargains at, per pair Arabian Net Curtains plain centers extra heavy border regular $4.50 values for this sale only, per pair All grades of Toiley Paper at lowest prices "ever quoted'. (Drug department.) $3.6? Flannel Waisting Bargains 27 inches wide silk embroidered dots and figures, in an assortment of forty colorings black, white, gray, brown, navy, royal, old rose, light blue, cardinal, tans, green. Sale continues through the week 75c values- AO irv for 75c Flannels 37c Special lot of plain colored Granite Flannels, fancy bordered; big variety of all the 7f leading shades regular 75c value, for.. Drug Sundries and Soaps at low prices. Ladies' Knit Underwear greatly underpriced. Bargains in Embroideries and Laces. Great values in Ladies' Shoes. Meier & Frank Company jj Meier & Frank Company Meier & Frank Company II Meier & Frank Company Meier & Frank Company Meier & Frank Company -IV er's work ended for the day. He left the stove dismantled. The family had no din tier that night and had to go to the res taurant for breakfast. Another man in the same neighborhood also required a new water-back. The plumber and the "boy" did the job. The first time they put the water-back in tho stove wrong. On their next visit they got the pipes wrong. They had to come back a third time to set things right. And the householder paid the expense of all three visits. "They nearly robbed me to death," said he. A saloon-keeper had a gas pipe run from his establishment so as to overhang the sidewalk. As high license was the -vogue, the job cost $120. "Soldiering" as a- Fine Art. Tribute is levied on the public for all In turn. The journeymen do as little as nec essary for their wages, while the bosses, harassed by tho journeymen, stand off in dignant citizens the best they can and collect from the public as much as they dare In order to satisfy the rapacity of the journeymen and the jobbers and their own hunger. Much of the trouble comes' from the negligence, carelessness aqd Idleness of the journeymen. Here's how they work: A Iftiirnni'moTi Kviui noTVnnn In aim.o JLHe begins work-at 8 In the morning. He comes to the shop instead of going to his "job," even though tho "Job" is nearer his home than the shop. Of course, he doesn't arrive at the shop much ahead of 3. It would be a cruel boss. Indeed, who would not allow his man to chat a little and smoke, a pipe after "coming on." Therefore, 'if the plumber is oft by 8:30 he's doing well. If he makes the distance to his "Job" In 30 minutes or an hour he's doing wll again. Arrived at his "job," he orders tho "boy" to light the pot. In the course of half an hour or so the pot Is hot and ready for work. But something Is miss ing. The "boy" must go back to the shop to get it. He goes. Eleven o'clock draws near; then 11:30. The Journeyman" perhaps. must go back to the shop. Ho starts and arrives not later than 12., An hour for lunch. One o'clock sounds. Perhaps he starts back to the "job" at onco or perhaps not. Anyhow, he does not get back much before 2. Then he works, or pretends to work. At the stroke of 4 he starts for the shop in order to be there at quitting time, 5 o'clock. This Is an extreme illustration, per haps, but none the less true. "I figure." said a boss yesterday, "that nearly half of the eight-hour day goes to waste. By this I mean that many Journey men could accomplish twica as much if they would." "The public," said another boss, "Im agines we are responsible for the care lessness of journeymen. In a wr -we -are, but In most cases we are not. . We have as much grievance against the Journey men as has the public." Journeymen. Say IVm "Sot Pair. Th'e Journeymen declare that this broad arraignment of their union is not true. "It Is not fair," said fohe of them, "to characterize us all by the shortcomings of a few. "We have as faithful workers as in any union. But we can't work for the bosses under their new rules, for our International laws won't permit us." "I've got a leaky pipe up at my house," said an unfortunate citizen, "and 'it's only a question of time when the plumbers will bleed me. But I won't call 'em in right away; no, not yet a while." Architects must be on their guard against the plumbers. Inferior materials will go Into the building if the bosses are not watched. Poor workmanship will go with the materials if the Journeymen are not watched. Pipes will be placed against the outside wall where they will more readily freeze or will be connected so they will not drain of water. Then when some frosty night comes they will burst. The plumbers try to "work" the public through the architects. High indignation reigns against the plumbing ordinance which citizens believe was framed in the Interest of the plumb ers. Maybe the plumbers had some in fluence on the ordinance. But the truth is that they are far from being satisfied with it. The ordinance increases the In itial post of plumbing, but diminishes re pair upon which plumbers .rdy or profits. The ordinance requires large piping which will not get clogged so read ily as small sizes. It requires also "drum traps." Such traps can' be read ily cleaned out by anybody; but not so with other traps. Many persons are indignant also be cause the bosses have sole privilege of buying supplies. The bosses won't sell in turn; Instead, they will Install the equipment, and charge the total cost thereof to the houseowner. It matters not If a man is a riroficlent mechanic, he docs plumbing even In his own house at the i risk of being fined and arrested, unless he is 'a licensed plumber. MAY SOON BE RICH. Owner of Northern Light 311 no Thinlc They Have Good Thing. The ownera of the Northern Light quartz mine in the Shena Creek, Clacka mas County, mining district, about -SO miles east of Portland, yesterday received from the mine a. Quantity of very rich ore, taken from the end of the tunnel now being, extended Into Huckleberry Moun tain. The ore was brought in by E. Mien Ig, one of the ownersr and is much richer than any that has yet been taken out of the shaft. The ledge Is 3 miles from the well known Summer resort ;of "William Welch on the Salmon River. It has an elevation of 2300 feet above the sea level and about 1000 feet below the summit of the mountains. The mine Is rea'ched by a wagon road to the stock farm of F. Walkey, and recently a trail has been opened to the mouth of the ledge, which is within six miles of the Springwater branch of the Oregon Water Power & Railway Company. The tunnel Is now being extended 100 feet further by con tract. A tramway, has been built to the mouth, so the work is progressing rap Idly. There are 160 acres In the claim. Until a year and a half ago no effort had been made to do development work on Huckleberry Mountain, but the Portland owners of the Northern Light made up a purse among themselves having de termined to ascertain If there really was ore In paying quantities in the district. They have spent $5000 so far, and ex press themselves as well satisfied. As the tunnel has progressed the ore has In creased In richness. In the ore brought In yesterday pure' silver can be seen without the use of a magnifying glass. This year owners of other claims on the mountain have been prospecting and blasting out the rock. Should the devel opments warrant it a branch railway can ba built from Huckleberry Mountain to a connection with the lelectrlc railway of the Oregon Water Power & Railway for the shipment of ore. Mr. Rejnfer, president of the company, says that a ton of ore will be brought in a wagon to be smited at Oswego, when the real value of the ore will be ascertained. The owners of the Northern Light mine are Edward Renfer, T. S. West, V. Schmit, B. Hall and E. Mlenig. BEAUTIFYING THE HOME. The B. B. Rich curio store occupying the entire upper floor. Sixth and Washington streets, has. a variety of articles to fill in your odd corners In your hall, den or dining-room. Come up and see what we have. The entrance is on Sixth, near Washington. f DO YOU WEAR GLASSES r Properly fitting glasses and MURINE promote Eye comfort. Murine makes weak Eyes strong. Druggists and opticians, or Murine Eye Remedy Co.. Chicago.