The Central Council of the Building Interests of Chicago met Friday,
June 3d, for the purpose of hearing a report from the committee
appointed to prepare a working plan for the Council. Mr. H. G. Savage,
of the committee, submitted the report, which was considered by sections
and adopted as follows:
1. This body shall be known as the Central Council of the Building
Interests of Chicago.
2. The object of this Council shall be to promote the building
interests of Chicago, harmonize the different branches, and adopt
such measures as from time to time may be found beneficial,
carrying out the following platform of principles, which has been
adopted by the various associations herein represented:
We affirm that absolute personal independence of the individual to
work or not to work, to employ or not to employ, is a fundamental
principle which should never be questioned or assailed; that upon
it depends the security of our whole social fabric and business
prosperity, and that employers and workmen should be equally
interested in its defense and preservation.
We recognize that there are many opportunities for good in
associations of workmen, and, while condemning and opposing
improper action on their part, we will aid and assist them in all
just and honorable purposes; that while upon fundamental principles
it would be useless to confer or arbitrate, there are still many
points upon which conferences and arbitrations are perfectly right
and proper, and that upon such points it is a manifest duty to take
advantage of the opportunities afforded by associations to confer
together, to the end that strikes, lockouts, and other disturbances
may be prevented.
3. All associations of building-trade employers, the Real Estate
board, the Illinois Association of Architects, and the Builders'
and Traders' exchange shall be entitled to one representative each.
4. The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting, and shall
consist of a president, vice-president, and financial secretary, to
hold office for one year, or until their successors are duly
qualified.
5. Regular meetings shall be held the first Friday of each month at
2 o'clock P. M.
The first regular meeting in June shall be the annual meeting.
Special meetings may be called by the president or any three
members of the Council.
6. The following standing committees, consisting of three members
each, shall be appointed by the president at the annual meeting, to
hold office for one year, or until their successors are appointed:
Credentials--To whom shall be referred all applications for
membership.
Safety--Whose duty it shall be to see that ample protection to all
is afforded against unlawful interference.
Strikes and Grievances--Whose duty it shall be to investigate all
strikes and grievances and to report to the Council fully in regard
to the same, with such recommendations as they may deem necessary.
Arbitration--To whom shall be referred all questions of differences
between employers and employes.
7. Annual dues shall be 25 cents for each member of the various
associations belonging to the Council, and assessments may be made
upon the same basis of representation.
Officers were elected as follows:
President, George Tapper; Vice President, H. G. Savage; Financial
Secretary, F. C. Schoenthaler.
Standing committees were appointed by the president as follows:
Credentials--J. B. Sullivan, T. C. Diener, A. J. Weckler.
Safety--H. L. Turner, C. B. Kimbell, Robert Vierling.
Strikes and Grievances--P. B. Wight, H. G. Savage, M. W. Powell.
Arbitration--Edward Kirk, Jr., William Hearson, John Sutton.