The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-11 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMPANIES BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.
FIREWORKS ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

The order for going into committee on this bill was dis-
charged.

WAKEFIELD ELECTION

Mr. HODGSON moved an address to her Majesty, pray-
ing for the appointment of Commissioners to make inquiry
as to whether or not corrupt practices prevailed at the last
election for the borough of Wakefield.
After some remarks from Mr. Spaight, Mr. E. James,
Mr. Brady, Mr. Malin, and Mr. Caird the motion wact
agreed to.
PACKET AND TELEGRAPH CONTRACTS.

Mr. COBDEN, the chairman of the committee appointed
to inquire into the subject of packet and telegraph contracts,
brought up the repot*, which was ordered to be printed.
The house adjourned at a quarter to six o'clock till two
o'clock to-morrow.

THE STRIKE IN TILE BUILDING
TRADE.

The position of affairs between the employers
and the workmen remains without alteration.
Although pressed to do so, the Masters' Conference
do not think it advisable to concede the withdrawal
of the " document" which is so abnoxious to the
men. The largest firms appear to be the most un-
compromising on this point, and insist most strongly
on maintaining the document. They state that
they have a precedent for adopting this course, in-
asmuch as after the great engineers' strike the en-
gineers of London, Manchester, Birmingham, &c.,
were required to sign a document of similar im-
port. They are apprehensive that if they yielded
on this point further concessions would be de-
manded, and that they would have no security for
the future. They are, therefore, disposed to keep
their yards closed till the men yield on this ques-
tion.

In addition to the works which are known to have
been suspended we may mention those of the Duke
of Buccleuch's house, Whitehall, and the Training
College for Mistresses at Stockwell, the foundation-
stone of which was only laia a short time ago by
Earl Granville. The laying of the foundation-
stone of Mr. Spurgeon's chapel, near the Elephant
and Castle, which was to have taken place on Wed-
nesday next, is to be postponed till this question
is settled, and a similar resolution has, we believe,
been adopted with regard to'the commencement of
the Metropolitan Railway between King's-cross
and Farringdon-street.
Yesterday a meeting of the Masons' Society
was held at Wilcocke's Assembly Rooms; West-
minster-road, for the purpose of taking the
opinion of the society with regard to the "docu-
ment" or "pledge" which the masters require to
be signed or taken before they admit any man to
work in their employment. There was a very nu-
merous attendance.
The following resolution was agreed to unani-
mously :
That it is the opinion of this meeting that the document
presented to the masons of London for their acquiescence
either verbally or by writing, is degrading and insulting,
and that the master builders by this act have shown great
inconsistency by denouncing combination on the part of
the workmen whilst promoting the same line of conduct
themselves ; and demanding that all the workmen in their
employment shall virtually constitute themselves slaves to
their dictation; and this meeting pledges itself that it will
not resume work except on the unconditional withdrawal of
everything in the shape of a document, promise, or agree-
ment.