The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-01-22

Q body in reference to that tax second, al
E special tax is collected from the subOrdinat
: unions, and during the year times having beel
> dull, trade has been exceedingly dull, il
all sections of the country. and nearly, o
| quite, half Of our membership have beer
! out Of employment; the necessaries Of lIf'
being expensive. few could afford Especially
/ those with families to sustain) to contribute
anything from their reduced incomes With
, out, to some extent, distressing those de
pendent upon them for support.
The last convention passed a resolution
making it obligatory on each union to pay
their quota of said tax, but as only por
ton of the unions have paid the same, and
the amount already collected being sufhcien
to defray the legal expenses Of those cases
for which it was called, / would recommend
that the said resolutions be rescinded, and
the adoption of resolution reducing the
tax, known as the conspiracy tax, to the
amount which to the present has been re-
ceived, and those unions that have not paid
their quota on the original be required tc
pay the same on the substitute, and those
that have paid on the original have refunded
to them the amount exceeding their quota
on the substitute. l think this would tend
to promote feeling of harmony and give
general satisfaction.
In reference to those unions connected
with the conspiracy cases, all the proceed
ings have terminated. The case of No. L,
of New York, was tried at a session Of the
criminal court, held at White Plains, NY,
previous to the last convention, and those
charged with the offence were convicted.
The case was then taken by the union to
the supreme court on appeal, and soon after
my return from the last convention I was
informed that it would soon be brought to a
trial, but | have since been informed that
the union has determined to abandon the
cause and not press it to formal decision.
The expenses incurred BY the union pend
ing the case at White Plains was S456, 13.
The case of No. 8, of New Jersey, has ter
minated by the refusal of the State to take
any further proceedings against them. The
claims Of L y. 8 against the National Union
for expenses incurred pending che case was
$206, making total Of $662.13.
You will perceive, BY reference to the
treasurer's report, that No. 8, Of New
Jersey. paid their quota Of the tax, while
No. IL, of New York, has not. In my
opinion, all subordinate unions that have
been or may hereafter be concerned in any
legal difficulty should pay their quota Of tax
levied for the purpose, but in case Of a
strike those members not affected BY it only
should be required to pay the same, while
those engaged in the strike mot being at
work are exempt also in case of sickness
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
The committee have endeavored to act
impartially en- all questions submitted to
them for consideration, and base their deci-
sons on justice and the constitution. l
have carefully examined the bylaws sub
mitted to me for approval, making such
suggestions as to me seemed beneficial.
By invitation Of No 8, Of Massachusetts,
through Brother E. X. Garvin, the delegate
appointed BY the last convention to present
the question Of an interchange Of cards to
the Plasterers' International Union,
visited the city of Boston during tAc session
of that union, and with Brother Garvin at
tended the convention, being received very
courteously by that body. The object Of
our visit was stated in a very able manner
by Brother Garvin, and duly considered by
the Plasterers' Convention, resulting in the
adoption Of the following resolution, which
has been officially forwarded to Brother
Garvin, and by him sent to me:
Resolved. That this Convention recommend
to the variuns unions herein represented the
propriety OF receiving the cards of the various
Bricklayers' Unions in their localities, If Lhev
are not already in union with them provided
that they work uuder the rules Of the plaslerers
in the locality il which they are working
The action Of your delegate to that con-
vention will, l hope, receive your unani-
nous appreciation, and the result Of that
due consideration which it is Justly entitled
to receive
Having laid before you brief acnount
of my official action, and of the progress of
the national union during the past year, |
will now, with your permission, offer few
suggestions, and make such recommendas
/ tons as to me seems best calculated to pro-
mote the progress Of our organization.
SUBORDINATE UNIONS.
! | would suggest that the present system
of granting authority for a union to strike
be repealed, and the adoption Of some plan
more beneficial to the organization. The
present system is surrounded By too much
Of the red-tape system, the time required
for q union to obtain permission to strike
being too long.
| am not in favor of strikes until all
other means have been exhausted in fact.
| am opposed to the whole system but so
long as the system is recognized, we should
adopt such rules and regulations as will
give the unions equal protection with the
employer, as in my opinion the present is a
wholesale protection to the employer and a
retail protection to the members of our or
ganization.
think the question Of granting such au-
thority may with safety be vested in the
executive officer or in the judiciary COM
mittee if in the Judiciary committee, q
majority should be requisite for granting
the application. would also suggest the
proprlety Of making the following altera
tons in section 4, article xii, BY striking
out the words Gin either case" and insert
the words land if the application shall
meet their approval" and also of striking
out the words "per day." as they now
stand, and insert the words land if The
President shall deem it expedieut the said
tax may be levied on each member PEI
day" As the section now reads the exc
cutive must levy a tax, even though tht
application should meet with the approba
tons of two-thirds of the union or not
This is wrong. Unless the application il
! granted there should be no tax levied
Many of the unions do not seem to be fami
liar with the present system, or if they are
. some Of them do not regard it, but first in
\ II L..