Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-21
MEETING OF wORkINGmEN.
A PermaneBa OrERoIzetiSR Hsd-The
COmmitGee's RepOrt-ReForn sux-
geStsd In city G0yeFnmenG.
speFch by Representative ROush-W d st
He Proposes the LES EfsIRfure shall
AccOmp Essh by Reform.

previous meeting were resd, but not ST
proved by the meeting.
President Flaherty then asked tba
some one explain what were the objec
tions to the minutes.
Mr.. Savage thought it unnecessaT,
, for this meeting to adopt the minutes
which were merely recital Of the pro
ceedings Of the last meeting.
A PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
Mr.. Harrington presented the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That we recommend thu
organization OF the workingmen anC
mechanics of the city of Memphis anC
Shelby county, for the better protection
OF capital and labor, believing one es
sential to the other; hence we think &
permanent organization would be to tht
interest of both; this organization to bt
called and known as the Workingmen'.
protective union.
The resolution was adopted, and
MessIs. Flaherty and Tom Doyle nomi
mated for permanent chairman. MI
Fiaherty was elected.
Mr.. q. w. Alexander was nominated
for permanent secretary.
Mr.. Harrington asked if Mr.. Alexan.
der was 3 member of the Peoples Pro-
tective lunion?
Mr.. Alexander remarked that he
would just say that he had come there
with the expe citation of declining any
such position, although the past kind
ness OF the members had made him Sec
retaTy. He had severed his connection
with the Peoples Protective union, and
was no longer a member OF it. He
thought credentials could be a1duced to
show that there was no better or prscti-
cal q mechanic among them than him
SELF However, he respectfully declined
the position of secretary.
Mr.. John Thomas was elected perma-
nent secretary.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
The committee made the following
report, which was received.
GENTLEMEN-Havipg been appointed
as a committee to report to you
this evening some reforms for our mu-
tusl benefit, we most cheerfully submit
the following. We only ask the men,
bers OF the legislature for q very few fa-
vors-Only those that directly interest
| the workingmen and mechanics. Know
ing the honesty and integrity of the
members from Shelby county, we cheer
fully entrust all other business to their
careful consideration:
| To the Members OF the General Assembly OF
the State Of Tennessee:
We, the undersigned workingmen,
in msss-meeting assembled, do suggest
the following reforms:
First-To exempt all capital and real
estate actually used for manufacturing
and mechanical purposes for the period
Of ten years.
Second-A strict limit to taxation, say
not exceeding two per cent for all pur-
poses.
Third-No special taxation to be al
lowed.
Fourth-The abolishment of the Bart
lett court, one chanceTy and one circuit
court, and clerks of all the courts to be
paid regular salary and no per centage.
Fifth-All deputies to be paid salary
not exceeding twelve hundred dollars
year.
Sixth-We want stringent mechsn-
les lien law, and the repeal OF the eight
months stay lay.
Seventh-Personal property to the
value Of one thousand dollars to be eX-
empt from all attachments.
Eighth-All books and pictures in pri-
vate libraries and mechanical schools to
be exempt.
Ninth-To exempt drays and manu-
factories from paying privilege tax.
Tenth-The repeal of the garnishment
law.
In addition to the above the commit
tee presented the following
PETITION:
To His Honor John League, Mayor, and the
Hon. Board of Councilmen and Aldermen /:
We, the undersigned committee, ap.
pointed by the Workingmen's Protect
] i've union, in mass meeting assembled,
do suggest the following reforms:
First-The mayors salary to be re-
duced to three thousand dollars, he act
ing as recorder without compensation.
Second-Chief of police, salary, two
two thousand dollars, and no clerk; sta
tionhouse clerk to perform that duty,
and chief to move his rooms over the
stationhouse.
Third-To dispense with the office OF
captains of police, the four sergeants do.
ing night and day duty.
Fourth-We favor the dispensing with
the assistant city engineer and engineer
wagon-driver.
Fifth-Sergeant-st arms to be dis
pensed with; mayors clerk to perform
that duty.
Mr.. Magevney moved the appoint
ment of committee of five to consider
the resolutions and report to the next
meeting.
Mr.. Savage moved to table.
Mr.. John Thomas said il the meet
ipg's time was to be taken up by politi-
clans and Others who were not mechan-
les ald laboring men, he would go home
and have nothing to do with it. They
were not to be interfered with by politi-
clans.
Mr.. Collins moved that all persons not
| laborers or mechanics be excluded from
the ball. -,
Some gentleman opposed this and said
he believed it right to treat all men with
courtesy.
| JOhn Thomas said that the meeting
had been called for the mechanics and
laborers, and none Others need apply.
Mr.. Msgevney said that he had bis
ters on his hand from handling the
shovel and the spade, and was deslrous
of doing Whist he could for the interest
I of the laborers sud mechanics.
President FIaherty said that Repre-
sentative Roush was here and II was
desired that he make speech. he
would please come forth.
Mr.. Collins said the chairman vas
out Of order, and wanted action on the
resolutions, which were mot for the In
teIest Of the poo men and working
classes.
Councilman Grant said resolution
opposing the three commissioners had
been unanimously adopted by the COM
mittee, but had not been read.
Mr.. Doyle moved that the commit
tees report be tabled until permanent
organization be effected. Adopted.
Mr.. Doyle moved TO appoint . COM
| mittee of five to draft rules and regEiA.
tions for permanent organization and
qualification OF members.
Councilman Grant moved that fifteen
men compose the committee. The
. uendment was accepted and the mo-
'iIH ineer Cobb said that the men ap-
rointso on the committee should repre-
sent the different branches OF trade and
labor.
~HE COMMITTEE.
The tolIowi,~ q gentlemen were elected
on the Committee. Thomas Doyle, tin
ner; William HarrinI ton, carpenter VI.
w. Gill, William DOM ely, I&o0reT;
George Fox, engineer; Wslter -hH-liClI'
John Powers, boiler maker; Peter DCFeh'
laboreT; John O'Mahoney, carpenter;
L. d. Grant, bricklayer; - Hanson,
laborer, and John M'Mahon, laborer.
REPRESENTATIVE RoUsH
being called upon, thanked the meeting
for the honor, which was unexrected, as
be b sd come there to hear what were the
views OF the workiDgmen, whom he