Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-22

FTOCEEpiNGS LAST MIGHT.
TIE WoIkingmen's Assembly inet last night,
Mr. J T. hamilton In the chair and Mr.. J. J
Murray secretary. The chair announced
TBE STANDING COMMITTEES
as fOllows:-o Organization John F. Garrison,
and William Stickel. Executives II. Bell E.
l.. Barker, l.. Ii. Patterson, L. G. Campbell, and
William Heron- Finance-E: ". oyster, S. j.
W. G. wild. JudiciaTyNW. r. Ramsey, +. E
Redden, j. NJ. MalOney, T. McGowen. and g.
Metiairy. ENTERTAINMENTS. O. Mcdonald,
William Stickel, William II. Ramsey, John E.
Garrison, J. j. Murray, Otto Heideman, and T.
q. Campbell.
TIE CHICAGO STRIKES
Mr.. Mcdonald, from the Tsilors' Union. re-
ported that the two tailors unions In Chicago,
which had for some time been On strike, had
been a partial success; one OF the unions, with
twenty eight men, were still out, and had been
well sustained, and the ether the employers had
given In. or the carpenters on strike In that
city COS had stood out until the present time
with very good prospects ahead.
THE COMING TREASURY CIRCULAR, AND THE PAY
OF woRkINGMEN AND GOVERNMENT CLERKS.
The chair called the attention OF the meeting
to newspaper paragraph In relation to a cir
cular said to be in course OF preparation by the
for skilled labor for the past ten years, and the
cost of the neceSSali les OF life each year, EN-
braced in schedule, &C., and making it ap-
pear that man can now purchase OF the COM
modtties OF life one third more for the same
amount OF money than ten years ago. The
chair said 1t was absurd, and he called upon the
delegates to refute this assertion on any occa
sion, when 1t may be repeated, as 1t can truth
fully he done. Some discussion followed and
1t was stated among other things that If the
Treasury officials had ascertained that to be a
fact,
WHY HAD THEY NOT REDUCED THE SALARIES
OF all the clerks and employees In proportion to
the reduction OF the asserted cost In living. II
is a fact that the pay Of department clerks re-
q g a md nf
them had ever been known to much more than
make plain living, while the pay Of laborerS
and mechanics In government employ had Eee1
reduced, and the number Of hours OF service
daily had been increased, contrary to a solemn
enactment OF Congress, and the officials of the
government departments were at the bottom
OF 1t. MIR. Boron called the attention of the
assembly to the bold dishonesty Of our public
men who execute the laws, by conSpiring for
the Increase of the number of hours OF service
and to reduce the pay OF worktngmen.
THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW HAD PURPOSELY BEEN
MISCONSTRUED
by government Officials and trltled with on all
occasions. There was but one way to remedy
this evil, which Is for WOrkingmen everywhere
to unite and array themselves against our legis-
latOrs and public servants VINO oppose the
e1ght-hour law and favor cutting down OF
WOrk1ng1nen'S pay, and in future elect none
who win not pledge themselves TO see them
r1ghted: He cited Instances within his own
knowledge where naval and military officers,
as well as officers in civil public service, had
and work1ngmen. These would-be aristocrats
desire distinction to be drawn socially between
themselves and honest laboring men.
Mr. Campbell said it seems as If che eight
hour law was never intended to be enforced by
our officials, whose duty it 10 to execute the
laws OF the land. The only course is to pursue
this cause
TO THE BITTER END
oy agitation. These subjects are beginning to
occupy the minds of very many of the most
thinking men all over the country. revou.
Jc I,rrf
public men OF our times have got to stand from
under.
MI. Mcdonald offered a resolution, which was
unanimously adopted,
coNDEMNING TAE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT COM
MISsIONERS
In refusing 10 permit the WOrk1ngmen to hold
maSS-meeting on our streets. resolution OF
thanks from the same to MIR. Marshal Douglass
for his kindness In allowing the assembly TO &C.
cupy the space In front Of the City Hall for such
meeting was also unanimously adopted. 4 re-
port OF the condition OF things at the Fall River
strike was read and Its success predicted. A
collection by all the labor unions In this District
was urged by several delegates.
MI. Spier moved that committee of one
from each union be appointed to look after col
lectiOns to be made and forwarded to the strik-
ers of Fall River, and that each Of the unions be
requested to make weekly contributions for the
strikers. Adopted.
THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW ON THE NEW DEPARTMENT
BUILDING.
was adopted:
Whereas an order was issued on the Goth of
September, 1873, from the office of building for
State, War, and Navy departments, THAT on
and after September %, 1878, the rates of wages
upon that building would be based upon eight
hours as the length OF a working day, at the
same rates as are at present paid for ten hours
labor" and as 1t has It has come to the know.
edge of the Assembly that the workmen On the
war department wing are now required TO
work ten bOurs for the same wages as were paid
Tor eight hours: therefore. resolved. that the
secretary be instructed to correspondence the
Secretary OF War and request him to enforce
the eight-hour law on all work under the War
department.