National Republican., 1883-08-15
IRON AND STEEL.
Yesterdays Proceedings In the Conven.
ton in Philadelphia.

Yesterdays Proceedings in the Conven-
ton in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. H.-At the session
this morning of the Amalgamated Iron and
Steel Workers convention the reports of tho
committees on ways and means and claims
were read. AS hitherto announced the claims
committee adhered to the plan of negativing
the strikers demands for 1882 The ways
and means committee strongly urged that
there be no present disturbance of the wages
question, and it declared that the current
system in both iron and steel mills is ad-
justed on an amicable basis A move on the
part of the convention to tinker with a
question so vital would entail disastrous con-
sequences just now. The action of the COM
mittee and tho suggestions it urged wore
unanimously ratified by the convention.
President Jarrett delivered brief address,
commanding the delegates on their wise and
sensible view on the subject of wages There
was less to be gained by such change at
present and much moro to lose, The COM
mittees yet to be heard from are those on
presidents report, constitution and general
laws, and good of tho order.
The afternoon session of the Amalgamated
Iron and Steel Workers convention was taken
up entirely with the reading of the report Of
the committee on constitution and general
laws, of which II. J. Milligan, of Ironton.
Ohio, is the chairman. Several important
matters relating TO the change of the existing
laws of the association were held under con-
sderation. Each branch of the business was
acted upon by the convention separately,
and about the first proposition that came
up was whether tho iron men should
withdraw from the steel workers and organize
by themselves. The proposition was mega
tived by q unanimous vote. The motion to
fix the scale of wages next June for four
years instead of one did not prevail. The pro-
posed withdrawal from tho steel workers
having failed to receive support, the title of
the association will remain as hitherto. Tho
plan to make each sublodge support its own
mon when they are on q strike also lacked
support. The paramount object of the asso-
citation, like all similar organizations, is union
and concentration. An attempt to separate
the executive functions of the body
and divide them into smaller portions
would fall short of the prime objects for which
the Amalgamated association was organized,
and which all trade unions have ultimately
in view, The proposition was, therefore, a
dead letter. There is to be no effort made to
have the mills lie idle for sixty days during
July and August each year, or to incorporate
this project into the standing laws of the
association. For their united interests the
members will seek to curtail the work
during the summer season, in order to pre-
vent Overstocking the market with finished
iron material. The project of extending the
periods of administration from one year, as
at present, to four, received no attention from
the committee, as its effect would obviously
weaken the organization. The afternoon ses-
sion was protracted to q late hour, and when
| an adjournment was reached the committee
had not finished its report. 1t will resume
tomorrow morning and among the import
ant subjects that will be brought up is the
question of disoontinuing the payment of
strike benefits Another plan to be acted
upon is that of appointing a committee of
members to make quarterly reports on the
situation and the condition of the iron trade.
President Jarrett, speaking of the plan to
require each sublodge to support its own
strikers, said that the rules of the association
in this respect would be national, governing
the entire organization.
After the report of the constitution COM
mittee is concluded tomorrow, the report of
the committee on the good of the order will
follow. The last report to be read is that of
work is pushed ahead promptly the conven-
tion may adjourn tomorrow night, for which
occasion President Jarrett is preparing
his farewell speech. The retiring oxecu-
tive says he may 60 back to the iron
mills, but has not made up his mind
yet. In connection with the report that some
of the men out at Bethlehem had returned to
work on Monday, Mr.. Jarrett said there was
nothing to prevent them. The association
directs its members to go to work where the
furnaces are started in operation and there is
no reason why they should stay out. He says
that all members of tho Amalgamated associ-
alton employed at Bethlehem are at liberty ia
| return to work when they choose.