The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-03-01
WASHINGTON.
roriy.soventh Oougroso-second Session


WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l,-After short eS
executive session, the senate lookup tn
legislative, executive and judicial appro
priation bill.
| On the provision increasing the salary o
the public printer to $1,000 u discussion
arose as to the influence Of printers unions
upon the m nagement of the government
| printing office.
Mr.. Beck said he understood that the
public printer was at the mercy OF some
outside association, both as to wages paid
and persons employed. and asked the chair
man of the committee on printing what he
knew on the subject.
Mr.. Anthony replied there Wa 100 much
truth in the statement. The Topographic
cal association assumed to fix the rates OF
compensation OF the printers without Coz
sulling the employers at all, and II persons
not belonging to the association were EN-.
ployed, members Of the association would
leave the office. This was tyranny which
the craft would not submit TO II il was or
dained by law, yet they imposed 1t on
themselves, for their own benefit.
Mr.. Beck was willing to vote for any law
and any amount of money to emancipate
the government from the control OF this or
any other association.
Mr.. Anthony said there had once passed
resolution instructing the public printer
to employ his men for the best Interests OF
the government, and pay the market rates
of wages, but the resolution had not met
the approval of the house,
and there was existing q law
requiring the public printer to pay about
20 per cent. more than was paid in private
offices in Washington for similar work. His
sympathies were all with the interest OF
labor, but he did not recognize the right OF
employees to fix rates that should be paid
without consulting employers, or to fix
rate for the government, than Tor other
employees.
MIR. Rollins asked whether the association
did not also dictate who should be employed
by the public printer.
Mr.. Anthony said that if any person not
belonging to the association was employed
all members OF the union would leave the
office.
Mr. Hale thought the senators must be
startled at hearing that great govern
millions were spent annually,
was practically in the hands OF private,
and for ought he knew, a secret association,
which controlled its management and mo-
nopolized its employment. Ii q tyranny
existed which compelled the taking OF all
employees OF the government printing .otlice
from one organization to the exclusion OF
all OUu6T ike WOlhlHS pcSpic III .ho hi.N'
States, there ought not to be another dollar
appropriated till that tyranny had been
overthrown and he government printing
office open to every person skilled enough
| to do the work, whether he belonged to this
association or not. He wished to know
whether the public printer submitted will
ingly to this dictation, or whether he pro-
tested against it.
Mr.. Anthony-"Whati is the use of his pro
| H. ,l,a,, n p,nOSaH him
by low rates of wages which are higher
than those fixed by the association"
| Mr. Hale-"But do we impose upon him
| the necessity of being controlled by this as
sociatlon us to the men he employs"
Mr.. Anthony-"We don't; but If he does
obey the behests of this associa ion then
| the office stops"
Mr. Hale-"Then clearly the government
printer, at the close of the present session
of congress, ought TO begin deliberately
and ruthlessly to weed out from that office
every man who belongs to this union, and
summon from the great cities OF this coun
| try, where they will be found, other men
who do not belong to it, SO that in an emer'
gency, when congress is sitting and worn
must be done, he will not be at the mercy
OF this association"
views
Mr.. Plumb said the present printer, wher
Se in, found this union absolutely
ne carlSs office, and had since stated
be eui1ing iiid nGt bai;aSS bi;,iIuId be run without
ne olu not oeneVe ltcoEe u Plumb
the consent of this union. Lymenl
knew of man who obtained empf5 nn
in the government printing office, and VINO,
being. unable to show certificate OF mem.
bership in k1s union. was notified he Gouli
was soon discharged. The person
who thus notified him was
an officer of the Typographical
union and also an officer in the government
printing office The domination of the
union extended beyond what had been
stated. 1t dictated not merely who should
or should not be employed, but also the
distribution of the work, giving some favor
ties constant supply OF fiat, while the
lean went to others. Having been at one
time printer, he regarded them as very
meritorious class Of people, and sympa-
thized with them as with all others who
desired to work and to get the best pay for
their labor, but he could not sympathize
with the men whose desire for work was so
strong they would not allow others 10 work
except on their terms.
Mr.. Voorhees, said that from the talk in
senate for one-half an hour 1t might be sup.
posed the printers were very dangerous
people. He knew of no more conscientious,
nainstakinp Woodworking class. IL was
admitted the printers in the government
printing Office did their work well, aud did
not receive too much pay. What, then,
was the tault2 The senator from Kansas
Plumb complained they were associated
together in order that their wages should
not be reduced by somebody coming in and
working II less.
Mr.. Fl. NIB said what he complained of
was not thst these printers were associated
together or that they tried to keep up the
wages, but that they would not let any
body else work at al, unless he would
DIN their union and subscribe to its rules.
Mr.. Voorhees, said there were the wool
growers association, the iron and steel
workers association, ana liquor dealers'asso-
citation, to say nothing Of the greatest
and strongest of all, the ma
tional BANK association. These great
combinations excited no reproach and no
outcry. but senators were very much
alarmed by this Typographical union,
composed Of printers who worked At their
cases day and night. The printers did not
frighien him. He had more fear OF the
national bank association, which met an-
nuflly at Saratoga In luxury and splendor,
and agreed upon liEes Of financial policy
and came and dictated TO congress, as
everybody knew.
Mr.. Hawley said, the printers, like any
other class OF laboreTs, had perfect right
10 form an association for their mutual ben
eft, TO agree on the price they would ask
for their LABOR, and 10 say they would not
work for less. but they had no right 10 say
that another man, not a member oil tnelr
association, should not work for less than
their price IL be choose 10 do 80. The night
Of one such man against 1900 was just as
good as tbeirs against him, and be ought 30
be protected.
Mr.. COngsr did not uDderstand that print
a.. balonping 10 the uuiOn had undertaken n
10 control OF dictate 70 the public printer IN
any other way than by saying that II be
emuloved persOus who are willing %
vofE beiOE certain rates OF wages
tbev did not desire to be employed
With s~ch persons. This the printers bad =
perfect right TO DO, and their association
was good for themselves and the community
at large. Every body knew that II the puo-
II, ,--irIrfrv office should be closed for even
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