The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-02-25
Some Other Interesting Telegrams.
ror,y.ssven,n oonrros.-seco0a Session

| '' '''N"'" NuhkrcaS-ScCOuu session,
SENATE.
WASHINGTON Feb. 2i,-Alter a short OK.
executive session, the senate took up the
Legislative, executive and judicial appro.
priation bin.
On the provision increasing the salary of
the public printer to SiGO3, A discussion
arose rs 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 rs 10 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 was too much
truth IN the statement. The typographi.
cal association assumed TO fix the rates of
compensation OF the printers without co \.
sulting the employers ut all, and IL 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 Ii was or.
dained by law, yet they imposed IL on
themselves, for their own benefit,
Mr. Beck was willing to vote for INV law
and any amount of money to emaucinnte
the government from the control of this or
any Other association,
Mr.. Anthony said there had once passed
resolution instructlng the public printer
10 employ Ills men fr the best interests of
the government, and pay tho market rates
| oi wages, but the resolution had not m met
the approval of the honsc
and there was existing law
requiring tho public printer to pay about
20 per cent more than was paid in private
offices in Washington for similar work Ills
sympathics wers all with the interest of
labor, but he did not recognize the right of
employees 10 fix rates that should be mid
without consulting employers, or to iix a
rate Tor the government, than for other
employees.
Mr.. Rollins asked whether The association
dlu not also dictate who should be employed
by the public printer.
Mr.. Anthony said that If any persnn not
belonRing tot the association was emp,oved
all members OF the union would leave the
office. ''' ''''
Mr.. Hale thought the senators must he
startled at hearing that great govern.
mental establishment upon which
| millions were spent annually
was practically In tho hands of A private
and for ought he knew, secret association
which controlled its management and mo.
nopolized lis employment. If a tyranny
existed which compelled the taking of ali
enlployes oi the government printing Office
rom one organization TO the exclusion of
all other like working people In the United
States, there oueht not to be another dollar
appropriated TIL that tyranny had been
oyerthrown and The government printing
oiiicc open to every person skilled enouph
TO DO the work, whether he belonged 10 Ills
association or not. IIe wished 10 know
whether tRe public printer submitted will
ihgly TO th's dictation, or whether he pro.
tested against ii. paw
Mr.. Anthony What is the use of his pro.
testing when we have imposed upon him
ny ioW rhtes 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 "a
soclatlon as to the men he employer
Mr.. Anthony-"We don't; but II he doos
obey the behests Of this association then
the office stops.n '"'"
Mr. Hale-"Then clearly the government
printer, at the close of the present scssinn
OF congress, ought to begin delberaleIv
ana ruthlessly TO weed out from th II otlice
every man Who belongs to this union, and
summon from the great cities of this conn.
try, where they will be found, other men
VINO DO not belong to II, so that In an emer
gency, when congress is sitting and WORK
must be done, he will not be at the mercv
oi this association"
Mr.. Anthony concurred In Mr.. Hale's
views. '"'o
Mr.. flumb said the present printer, when
ho came in, found this union absolutolv
running the office, and had since .tate1
he did not believe IL could be run witbont
the consent Of this union. He plnmh,
knew OF a man who obtained employment
IN the government printing office, and who.
belng unable to show certificate OF mem.
bership IN this union, was notified he conld
not continue TO work In the office. and
,',a was soon discharged; The person
an officer of the Typoarapbicas mas
union and also an officer In the govern ment
printing Office The domination of tho
union extended beyond what had been
stated u dictated not merely who should
or should not be employed, but also Tho
distribution OF the work, giving some favor
ties constant supply OF "iat,n while the
can went to others. Having been n, ono
Time printer, he regarded them as a yerv
merllorlous class OF people, and sympa.
thlzeu win them AS with all Others who
uesired 70 work and to get the best pay for
thelr labor, but he could not sympnihjze
with the men whose desire for work was an
strong they would not allow Others 10 work
except on their terms.
Mr.. voorhees, said that from the talk IN
senate Tor one. half an hour II might he sun.
posed the printers were very dangerons
people. lie knew of no more cons scieniious
plinstaking, hard.working class. /, was
admitted the printers IN the government
printing office did their work well. md ali
not receive too much pay. What. iben
was the fault2 The senator from Kansas
lPIumb) complained they were associated
together In order that their wages shonId
not BE- reduced by somebody coming In and
MIR. Plumb said what he complained of
was not that these printers were associated
together or that they tried to keen nm Tho
wages, but that they would no. LET nnv.
body else work at all, unles, ne wonId |
ON their union and subscribe / 4, lis rules
Mr.. voorhees,. said there woia :he WOOL
growers association, the irr and steel
workers rs'assoclation, and liquoi d,alcrs'asso.
to say nothing Of Tho greatest
ana strongest OF all, tho ns.
tlonai bank association. These great
combinations excited no retinach ana M
outcry.. but senators were ,.rv w,nS
alarmed by this Typograpl lcai union
composed Of printers who WI .ed M theI,
cases day and night. The ,inters did nat
''s"''" nin"' He hau mv.e .ear OF the l