The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-15
LABOR'S SENATE MEETS
Legislation 1t Will Ask
A Demand for a ConSti-
tutional Convention.


One of the most representative body Of
men that ever met in the cause of labor
in this State convened under the name of
the Industrial Senate of New Jersey, at
the Union Square Assembly Rooms,
corner Third street and Newark avenue,
yesterday morning at half-past ten
o'clock, with President Henry A.
Blackmeyer in the chair. 1t
was the first meeting of the senate in this
city, and from all appearances it will be
very far from being the last. A most
noticeable feature of the session was the
business like manner in which the work
was done, and The force of the argument,
advanced by the different delegates on
important questions.
Resting on the big chair on the dias at
the head of the room was handsomely
framed portrait OF Grand Master Work
man Powderly, surrounded by the Ma
tional colors.
The different delegates, at the request
of the chair, reported from their different
districts on the state of trade, condition
of organized labor and other matters per.
tanning to the workings of the Senate.
LEGISLATION TO BE ASKED.
The Executive Committee recon-
mended that the following bills be pre-
sented to the Legislature at the next ses-
sion:-The Weekly bill, the Mechanics
Lien bill and Surface Railway bill. The
report was received.
The following bills were referred to the
proper committee to report at the next
meeting:-Ten hours to be the limit of
days work in the State, to compel all
corporations to give recommendations to
employees, whether discharged or re-
signed; to compel all railroads, canals,
ETC., to provide foot bridges in connection
with all bridges erected by them in this
fail to perform their duties; an amend
ment to the Pinkerton bill (by the Jersey
Association); to abolish the printing Of
laws by newspapers and to issue them in
pamphlet form; to enforce the law re-
garding the assessment of property at
its full value; to abolish capital punish
ment All these bills were read. received
and laid over until next meeting
PINKERTON DENOUNCED.
Under the head OF new business the fol-
lowing resolution was unanimously
adopted
Whereas, There has grown up in this country
an army of hired thugs and assassins known as
Pinkerton detectives, who willing to do the
bidding of corporations against labor organiza-
tons and even going so far as TO destroy life
and property with vindictiyeness; and
Whereas, These hired assassins have, during
the strike on the New York Central and Hudson
River Railroad in New York State, acted more
like fends than human beings and their mur-
derous actions have been upheld by the corpora
tions; therefore pc it
Resolved. That we, the Industrial Senate of
the State of New Jersey, denounce the hiring of
these detectives, and that recommend that
every Congressman be pledged to vote for bill
in Congress to prevent the future employment
of the Pinkerton detectives by corporations
A resolution was also carried in favor
of constitutional convention, it being
the sense of the Senate that she constitu-
tion of this State is sadly in need of re-
vision.
SHARP STICKS FOR LEGISLATORS.
The Senate also decided to publish a
list of Senators and Assemblymen who
made themselves conspicuous by regis
tering their votes against certain labor
measures that were brought before the
Legislature at its last session, with the
recommendation that the people allow
them to retire from the arena OF politics.
Ex-Assemblyman Kane, of ballot re-
form notoriety, then addressed the Senate
on the present. ballot reform law. and
pointed out great many discrepancies
that are liable to miSlead and confuse the
average voter. He recommended a. strict
surveillance over the polling places and
advised all friends of labor to keep watch
that their interests may not be neglected.
At the close of the address the Senate
adjourned to meet in the city of Newark
on Sunday, October 5. at which time the
bills at present in hand or any bills that
may be presented in the interim will be
brought up for final consideration.
Among the delegates that took promi-
nent part in the proceedings were Henry
A. Beckmeyer, president and editor of
Mutual hid. of Newark; j. A. Craig,
editor of the Lance, of Paterson: William
Arrison, of Trenton; L. w. Mer-
ritt, secretary OF the Industrial Senate,
of New Brunswick; John Burgess, of
Raritan; James f. Morgan, of Elizabeth;
ex-Assemblyman Kane, of South Amboy;
James Bates, of Raritan; Eugene Dool-
son. Of Woodbridge; James e. Garter. of
Engl-wood; Paul Breen, of Paterson; G.
j. Hudson, Henry Gruber, James j.
Bowling and James A. Stuart, OF Jersey
City