Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-16
AGOOD YEAR FOR ALL
Reports of the Engineers Society
Show European Trades to Be
IN A PROSPEROUS CONDITION.
Millions Lost to American Manufacturers
in South America.
EUROPEANS AGAINST EIGHT HOURS

Mr.. Joseph Blaze, of South Seventeenth.
street, has just received the thirty-ninth an
nual report of the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers, from the general Office of the
society in London. 1t is a voluminous
book of nearly 500 pages and it gives de-
tailed report OF the entire membership, the
receipts and expenditures not only for the
past year, but for 80 years back, the number
of deaths and the amounts paid on each, the
result of the vote taken last year on the
eight-hour question, and also report of each
of the 500 or more subordinate branches both
in Europe and America.
The Amalgamated Society of Engineers
is a beneficial trades organization. composed
of workmen in all branches. Previous to
1851 each branch in England had its own
society. For instance, the brass fnishers
were organized independent of anv other
trade, likewise the coppersmiths, turner's,
filters, millwrights, pattern makers, ma
chine joiners and planers. etc. In 1851 all
Of these societies were amalgamated
under one head and the new organization
began its existence with a membership OF
II ,S29. The society has progressed gradually
England and other European countries, but
also in all of the British colonies, Australia,
New Zealand, Queensland, Canada, East
Indies and Malta, and in 13 States of the
United States, and has total of nearly
10000 members.
GOOD YEAR FOR ALL CLASSES.
General Secretary Robert Austin. in his
report, says the past year has been the most
successful one for all classes. Wages have
advanced from two to three shillings per
week and improved rates of payment for
overtime have been conceded in many places.
A tabulated statement shows that Russia,
Germany, France, Argentine Republic and
the East Indies were the best customers for
machinery, engines and mill work during
the past four years. The total exports to
the South American countries mentioned for
last year are valued at el ,485, 1856, or over
81, 900, 900. showing that quite an item is lost
to the American manufacturer by not hav-
ing shipping facilities to South America.
The Amalgamated Society of Engineers
commenced the wear with 400 branches and
ended it with 1862 The net income for the
year was e183, Col and the expenditures
e132, ,642. The society paid out in sick ben
efts ESQ, ,992; for superannuation, e40, ,170;
for accidents, e2,177; funeral benefits,
e9, 289, and for benevolent grants, e2, 050.
In regard to the eight-hour movement
Secretary Austin has this to say: "Since our
last report this subject has again been
brought before the Trades Union Congress,
at Dundee, and the results of tine discussion
and voting thereon were very unsatisfactory
to my mind, and the efforts of those who are
in favor of legislative enactment 10
shorten the hours of labor seems to
be retarded for the time being,
as they do not receive that support which is
so necessary to move the legislative coach;
and, further, I am Of the opinion that while
alr are agreed that eig ght hours ought to be
the standard days work, the great question
act or by act of Parliament? To my mind
this latter will take as long to bring it about,
if not longer than the former.
WHERE THE POWER LIES.
ssIt will no doubt be said that we have
the power in our own hands at the ballot
box. This is true, and it is also true we
have the power at the present time In our
hands without waiting for general elec-
tion, viz, by the trades of the coun-
try uniting together, and saying through
hours shall be the standard days
work, instead of nine hours or any other
given number at present practiced by many
trades, and by this process no factory in
spectors would be needed, no extra costs
would be entailed, and every society would
maintain its present form of government,
with a few alterations in minor details"
When the vote was taken on the eight
hour question the societies voting had
combined membership of over 175. 900. Less
than 11O, 900 voted. OF these 81, 200 voted
against eight hours and $4,000 in favor of
them. The proposition to have it obtained
by an act OF Parliament was favored by
vote of 2S, 900 to L, 900.
There is peculiar feature in the Anal
gamated Society OF Engineers that has never
been made a part Of any other secret or
trades organization. The funds of the
various branches are equalized at the end
of each year, so that no one branch will
have more than certain amount per men,
Der. This is done So that the branches in
prosperous districts may aid the less for
tunate ones, and it makes it possible for
branches to be established in places where
they could not otherwise be supported.
Pittsburg was benefited to the extent of 81
fbo g.,