The morning call., 1892-06-23
LABOR INVESTIGATION.
Continuing the Inquiry Into the
BreWerymen's Troubles.
Testimony Of Several Witnesses Against and
For-Ths Matter Of Wages Brought
Up-To Continue To-Day.

The labor investigation was resumed yes
terday at l o'clock before Commissioner
Watts. The first witness called was Michael
Bannahan, driver employed at the Jack
son brewery. He stated that his employers
at first induced him to join the union. Then
bis wages were 500 per month; now they
were S23 per week. He was Disguised with
the way the union had been carried Oh and
with Fuhrman's conduct especially. His
organization, Branch of the Brewery Driy-
ers, vetoed the $50 assessment levied by
the union on ali members in order to form a
fund to enable q menace to lie held over the
heads of employers.
He had refused payment Of the assess
ment and had left the union, as Thurman
had forced the assessment upon them.
Thurman was greatly feared because Of his
great influence with employers and work
men, and a man had TO be very careful not
TO offend him or he might lose his job and
be pTecluded from obtaining employment
elsewhere He believed Thurman could
prevent any man in the brewery business
from obtaining employment. Asked II any
charge had been brought against him by the
union he said: "Once ! contradcted Fuhr-
man at a union meeting, stating there were
nine men ia the jackson Brewery VINO re-
fused to pay the so assessment, when he
said there were only five. | was ordered TO
sit down, but held up $50 gold piece and
offered to bet Thurman / was right. The
president then threatened to charge me with
gambling"
FINED.
He said the union had fined him once for
not Joining in a labor demonstration. One
day be wanted a man to take his place, and
applied TO FUhrman at the employment
bureau, but could not get one, SO concluded
that Fuhrman's management was bad.
Thurman would bring charges against any
man who offended him and get him fined or
discharged from the union and his position.
In dissemination the witness stated
that he was partly cOaXed and partly forced
10 join the union by his employers. lie
could not show any reasons for his charges
against Thurman and admitted that his re-
latiOns with that gentleman were only IN
bis official capacity. he then made an ex
parte statement that nearly always German
speaking men were elected to official posi-
tons. bis branch elected Murphy, who
only spoke English, as president, and as a
consequence he couldn't understand a word
Of what passed al tire meetings. as they
were conducted in German. Yet Murphy
was told he would be fined IL he stayed
away. This statement was received with
laughter.
IN FAVOR OF THE UNION.
Mr.. McGlynn called the next witness,
of the union and of Thurman, who, he said,
was well liked aud respected by all work.
ingmen. When witness worked at Sacra-
mentO he got $50 a month and board and
lodging. he occupied pleasantro m over
the engine and boiler house. II was not
very cool in summer, however lie had
been discharged In 1889 from the Philadel-
phia Brewery for being a union man, and
rhis wear from the Htbernia Brewery for
the same reason.
At this juncture some little excitement
was manifested, when a Deputy Sheriff
came liz and arrested one of the witnesses,
Martin Dergans for contempt Of court He
should have attended ID the morning before
Nudge CARRIER in Department the Superior
ConTt. but did not 60. He stated before lie
left in the Deputy's custody that he was a
defendant in police court case yesterday
morning. and that was the reason he could
not attend before Judge CARRIER. The case
Of the National Brewery against THURMAN
and others was the matter ia which his at
tendance was required In the superior
Court. ,s, c,,,.r,o.
When Perg's testimony concluded CnaTles
ScboeIlerman was called and testlhed 10 Ia
var of the union and E2hrman' de was
now locked out because nc was unIon
nan. II Wss strange that In SSst aA DosS