The Washington times., 1894-10-21
FEDERATION OF LABoR.


The regular meeting Ofthe Federation held
last Tuesday night was called to order
promptly at o'clock with President Spohn
in the chair The hall was well filed with
delegates and visitors.
Credentials were received from the Carpen-
ters Assembly in favor of C. o. Woodward in
place Of E. Santmeyer; also from the Eccen-
tric Engineers in favor OF J. a. Bowen In
place OF J. I. Sullivan. The applicants were
admitted and obligated
The committee on contracts reported that
they had again waited on the Stumph Brothers
with reference to their new building.
They had been informed thatthe contract had
been given to Mr.. Prescott and the brick work
to Mr.. Goode The bricklayers' delegates
reported that Mr. Goode had made satis;ac-
tory arrangements with the union and he was
considered fair employee.
The committee had also called on Mr.
Christian Schneider in reference u his build
ing. MIR. Schneider had told the committee
that he wanted the Job TO be straight union
The contractor, being present. told the com
mittee that MS men we're in arrears TO the
| unioa, but were willing 10 pay up, and if the
union was satisfied with that union men
would be employed on the job.
The committee further reported that they
had investigated the job ut ST. Matthew's
Church, ana had found that the brickwork
was all right. but that the boss carpenter en-
ployei both union and non-union m n; that
they also saw union painters at work. The
pastering has been given to a New York con-
tractor The committee reco ommended that
this Job be referred back to the PIasterers'
Assembly, which recommendation was ac-
cepted.
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manager OF Aloaughs Theater, reported and
the case was laid over for one week.
The committee appointed to ascertain if
certain firm OF government contracting brick
layers were American citizens reported that
they had Investigated the case and found that
the firm consisted of four brothers, and that
only one OF the brothers had been natural
lied. the other three being aliens. This firm
is getting a large amount OF government con-
tracts which in the opinion of organized
labor, properly belongs TO American citizens.
The case will he further investigated.
The proposition TO have a general walking
delegate which had been referred to the locals
for action. did not seem to meet with much
approval. judging from the report of the dele
gates to the Federation.
Several locals have not considered the prop
osition. The brickiayers, painters. and
bakers drivers had voted against it. The
Carpenters Union. Timers Assembly. Eccen-
tric Engineers and Carpenters Assemblies
voted for it. The other locals have not had
any meeting since the proposition was sent
out.
The Cigarmakers delegates made an ur-
gent appeal to the delegates to purchase none
but union-made cigars. The delegates claim
that the union puts up not only better, but
decidedly cleaner cigar than the non-union.
The cigarmakers claim that they are being
unjustly dealt with by the dealers. One case
was cited of a prominent druggist on II
street northeast, who sells good many cigars
| to printers This gentleman was told that if
| he did not sell union-made cigars, union
| men would refuse to deal with him. He then
| ordered from his dealer box of the cheapest
union cigars stating at the time that the
| meaner they were the better. His object was
to disgust all who bought them, and to ruin
the sale OF union-made cigars. Several other
cases were related by the delegates similar
| to the above.
On motion the delegates from the respective
| organizations were instructed to bring this
matter before their members at their next
| meeting. One plan suggested was that the
union cigarmakers make thoroughly public
| the name and price of their brands.
Attention was called to the action of the
| contractor on the Columbia Street Railroad,
who was importing laborers from other cities
while hundreds of citizens in this District
| are out of employment and the soup-house
question being already agitated by the press
and charity organizations.
Another phrase Of this question is the allie
| cation that the relaying of the water and
| gas mains along the route of the Columbia
| line has been sub-let by the Commissioners
| to the contractors of the new cable line. The
men on the job are working ten hours per
| day.
| The laying OF water mains in the District
| is, in the opinion of the Federation, done
under the supervision OF the District of Col
umbia, and if this is so the work as now car
ried on is clear violation OF the national
| eight-hour law.
The matter will be thoroughly investigated,
| and il developments vindicate suspicious,
| prosecution will undoubtedly follow.
| The president of the Labor Day conference
reported that owing to the failure to secure
| the hall for Friday night the meeting had
been postponed until Monday night, October
| AZ, when full attendance is desired
| Mr.. Charles Baum. dry goods dealer on
| Seventh street. was reported to be about to
build an addition to his store and also several
dwellings.
Auth Bros. butchers. were also reported as