The Washington times. (Washington, D.C.) 1894-1895, 1894-09-23
FEDERATION or LApoR.

Representatives from twenty-five labor or
meeting of the Federation last Tuesday night.
Credentials were presented from the follow
ing locals: Journeymen Tailors, W. II. Kin
singer in place of Oscar Johnson; Bakers
Drivers Assembly, J. C. Cooksey, +. Hartwig,
A. Schweigert. and Edward Estes; Theatrical
Alliance Adam Johnson and William Me-
Given in place of J. Il. Behrend and James
Rodier; Carpenters Assembly, James A.
Deggs in place of j. E. Wilson; Eccentric AS
soclation of Steam Engineers, ThoT>lton Sill
colt in place of G.. S. Hulme. The credentials
having been approved by the Federation the
delegates were admitted and duly obligated.
Under reports Of committees the commit
tee appointed to wait on the Commissioners
relative 10 the enforcement OF the Sunday
closing law without discrimin alton. so far as
IL relates to barber shops, reported that they
had an interview with Commissioner Trues-
dell, who, after hearing the complaint, re-
quested the committee to put the same in
writing so it could be properly laid before the
board The committee further reported that
they had complied with the request, but up to
this time had received no answer. also that if
no answer was received within reasonable
time that they would again call on the Com
missioners.
The delegates from the Labor Day confer
ence reported that the business of the confer
ence had all been settled ut the last meeting,
but the question of forming permanent or
ganization had been referred back to the
locals for instruction. Later in the evening
the Federation took up the question. Several
delegates spoke in favor of a permanent or
ganization being formed. Others thought
that there was no necessity for such an or
ganization, that it would only incur extra ex-
pense, and they favored the same course be-
fVaaA fal~a fhfl feh
was that the conference be called into exist
ence about the 1st OF July which would give
two months to prepare for Labor Day.
During the discussion the fact was brought
out that two of the organizations had already
instructed their delegates to vote for per-
manent organization, provided il was formed
| under the auspices of the Federation and the
! District Assembly. Other delegates thought
that course would not be just to the promoters
! of the present conference. and would detract
| the credit from them. After the debate the
| delegates to the conference were instructed to
/ attend the next meeting, which is to be held
| on the third Friday in October, without any
| instruction, as it is thought by that time
4 the locals viii have determined what action
/ shall be taken.
The committee appointed to visit the navy
yard and investigate the charges that me-
| chanics were compelled to accept less than
! the schedule rate of wages paid in their re-
! spective crafts. were instructed to have their
/ report ready by next meeting night. The
| president stated that United States Senator
! had promised to investigate this matter as
| soon as the committee had procured the
! proper data.
A contractor whose name appears on the
unfair list" was reported TO be about to Sc
cure a contract for the building of some
! houses, which was thought could be got for
union men if the matter was looked after
| Pot D. ba IN yr-itl
| instructions to investigate.
The president announced that the sub-com-
| mittee on suffrage was having a series oil
meetings and it was thought that ID public
meeting would be held sometime during the
month, of which due notice would be given
through the newspapers.
| The theatrical mechanics called attention
TO the trouble they were having with Al
! baugh's Theatre. and while they did not seek
the assistance of the Federation in this mat
! ter still they desired that union men would
not take their places. The election of first
| vice president resulted in the election of Dele.
gate Charles j. Wells, of the Plate Printers
Assembly.
The recent disastrous fire. with its fata
effects. brought out further discussion on the
building inspectors Office. and the need Of
more practical men being appointed as as
| sistant inspectors. During the discussion
one delegate who has been connected with
| the Federation for wears, and whose yeracitv
cannot be questioned, stated that during his
experience of about twenty-four years as
! practical worker in the building trade that he
! had never seen an inspector on the scaffold
TO see if the brickwork was being done in q
workmanlike manner. and during that same
! period he was willing to swear that he had
not seen an inspector on any work more than
! six times.
The discussion, which was general in
character, developed many facts not known
| to the public. connected with the way thai
buildings in this city are erected under the
| present cut-throat competitive contract sys
| tenn. The manner of preparing the mortar
or rather mud as the delegates designated it
for the average buildings came in for con-
| siderable criticism.
The statement Of Mr.. Ertwisle, that it re-
quIres about twenty years for walls in
| building to become solid, received some con.
sideration. The conclusion reached was thai
if the walls stood 100 years that they would
never become solid, as the principal ingre
dents used in preparing the so-called mortar
were water and sand, and very inferior SAND
at that. Hence the need of practical brick
| layers as inspectors. who thoroughly under
| stand all the details connected with bricI
work
After the debate the secretary was in
structed to communicate with the Commits
sioners and again call their attention to the
urgent necessity of having at least one
practical bricklayer appointed on the build
| ing inspectors staff. committee of three
was also appointed to present the communi
cation to the Commissioners. The committee
was also further instructed to request thai
the Commissioners amend the building regu