The Meeker herald., 1895-12-21
QUESTIONS OF LABOR.
the FEDERATION STILL IN sEs-
SION.
Rre-utsoas Fsvor,ng Postal saving
Banks Adopted = Object to Denver
street Cars Carrying Malta

New York, Dec. 13.-There was
small number of delegates present
when roll was called at the opening OF
the NTH days session Of the convention
of Federation OF Labor day. The COM
mittee on resolutions was Instructed to
draw - q suitable resolution on the
death Of Allen G. Thurman.
A resolution which caused much de-
bate urged that In view Of the fact that
the savings Of the working people were
subject to loss through indiscreet IN
vestments on the part Of managers OF
savings banks, the Federation memoir
ialize Congress In the interest Of estab-
fishing saving Institutions In connection
with the postoffice department. 1t was
urged that under existing conditions
the poor had absolutely no safe place
in which to deposit their savings, and
they never had money enough to open
an account with a national bank,
though there they had but little more
protection. In case Of failure they were
r.,-ez,niiad IN 90 IN tha- so vinga -hanka-
where 1t was alleged they had abso-
lutely no redress in case of loss.
Postal savings banks. 1t was also
urged, would do away with the need
Of bond issues, which paid large profits
to syndicates Of bankers. Other speak
ers said that there had already been
too much financial Legislation, and that
the remedy was In less legislation In
stead Of more.
In the discussion which preceded the
fixing Of the time for holding the cleo
ton OF officers, Delegate Bramwood
Of Denver. from the printers organiza-
ton, suggested that "There was more
wire-pulling In the Federation conven-
ton In connection with the coming
election than in any out-and-out pollt-
Ical convention"
The remarks brought out half
dozen decidedly personal replies, In
which It was charged that the words
OF the Denver delegate were an insult
to every man on the floor.
The committee on resolutions re-
ported unfavorably resolution against
the carrying OF mails on the street cars
until they are controlled by the govern
ment. The object Of the resolution was
to free the street railway employees
from the obligations imposed upon
them by the federal laws, which re-
strict the rights Of men employed by
corporations carrying the mails to
strike.
IN the event of a strike Of street-car
employees Of roads carrying the malls.
the men, It was contended, would be
subject TO arrest for obstructing -.
mails. After long debate 1t Mas
- ->+----------------s s+'--------.-l..A
was adopted. The street cars in Den
yer bear the sign "U. S. Mall" and one
CT the delegates said that n good por-
zion of the cars never had or probably
never would carry the mails. This was
to curtail the rights Of the working
men, he argued.
George F. McNein of Boston, OF the
committee on the eight hour question.
made a report. 1t was to the effect that
general movement In favor of the
eight-hour work day was deemed un-
wise, but that the executive committee
should select one or more of the kest
conditioned organizations to begin the
contest for an eight-hour day. Labor
and not capital should determine the
length of the working day, and labor
should be unawed by the threats Of
police captains or the power Of the
courts. The report was approved.