Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-17
FEDERATION OF LABOR
Matters Considered bat the Meeting Last
Hight
The Protective Railway Union and
De Paid ON Ne1 school Buildings.

The attendance Of delegates at last
nights meeting of the Federation of Labor,
which took place, as usual, at Plasterers'
Hall, corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and
/ AZ street northwest, was large. First Vice
President Worden presided. After the dis
position of routine business recent allega-
tons concerning the relations Of the WASH
ington and Georgetown Railroad Company
and Its employees were taken up and dis
cussed, but action was deferred, because
none Of the delegates from the Protective
Street Railway Union were present.
Some speakers last night declared their
opinion that the paper to which conductors
and gripmen Of the various divisions of
stating that the signers were entirely sat
isned with the present arrangement of
tneir tlme, was not correct representa-
ton OF the feelings of the men interested.
IL was alleged that the men knew that If
they did not sign one Of the three papers
presented to them for signature they could
not long remain in the service of the COM
pahy. Inc statement was also made to
the federation that President Dunlop some
time ago issued an order forbidding en-
ployes to join the Protective Street Rail-
way Union.
1t was decided to refer the whole subject
to the Protective Street Railway Union, and
1t Is expected that that body will discuss
the question at their meeting of this week
ana make report, through its delegates,
to the Federation at the meeting of the lat
ter next tuesday night.
Work on School Houses.
The joint committee appointed by the
Federation and District Assembly No. 60,
Knights of Labor to confer with the
District Commissioners, and of which Mr..
Milford Spohn Of Bricklayers' Union, Mol,
is chairman, on the part of the Federation,
reference out 10 fra OF
number Of pubic school buildings which
are to be erected here by the District Com
missioners next fall, made report stating
tnat they had sent letter to the Commits
sioners asking when it will be convenient
for the latter to receive the full committee
and talk over the matter.
1t is the intention of the members of the
committee to try to induce the Commits
sionerS to have inserted in each contract a
clause pledging the person to whom the
award for the construction of a building
shall be made to pay the maximum price
for labor which, If adopted, will secure
work for large number of union men,
many of whom are now out of employment
1t was also stated that one of the contra cts
for school building has already been givel
out to contractor whose name is said to
be on the unfair" list. 1t was further
stated that 1t has heretofore been the prac-
tice in number of instances for the party
to whom the contract was awarded by the
Commissioners to sublet that to some one
est labor he could get, with the result that
the work for the public and at the expense
of the taxpayers has been Sighted. Very
often, it was alleged, it occurs that in two
jobs on opposite sides of the same street
the union bricklayers will be getting the
standard pay adopted by the union, while
the non-union men will be working for so
cents to 81 per day less. The committee are
of the opinion that the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia want the work that is to
be done at the expense Of the taxpayers
performed in as good a manner as they
would have the same performed for them
selves in their private capacity, and efforts
will be made to persuade the Commission
ers, If they do not already believe so, that
this will be the best course to pursue.
Regulating Scuffoltls.
The subject of the revision of the build
ing regulations Of the District, which was
taken up at the suggestion of the building
inspector, was referred to, and it was
stated by the members of the legislative
committee that they are daily expecting a
reply to their request to,the Commissioners
that the latter should add a clause to the
responsible for the proper construction of
all scaffolding, and in the event of accident
to any of his employees by reason of imper-
feet construction of the same, he shall be
arrested and charged with mis1emeanor,
and. upon conviction, shall be fined such
sum as the Commissioners may. in their
judgment, see proper to establish.
A letter was read from President James
F. McHugh, who is now at Atlantic City,
thanking the Federation for the honor of
reelection for another term.