The Washington times., 1895-02-03
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY,.

SemDly last Thursday night Master Norklian
Simmons informally called the delegates to
order and introduced Mrs. Olivia Briggs, of
the eastern section OF the city, who in very
modest but earnest manner informed the del
egates that she had come in the interest the
Eastern Market people. who. while not over
stocked W Ih this worlds goods. still felt it
their du V TO do what they could to assist in
relieving the distress that now exists in the
city.
The market people, the lady stated. were
very de5irous that wnat they gave should go
to deserving working people. With this OBJ
ject IN view they had come to the conclusion
that working people themselves must be the
best in ormed on this question. Mrs. Briggs,
being fully in sympathy with the desires of
the market people. had volunteered her ser
vices 10 obtain this information. hence her
visit to the District Assembly, recognizing the
fact that the representatives from the local
labor organizations. who come IN direct con-
tact with large numbers of the laGoring peo-
pie, must have better opportunities OF finding
out those who are really in need of assistance
than anybody else.
The delegates were assured that anyone
! recommended by thom would be assisted and
thanked Mrs. Briggs. They promised TO bring
The matter before their respective organiza-
tions
After the lady had retired vote of thanks
was unanimously rendered to the Eastern
Market people for their worthy efforts IN be-
/ half of the poor: also Tor their recognition OF
the central labor organization as reliable
source Of information.
In comparing notes il was ascertained that
while the present winter was one of the hard
! est ever known il the history of the organi-
Zations on account of the scarcity OF work.
| still comparatively few members of the or
! galiZalions were suffering for food. That
! they were running deeply in debt for supplies
4lafr
their debts during the next year has inspired
! grocery merchants with confidence enough
| to give them credit. The greatest trouble
with the members is in getting together
! enough money to meet the demands of those
4 who collect rents. Some few distressing
cases of want OF provisions are occasionally
brought 10 the attention OF the organizations
and are promptly relieved. May cases,
| though. of want of money TO pay rent are
made known and prompt relief given. This
relief given by the organizations is never pub
! licly paraded.
d, The assembly then went into regular ses
! sion. The master workman reported that
three members Of the legislative committee
! had appeared before the directors of the
board of trade and made argument ghy the
| labor organizations were opposed to the pro-
posed District bond issue. The committee
| had been received very eourteously and had
been invited to become members of the board.
visited the Eccentric Engineers ut their last
I meeting. found the assembly in n good,
! healthy condition, and the members jGbilaut
over their steadily increasing membership.
The members were all at work aud the pros
poets Of the assembly very bright.
( Uader call of assemblies, delegates from
the painters requested that the names of
Atzeil and Walsh, ,saoon-keepers. be taken off
1 the unfair list which request was granted.
Carriage makers delegates reported that
they had a rousing meeting last Monday
| night The employer of the largest shop
in town had joined in body.
| Musical Assembly delegates reported large
and enthusiastic meeting last Sunday. They
have no fear of the new musical union inter
fering with them. During the report of the
musicians the master workman read a letter
that hai been received by him from the new
union, which was referred to the Musical As
sembly.
The Bakers Drivers reported names Of ap-
plicants. Only one of their members reported
! out of work at their last meeting. and he had
since been provided for. Several applications
for drivers were now on file.
The executive committee reported that all
affairs had now been Strengthened out az the
Boston Bakery. The company was desirous
OF filling the places Of Objectionable parties
just as soon as the Bakers Drivers Assembly
coutd furnish them with union men. The
report was accepted aud placed on file.
The executive committee further reported
that the case reported at the last meeting OF
the District Assembly by the bakers. when i;
had been stated that the men working in Mr..
Charles J. Sehneider's bakery had been COM
PEELED to work overtime, and that Mr..
Schneider had refused to pay them any extra
wages. which case had been referred TO them
for investigation had been attended to, but
in attending to that duty the committee had
been assaulted by Mr. Schneider.
The 60 W Ordprpd tO be nlaPpd in fbe
hands of Ralston & Siddons, attorneys, with
instructions to institute civil proceedings.
The committee on adjusting differences
with Typographical Union reported that
nothing had come out of the conference. The
committee then made recommendation
which was unanimously adopted, and which
will be communicated to the Federation at
;he proper time.
The action of the Federation in the case Of
Nicolai Bros. was then reported and in
doTsed.
The Portner flats then received some con-
sideration. The statement of the architect that
the clause in the contract calling for strictly y
union labor would be carried out seemed tC
the delegates TO be a step in the right direc
ton. but they would prefer to wait develop
, ments before giving any opinion. The paint
, eTs could hardly understand how the CLAUSE
could be complied with in their trade, wheI
a non-union employer had the contract.
The secretary was instructed to request the
Carpenters Assembly to direct its member,
who are at work on that job to demand tbs
cards OF all who may come to work there.
District Organizer 0'Dea then gave syn
, opsis of :he wor he is now doing, and tht
: prospects of organizing several new locals.
Under 'good OF the order" discussion a
to the prospects of the passage OF tine bont
, bill, labor legislation, and other topics wa
had.
The question OF building a Union labol
, temple in the city was very favorably dis
cussed, and the matter ordered to be sent Il
, the locals.
Among the I ocaIs