The evening times., 1895-10-02

The Federation of Labor held well
attended meeting ut Plasterers' Hall last
evening, and forty-one organizations were
represented.
The committee on the advisablity OF
granting tine application for cha rter ia the
American Federation OF Labor reported that
it was unadvisabie at this time. The re-
port was adopted.
The committee on the case of Contractor
McYaugh made their report. supple
menlary report was also rendered and
adopted.
II was as follows:
To the Federation of Labor:
Your committee having III charge tne
prosecution Of Frank McVaugh Tor the
violation of the national eight t-hour law
III the erection of the structural iron work
on the addition 10 the Government PRINT
ing Office, submit this supplemental re-
port.
1T is evident that the decision of the
court was based upon the testimony of
Lieut.. seweli. the engineer in Charge of
the construction of this buiiuiig. Upon
his evidence the court was convinced tbat
in this case such an emergency existed as
would justify the contractor III working
his employees eleven anu twelve hours in
one ia lendar day.
NOT SUFFICIENT EXCUSE.
"The fact of the insecurity of the II
street portion of the Government Printing
Office was generally known before Lieut.
Sewell had acquired a primary technical
kno wledge of building construction. Had
Congress regarded the safety of the hun.
dreus or eiIpiOycs III this building, and
not pursued long and persistent course
OF criminal negligence ami carelessn,sS,
the old SHELF ana 'Ueatn Trap would have
been torn down ara u Substantial build
ing substituted years ago.
We, howe ever, will not admit that the
unsafe condition CT the Old building should
be admitted as an eXcasc Tor The violation
Of law The utpA enlrrneucg fh!g
case loses all legal forCe " hen The TACT Is
apparent that the iron work upon this
addition has been delayed siAty Gays, be-
cause of the neglect OF the contractor to
furnish the necessary material, and fur
ther delay of several weeks III the con-
struction or the brickw Crk, without
valid excuse, or because OF a " HIM OF those
in charge.
Nothw outstanding these unnecessary and
ineXcusable delays W e believe that tie con
ctruction OF the iron " ork in this building
could have been as lar advanced as IL ~
now without violating benehcent law.
TWO GANGS NEEDED.
At no time since the beginning OF the iron
construction were conditions such as that
two shifts of men could not be employed
on the work. had the contractor not been
assured that the Convenient plea OF extra.
ordinary emergency would Ice admitted
as an excuse Tor ;hc iIfractiOn of the law,
he would have worked Two shifts of eight
hours each, with but slight additional
expense and inconvenience. Such evasion
of the law will continue so long as the
slatute " i'll permit ali oiTeEGeT to prove an
emergency by the convenient testimony
OF so-callcd experts
The following resolution was then adop-
I'd:
Resolved, That the secretary of the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor be instructed to coninuni-
cate with the District attorney, Mr. Biz
ney, requesting him 10 bring to the atten-
tion OF the grand jury the sworn statement
of Engineer Sewell as to the con0ltion or
the Government Printing Office, demand
"A thorough Investigation OF the SAME. and II
the building is found to be a menace to the
lives OF the men ana women employed in
the building, to cause such steps to be taken
aa is necessary 10 protect such employees
from risk or injury.
OTHER LABOR MEETINGS.
The Douglass Assembly of Engineers re-
ported that a non-union engineer was
employed in the construction of Il new
church at the corner of Sixteenth and Cor
coran streets northwest. The report was
referred to the contract committee. In re-
gard TO recent Statement that Bush, the
saloon keeper, did not sell union made
cigars, the Cigarmakers reported that this
was untrue. as Mr.. Bush has always dealt
in union made goods.
The Excelsior Assembly Informed the
Federation that on next Friday night Mrs.
r. B. Parkman will deliver lecture on the
Money question:" at Typographical Hall
Several conferences have lately been held
between Mr. lsador Saks and the executive
board OF Tailors' Assemblies, L. A. 1870, K.
of L., and,L U. 1eS, |. T. U. OF A.
A definite agreement was signed last night
whereby Mr.. Saks conceded all the requests
made by the executive board. The meeting
was heidin The Times building.