The morning times., 1896-04-19
FEDERATION OF LABOR


The meeting OF the Federation was
unusually well attended on last Tuesday
evening. Representatives. from forty
four local organizations answered
TO their names and it was noticed in
point OF numbers that most or the locals
better represented than for some time.
In addition TO the regular accredited dele
gates large number OF visitors were in
attendance. President McHugh was in the
chair and although he dispatches business
with his usual promptneSS. still the reports
from tie local organizations had to be
dispensed with owing TO the Iateness OF
the hour
The principal business of the evening was
on the report OF committees. The Iegisla-
tive committee had an extra lengthy bud
get for the consideration OF the delegates.
The chairman OF this committee stated that
In accordance with the resolution of the
week previous the committee had ex
tended an invitation 10 the reSpe ctive Citi-
zens Associations TO cooperate with the
two central labor bodies in forming leGis-
lative counsel for the consideration of
local legislation. The chairman further
states that he had delivered the invitation
in person before the Northeast Citizens
Association at their regular meeting. After
he had explained the proposed plan the in
vitation was accepted, and a committee
association in the council. The committee
had also authorized the publication OF
q letter censuring Representative Powers
OF Vermont for his unjust criticism of
the Federation when he characterized the
efforts OF the committee asa lobby pushing
q Iob,r because Congress had been ap-
pealed to in the interest of a bill for a free
library for the District of Columbia. The
committee presented the following resoiu-
tlon:
Resolved, That the Federal ion of
Labor pronounCes as ridiculously false the
accusations of jobbery and lobbying made
by Representative Powers of Vermont
against District workingmen because they
urged upon Congress the establishment of
free public library in the city of Washington
as a measure OF special interest TO working
men and school children; that we resent the
insult thereby levied at organized labor
of the % district and denounce Mr.. Powers as
an enemy of public education of the labor
cause.
Resolved, That copies OF this resolu-
tions be forwarded to labor organizations
in the State OF Vermont"
The resolution met with the unanimous
approval OF the Federation. The commit
tee also presented resolution indorsing
the Lodge Mccall bill now pending before
Congress prohibiting pauper illiterate la
Tor from being admitted into this coun-
Try. The resolution reads as follows:
Whereas we believe that the time has
nrrIved when the laboTiug people of the
country should protest against the further
admission OF 1Ie cheap, llliteEate, low
ktaRdard labor OF Europe; therefore, be il
Resolved, That { tke laboring people of the
District, in common with the laborers in
other sections OF the country. are fully
justified in protesting against the further
admission OF cheap European labor, from
the fact that O large colony of illterate
Italians have under the contract system
recently been importe into the District for
the purpose OF doing work that rightrully
belongs TO our own citizens; ana be 1t fur
ther
Resolved, That IN the opinion of this rep
resentatiye body OF workingmeH of the Dis
frict of Columbia, the Lodge Mccall immi-
grafton bill aims to prohibit that class Of
iInm4grantS which experience shows TO be
most undesirable and detrimental both to
the welfare of the American labOrer and
the future prosperity OF the couHtry; aud be
it further
Resolved. That this central body appeals
10 the labor organizations throaghout the
c0Tsairy TO INN edia tely correspond with and
demand that tsIcif Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress shall employ their best
efforts toward the passage OF the Lodge
Mccall bill.
The committee lad also considered the
bill referred 10 them from the Butchers
Association. but would make an adverse
repo.; on the bill in its present shape which
Provides for all meat be slaughtered at