Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-29
OPPOSED TO FOREIGN LABOR
A Bill to Prevent Its Employment on
Public Works.
Action Taken by the Federation of
Labor-Vari0us Measures Reported
ut the Meeting Last Night.

ton of Labor was held last evening, thirty
nine organizations being represented.
President James F. McHugh presided.
Credentials We're presented from delegates
representing the Paper Hangers onion to
fill vacancies in their representation, and
the delegates were seated.
Mr.. E. NJ Blake. chairman Of the legisa-
tive committee, reported bill in relation to
contract labor, which was Endorsed by a
unanimous vote. The committee was in
structed to request Senator David B. Hill
of New York to Introduce the bill to the
Senate, and that the same request be made
of Representative Charles H. Grosvenor of
Ohio in reference to getting it before the
House of Representatives.
Mr.. Blake stated that he had submitted the
bill to the representa- of the General
Assembly of the Knights of Labor and
they had pledged him the active support of
the Journal of the Knights of Labor, the
official organ of the order, well as the
influence of the organization Mr. Rlake
further stated that the bill will be laid be-
fore the District Assembly of the K. of l..
at its meeting night for the action of that
body.
Provisions of the Bib.
The bill is entitled "a bill to restrict en-
ployment upon public buildings and works
to citizens Of the United States or those
who have in good faith declared their in
tentions to become such" 1t provides:
Ihat from and after the passage of this
act no person not citizen of the United
states or who has not in good faith de-
CARED his intentions to become such, shall
De employed Upon or in connection with
any public buildings or public works m
der the control of or conducted by the
United States its territories or the District
of Columbia
press or implied, parol or soecial which
may hereafter be made or entered into bv
any board or commission or any officer
or any other person acting for or in no
nan OF the United States, it's territories or
the District of Columbia, for the perform
ance OF labor or service upon any public
pulidlns or public works. shall contain a
provision to the effect that all persons
specified in section one of this act shall
pe prohibited from engaging in or perform
ing any such labor or service upon any
such buildings or public works
49, mat in all cases where an alien after
ming MS declaration of intentions To he
come citizen of the United States SHAH
i ior the space of one month after he could
papers and complete his citizenship such
failure shall. for the purpose of this act
be prlma facie evidence that his declaration
Oh intentions was not made in good faith
nat Tor every viola ton of the provi-
slohs or this act the person or persons di-
recdy responsible shall be deemed guilty of
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction there
or, shall be punished by a fine of not less
than two hundred and ffty dollars nor
more than five hundred dollars, or by i'm
Prlsonment not exceeding one yeaf or
by both such fine and Imprisonment in
the discretion of the court
That 1t shall be the duty of the United
states district attorney for the proper dis
trlct to prosecute all violations of this act
When any person shall make the complaint
under oath, and the same shall be heard
before any district circuit court in the
United states or territorial court holden
within the district in which the violation
of this act has been committed,
communication from the Building
Trades Council was read, asking the Fed
Grafton to cooperate with them in trying to
stop the importation of foreign labor into
the city to work on District improvements.
and to petition Congress to remedy the
same. The paper was placed on file
communication was read from the COM
mittee appointed on the part of the eccen-
tflc engineers to arrange for an excursion
to secure funds sufficient to build a nonu-
meHt to the late f. j. Rea, a weil-known
member of the Federation and his wife
Inc communication stated that the COM
mttee was ready to meet the other COM
mlttees appointed for the purpose at any
The Beer boycott.
Announcement was made that the COM
mittee appointed to make the beer boycott
more effective will have a meeting at
Bunchs Hall Friday evening next; also
that the BARRIERS Assembly would change
yellow after May l. .-...
A delegate reported that the eight-hour
law was being violated at the Capitol in
the matter of the employment Of electrical
workers.
MIR. E. M. Blake, chairman of the legis-
latlVe committee, reported that the COM
mlttee held meeting during the past week
at which the bill presented by. the butchers
relating to the Strengthening of cattle, hogs
and sheep, and providing for the proper in
spection of same, discussed and laid
over Tor final action at a meeting to be held
Saturday.
The following resolution was also author
lzed reported by the Legislative committee:
Resolved, That the legislative committee
be empowered to examine certain bills be-
lore Congress granting charters for gen.
eral privileges or bills asking for increase
or charter rights. for the purpose of favor
ing or opposing their passage. according as
the interested parties agree or refuse to
recognize the demands of organized labor
Tor hours and wages conceded to be just
by fair employers"