The morning times., 1896-05-24
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY

| The weekly meeting of District Assembly
| No. 90, h. OF L., was held last Thursday
evening IN the fiasterers' Hall, Four-and-
| a-halI street anu PennSy Sylvania avenue The
| Master Workman w h. G. Simmons called
| the meeting TO order and presided over
| the deliberations OF The delegates. In his
| opening address the muster workman COM
| plimcnIcd the delegates on the splendid
| attendance at the meeting, for he had
| ascertaiued at the roll cali that out OF tie
| thirty-four local assemblies i'll this juris-
dictIou thirty three were represented.
Credentials or delegates from the Plate
| Printers and Structural Iron Workers as
| semblies were read and accepted, and the
| Archeon degree conferred on the new
/ delegates.
the principal matters that engaged the
| aUention oT The delegates were the anti
| contract bill as passed by the Senate on
| Wednesday; the new aspect OF the beeI
| question, ana the petition OF the citizens
| of South Washington for the removal Of
the factory of the National Sanitary Com
| pany and other nuisances.
| The delegates in speaking of the bill au.
| thorizing the District Commissioners to
employ day labor on municipal work were
| very enthusiastic ia giving credit for the
| favorable consideration OF the bill by the
| Senate committee to the energetic work
! done by the chairman OF the legislative
| committee OF the Federation ofLabor, Mr..
! M
! pared by the Federation was first intro
| duced into Congress il met with the adj
! verse report OF the Commissioners, but by
the persistent efforts and convincing argu-
| mentS put forth by Mr.. Blake it was stated,
! not only the Congressional committees
| but the Commissioners had favorably rec
| commended the passage of the present bill
In answer to questions it was stated HAT
the present bill was prepared by the Com
mlssloners, and while il does not go as far
| as organized labor desires still il is con-
| sdered great Improvement on the present
! condition. Under the old organic law of
| the District, it was further stated, the
| Commissioners were powerless al TO using
their discretion in giving out work the
law providing that it should be given out
| by contract, except when the co ST did not
| exceed 81 900. In a recent interview
| between the Federation committee and
| Commissioner Ross that gentleman had
| stated that ne thought it would be best for
the Commissioners TO have discretionary
| power IN tie matter OF giving out work, ST.
that the system advoca ted 10y the Federation
could be given fair trial. After discuss
ing the matter at length, ii was the unani-
nous decision that if possible the bill should
be passed by the House before Congress adj
| Journed, and with this view in mind every
possible legitimate effort was ordered to
be carried out to accomplish this purpose.
Informing the District Assembly OF the ac-
ton aiken on Tuesday evening AT the FEEDER
alton relating TO the instructions given to
the special committee on the brewery lock
out. TO act with the executive committee
of the District A Semby in effecting a set
tement of the differences.
The letter occasoned warm debate
which proved that the much drawn out
question of unfair beer, was still upper
most in the minds OF the delegates. The
delegates were very emphatic in their as
sertions that rank in JUS tice had been done
organized labor by the prOprietors of the
brewerieS, aided considerable by traitors
| to the cause. After a spirited discussion,
during which every feature connected with
the question was fairly, but minutely ana
iyZed, the action OF the Federation was in
dorsed. During the discus sion il was stated
that the secretary of the joint committee
had written 10 the attorneys Of Mr.. Heurich,
but had received no reply.
Communication was then read from the
South Washington Citizens Association
requesting the cooperation of the Dis
trict Assembly in their protest to the Dis
trict Commissioners against the garbage
reduction plant at the foot of South Cap
itol street
The request was granted, and resolu-
ton adopted ins1ructing the legislative
committee to prepare petition to the Com
mssioners, urging them to favorably con-
slider the just claim of the South Wash
ington citizens TO have such nuisances as
the garbage plant and the James Creek
monstrosity of filth removed.
The attention of the delegates was called
| TO the good work that is being done by
the establishment of a Labor Bureau and
Workingmen's Library in this city. The
opinion of the delegates was that the ac-
commodations offered by the bureau, as a
meeting place for the members OF the or
ganiZations during the da ytime alone was
well worth the pittance paid for the sup
port of the institution The officers Of
the bureau states that the Carriage
Makers were entitled to great credit for
their support.
The reports from the local assem-
bly, were very encouraging, nearly all of the
locals reporting excellent attendance at
the regular meetings, which was conSid-
cred very good sign, as the attendance
during the summer mouths falls off consider
ably.
The Bakers Drivers delegates reported
that the Boston Bakery differences were in
q fair way o be anicaby adjusted
Delegates from the Clerks Assembly re-
ported that their meetings are held on the
first and third Fridays in each month The
meeting Of last Friday was the best attend
ed for months, nearly every member being
| present.
Tile Layers reported limitations at last
meeting.
Structural Iron Workers reported that
thirteen members, who had been recently
dropped for non-pa yInept of dues, had ap
piled to be reinstated.
Shoe Clerks reported limitations at last
meeting; also that a copy of the appeal OF
the clerks for 6 O'Clock closing hour had
been mailed to all of the shoe merchants
The delegates were again requested, when
purchasing shoes. to ask the clerk for his
membership card.
L. A. 1891 reported the appointment of
a committee on beer boycott.
Bakers reported the initiation of four ne "
members at their last meeting. The as
sembly had voted against the movement
for high saloon license. and was in favor OF
abolishing the license system altogether.
Delegates from Excelsior Assembly re
ported name OF candidate for membership
! ] Carriage Workers reported six applicants
: for membership, also that one of the larges-
: carriage firms in this city was very anX
iosu to be taken off the unfair list, which
request was now in the hands of a com
| mittee.
0 BARRIERS delegates reported, that the vel
low display card was now-well distributed
throught the city.
The executive committee announced thai
it would meet in The Times Building at
O'Clock on Sunday morning.
\ Before purchasing /; house or lot or