Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-18
LABOR'S INTERESTS
The PAYERS Show How Their Wages
Have Been Gut Down.
PREPARATIONS FOR LABOR DAY
Contractor Saxton's Policy Toward
Union PAYERS.
VARIOUS LABOR MATTERS

The meeting last evening of the Central
Labor Union was very largely attended,
and, as usual, the proceedings were inter-
esting. President Milford Spohn presided,
and Mr.. Joseph F. Torrens was secretary.
The leading feature of the meeting was the
presentation Of a paper from the PAYERS
Protective Union and the consequent dis
cussion which it caused. The communica-
ton, which was addressed to the Central
Labor Union, was as follows:
I'VE would respectfully call your atten-
ton to these facts. in reference to the ac-
ton of the District Commissioners in re-
ducing the wages Of the city PAYERS:
Reduction Of Wages.
"Prior to July I, 1894. the wages Of paw
ers on all kinds of work were 1928 per day.
but on that date the superintendent. Henry
Moss, notified the PAYERS that in future
the wages would be s. per day. As such
a cut did not amount to much. the PAYERS
acceded to 1t: but when, on the LIST day of
January. 1896, the same gentleman In
formed the PAYERS Of a further reduction of
s1.25, making paving wages $l.7o, the paw
ers vigorously protested.
The District foremen then substituted
unskilled laborers, to the serious detriment
Of skilled PAYERS
I'VE would also call your attention to the
practice of the District Commissioners
subbing' contracts for paving from other
contractors, as the work can be done more
cheaply by the city than by the contrac-
tors.
The very simple reason for this is to be
found in the fact that II the contractors
did the work themselves they would be
held in check by the five years repair
clause which is inserted in all District con-
tron &
did the work. they would be compelled by a
District inspector to do first-class work,
which can only be done by skilled work
men, whereas the District has 1t done by
laborerS at laborers' wages.
We would further call your attention to
the case of man who is said to hold sub
contracts from the Barber Asphalt Com
pany and the Crawford Paving Company.
and who Is said to be working nom union
PAYERS.
Action Taken.
A resolution was adopted by a unanimous
vote requesting the legislative committee to
call on the District Commissioners today
and request the latter to at once restore the
wages of the PAYERS to the figure that was
paid prior to the last reduction. namely, s.
per day: also to ask that the practice of
having granite curling to be used In DIS
trict work cut in Georgia be stopped with
out further delay, and also tina. the con-
structiOn of the new public school building
at Langdon, for which an appropriation was
made by Congress at the last session, he
commenced as soon as possible.
The delegates from the PAYERS Union re-
ported that after very patient and eN-
haustive examination of the whole subject
they had become convinced that Contractor
Saxton, who has been requested ON several
occasions to do 80, would not employ union
PAYERS. and that when MIR. Saxton Was QUE 8
toned to his reasons for adopting this
course. he stated that it was because he had
been very badly treated by members OF the
PAYERS Union of Baltimore when be was
filling some contracts in that city, but what
the treatment consisted of M. SaXton did
not state. The delegates also reported that
all PAYERS working in the city, with the ex-
ception oil those employed by AIR. SaNton,
are members of the PAYERS Union.
Electrical Workers.
On motion OF Delegate Silver Of the
granite cutters the chair appoint I'd Messrs.
Hughes. McCrink, Lynch, Miller and Owens
a committee to visit ALI the business
men in the city in order to ascertain which
of them are and which are not selling the
products of union labor.
The delegates from the electrical workers
reported that they had received a commune
ication from the local union of the brother
hood In Baltimore in reply to letter from
them on the subject. stating that tine Bal
timcre men would do all in their power TO
prevent the employment of non-union cleo
tricians on the power house OF the Column
bia and Maryland Electric Railway Com
pany at Lakeland, aid the securing OF the
employment of union men thereon.
Delegate McCrink of the contract COM
mittee reported that In his opinion the
members OF the Central Labor Union were
being boycotted by large dry goods
house on Pennsylvania avenue, and 1t was
Under stood the matter would be looked in
to.
A delegate from the Musical Union re-
ported that rumor was in circulation that
the band, which is under the leadership of
Prof Weber, organizer for the Central
Labor Union, is non-union org aniZation.
but Delegate Miller stated that Prof. Web
er, when asked concerning the matter,
stated that his band was union through
out, and that the report which was pub
iished in a morning paper was incorrect.
1t was further stated that committee
from the Musical Union would call On the
manager of the paper referred to and ask
that retraction be also published.
AT the request of a delegate from the
Engineers Union a special committee was
appointed to call on a large manufacturing
concern in Washington and inform the
general manager that the Central Labor
Union has an Engineers Union affiliated
with 1t.
Labor Day Parade.
The delegates from the Bricklayers' and
Electrical Unions reported progress in max
ing arrangements for participating in the
Labor day parade.
The delegates from Columbia Typograph-
ical Union stated that the union decided not
to parade on Labor day. but they hoped to
be able to make different report after the
next meeting of Columbia Union.
The BARRIERS reported that their union
would parade on Labo day. also that there
were now none but tourneymen in the or
ganization, the bosses having all withdra WI
In order to comply with the law of the ma
fiOnal organization the subject,
The brewers reported the receipt of let
ter from Secretary Kursenknabe of the
National Brewery Workers Association,
stating that their action in forming q local
branch of the order. to be known as Brew
cry Workers Union, No. 11s, was approved
by the national executive board.
A communication from Mr.. c. H. Worden,
secretary of the Knights of Labor and
District Assembly No GO Labor day COM
mittee, inclosing an invitation to take part
in an excursion for the purpose of raising
funds to purchase q monument for the late
E. ]. Rea was read and placed on file.
Run by Deputy Marshals.
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