New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-09
THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS-
MR. MALLINSON ACKNOWLEDGES THE
EFFORTS OF SOCIALISTS.
FIRM STEPS FOR REMEDIAL LEGIsLATroN-R
PoRTERs OF NoN-UNIoN NEWSPAPERS EX-
PEELED FROM THE sIrTINGs.


PoRTERs OF NoN-UNIoN NEWSPAPERS EX-
PEELED FROM THE sITTINGs.
Edinburgh Sept. SThe second days sitting
or the Trades-Cnion Congress opened this morn
ing with full attendance Of delegates. Mr..
Mallinson. the new chairman Of the Parlia-
mentary Committee. delivered His inaugural
address. in which he said that the change in the
manner in which the communities now dealt
with labor questions was largely due to the
Socialists who had aroused the National con-
science by exposing the misery and degradation
arising from TIE defects in the industrial sys-
TEN. and awake ming the sense of the working
classes to the existing arrangements. which
gave them the most labor and the least wealth.
Though the Socialists had paved the way for
remedial legislation he said their remedies
would not in his opinion. bring about the de-
sirei results. The social millennium, he be-
lieved. would be partly realized only in proper
ton as more just feelings pervaded all classes.
Mr. Madison then advocated the policy on
the part of trades-unonists of keeping outside
the lines OF the present political parties in the
fight for living wages. and to establish the as
sertion that the remuneration Of labor is the
first charge upon production. The greatest step
toward a genuine political labor party. he de-
clared would he the payment Of salaries to
Members of Parliament. and this ought to be
made test question in the next Parliamentary
elections
THE GOVERNMENT CENSURED.
The Congress. taking up the business of the
day. discussed the report of the Parliamentary
Committee. submitted yesterday which cen
sured the Government for neglectinE to pass
any measures in the interests # labor and for
preventing private Members Of Parliament from
promoting such measures The report also ex
pressed doubt as to whether henceforth it Would
be prudent for the Trades-I Mon Congress to
associate itself with meetings like the Interna-
tonal Socialist Cong. css recently held in Lon
DON but declared that it was desirable that
tradcs-unionism and cooperation should work
, together.
Benjamin Pickard. Member of Parliament for
the Normanton Division Of Yorkshire. West
Riding. held that frades-unOns ought to keep
themselves aloof from the international Social
list congresses Such gatherings. h. said. were
farcical. and only brought labor into dscredit.
Other speakers urged that it would be better
To alter the basis of representation for interna
tional congresses rather than 70 repudiate the
principle of international brotherhood of labor.
\ motion in this sense was proposed and
adopted.
The Congress passed resolution expelling
from the sitting the reporters Of all newspapers
employing non-union compositors. The passage
Of this resolution excludes from the Congress
the reporters of every newspaper in Edinburgh.
Councillor w ThOrne. Of the Gas-Workers
Union. moved the following resolution. when
was adopted by vote of 2oi 10 -;
Seeing that the eight hours working day is one Of
the most important preliminary steps toward me
ultimate emancipation OF the working class and
Will lessen the number of unemployed, improve ne
quality of the work and increase the nedltn.
strength and intelligence Of the workers this con
grcss declares
To DRAFT AN ElGHT-HOUR BILL
That the time has arrived when the hours OF labor
should bc limited to eight hours per day in all
trades and occupations IN the United Kingdom. and
that the Parliamentary Committee bo instructed To
draft bill the lines of this resolution. win
view Of getting ii passed through Parliament ana
made u law OF the country.
The following resolution. offered by Mr.. f.
Hartford of the Am1lgamated Railway Ser
wants was passed without a division:
That. i'm order place the law relating to ON
poycrs' liability a more equitable basis and 10
calls upon the Government 80 TO amend Tn" eNStinS
al mat. among other things. the responsibility
may rest upon the employer for the acts Of his en-
pOyes Of those OF any suh-contrartor. ana thai
Irrsl ccivc the acqucsc. nee in or knowlodG" OF
any defect danger on the part OF III" person
killed or injured: that its provisions may apply to
tho workers in all industries land sea. In pri
vatc. State municipal employment and that con
tracing out Of the act be made Illegal, with other
notice. the removal Of the maximum limit OF com
pensa tOn. and the simpication Of legal procedure.
Including the presentation by the Defendant oi
statement OF dcfence-any allegation OF contrlhu-
tory negligence be clearly set forth therein. me
Parliamentary committee to j." Instructed 10 en-
deavor TO obtain the passing into IVY of a measur"
on these lines AT the earliest possible moment, the
need for such legislation being Increasingly urgent.