The evening times., 1896-02-03
HOME RULE FOR PRINTERS
They ASK That District Work Be
Done by Local Firms Alone.
REQUEST OF A DELEGATION
Committee of Typographical Union
siOners' AttentiOn-A Bill May BE
Ini reduced In Congress-A
tion on Labor Measure.

A committee from Columbia Typograph-
ic.,i Union, which consisted of President
George A. Tracy, Secretary W. n. Brock
well and f. NJ. Blake, called upon the Com
missioners To-Day in behalf of the District
taken, III whatever may be the best method
To have the District printing done by
local firms instead OF admitting compe-
ution from other cities.
The committee WAS accompanied by Mr..
Moore, representing the employing print
ers of The city, who are equally Interested.
The contention is that the competition in
the District for all classes of the printing to
be done will be quite sufficient to regulate
the prices. and will secure the same economy
that the present plan does. IL is therefore
urged rs u matter of justice that the home
taA-pay yers shall have the benefit or all the
printing required by the District.
II is understood that Il Liii will be pre-
pared, probably by a committee of print
ers, ana presented 10 Congress for Its
action. and il is not improbable, If ii does
not conflict with the original law, that
the Commissioners will approve 1t.
ADVERSE ACTION.
The Commissioners hayc recommended
adverse action upon Senate bill No. l4lI,
ITO regulate the employment or labor ON
p4DiC DGi.ulnss and bruuilus bcIOHslhS
to the District" stating as reason that
in their Judgment III. lubilc WORK III thclr
charge snouid as a luic, and for the public
interests, be executed by contract, after
public notice invites proposals,
The bill, which was lnllouuced by Scna-
tor Lougc, provides that 'all labor EN-
pioyed on public buildings and public works
in the District, whether skilled or unskiiled,
must Le eupioycd by the day. anu Eo work
upon any such buildings or works shall
be done by contract"
The existing law, providing a perIna-
nent form of government for The District,
coutempIates that all work performed un-
der til. direction OF the Commissioners,
the total cost OF which exceeds Sl,Ouo.
shall be let by contract, ana the enactment
OF tie pending measure would make n
sweeping change i'll the custom. Tine Com
missioDcrs say that in exceptional cases
they should have discretionary power as
to the manner of executing the, public
work.
POLICE COURT ASSIGNMENTS.
Justices james II. Mills and c. F. Scott
have been again assigned TO the police
court bench, 10 serve at times during the
present calendar year when the regular
incumbcnts are for any reason excused.
Judge Mills is an old timer in that capacity,
having been named as a substitute Tor eacn
Of the Judges for number OF years past
Judge Scott filled the position last year
for the first time, making record that mas
the approval indicated by a reassiEnnent-
There was a noted decrease in the number
OF patrons of the Municipal Lodging House
last week as compared with the preceding
week, as follows: Total number of persons,
Alb, decrease, 81; number OF meals fur-
nished 795. decrease, .: number OF lodE-
ingS, 4O7, decrease, 40; average OF meals
and lodgings daily, 80, decrease, g.