The morning times., 1896-05-06
Hecht and Company,
SIS Seventh Street.
THEY ASK FOR DAY LABOR
District Federation Writes to Meth
odist Ministers On the Subj ct.
Request That the Work on the Amer
ican University Buildings Be
Done at Fair Wages.

Representatives from forty local labor
organizations answered TO roll call at
the meeting OF the Federation of Labor
held last evening at Plasterers' Hall.
The Federation determined that II was
best to go 20 the fountain heads III seek
ing redress Tor grievances or and in secur-
ing LetteIment iOr the condition OF the
members OF organized labor.
With this III view the following Letters
were ordered sent 10 the Methodist min
listers of the District OF Columbia ana TO
Senator Cali OF Florida.
To the Ministers OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Gentlemen: The Federation of Labor
respectfully sUllcIts the cooperation OF
the ministers OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church in supporting their petition to the
building committee Of the American Uni
versity 10 have the construction or al
buildings controlled by them done by
days labor under the supervision OF an
architect; OF. in case the work is done
under the contract system, TO request That
the mechanics OF Washington be Protected
by inserting IN all SLeCIlCationS Tor con
tracts clause providing that tie rate OF
wages 10 be paid by contractors for labor,
either skilled or unsklled, shall lie The
maximum rate Of wages paid by employers
OF union labor Tor wors Of simi ar char
Rcter. JAMES F M HUGH.
President.
Hon. Wilkinson Call, United States sen
ator:
Sir: 1t is the belief Of the Federation IF
Labor that the ri ghts and interests of
workingmen employed by corpora tions in
the District OF JOIuInbia chartered 10y Con-
greSs are entitled TO and should receive
consideration and protection from ConGre Sc
and that the best assurance that these
rights and interests would not be violated
would be found in plain and Unmista kabIe
command of the Iawgiyers With this in
mind, the Federation appeals to you and
TO Congress ia making further grants To
such corporations 10 impose upon them con-
dluOnS eXaCtlnE simple Justice from them
in their treatme mt OF their employees.
The Federation OF Labor therefore re-
spectfully requests that you oppose for
them all franchises for ne " lines Tor street
railways or extensions Of present lines in
the District OF Columbia unless the hill
for such franchise or eXte nsiCn require
that IN the construction, running or
operating OF such road the labor Of a mer;-
can citizens only be employed, and that il
fix the wages to be paid drivers, motor-
men and conductors at not less than 50
per day OF not mere than ten hours.
The Federation takes this occa sion to
extend to the honorable Senator its az
knOwledgment of his many favCrS IN the
past and to assure him hatorganiz.-l labc=
recognizes in bin stanch champion Of
the rights OF labor to organize for their
mutual protection, and that his untiring
efforts TO SECURE for workingmen fair
wages have been particularly gratifying
TO organized labor in the District of
Columbia, whose cause is pleaded in Cou-
gress only by men WHO, Ike the hCnorahle
Senator. have been impelled by a sense
OF Justice and fair play TO champiCn the
cause Of the unrerreSented.
JAMES F. NTZHUGH,.
President.
The legislative committee reported a bill
providing that all beef aninla Is slaughtered
IN the District shall be killed al the abtatoir
at Benning. The bin also recommended that
immediately after the passa ge 10y Congress,
oneor rmorelnspectors, who must he practical
butchers, shall be appointed by the Com
mlssioners who shall examine and report
on all animals before they are killed.
An invitation was received to attend the
international Socialist Workers and Trades
Union Congress, which meets in London,
Eng, July 2T next.