The morning times., 1896-01-29
IT BELIEVES THE CHARGES
Resolutions Passed COndemning Such
u Condition of Affairs and Urging
That Justice BE Done the Over
worked Womcn-Other business
Transacted at the Meeting.

| the Congressional subconmittt.c on free
| library for the District had reported favor
ably on the memoria. presented on that subj
| ject by the Federation. The committee re-
ceived the following letter on the subject:
Committee on District of Columbia.
House oi Representatives.
Washington, Jan. %.
L. M. Blake. Chairman Legislative Com
mittee Federation of Labor. Washington,
| ID. c.
Dear Sir: Your favor of the 2Isi en-
| Closing bill for introduction received.
would be glad to favor you ds you request,
| but l feel that VIII have 10 oppose the pas
| sage of this bill, and think IL would he bet
| ter Tor you Ia nave some one introduce
| it who would favor it. am not prepared
| 10 take position That the District of CO.
lumbia or the general government shall not
| let any contract Tor public buildings or
| public improvements. 1 believe such leg
| islatvn would be against sound public
policy and the interests of all concerneti.
! Yours very truly,
]. w. BA AHCOCK.
OIL DEALERS ASK ADMISSION.
A communication was received from the
| local Oil Dealers Association ASKING for
admission to the Federation. The matter
| was referred to the prura gdnda committee.
resolution OF sympathy for the under
paid employees in the pustoffiCc mail bag
repair shops was passed and also one com-
mending Senator Kyle for the resolution
introduced by him i'll the Senate ou the
same subject
The legislative committee was instructed
to present memorial to Congress pro-
testing against convict labor.
Following the discussion OF this subject
the following preamble and resolutions
were introduced and unanimously adopted:
Whereas II is the object of the Fedora
ton OF Labor to use its endea yor to stmei-
iorate the condition OF the toilng masses
who earn their daily bread from The OFT
grudging hands OF capital. and
Whereas it is openly charged by a re-
liable and competent authority thai there
exists in that branch OF the Postofrice De-
partment known as the mail bag repair
department. determined and apparently
INSCRIPTIONS effort to crush It's employees,
and especially the female portion, into
state of abiect servitude, under u system
of work that renders ii impossible for even
the best operator to earn sufficient for
the barest necessities OF life, aud
Whereas IL is alSo cha rged that the supply
of mail bags is procured by contract with
an employer of convict labor, and that
such bags are made by such convict labor,
therefore,
BE it resolved. That the Federation of
Labor of the District OF Columbia hereby
testifies to its sympathies with the uDfor-
tunate employees of said department and
hereby gives its hearty Endorsement to the,
resolution introduced in the Senate by Sem
ator Kyle, and urges its prompt passage,
expressing the hope that similar action
be taken in the other House. ana also thatf
the legislative committee of this Federation
be and hereby is directed 10 memorable
Congress to THAT effect and urge thorough
investigation of 10th the charge of NAL
administration and the employment of
convict labor.
POSTOEFICE SCAFFoLDING.
Secretary Keep received the following
letter. in reply to one sent to Secretary p.
of the Treasury J. G. Carlisle, protest.
ing against the insecurity of the scaifo!ding
in the construction OF the new postoffice
Mr.. Arthur Keep. Secretary FcGerutiOn OF
Labor, 904 Seventh street northwest,
Washington, ID. c.:
Your letter of the 21st instant is re-
ceived, requesting that the considerations 1f
the department ,pe given to proper prutCt-
iion and safeguards for workfnen enGdgcd
in the construction of the postoffice build
ing in this city.
have to advise You. that the department,
apprecialing the circumstances. by the
established correspondence with MIR John
W. Kinsey. superintendent of construction,
in August last on this subject, with the
result that. under date of August &c. The
superintendent of construction forwarded TO
the office of the supervising architect a
communication addressed to him by Messrs.
Thorpe & Bond, the contractors, for the
erection of the structural metal for the
building named. intimating that they wcud
provide the necessary temporary floors,
and scaffolding, etc, having the desired
end i'll view.
The supervising architect will again bring
the matter 10 the attention of the superin-
tendent of construction. requesting to he
advised as TO whether the action then
promised has been taken; and. il necessary,
further consideration vii IA" giv'n thereto.
SCOTT wIKE.
Acting Secretary.
The differences existing between the
propretors of the local brewcrics and the
employees were discussed at length. The
opinion on the subject is that the medi-
ators in the matter are.nearing an anica-
BILE adjustment of the differences and that
the matter will be finally settled within
the next fOrty-eight hours.