Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-29
IN LABOR CIRCLES
Business Transacted at the Fedora
ton Of Labor Meeting.
FREE LIBRARY BILL is ENDORSED
Will Settle the Brewers Boycott
Themselves.
THE HANBACK, BUILDIN G

The Federation of Labor transacted a
large amount of important business at its
meeting last night. There were delegates
from forty-two organizations present, and
President McHugh occupied the chair
Mr.. E. M. Blake, chairman of the legis-
lative committee, reported that the subcom-
mittee of the congressional committee to
whom had been referred the petition for the
establishment Of free public library, has
made favorable report on the subject
Mr. Blake also read a communication
which he had received from Representative
Babcock, who had been asked to take charge
of the bill prepared by the legislative COM
mittee of the Federation, and Endorsed by
the latter, in reference to having all work
done for the District government performed
by days labor. The letter from Mr.. Bah
cock is as follows:
Your favor of the 21st, inclosing bill for
introduction, received. 1 would be very glad
to favor you, as you request, but find that
1 will have to oppose the passage of this
bill, and think it would be better for you
to have some one introduce it who would
favor it. I am not prepared to take a posi-
ton that the District of Columbia, or the
general government, shall not let any con-
tract for public buildings or improvements.
Il believe such legislation would be
against sound public policy and the in
terests Of all concerned. Yours very truly.
u. w. BABCOCK."
The communication was placed on file.
A communication from Scott Wike act
ing secretary Of the treasury, in reply to a
letter from Secretary Arthur Keep of the
Federation relative to the better protection
OF the workmen at the new post office build
ing, the substance of which has already
been published in The Star, was read and
placed on file.
A communication received from the retail
OIL dealers, asking repres entation in the
Federation, was referred to the committee
on propaganda.
MIR. George 0. Cook reported that he was
present at a meeting of the House District
committee, Tuesday, when a proposition
was made to close up all the wells in the
District, and that he had asked the mem
bers, instead of agreeing TO that, to an
proprlate money to have the wells dug
deeper, which, he thought, would remedy
the faults found with them.
Mail Bag Repair Shop.
A resolution of sympathy for the women
employed in the mail equipment shop in
THIS city was adopted, as was also another
resolution indorsing Senator Kyie's resolu-
ten proposing an investigation of the
charges made in some quarters against tie
management of the shop, and the legislative
committee was instructed to prepare a pc
o.
Ripit by law the purchase of any more mail
sacks made by convict labor.
Inc preamble and resolutions in reference
10 the mail equipment shop. which, after
lhofcugh discussion were indorsed without
dissenting voice, are as follows.
Whereas. 1t is the object of the Fedora
ton OF Labor to use it's endeavor to
d, esas the condition of the toiling
masses who earn their daily bread from the
o1t-grudging hands of capital, and
>, whereas, 1t is openly charged by re-
maple and competent authority that there
exists in that branch of the Post once Dc
partment known as the mail has, $50
department determined and apparently
interruptions effort to crush it's emnlovas
ana especially the female portion, into a
state of AFFECT servitude, under a systano of
work that renders it impossible for even the
pest operator to earn sufficient for the
barest necessities of life, and
whereas, 1t Is also charged that the SUD-
ply of mail bags is procured by cnntract
with an employer of convict labor and 49,
therefore No'i'ie' iapor'
, Be it resolved, That the Federation Of
Labor Of the District of Columbia Lereh ~,
testliles to it's sympathies with the mnfor.
.unate employees of said Department. ard
hereoy gives its hearty Endorsement to the
tor a Introduced in the Senate by Sena-
tor Kyle, and urges it's PROMPT mas
sage expressing the hope that simiIar
actlon DE taken in the other house and aisa
mat the legislative committee of this Fed,
iafe eoH ro oe ana hereby Is directed to memoir
iaHze congress to that effect, and TO urge
lnorough investigation of both the charres
OF maiadm1nistration and the cmnIovosnt
OF convict labor eioS ti@hl
The delegates from tho Tr;n,
Union and Gambrinus Assembly nrssnn.o,
tneir credentials and were seated
Inc status of affairs between the brexers
anu their locked-out-men was referred IN
anu the sentiment seemed to be that q cat
tlement of the difficulty can reasonahI, -
eApecteo curing the present week.
No Additions Desired.
A joint committee Of the Bric<,ave,s.
Union and the Building Trades Council nsr-
sonally waited on the Federation of Iahor
with the request that the committee of the
Federation having in charge the settlero,,+
OF the brewery lockout unite with them IN y
settlement of the difficulty. The Feder.tio,
oepateo their request and the secretary
was instructed to make the following renIv.
Resolved, That the secretary be Instruct
ed to reply to the request of the Rricl-Ia 80.
Union and the Building Trades Counci1 49,
the committee of the two central bodies arc
suHlclent and competent to effect sattIs
nent or the dispute between the master
brewers and Gambrinus Assembly and tbat
the appointment Of committees from, otbar
todies at this time would be inadvisahIa
Ihat 1t is the judgment of the Federation of
Labor that rigid enforcement Of the how
colt by the Bricklayers' Union and siStor
unions will speedily force the settlement IF
the grievances satisfactorily to ali unions
interested, and that their earnest co-opera
ton to this end Is requested"
This action was taken because the com,
m1ttees CT the central bodies We're men of
experience and competency and were fully
able to bring about satisfactory settle
ment If the master brewers decided to treat
with them 1>
e. 1t was decided that the District Assembly
and the Federation alone had the right. IN
DER the rules governing trade matters in the
District, to treat with the brewers. as the
grievance was brought to the two bodies on
complaint of Gambrinus Assembly, and that
In the terms of settlement the interests of
that assembly should be paramount to the
interests of other bodies involved, and that
the Bricklayers' Union and the Building
Trades Council could best aid the two bodies
in settlement by an active and persistent
boycott Of all saloon keepers handling the
products of the local brewers
This action on the part of the Federation
was not, as some declare, out of slight or
discourtesy to the Building Trades Council.
or not that they did not wish to recognizes
that body, for the trades council had in the
early part Of the evening been recognized
as representative trades body in incor
porating them in contract adopted by the
Federation.