The evening times., 1896-01-12
FEDERATION OF LABOR.

fhc hall of the Federation of Labor. in
the Hayden building. Four-and-a half street
and Pennsylvania avenue. on last Tuesday
night. was filled to itsutmost capacity, with
the representatives of orga nizcd labor Of the
District of Columbia. The meeting was
called to order by the president, James
F. McHugh. roll call of delegates showing
that forty-five local labor organizations
we're represented.
The first business OF the evening after the
minutes OF the preceding meeting had been
read, was on the report of the committee on
credentials. The committee reported iiv-
orably on delegates from the following local
unions and assemblies: Pioneer Laundry
workers Assembly. Paper Hangers Union.
Marine Association of Steam Engineers,
plastcrers Assembly. GambrnuS tbrcwersl
Assembly Tailors' Assembly, Stereotvpcrs
Union. Painters Assembly, National Tailors'
Union. and Carpenters Assembly. Tho re-
port was adopted and the newly accredited
delegates were admitted and duly obligated.
Credentials from the new assembly of
Shocmakers were also received but not in
time to he acted on, and were laid over
till next III, citing. The principal feature of
the meeting was on the report Of the con-
tract committee. which had been engaged,
liz conjunction with theeSccuiive committee
Of District Assembly of the X. of L., in in
rcstigatinG the grievance of the Brewery
=
The committee stated that since the matter
had been referred to them the question had
assumed a new phrase and that the boss
brewers had entered into a combine and
discharged all their brewery employees who
were members OF organized labor. The
committee, after investiga tion, had con-
cludcd to recommend 10 the Federation
that the company which had been the
principle cause Of the action of the combine
should be placed on the unfair list, and
that company. in the opinion of the joint
committee was the National Capital Brew
ing Company.
The motion to adopt the recommendation
of the committee was then thoroughly de-
bated. Members of the Gambrinus As
sembly, not delegates 10 the Federation OF
Labor. were admitted and given the floor
as the delegates were dcsrious of hear
ing a full statement of facts before tax ing
decisive action. After the statements had
been made and the representatives OF the
Brewers Assembly had been thoroughly
questioned, amendment was Offered 10
the recommendations of the committee that
the rules be suspended for the purpose of
declaring all of TIE local brcwerics I'M
fair. A lengthy debate followed.
The question of suspcnding the rules was
then put TO n vote and unanimously carried.
Motion was then put that the three
brewerics, also PortnerS, should be de-
clared unfair. which was decided without
a dissent ing vote.
The legislative committee through its
chairman reported having an interview
with Senator Lodge on the question of
introducing the bills prepared by the
Federation. regarding the employers liza
bility, TIE abolition of contract work al
District government work. also bill for
the protection of work ingmen's claims,
where employers make assignment. The
Senator cEcerfUliy consented to introduce
the bills.
The committee aAo called attention TO
the program of Senator Mcmillan. chair.
man of the Senate Committee on the Dis
trict OF Columbia. by which the cis,irmen
of the District Committees of the two
Houses and the District Commissioners
shall confer and pass upon the propriety or
otherwise of all proposed local Legislation.
The special committee appointed to draft
protest against the proposed issue Of
bonds for sewers and street extensions in
the District of Columbia, presented Il
lengthy and able argument against tue
contemplated legislation. The report of
the committee was unanimously indorsed.
Communication from the Building Trades
Council. requesting that in all future COM
tracts made bv the Federation for the