The herald., 1897-01-19

reScinded, peg leave to report:
| Upon investigation of the records Of
| the city clerks office we find:
First-That on the 23d day of Septem-
Der. 1895, petition No. 975 was filed by
the Los Angeles Typographical union
| asking that the union label be used on
all city printing. Said petition is in
words and figures following, to-wit:
Los ANGELES, Cal, Sept. IS, 1895.
To the Honorable City Council, Los An
geles. Cal.-Gentlemen:
Whereas. Much of the city printing is
| awarded to offices which refuse to pay
the scale of wages and recognize the
hours and conditions of labor adhered
to by fair employers, and
Whereas, The awarding Of printing
contracts to those offices Is putting a
premium upon low wages and coun-
tenancing the oppression of the wage
Garner, the Los Angeles Typographical
union, at a recent meeting, appointed
the undersigned committee to interview
your body in regard to city printing, and
petition you to establish such regula-
tions thereto as will assist US In main
tanning living scale of wages and uni
form hours and conditions of labor in
the printing trade.
We wish to call your attention to the
fact that the Typographical union Is an
association of workingmen. which in
cludes about four fifths of the journey
men printers OF this city Any compe-
tent printer, male or female, who will
abide by the established scale of wages,
conditions of labor etc, in vogue in the
union offices in this city is eligible to
membership in our organization.
That all employers may be on an equal
basis in bidding for work, 1t is essential
that q uniform scale of wages be in
vogue. The competitive nature of the
ve~i,, tc srtnh thot h
is observed, the wages of our craft would
be reduced to a standard far below that
which the value of our labor, Is COM
pared with other trades, justly entities
us to.
The Los Angeles Typographical union
has entered. into a mutual agreement
with the majority of the employing
printers of this city as to wages and
conditions of labor, which are com
mensurate with the skill and intell-
gence required In our trade. There are.
however, a few INSCRIPTIONS employers
who. SO they may be enabled, to under
bid their fair-dealing competitors, re-
fuse TO abide by the scale of wages and
conditions mutually agreed upon be-
tween other employers and their en-
ployes.
In order that this cut-throat policy
may not become so general as to COM
pletely demoraliZe the printing trade,
the Typographical union has adopted
label, which all fair offices are entitled to
use. This label upon any job is always
guarantee that the work has been
done in an office where justice and living
wages obtain, and, where only comps
tent help is employed.
In view of these facts we respectfully
pray that your honorable body will en-
act that in future all printing for the
city of Los Angeles shall bear the label
of the Typographical union. Other city
councils throughout the country, when
appealed to, have almost invariably TAX
en- such action.
a 6raternal organization, provides for
its sick. buries its dead and assists Its
unemployed members. so that they new
er become charge to the public, we
think this request is entitled, to favorable
and, as It is obvious that
the prosperity of the country Is largely
dependent upon the welfare and content
ment of the industrial classes, we be-
lieve your honorable body will be serv-
ing the best public interests by doing
what is within your power to maintain
living wages and just conditions of Ia
Dor.
Second-That afterwards, and on the
21st day of Otober, 1895, the city attor-
ney, to whom the above petition had
been referred by the council. reported
thereon in writing as follows, to wit:
I'm the matter of the petition of the
Los Angeles Typographical union aek
ing that the council require that the
union label shall be placed upon all
hereafter done for the city, I
have made a careful examination of the
matter and find from the petition itself
that the union label can be used in
an office only when certain requirements
Of the Typographical union have been
complied with. The petition states that
other city councils have almost invaria-
bly, taken the action prayed for in the
and I should have been glad to
iave corresponded with the city attor-
neys of those cities had known or had
the petition stated what cities had, taken
such action. While the members of the
city council and the city officials gener-
ally have the right to exercise the priv
lege Of buying when and where they
please and doing business with such
persons as they may see fit in their
capacities, I am of the opin-
on that in their official capacities and
where the public finances are involved
The law contemplates that they shall
,uy in the open market and without re-
;trctions other than may have been
placed upon them by the legislature.
It will be readily seen that were we to
place such a restriction as Is asked for
~ this petition upon city printing it
would Immediately bar from bidding
Ill offices which did not or could not
Use the union label, thereby depriving
he city of the full and fair competition |
which the law contemplates it shall |
rave. The passage of such an enact |
nent as the petition requires would un- !
be legislation against one
lass Of printers and in favor of another, |
md would therefore come within what !
$ known to the law as class legislation; |
md while we, as I have said before, |
lave the right to patronize as individu- |
lis any class against any ether, this |
$ not what the spirit of the law requires |
If us in our official business"
Which report was received and no |
.ction taken on the petition.
Third-That on the 9Th day of October, |
1896, the supply committee to whom had |
,een referred a resolution of Mr. Ash |
nan directing that all city printing bear |
he label of the Typographical union,
eported recommending the adoption of |
aid resolution, which recommended ton |
vas approved by the council.
Fourth-That on the 18th day of Oc- |
ober 1896, protest No. 924 was filed |
eighty-eight signatures and |
eading as follows:
"To the Honorable Council of the City |
f Los Angeles: We, the undersigned
represent that we are jour
eyman printers residents of Los An
'eles county. Believing that we are
ntitled to equal rights under the law
N equal right to life, liberty and the
ursuit of happiness-with persons who
hose to ally themselves with the or