The herald., 1897-02-16
Building Trades Council VIII Establish a
Reading Room-Open Meeting Of
BrlckIayers-LaborN Notes

| to struggle for the rights and liberties
| of mankind. We therefore urge not only
| the defeat of this iniquitous bill by ev-
| cry means at the command of our people.
but the thorough organization of la
Dor to defend protect and advance the
rights and interests of all. There is
| danger ahead; meet it and conquer It.
| and labor will yet be emancipated and
man be really free
The persistent opposition of the Sea-
mems union to the passage of this arbi-
tration bill has opened the eyes of labor
| ing men, and legal advice of eminent
| lawyers was sought the consensus of
| opinion being that it was dangerous
| to the liberty of workers, ruinous to the
| organizations, and destructive of the
| progress of the people.
A short session was held by the council
| last week. owing to the open meeting
afterward.
A letter was read from Assemblyman
Valentine, who wished to be placed right
on the bill fixing the minimum rate of
wages on all public work. The follow
ing is his explanation, addressed to
Arthur Vinette, secretary of the coun-
Gil:
Il have been put in false position
before your people in regard to the ac-
ton took upon the assembly bill fixing
the minimum rate of wages. In order
to understand the matter, permit me to
say that on the floor 1 spoke in favor Of
the first clause of the BILL and then and
there stated that no bill could be drawn
too strong to suit me- in order to secure
the payment to the laborer of a fair
cOmDenS3 tiOn for his ltt 7
cnsidered this bill would not accomplish
the purpose for which it was introduced,
because it provided no way for punish
ing violation of it. 1t simply allows
the labor commissioner to enforce the
law, and how can he do it except by a
slow, tedious civil suit? And then who
is going to pay the expenses of such suit
the laborer? L offered on the floor
that if the author of the bill would
amend the same by striking out section
and insert instead: Any violation of
this act shall be a misdemeanor and pun
ishable as SUCH l would most gladly do
all L could for the measure for l then
felt we would be putting the laborer in
a position where he could enforce his
rights under the bill. Messrs Melick,
Cross, Chynoweth, VOsburg and { /
think )kenyon voted the same as did
and for the same reason. l think when
your council examines the matter with
lle SAINT care nave given II, you Will
say l was right. l was in the speakers
chair when the vote was taken, and ]
took occasion then to explain my vote
and based my action solely on the
ground that the bill was practically in
operative and would not effect the pur-
pose intended.
"I trust you will do me the kindness
to set me right with the people you rep
resent as secretary, and for whose true
interests / shall always endeavor to act
because 1 feel that it is their interests
that need protection. Money and capital
always succeed in taking care of them
selves. S. H. VALENTINE.'
The brickmakers reported that a scale
had been signed by the employers to
go into effect until further notice A
committee of three was appointed to
cooperate with the Building Trades
council, in conjunction with the Brick
makers union, composed of Messrs.
Gentry, Dewey and Schroeder.
Bill No. GIG, introduced by Assembly
man Mead, which has reference to the
granting of new franchises, received the
unanimous Endorsement of the council.
The council then adjourned to the open
meeting to partake of refreshments.
The Bricklayers union will hold an
open meeting tomorrow evening at
0OunCll Ol ldDOI Hdll. GOOQ speakers
will be present to address the meeting.
Messrs. Levy, DeFrees, Riffel and Dali
las, formerly employed in this city, are
in Sacramento working in the state
printing office.
The Journeymen Bakers Protective
Benevolent association will give their
fourth annual ball on Wednesday even
ing of this week at Turnverein hall.
The Council of Building Trades at it's
last regular meeting instructed the Sec
retary to write to the Los Angeles coun-
ty delegation asking it's support of the
labor bills now before the legislature
A library committee was appointed to
arrange for reading matter in the hail.
The Herald, Express and Examiner
were ordered placed on file.
At the last session of the Ohio legisla-
ture bill became a law which promises
to solve the question of what to do with
the products Of convict labor The bill |
provides for the exchange of the prod
ucts of the different institutions men
toned in the bill whereby competition
between the inmates of state supported |
and free labor will be wiped |
out. This will also reduce the burden |
of the taxpayers to minimum.
The army of the working children is |
being augmented at a fearful rate in |
our industrial centers. An awakened |
public sentiment is manifesting itself |
in Chicago and the state of Illinois, An |
composed wholly of wo- |
men has set the ball in motion, and |
is enthusiastic for the passage of a law
that will greatly restrict this evil
Birmingham (Ala) Typographical |
union has called a convention to meet |
In that city on March 2, for the purpose |
Of discussing and devising means for |
the relief of the craft who have been !
rendered permanently idle by the in |
Productions of machinery. Every sub
ordinate union in the United States |
and Canada has been invited to send del
egates.
A bill has been introduced into con-
gress for a minimum wage of So a day |
Cor unskilled laborers.
Penitentiary made brooms have been
sold in small towns in Pennsylvania
with the inscription, made In q union