Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-09

nate immigration: sympathy for the Cuban
insurgents was expressed: charges of politi-
car intrigue we're made against President
Sompers. but not sustained, and a Not.. Of
confidence unanimously rendered him
Among other matters approved were th-
Inauguration or an eight hour dav which
was SCI Tor May !, lsHS. and a levy Of I
Ter cent per member OF affiliated unions
was ordered for the purpose OF acftatinv
me short-noar day. 1t WAS recommended
'hat AFFILIATED unions make their dues -
cents per month as minimum Th, Erd-
disapproyod
The Headquarters of the federation was
changed from Indianapolls Ind "a N-,.b
ington. u g. Resolutions were nossad VOC
cgnizinG the union label as the matDst,y
OF trades unions. and the most far-r.3chin.r
ara earrrst way of educating the people
10 mutual benefits, and forming a national
label league: approving tie suggestion that
the head Of the government labor drpart-
mont ne made cabinet officer: forhidding
officers Of the federation to use their ofii-
cial positions for political purposes and
Endorsed the stand Of the Christian En-
deaNor"TS against Sunday work. new
fnie Declared that any union refusing to
comply with orders OF the federation with
in sixty days should be suspended.
Federation Revenues.
The revenues Of the federation are d.
vided follows: From international and
trade unions. a per capita tax OF one-fourth
of l cent per member per month: from To-
cal ANA federal labor unions. cent per
member per month; city central labor
unions and states declarations of labor. $la
per year. ana il represented IN annual con-
NCntion $40 extra must bc paid. Formerly
the tax On these latter bodies was 49, per
year whether represented I'm the convention
or nos. The per capita tax Of the federation
must lac paid by the central offices OF the
affiliated organizations. There are many
national and central offices which only cN-
Est upon small per capita tax paid 10y
their local unions.
Growth of the Order.
The American Federation Of Labor -
composed of sixty national and Internal
ticnal trade unions. eleven state branches.
eiGhty-one city central bodies ~ local
unions and has in round numbers COM
bined membership of 6nO.ono waEe-earn-
Ing men and women marching under its
banner. Fifteen years ago there were hut
fourteen rational and international trades
unions in the United States and Canada
Now there are scNcnty-eiEht. three having
been formed in the past year. one of these.
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butchers Workmen's National Union. which
was formed of five locals at The Cncaunau
convention, now has twenty-seven locals.
Gathering Statistics.
There has been so much dispute among
workinGmcn over statistics Of labor gath
cred by state bureaus or the national gov
eminent that the American Federation OF
Labor has decided to make an effort TO DO
something along that line in a national
way that can be depended upon 10 Ice alb
sClutrly correct. The officers Of tine fed
Grafton, according to a circular recently
sent - all affiliated unions believe that
such compilation is necessary to the
successful operation OF the labor move
ment to show what il has accom-
plisled and giving announcement and
guiding action in the future. The circular
asks that the blank sent out u" iillcG as
accurately possible and mailed to the
secretary of the federation. T ne period
covered was from October l. 1896. TO &C.
toher l. 1851, and the questions to be an
sWered were:
Name OF organization. members October
!. lNHi. members October l. 1N.1. strikes
since october /. ISIS: strikes won since
October ]. l>96: strikes compromised since
October |. 1856: strikes lost since prtot,-f.
!, ls'G: total gains i'm wages. total gains in
reduction of hours, gains i'm other re-
spects. losses during the year. number Of
Pc rsons involved. number OF persons hcnc-
htod number of persons wursted. how
many boycotts won, how many lost, how
many pending. cost of strikes. cost Of boy
colts. whore We're SIabS secured. adyan-
taSe gained without strikes.
The federation proposes to make these
reports part of the regular work Of the
Organization each year and all affiliated
unions viii be instructed TO keep an an-
Iual record.