Evening star., 1897-02-23
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
The Views Of Senator Frye on the seamen's
Bill.
various Local Questions AGectin,
W0rktnEmen-The Free Library
Bill Endorsed,

The regular weekly meeting OF the Gen.
traI Labor Union, which was held last
evening at Typographical Temple was
Notwithstanding the inclement weather,
| largely attended. President Milford Spohn
occupied the chair and Mr.. j. J. Crowley
! was secretary. communication which
was received from Grand Master Machinist
| oConnell OF the International Association
| OF Machinists at Chicago in reply to a let
ter from the Central Labor Union was
| read.
Inc letter from the Central Labor Union
informed the grand master fnachinist that
| IN response to the request of the Interna-
!lonaI Association of Machinists the Cen
Iai LABOR Union had considered the ad-
Vlsabliity OF indorsing the boycott imposed
on several firms by the machinists, and in
cidentaily stated that the local association
of machinists was not affiliated with the
Central Labor Union.
Co-Operation Likely.
The letter received by the latter was as
follows:
L beg to acknowledge receipt of your
esteemed favor of the 18th, in which YOU
state that our lodge in Washington has NOT
afhliated with the Central Labor Union. I
VIII state, in connection with this matter,
that L have been in correspondence with
our lodge in Washington in regard to af-
nliatlls with the Central Labor Union. and
nave advised 1T to do SO at once and / be-
ileEe IL VIII do SO in the near future
expect TO be in Washington in March,
ana II at that time our lodge has not Joined
the Central Labor Union / will take stems
while there to bring ii into your body
delegate keener, chairman of the iegisla-
tive committee, submitted a memorial
Which ne had prepared asking that Con-
4
the opening of the new public library from
to 10 O'Clock in the evening The me-
moral was Endorsed, and will be presented
TO the proper committees Of the Senate
and House of Representatives
Mr.. Keener also reported that he had
communicated with Representative Phillips.
chairman of the House committee on labor
relative to the bill which proposes to legal
lze uade labels, which may be attached
to the product of union labor, as sug-
gested by the cigarmakers and further
reported that the legislative committee
would make efforts. suggested by the
favers Union, to have the pay of PAYERS
on municipal work regulated by law instead
OF Deing subject to the will of the District
Commissioners.
The Seamen's Bill.
Chairman Spohn of the committee ap-
pointed at the previous meeting of the Cen
tral Labor Union to consider the .sea-
mems bill reported as follows:
L called on Senator Frye a few days
ago in the room of the Senate committee
On commerce and presented to him the res
olutlons adopted at the last meeting of the
central Labor Union. These resolutions re-
quested the repeal of sections 4J9t-45g9 of
the Revised Statutes of the United States
winch provide for the arrest, without war
rant and the summary punishment, with
out due process of law. of any seaman in
the merchant marine who refuses to ioin
his ship or to obey the commands of the
| master. The senator, who, as chairman of
the committee on commerce. has charge
of the pending bill, which repeals some of
the minor obnoxious provisions of the ex-
listing law, expressed himself as satisfied
with the bill as reported. L can't under
stand, he said, why the pending bill is
Objectionable to any one.
The seamen do not understand it. and
they have made misstatemerts and caused
the newspapers and labor men to harshly
crlticise me. / have always been well dis
posed toward the working people, particu-
larly the seaneD, for l have had some ex-
perlence as q sailor.
The pending bill will correct many of
the evils complained of. 1t insures the
seaman better treatment and provides that
the food furnished him shall be as good
II not better, than that which supplies the
tables of most of the workirgmen.
An Expression About Flogsinr,
1t has also been loudly proclaimed tina,
the bill will restore fiogging in the mer-
chant marine This Is not true but il seems
that the seamen have that impression. and
1t is difficult to convince them that it is not
fact
Il told the senator that the resolutions
handed him requested the repeal of sec
fions 1896 459J of the Revised Statutes: that
We regarded that law as an outrageous in
frinsement upon the rights of the citizen:
that II was an application of the fugitive
slave law to the seamen, and We were ap-
prehensive that the law would become a
precedent for similar legislation which
would apply to workingmen not in the
merchant marine service.
You people need not apprehend any,
thing of the kind he replied: this law is
necessary for the merchant marine-it can
be applied there
" But, senator I replied we see a mem.
ace between the lines, and as the Supreme
Court has decided that this law is consti-
tutional, is it not possible that legislation
OF the same character may be made to ap-
ply to all classes Of workngmen%
"'Oh, no. he quickly replied, 1T would
cause a revolution-it couldn't he DONE
g Then YOU recognize the injustice of the
law and favor its enforcement not appre-
hending any serious results, because IL only
applies to the seamen, who are a small por-
ton of our population
In reply the senator assured me that the
bill would not be disposed of during this
session; that he desired to be fair; that he
had the kindest feeling for all working peo-
pie, and that he would not under any con-
ditiOn do them an injustice.
Employment of Pnvers.
The committee which called on President
Crosby OF the Potomac Light and Power
Company a few days ago in reference to
the employment of union PAYERS on its
conduit work reported that Mr. Crosby
informed it the paving in future would
be done by the District government. The
committee stated that the District
government does not employ union PAYERS
II considers 1t useless to continue efforts
In that direction, and asked to be discharg-
ed from further consideration Of the SUBJ
ject. The request was granted.
The committee on organization reported
that the subcommittee was making ar
rangements to hold another mass meeting
within a short time.
The Free Library.
Delegate Silver read that part of the an.
nual estimates Of the District Commission
aI..tt.