Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-05
LABOR AND ElGHT-HOURLAW
Central Union Charges Violation at Bureau
Of Engraving and Printing.
The Employees Urged to Form an Or
cussed-Business of Locals.

Twenty organizations were represented at
last evenings meeting of the Central La
Dor Union. President Milford Spohn was
in the chair, and Messrs. Crowley and
Moulden acted as secretaries.
The most important action taken was the
adoption of a statement and resolution in
reference to the alleged violation of the
eieht-hour law at the bureau of engraving
and printing, and al:o the recent order of
the acting secretary Of the treasury in ref
erence to extra pay for extra time, the pa
per being as follows.
IF the order recently issued by the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury prohibiting the
payment Of extra pay for extra time to the
employees at tine bureau Of engraving and
printing viii. result in limiting the work OF
a day in that department and compel those
in charge to obey the national eight-hour
law, It should be regarded as eminently
proper.
For years these employees have been
worked extra time, or beyond the number
of hours per day required of employees in
other departments, which has been sub
mitted to without protest from the en-
ployes because of the extra compensation
received.
perhaps, as employees OF the govern
ment, the workers in the bureau were una
BILE to protect themselves from the eXac-
lions of those in authority, and were I'M
willing parties with the treasury officials
to the violation of the spirit of the Gig 1t
hour law.
The rule that required extra time of
these employees was an impudent disre-
gard of cardinal issue of organized labor,
and the continuance of the rule, even with
compensation, should be condemned.
Additional Force Suggested.
eff the force now employed is not sIfii-
cient to do the work required without
working overtime, additional workers
should be employed, and this bureau should
be copducted in the future on just and
equitable business basis. and not. in
the past, under the methods of a sweat
shop
1--WE condemn the system of employment
which has prevailed at the bureau of en-
craving and printing, and request that
those in authority rescind the rule requir-
ing the employees to work overtime, and
that in the future not more than eight
hours labor per day shall be required of
them.
THE organization committee of this body
is hereby directed to communicate this re-
quest to the Secretary of the Treasury and
also to urge the employees of the bureau to
organize ard thus receive and deserve the
sympathy and support of organized labor"
The Brewers Contract.
Delegate Weber, chairman of the commit
tee on the brewers contract, reported that
the committee had for several months en-
deavored to see the employing brewers
but mad been unable to do so, and Secre-
tary Crowley was directed TO communicate
with them and request that they name a
date Upon which they would meet tine ccm-
mittee and consider the contract which will
be submitted.
Delegate Maghan. of the committee to
whom was referred the grievance of the
Engineers Union against the management
oil local brewery, reported that the COM
mittee had conferred with the directors Of
the concern, and the promise had been
given that when the services of an addi-
uonal engineer were required, a member of
the Engineers Union would be employed.
The report of the committee provoked a
lorS discussion of the matter but the en-
gineerS insisted upon their motion to place
the firm on the unfair list. A motion was
however. substituted and carried to delay
hral action until after the committee has
had another conference with the directors
of the company. and this, it was under
stood, will take place this week.
Contractor DaEgett's Force.
District Organizer Silver stated that, al
though he had been assured by Contractor
Daggett that he had no objection to his
street sweepers joining a labor organiza-
ton, he had been informed that a number
OF the employees who had done so have
been notified by Mr.. Daggett's superin-
tendent that unless they sever their con-
nection with the union they will be dis
charged The matter was referred to a
special committee, composed of Messrs. Sill
yer, Kreiter, Maghan, Neale and Moulden
who were directed to call on the District
Commissioners and acquaint them with the
status of affairs.
Delegate -Kreiter was appointed a mem
Der of the label committee, to fill a vacancy
caused by the resignation Of Delegate
Thompson.
Delegate Patterson was appointed to fill
similar position on the grievance COM
mittee. caused by the resignation of Dele
gate Rabbit.
Call Of the Unions.
Under the call of unions a delegate from
the steamfitters corrected a misstatement
as published, that a contractor at the
treasury was employing non-union steam
filters and bricklayers, the fact being
that the party was employing union steam
filters, and, through a Misrepresentation, he
employed a non-union bricklayer. The con-
tractor stated it was announced that in
future he would employ union men exclu-
sively.