The times., 1898-01-16
LOCAL WORLD OF LABOR.


far as labor interests are imme diateIy con.
cerned, the ouly matter of local import
ance which has been considered is tina of a
conference between the Trades Unionists
and the proprie tors of the local bre weries.
This question has been under advisement by
all parties conce rned for some months,
bat 50 far no agreement has been reached.
The trouble q rose out OF some differences
at the Consumers Brewery. After several
conferences between the representatives of
local labor and the the directors OIL the
brewing company, the diffeTe noes were H.
uaIly settled To the entire satisfaction OF
all parties. The same causes of trouble, a
technical discrimination against organ
led la bar by refusing to use the lapsi OF
the local union OF brewery workers, came
very near leading to serious differences be-
tween local labor and the other large
breweries in the city. The conservative
! course pursued by the Trades Unionlsts,
however, has resulte d in avoiding a n open
diSrunt,ou between labor and the beer
manufacturers up to this time, and there Is
| every prospect Of an amicable settlenent
| of the existing differences.
! During the last week or ten days con
| ference has been ARA nged for between the
| Interested parties during the coming week
at whioh il is confidently expected that an
| anicable arrangement VIII be reached-
! The question OF the hour with meIAbers OF
/ organized labor, however, is that of suf-
/ frage for the residents of the District, and
| they are lending their whole influence TO
| this end. At the meetings Of the differ
| cnt labor unions and assemblies the sub
ject always receives more or less atten-
| ton ia the way OF favorable discussion.
! At the last meeting OF the local Federation
| of Labor the question received special
| attention, and was the subject OF series
of resolutions, inviting the cooperation
of all who are Interested in securing the
| right and privilege of suffrage for the
residents of the District.
The local Federation is also deeply inter
ested in the outcome of the Sberman-C Cullom
anti-ticket scalping bill, ana at their last
meeting gave it considerable attention.
The bill was denounced in uiueasured
terms as an Unjust discrimination against
the laboring classes, who, under ordinary
circumstances, derive The greatest benefit
from tickct-scalping. The repeal of the
law allowing ticket -scalpng, the labor
iiiSIi utIbiNt tiiiSth Va iiiS
liberty, III SO much that il would prevent
him from disposiug of his property in open
market. Again, il is Contended, it sur
rounds a railroad ticket with a sacredness
with which no other kind or property is
clothed.
The Federation at its last meeting
adopted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Federation of Labor
Of rir nr Ealun4hiq M a "A m
Legislation Of this chara cter, and iarticu-
Larry 10 these bills, in that they are unjust
TO those WHO are required to pay railroad
fare; and be it further
Resolved, That we protest to the Scna tors
and Representatives in Congress against
the pasSag OF these nea sliresr or any sam
lar thereto. and respectfully petition them
to oppose the same.
The Trades Uniunists also are watching
legislation on the anti-ticket scalping bill.
At the hearing on this subject before the
Interstate Commission on last Monday Mr..
Milford Spohn, eN-president OF the tehtfai
Labor Union representing the Trades Union
lists of the District, appeared before the
commission and in the name OF organized
labor in the city of Washington made FOR
nal protest against the passage oil the Dill.
From hat is known it is safe to say that
the anti-scalping bill will have hard road
To travel before il passes both Houses OF
Congress At the recent convention of the
American Federation of Labor it was de
cided TO wage relentless war against all
legislation of this nature. The anti-scalpinE
bin was discussed with earnestness by the
tleIegat - from all parts OF the country, and
II was the consensus of opinion { hat the war
against all such legisla ton would be carried
by the members of organized labor into
every Congressional district in the United
States during the next campaign 1t Is
known that in many of the Congressional
districts that the maJorities are very small.
This is especially true of many of the West
eru districts. aud it is in these that organized
labor intend to make strong fight against
any and all member RS of Congress who vote
for or ip any other way lend their assist
ance to the passage of the anttscalping
bill. 1t is, of course, impossible to say at
this tine what the effect OF such avowed
action on tue part of organized labor Will
have farther than To predict that united ac-
tion by the voters who are members of0rgan-
lied labor i'll any Congressional district Will
probably result In many OF the members OF
the Fifty-fifth Congress remaining al home
after the next Congressional election.
At the hearing accorded the advocates of
suffrage for the residents of the District
by the House Committee on the District of
Columbia on Thursday last Mr.. Spohn ap-
peared in behalf of the woF6ingmen Of
Washington. The representatives. OF the
Suffrage Association of Washington ar
gued for suffrag ge from a constitutional
standpoint and also because OF the
claim that the system of government
under which the people of the District live
is more expensive than that of any other
city in the United States.
Mr. Spohn, howeve presented the mat
ter from an entirly different standpoint.
He said that on account of the system of
government theTeareRonIeansof communiea
tion between the municipal ant hnrities and
the !a!)oring class OF the city. The differ
ent departments OF the work OF the city he
said, under the management of heads
created by the Commissioners so that in
case Of grievances the workrnen are
given no opportunity to explain their
complaints. An insta nee of this kind
occurred some time ago, and despite the
efforts of the la Dor leaders of the District
to get hearing and adjust the matter
it is still hanging fire. Mr.. Spohn re-
ferred to the law Of the District in re-
lation to the eNamina ton of plumbers |
An effort is being made by the Labor |
Exchange committee of the Central Labor
Union of New York to esta blish Labor |
exchange depots'' similar to those that |
have been so successfully operated in |
several of the Western States
The scrip used for money is printed in |
brown on the face and green ON the ba ok. |