Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-27
TRADES ASSEMBLY.
Regular Meeting Of the Labor Body
Held Yesterday Afternoon.

Labor Commissioner I. v. Barton
Makes an Interesting Address to
the DISQUALIFICATION Taken on
Routine Matters - Preparations
for the Labor Day Picnic-Parade
May Be Abolished This Year.
The regular meeting of the Trades
Assembly was held yesterday after
noon, with fair attendance of dele
gates, considering the attractions at
the parks and elsewhere. The officers
were on hand with accustomed prompt
ness. The only new delegate admitted
was William e. Davis, who presented
credentials as successor to Carl White,
S. =.
State Labor Commissioner /. V. Bar
ton was present, and delivered a very
interesting and instructive address to
the delegates, portion of which is not
of public interest. He has compiled his
annual report and will leave for
Charleston this morning, to present it
to Governor Atkinson. In connection
with the statistics which he mentioned
he gave his views on certain matters,
ana presented several recommended
tions.
The report q Commissioner Barton,
divided under appropriate heads, is as
follows:
Condition of manufactures, shows by
industries, number employed, jan
uary l, 1897, and January l, 1898, with
per cent of increase or decrease, aver
age daily hours of labor, number of
weeks in operation during 1897, and
change in wage rates during the year,
in 500 manufacturing establishments
in the State.
Strike of bitiminous coal miners,
1897, shows the effect and extent of the
strike in West Virginia, giving num-
Der of miners employed, number dur
ing striks, number who have resumed
work, January l, 1898, number who
have resumed work at advanced rate,
and number who have resumed work
at union wage scale, by counties and
by mining districts, and number of
miners in West Virginia, reported or
ganized prior to strike, number or
ganized miners reported unemployed,
January 1, 1898, number local unions,
United Mine Workers of America,
prior to strike, and number local I'M
ions, United Mine Workers of America,
reported January 1, 1898.
Resources and advantages of West
Virginia, gives general resources,
water, fuel, labor and railroad advant-
ages, the principal crops, cost of land
and social and educational advantages
of the fifty-fve counties of the State.
Factory inspection shows the extent
of factory inspection in the United
States, recommends further provision
for the inspection of factories and
workshops in the State, and the ap-
pointment of a factory inspector, and
shows industrial establishments in
spected during 1897.
Labor laws of West Virginia gives
laws relating to labor compiled from
the code of 1891, and subsequent acts
Of the legis lature.
Resources and advantages of West
Virginia has been the most extensive
investigation OF the year. To secure
the desired information relative to To-
cal conditions, resources and products
blanks were sent to a number OF
we'll informed citizens in each county.
The report is a synopsis OF these in
dividual reports, and it is believed that
the information given concerning con-
ditions in the fifty-fve counties of
West Virginia is substantially COM
plete and correct. Current work for
the next six months will be an lnvesti
CATION intended to show the hours of
labor, average daily wages and the So
cial and educational condition of work
ingmen in different occupations.
The Arbitration Committee. through
Chairman Duffy, reported the settle
ment of the strike at Gilchrists
mines The action was ordered by the
assembly. In the matter of the toll
question, several inquiries with refer
ence to the reason the special commit
tee of council has not met, brought
forth no information.
Attention was called to the fact that
the employees of the gas works, having
secured an eight hour work day, are
now demanding an increase in wages.
Several delegates talked on this sub
iect. and the general sentiment of the
assembly appeared to be unfavorable
to the demands of the employees OF this
municipal department.
he u0CiuCu " Pui
100 tickets for the picnic of the Bel
mont Central Union, at Mozart Park,
and to do anything possible to make
the affair a complete success.
Thanks were voted Mine inspector
Paul for fifty copies Of his report.
| The Labor Day committee held a
meeting after adjournment All of the
subcommittee reported progress. The
question of abolishing the parade.
which has been feature for years, OF
the annual Labor Day celebration. was
deferred for settlement for two weeks.
The printing of admission tickets was
ordered. The idea of band contest as
feature of the picnic was suggested,
and will be considered at future meet
ings Of the committee. One trouble
foreseen by the committee is the selec-
ton of competent and unbiased judges.