Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-28
DELEGATES MAKE A REPORT
Representatives of Local Bricklayers' Union
Render Account of Stewardship.
Brief Statement of Proceedings Had
at Convention Of International
Union, Held at Peoria.

Messrs. NJ. P. CAVITY, William H. Maghan
and John Stanley, delegates from the
bricklayers' union of this city to the re-
cent convention of the Bricklayers and
Masons' International Union at Peoria,
ILL.,. submitted their report at the meeting
of the local union last evening. Among
the most important matters considered at
the convention, they said, was the pro-
posed amendment to the national consti-
tuition to restrict the number of apprentices
to one for each employer. The consensus
Of opinion in the convention in reference
to this was that such law would mill
tate against the American youth and in
favor of the foreign workman" 1t was
stated by Mr.. Canty and the other dele
gates that the proposition came from a
section of the country where there is
large percentage of foreign workmen. 1t
was finally disposed of by the convention
deciding that the question was local and
one over which the International conven-
ton had no Jurisdiction.
During the debate 1t was stated by
delegate from Chicago that in that city
apprentices are only assigned to well-es-
tablished bosses and are required to pay
for the first year $40; second year, 5000;
third year, $780, and fourth year, $3.50. Be-
sides this, the apprentice is not allowed to
work during January, February and
March. those months being given to edu-
CdtlOndl purposes.
The committee subordinate unions re-
ported that during the past year there had
been 1874 members initiated, 2.2O7 admit
ted by card, 93s suspended. 4S rejected.
1,O16 expelled. IL $50 employed, 1O,766 I'M
employed total membership, &c, 218. There
were no strikes, and 9.997 was added to
the reserve fund. Amount paid for bene-
fetal purposes. s2s.51o.69; total amount in
treasures of subordinate unions, $S3, 6.39;
total number of unions, 800.
The Eight-Hour Day.
The question of an eight-hour work day
was brought to the attention of the con-
vention by Delegate Maghan of this city.
who offered a motion to strike out the
word nine in the national constitution
and insert eight" so that the standard
work day shall be no more than eight
hours The committee to which the mat
ter was referred reported favorably, but
the sentiment of the convention was that
this was a matter that should be accom-
plished by the respective organizations in
the various states.
Delegate Canty of Washington called at
tention to the fact that in all the places
where the bricklayers have an eight-hour
work day it was secured by the eight
hour unions and without the help Of the
International union. He further stated
that something ought to be done to give
the unemployed bricklayers a chance to
procure work: that the eight-hour places
are overcrowded with men who come from
those cities where a nine-hour rule pre-
walls.
Secretary O'Dea stated that those inter-
ested in this question of eight hours are
100000 bricklayers and masons In the
United States and Canada; that but AZ
cities and "A unions are working eight
hours and this has been accomplished
without the cost OF cent to the interna-
tional union. notwithstanding the fact that
the membership of the international union
is only in the proportion Of one organized
to nine unorganized.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
unions in the various states to form state
conferences.
The convention placed itself on record
as fayoring Cuban independence.
Amlintion Declined.
The delegates rejected a request by the
National Building Trades Council, which
recently met at ST. Louis. that the interna-
tional union affiliate with that body.
Vice President Lennon of the American
Federation of Labor addressed the con-
vention and requested them to affiliate
with the American Federation OF Labor,
but the request was declined.
The convention also decided that no
member of bricklayers' union should be
permitted to unite with the National
their pledge of membership.
Delegate Maghan laid before the conven-
ton a copy of the resolutions passed sew
eral months ago by the Central Labor
Union and Endorsed at the national con-
vention of the American Federation of
Labor, held in December last at Nashville,
favoring suffrage in the District OF Co
lumba. Mr.. Maghan made an address, IN
which he thoroughly explained the status
of affairs here, and after several others
had made speeches on the subject the
resolutions were Endorsed unanimously.
1t was also voted that every member of
Congress be petitoned to support the ref
erendum bill now pending in Congress,
which is aimed to secure an expression of
hold fnt no
purpose.
The convention further decided that
working men ought to take independent
political action in reference to public af-
fairs.
A motion prevailed that the producers
of wealth should protest against further
privileges being granted to corporations,
and that Congress annul or amend the
laws which grant these privileges 1t
was decided to petition Congress i'll this
matter also.
Government Should Provide.
A resolution was adopted that the gov
eminent ought to provide for idle work.
ing men by establishing public work.
The body also placed itself on record as
opposed to the anti-scalping bill now be-
fore Congress, and also favored the estab-
lishment of postal savings banks.
The proposition to establish home for
aged members of the craft, which has
been before the annual conventions for
several years, was again taken up and re-
ferred to a committee. The latter report
ed that the scheme was unwfse and i'm
practicable at this time, and the report
was adopted.
1t was decided to impose a per capita
tax of 81 cents upon the membership of all
the local organizations which is a reduc-
ton of cents from the rate heretofore In
force.
Lecture. Music and Speeches.
Harmony Lodge. No. u. Knights of
Pythias, had largely attended and very
enthusiastic meeting last night. The rep
resentatIves to the committee of forty-f1ve