Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-23

The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor
Assembly met in regular session yes
terday with President Tighe and Sec
rotary Salisbury present.
Under the head of boy-cotts, the
question as to the standing of the
Richland miners came up and the Arbi-
tration Committee was authorized to
expend $25 if necessary to publish the
true standing of the men in reference
to organized labor. 1t appears the
Richland miners are making an effort
to organize a local branch of the U.
M. of A., and are in correspondence
with national officers. This proceed
ing is considered irregular consider
ing the past record of the men, which
led to considerable discussion in past
meetings of the Assembly and termi-
mated unsatisfactory.
The Legislative Committee reported
all laws endorsed by the Assembly for
warded to Delegate Connolly at
Charleston, and hat they have already
been introduced. Also a law making
Saturday afternoon a half holiday,
which was introduced independently by
Delegate Mcclure. The measures first
referred to include the eight-hour bill,
the engineers bill and the proposed
law for the better protection of life and
health of employees.
Chairman Bauer, of the Legislative
Committee, had conferred with Mr..
Connolly and the latter had ~discourag-
ed the appointment of a committee by
the Assembly to go to Charleston and
lobby for the bills. He thought it not
necessary, but advised that the Assem-
bly, hold itself in readiness to answer
any question that might come up be-
fore the Committee on Labor.
Reference was made to the clause
in the Governors message recommend
ing a general S-hour law, but it was
the sense of the body that past eXper-
fence had taught that this is not prac-
ticable or expeditions at the present
time. 1t was deemed best to make the
law applicable to West Virginia public
works only.
1t was not considered timely to in
troduce an anti-convict labor law at
the present session lest anything so
radical might prejudice other legisla-
ton.
E~x-President Riley urged that a COM
mittee be appointed in conformity with
the suggestion at the last meeting so
the members could be conversant with
all the proceedings of the Legislature
and give explanations OPPORTUNITY.
President Tighe believed the most use-
full service of such committee would be
to note dereliction Oh the part of pro-
fessed friends of labor and fix response
bility upon legislators in the event of
~unfavorable action. He was, however,
averse to appointing a committee in
opposition to the recommendation of
Delegate Connolly. With this the dis
cussion closed without the appoint
ment of lobbyists.
Report of finance committee showed
funds in hands of Trustees January /,
$1,012.27.
trustees T6pOTteu IIlIlScu OlSdHlLd-
lions o meeting in apartments OF
Trades Assembly, with several nights
still open for those desiring to rent.
Circular from Local No. 246, ]. T. U.
of A., calling attention to union label,
read and filed.
Communication from the national Of
ficers of the American Federation of
Labor, asking that West Virginia Sena-
tors be urged to contribute to favorable
action upon the national S-hour law
passed by the lower House May II,
1898, and now in the hands of Senate
Committee on Education, was received
and request ordered complied with.
Motion to abolish the office of treas
urer was tabled, and Herman Knoke,
of Friendship Lodge No. 2, A. A. of
|. & S. W., was elected, qualified, gave
bond and assumed his duties.
President Tighe announced the Sc
lection of the old legislative committee
as follows: A. l.. Bauer, John H. Fish
er, c. F. Stein, Chas. A. Carenbauer
and F. B. Lyons. The old arbitration
committee will serve until next meet
ing. February 18th.
The resignation Of Fred Williams,
trustee. and M. F. Tighe, delegate to
Belmont Trades Union, were accepted,
and L. w. Selvey and ". c. F1ading
were elected to fill the vacancies.
49, 4f@~t- 4f h IHTNCf