Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-03
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
THIRTY-FIvE BODIES REPRESENT
ED AT MEETING LAST NIGHT.
Communication Read From Building
Trades Council of Chicago-Bufid-
Ing the War Vessels.

Delegates representing thirty-five unions
were present at the meeting of the Central
Labor Union. held last evening in Typo
graphical Temple. Under the order Of ere
ports of committees the fraternal dele
safe from the union to the Building Trades
Council announced that the council last
Tuesday evening had adjourned sine die
and that the fact had been officially re-
ported to the national headquarters at st.
Louis. Mo. No action was taken in the
matter, as the Central Labor Union had no
connection with the organization Of the
council. although a majority of the unions
which constituted the council are allied
with the central body 1t was. however.
the sense of those delegates of the build
ing trades who were formerly attached to
the council that the reorganization of the
body is necessary, and 1t Is probable that
steps will be taken to that end.
A communication was read from the
Building Trades Council Of Chicago which
stated in detail the trouble existing In that
city between the building trades and the
Contractors Council, which. ii Is alleged.
required all members of labor organiZa-
lions. under penalty of discharge, to COM
ply with rules submitted by the contractors.
These rules. it is stated. were in strict vio-
lation of the agreements signed with the
different affiliated unions. which did not
expire until April l and May l. 1900. and
three of the unions had agreements that
run until May l, 1901.
"One of these rules" the communication
states, rs to deprive us of the Saturday
half holiday, which we attained after sew
eral years of hard fighting. On the re-
fusal of the union men to work Saturday
afternoon they were paid OFT and told
that their services were no longer required.
and they have been compelled to remain
idle ever since
THE Contractors Council, acting in con-
junction with the Association of Architects
and Real Estate Board have succeeded in
stopping the issuing Of all building per-
nits, thereby Gripping the building indus
try and leaving the most Of the mechanics
in the building trades on the streets
Government Contraction of Warships
A communication was read from Charles
c, Hudson, secretary Of the executive COM
mittee of navy yard employees at New
York. representing the metal trade confer
ence of Greater New York and vicinity, the
Central Federated Union of New York, the
International Association OF Machinists of
America, the Brotherhood of Boiler Makers
and Iron Ship Builders. the Brotherhood of
Carpenters and JOfners OF America and the
Pattern Makers League of America.
The letter, which was referred to the
legislative committee, recites that
1.-The employees of the government navy
yards of our country have requested Con-
gress to have portion of the proposed new
warshfps built in the government navy
yards. and as the naval committee of the
House OF Congress is about to report that
Congress have constructed two battle ships
and six cruisers. request Of your body
and members to write to the member of
Congress from your district, urging upon
them to use their influence and vote to have
portion of the above work done in the
navy yards
THE present Is a splendid time for the
government to make a change and at the
same time not injure the private ship yards,
for they have never before had much
work on hand. having more. indeed. than
40 n tt-or ha chi yN{,,rr
trade Is busy with new vessels for the Pa
cific Mail Company, the American and Nor
gan lines. The Union Iron Works and
Cramps have ships on hand for the Russian
and Japanese navies, and the Newport
News Company is constructing two new
liners larger than the St Louis, so that a
transfer of government work would not eff
feet them. and we, the undersigned. believe
1t is good policy for the government to
build some of its ships, for it is protection
In keeping down ship builders who may
ment any price they see fit; but by keeping
the navy yards at the highest point of eff
cheney, new work, as well as repairs going
on all the time, the government can build
the ships that might be refused by contract
ship yards"
Brieklayer Inspector.
A statement and resolution were adopted
relative to the appointment Of a bricklayer
as inspector Of brickwork In the District
1t was declared to be the sense of the Cen
trail Labor Union that
There being no practical and competent
brfcklayer employed by the building de-
partment of this District a general IN
spector Of brick construction and believing
from experience that better results would
be obtained than has been in the past II an
experienced brickIayer. with knowledge
of all the details of the craft, should be ap-
pointed as an inspector; therefore resolved
by the Central Labor Union, That the legis-
lative committee be instructed to bring the
matter to the attention Of the Commission
ers Of the District, and IL deemed necessary
by the committee to Immediately prepare q
bill for that purpose. and present the same
al he ne