The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-19
SKILLED LABOR'S RIGHTS
The Allied Printing Trades Griev-
anees in the Census Bureau.
Spirit of the Act Providing for EN-
Work Longer Than Clerks and
Have No Holidays-New LegisIa-
tion Proposed for Their Relief.

The leaders of organized labor in the
District, but more especially the members
of the allied printing trades, are very
much displeased with the treatment
skilled laborers are receiving at the Cen
sus Bureau. 1t is claimed that the spirit
of the act providing for the employment
of skilled mechanics is being violated, and
that aside from this Director Merriam
does not extend to the members of organ
lied labor the same coGTtesies which he
does to the other employees Of the Blu
reau.
1t is stated by representatives OF organ
lied labor that they are compelled to go
10 work half an hour earlier in the morn
ing and continue TO labor half hour
longer in the afternoon than the clerks at
the Census Bureau, and that on Saturdays,
when Director Merriam permits the clerks
to quit work sometimes half a day on ac-
count Of the oppressiveness OF the weather,
the members Of organized labor are COM
PEELED to swelter in the heat long after
the other employees have gone to their
homes.
Another complaint registered in their or
ganiZations by the members of the skilled
trades at work at the Census Bureau is
that an effort was made to deduct their
wages for national holidays, and again
that they are employed but about one-half
Of their time: that is. about three days
during each week. In reference to this
last mentioned complaint James L. Fee
ney. President of the Bookbinders' Union,
and E. A. VI. Lawson, President OF Column
bia Typographical Union. No. 101, called
upon Director Merriam one day last week
in the interest Of the members OF their
respective crafts employed at the Bureau
and protested against the wages of the
members OF their unions being locked On
legal holidays. Those mentioned were
also accompanied by George NJ Ramsey,
President of the Printing Pressmen's
Union. The matter was then referred 10
the Comptroller Of the Treasury, who de-
cided that the workmen were entitled to
pay for holidays, and the amount which
had been deducted from their pay for July
4 was ordered 10 be returned TO them.
The Law mt Fault.
As a matter of fact however. the mem
bers of the allied printing trades find
more fault with the law providing for the
employment OF skilled mechanics at the
Census Bureau than they do with the man
agement OF Director Merriam.
In reporting the conditions under which
skilled labor works at the Census Bureau
a member Of one of the allied trades
stated at meeting of his union last
week:
In receiving our appointments TO the
Census Office we were. with the exception
IF a few, rated as clerks, at a salary OF
sl.2e0 a year. and while the hours of
labor OF the clerks are only from a. m.
20 p. m, the members OF the printing
trades are compelled to work from $50
q. m. 10 4:30 D. m. or one hour more each
day than those doing clerical work"
Speaking OF the bookbinders, the report
continued:
when they had been in the service of
the Census Office only two weeks they were
requested TO assemble in the composing
room one afternoon after 1870 O'Clock TO
discuss, or. rather, TO listen to, bill pro-
posing new legislation of the skilled labor
at the Census Bureau"
The new legislation provided that the
Director of the Census should have power
TO appoint and employ. as the necessity
required. one superintendent Of printing
at a salary Of 81. 500 a year, and to APP
point and employ such number Of skilled
mechanics and other persons in the Cen
sus printing office as might be necessary
for the performance of the preliminary
printing and binding provided for. II was
also stipulated that the persons employed
In this work at the Census Bureau should
receive the same pay as persons doing