Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-26
m INTERESTING MEETING
CONDUCTED ny THE OHIO VALLEY
TRADES AND LABOR
ASSEMBLY
ON YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
The Action of the City Gas Board
in Granting the Coal Contract TO
Non-Unfon Mine Explafned-A
Session of Unusual Interest.

L
i The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor
Assembly met yesterday afternoon In
regular session with President Bowers
| in the chair. There was good at
tendance and several very interesting
! matters were discussed and action
taken on them. After the minutes OF
| the former meeting had been read and
/ approved, the old report of the COM
mittee sent to Detroit to represent the
Assembly was discussed freely and at
| some length.
| President Bowers announced that he
| had received a telegram from Presi-
dent John Mitchell, of the United Mine
| Workers of America, asking for infor-
nation concerning the granting of the
| city gas plant coal contract to the
Monongah non-union mines, in prefer
ence to the Pittsburg Syndicate union
| mines. Mr.. Bowers said he had seen
| Mr.. julius Pollock, a trustee OF the
/ Gas Board, concerning the contract
and that gentleman's explanation OF
the Boards action had been that the
| price for Monongah coal was % cents
less per ton than the Pittsburg coal.
The Pittsburg Syndicate thought they
had the Gas Board by the neck and
would secure the contract, no matter
what their bid was. The difference In
| the prices would mean a saving of ST.
| 900 per year to the taxpayers. The
| Board had carefully considered the
awarding of the contract to a nom
union mine, but had concluded that
| there were great many taxpayers
who were not members of any union
and the saving to the taxpayers justi-
| fed the action.
In the discussion which followed 1t
was brought out that only a part OF the
mines operated by the syndicate rep
| resented by Mr.. Floersheim were
union mines, and no one had any as
| surance that coal bought from them
would be union mined coal. 1t was
suggested that the contract might
| have been given to a union mine in or
] about this city, but when the matter
was thoroughly touched upon it was
| found that in only one mine was union
labor recognized, and even in that
mine the scale price was not paid the
| workmen.
On motion, it was decided that the
| legislative committee form an ordi-
| nance and the Assembly endeavor to
| have it pass through Council, pro-
| viding that all work to be done for
the city be done by the city direct,
without the intervention of contract,
and that when skilled labor is reQuir-
ed union labor be employed.
Among other communications, the
following bill introduced in the
House by Representative Jett was read
for approval:
"a bill providing for trial by jury
! in United States Courts for contempt,
and for other purposes. Be it en-
| acted by the Senate and House of Rep
| resentatives of the United States of
America, in Congress assembled, That,
from and after the passage of this act
every person or persons charged with
contempt of court, or with violating
any order, decree or judgment of any
court of the United States, or Of any
judge thereof, shall be entitled to the
right of trial by a jury in the court
| in which charge is preferred. Pro-
| vided, that this shall not apply to con-
| tempts of court committed in the pres
ence of the court"
The following section provides that
the person convicted shall be entitled
| to prosecute a writ of error to the
Circuit Court of Appeals and that the
| defendant may be admitted to bail.
The bin was referred back to the
legislative committee.
A communication received from the
Building Trades Council of Chicago by
Local Carpenters Union No. 6, report
| ing the situation very favorable in that
city and promises of an early settle
| ment favorable to the striking unions.
| The communication asked that, if pos
sible, carpenters from this city intend
| ing to go to Chicago be dissuaded from
so doing.
| The refunding ordinance, which was
] lai dover fro mthe last meeting, and
| which has since been defeated by popu-
| lar vote, was taken up and submitted to
some very biting sarcasms. On motion
it was laid on the table indefinitely.
A discrepancy of 80 cents was found
in the financial report. The matter
was referred back to the financial com
| mittee.
Allen S. Scroggins, delegate from
local union No. GA, National Alliance
/ Theatrical Stage Employees, and Her
bert Mcconnell, delegate from local
union No. 6, n. B. of O.. P, were adj
mitted and sworn.
The legislative, arbitration, organ
| G-a-11