Evening star., 1901-02-19
LABOR AFFAIRS DISCUSSED
MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
OF AMERICAN FEEDER ALTON.
Legislation Before Congress Subject
of COnsfderatiOn-Sever Com
mittees Appointed.

A meeting of the executive council of the
American Fedora ton of Labor was held a
its headquarters, 1926 G street north
west, today, the following being pres
ent: Sampel Gompers of New York
First Vice President James Duncan
of Boston. Second Vice President Johr
Mitchell of Indianapolis, Third Vice Presi
dent James O'Connell of Washington
Fourth Vice President Max Morris of Den
yer, Fifth Vice President Thomas 1. Kidd
of Chicago, Sixth Vice President d. A
Hayes of Philadelphia, Secretary Frank
Morrison of Washington.
Mr.. Herman Robinson. organizer for New
York, appeared before the executive counci
in regard to an application for charter fol
q central labor union Of New York city anc
the organization of the terra Gotta workers
Of Auburn, N. Y, as well as the boat build
ers unions of that state. The executive
council directed Mr.. Robinson, In the name
of the American Federation Of Labor, tC
proceed with the organization Of the various
crafts, and the matter of the charter appll-
cation was referred to President Gompers.
Secretary Morrison submitted his financial
report for the three months ending January
81, showing an increase of s., 1863 in the
income over the corresponding three months
of the preceding year, and the organization
in good financial condition.
The SaInried Organizers.
President Gompers reported twelve sal
aried organizers in the field in various parts
of the country directly employed by the
A. F. Of L. to further the trades union
movement; that conferences have been held
with Mr.. Degateau and Mr.. Iglesias rela-
tive TO the organization of the workmen of
Porto Rico and for the attainment of the
rights to which the Porto Rican people are
entitled; that much of the literature of the
A - Of I oh hn- hnn1
translated into the Spanish language, and
IS ready for distribution among the workers
of that island; that all the organizers, sal
aried and volunteer, have been communi-
Gated with relative to the establishment OF
the eight-hour work day in the near future,
and also the effort of the machiniSts to en-
force the nine-hour day May l; that there Is
continued demand by colleges and univer-
stiles in various parts of the country for
the services Of representative trade union
lists to place the laborer's side of the labor
question before the students and profess
sors in the institutions of learning.
The status of the Legislation in which the
working people of the country are particu-
larly interested was then taken up, and
the report of the legislative committee of
the A. F. of L., Messrs. Andrew Furuseth
and Thomas F. Tracy, supplemented by
report by Mr.. NJ. Garland of Pittsburg. for
mer president of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation of Iron and Steel Workers, was SUBJ
mtted They reported that the eight-hour
bill, H. r. 6Ss2, and prison labor bill, $3.50,
are still before the Senate committee on
education and labor; that the bin generally
known as the anti-njunction bill would be
soon called up in the House.
Labor Legislation.
A recess was taken for the purpose of
having the members of the executive coun-
ell to interview the several senator's upon
the eight-hour and prison labor bills, and
to urge their favorable action in regard to
them, and to take such action seemed
warranted upon the anti-injunction bill.
The judiciary committee of the House had
insisted 1t was said, upon a provision in
the anti-injunction bill which authorized
the issuance of injunctions in labor dis
putes; and inasmuch as the bill could not
be considered without the amendments Of
the committee which were hostile to the
purposes of the bill, request was made to
the members of Congress to secure it's de-
feat rather than the Incorporation of these
hostile amendments Of the committee.
Upon reassembling, the members of the
council reported that the rejection of the
to adopt the bill with its amend
ments had been secured; that possibly the
bill may again come up before this present
session of Congress with opportunity to
vote upon the bill and its amendments sep
arately.
An invitation was extended to Commits
sioner General of immigration T. V. Pow
derly to meet with the executive council,
and also to assistant commissioner of immi-
grafton at the port Of New York, Edward
+. McSweeney, relative to the subject mat
ter of the Chinese exclusion act, which ter
mintes in 1902. and to the proper amend
ment of the alien contract labor law.
In reference to the controversy between
The Plumbers and Steam Filters National
Unions, and the matter in dispute between
labor of Covington. KY, and
Ohio, committee was appoint
ed, consisting of President Gompers and
Vice. Presidents Mitchell and Kidd. to take
Up the consideration Of these several mat
.ers.
The meeting Of the executive council then
adjourned until o'clock tomorrow morn
ng