The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-02
AGAINST OUTSIDE PATRONAGE,
street hallway Employees Declare
for Uniforms Made in Washington.


for Uniforms Made in Washington.
AT meeting of the Central Labor
Union held last night the delegates from
the Amalgamated Association of Street
Railway Employees of America reported
a set of resolutions adopted at a recent
meeting and protesting against the al
legged injustice of the Washington Trac-
tion and Electric Company in endeavor-
Ing, IL Is said, to coerce its employees to
purchase their uniforms from the New
York Clothing House, a Baltimore firm
with offices in this city. The preamble
and resolutions are rs follows:
Whereas the Washington Traction and Electric
Company requires the conductors and motostnen
who operate its cars to purchase their uniforms
from the New York Clothing House. Balti-
more concern. having an office at I67 Sixth Street
northwest: and
Whereas We the conductors and motorrnen
pay Tor our uniforms ourselves, and the price
which We are required TO pay is several dollars
IN excess Of the amount usually charged for
similar uniforms; and
Whereas at least three thoroughly responsible
and reliable local firms have sought to enter
bids for the contract and agree furnish similar
uniforms at a price several dollars lower than
that which we required TO pay for the uni
ferns designated by the Washington Traction and
Electric Company; and
Whereas each OF these local firms agrees to
ht each man properly, and further agrees that
the uniforms they propose to furnish shall be
union made and bear the union label, this being
guarantee Of superiority; and
Whereas the Washington Traction and Electric
Company IS sustained entirely by local pat
ronage; and
Whereas this union. Division No. I6l of the
Amalgamated Association Of Street Railway En-
ployes Of America has twice sent committees
with requests and protests TO the general manager
of the Washington Traction and Electric Com
pany. the first committee having called upon
former General Manager Coleman, who refused
TO receive or examine the requests presented,
stating that the directors of the company had
instructed him to take this course and the second
committee called upon present General Manager
Fuller March % and informed by Mr. Fuller
that 'he knows no union and wants to know
union. and lie further informed the committee
that he would refuse at AL times to receive
any request or protest from this union; there
fore. having exhausted all other means of making
protest, be IL
Resolved That we. the majority OF the en-
ployes Of the Washington Traction and Electric
Company united In Division No. 161 of the
Amalgarnsted Association OF Street Railway En-
ployss OF America, confident Of the Justice Of
cause and feeling that We still retain some
rights to be respected by our employers; that
among these rights the right TO organize,
the right TO protest against injustice. and the
right To have such protest heard; feeling fur
ther, that not eenvicts obliged to
wear obnoxious uniforms when those not OBJ
noXious are so easily procurable; with a proper
regard for our own interests, due LOYALTY to the
business interests Of Washington, manifest pref-
erence for the union label and firm confidence
in the sympathetic support OF organized labor
and the general public Of Washington. do. this
day and forever protest with the greatest pos
sible emphasis against the injustice of the rules
OF the Washington Ira ction and Electric Com
pany in regard TO uniforms, and We appeal to
the public OF Washington to approve our action;
and be il further
Resolved That this union and il, members
individually refuse TO purchase uniforms from the
New York Clothing House unless the price be
reduced to Sl2.
The protest of the street railway men
WAS endorsed unanimously by the central
body, and a committee of three members
was appointed to call upon the superinten-
dent Of the Washington Traction and
Electric Company in reference to the mat
ter.
II was reported BY Delegate Feeney that
at meeting OF the Woman's Bindery
Union. held last night at Typographical
Temple, over 125 new members were en-
rolled. This, it was stated. increases the
membership to nearly 900. 1t was also
stated that there are now only about
forty employees of the Government Print
ing Office who are not affiliated with the
bindery union.
At the meeting it was also decided to
extend the time for all non-union book
binders employed at the Government
Printing Office. to join the union, from
yesterday until April g. During this time
non-members will be allowed to join by
the payment of an initiation fee of 81
instead of s., the regular fee
f. W. Oyster. formerly an active MEM
Der OF Columbia Typographical Union
No. 1G1, was present. and made an address
upon the subjects of suffrage and taxa
tion in the District. He opposed the
of sle000,c00 bond issue for the
purpose of street extension. A committee
of five WAS appointed to work in connec-
tion with the Legislative committee of the |
body, in the consideration of the |
subjects, and to report at the next meet |
ing. |
II was reported that fourteen of the |
building trades unions, which were af- |
Inflated with the old Building Council. |
have stated that they desire that their |
part of the fund, arising from the excur- |
sion given on Labor Day, 1899. be turned |
into the treasury of the Central Labor |
Union. II was stated that no report |
received from Carpenters Union. No. /, |
and the Plasterers Union on the subject. |
Secretary John II. Brlnkman rendered |
his resignation and c. e. DIETRICH was |
elected to fill the vacancy.