Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-19
PLUMBERS ARE IN SESSION
international Organization Begins Annual
Convention in Omaha.
NEW CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS READY
II Committees Report is Adopted
whole working system of the
order VIII BE on a
New Basis.

Not until ! o'clock yesterday afternoon ala
secretary Treasurer L. w. Tilden and
thirty delegates arrive in Omaha for the
thirteenth annual session Of the plumbers
who now have with them the gas and steam
htters and the steam ntters' helpers, the
order bearing the title Of the united as
ISOLATION OF the same. The weeks conven-
tion was to have reached the transaction
OF business yesterday morning, but because
OF this delay in the arrival Of the secretary
treasurer and Of the fact that the mayor
consumes part Of the afternoon with a
speech formally welcoming the delegates to
the city and incidentally touching on union
ism. there was little done yesterday.
Very early in the proceedings, however,
the delegates are to be confronted with a
proposition that is expected to precipitate
long and energetic debate, for it means
practically the revising of the entire plan
under which the association is existing.
This proposition Will come in the form Of
9 revised constitution and bylaws. drafted
by a committee appointed to consider the
matter at the convention in Buffalo a year
ago. This committee, which includes Presi-
dent William Merrick of Beverly, Mass;
Thomas Burke Of Chicago, auxiliary secre-
tary and treasurer; James j. Mckee of
Pittsburg, first vice president; F. r. Ben
son OF Cleveland and G. p. Perry Of Nor
folk, Va, has labored diligently and is
ready to submit It's draft and explain its
reasons for various radical changes that
have been made.
To CentraIiEe Power.
The whole intent OF this draft is to CEN
tralize the power and the management Of
the organization and to economic in It's
current expenditures, but better provide
Tor needs of. the future. These needs are
such as will exist with the establishing OF
q death benefit Of 800. a sick benefit Of IS
for each of the first thirteen weeks, a strike
benefit OF IS per week for each Of the first
sixteen weeks and Of SO for each subse-
uuent week, and finally for a beneht for
the superannuated members. This last will
be only for those who are more than 45
years old, who break down in health. II
they have been in good standing twenty
years they each receive $500, II from TWEEN
ty-nve to thirty years $500 and over twenty
I've years $500.
This provision has been a hobby with
Thomas Burke and he is prepared to back
1t up with statistics showing wherein 1t
10 desirable to spend less for those who are
temporarily engaged In controversies that
may have been unnecessary and more ON
those VINO are in need from no fault OF
their own. One delegate who is prepared
to support this contention said:
There has been too much of this strike
business. In too many instances a mem
Der Of a local has had a little personal
trouble and involved his local union in II
and then, eventually, the association, re-
sulting In large expenses being incurred in
. matter that really didn't affect the or
der nor even as many as a dozen of its
men. We put out $50, 900 during the year
that we have very little to show for and
much Of that leak was at the bung where
some disssnters were drawing sustenance
when they might have been at work IL the
thing had been properly managed"
Approval Necessary for Strike.
The new plan contains a further pro-
vision that no local union can strike without
the approval of the other locals in the as
ISOLATION. Thus, IL the plumbers OF Omaha
had differences with their employers and
desired to strike they would have to send
a request for permission to do so to the
central headquarters in Chicago. With the
request would have to be a statement Of
the conditions and the reasons for striking.
The central officers would send copies OF
the statement to all local unions and each
would vote to approve or disapprove. II a
local union were not to meet for some time
its executive beard could vote for It on
the proposition. The central body would then
review the actions reported and answer the
request Of those who petitioned to strike.
The association however. cannot approve
any strike for an increase in wages be-
tween December / and April 1. except in
the warm weather states OF California,
Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida,
Georgia. Alabama. Mississippi. Louisiana,
Texas, Oregon and Washington. This does
not apply when the strike is against a re-
duetion In wages.
This plan Of letting all locals have a
voice In determining whether a strike shall
be undertaken Is no more than fair, since
all the locals have to bear the expense"
an oficer said. I'VE have in the United
States. Canada. Hawaii and Havana $50
locals. with 10000 members. each OF whom
will pay 80 cents per week for the use OF
the general order. This money will be
retained by the local union until the CEN
trail ONCE draws on It. all the locals sup
plies, even to postage stamps, having been
furnished meantime by the central ONCE"
The report of the finances Is to be q
model one. the auditing committee having
been In Chicago for a week past checking
up thoroughly, with a view TO having mat
tiers in comprehensive shape, should the
association enter on the proposed new life
at this meeting.
Inc omcers unaer the new form would be
3 president and organiser. ten vice presi-
dents. distributed over the country. a sec
retary-treasurer, a general organizer. an
auxiliary secretary-treasurer and two
hnanciers. These last are added that the
association may have travelling inspectors
OF local records and accounts. the duties be-
Ing similar to those OF bank Inspectors.
Mayor welcomes Delegates.
At the session yesterday afternoon the
mayor presented a monster gilded key, with
greeting and his own telephone number on
II. He said:
Gentlemen OF the United Association:
II gives me great pleasure 20 extend 20
you a hearty welcome to our city. During