Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-18

most successful of the local unlOnS IS the Clerks association, which now las a membership list of almost 300 clerks. 1 Next March the association will e.1Ier upon it's third year of existence. John | Somers, who is employed at Reid & Hughes's, was the leading promoter of the organization of the association. Hard and earnestly has he worked for its success and well has he succeeded. He had able assistants in Lewis Elol- land and Harry Moore. The associa- ton did not start out with very large membership. But what it Iacke1 i'll number, it more than made up for in quality. The association has gradually 1 increased in strength and influence lln- til now it has about 300 members. It's strength and influence were shown when it succeeded, after much effort and persistency upon the part of its members, in obtaining from the mer- chants the Tuesday night closing. This project was first broached in tie l summer of 1900. The stores, wbich closed on Tuesday night in that sum- mer, were Reid & Hughes and J. B. Mullingss. The movement spread slowly but surely during the spring and summer of the following year with 1 the result that at the beginning of the autumn of 1901 all the merchants, with one or two exceptions, were closing their stores on Tuesday night. The Tuesday night closing has not at all diminished the business of the merchants. People buy just as much, 1 if not more, now. Those, who wish to do their shopping at night, find l plenty of time to do so on Wednesday and Saturday nights. The merchants are now well satisfied that their bus mess has not at all been decreased by granting the extra night to their clerks. Perfect harmony reigns between the clerks and their employers. For the past few weeks the clerks have rot been very active owing to the holiday trade, but they intend in a short time to renew their energy and to have the name of every clerk in the city on the membership role of the association i'll a short time. The annual election Of officers of the association will be held on Tuesday evening, January 28.
 About month ago an invitation was received by educational experts in London from, Alfred Mosley to at tend meeting, which was to be held i'll Westminster under the chairman ship of Lord Reay, president of the l purpose of discussing scheme to send delegates to Germany and the United States to inquire into the educational system of these countries. Acting up- on a suggestion made at the meeting it has been decided to send separate commission to this country to inquire into labor matters, and the relation between masters and labor leaders,
 A few days ago Assistant Secretary of the navy, MT Darling, sent the fol- 1 lowing reply to the secretary of the musicians union of Washington .n answer to a protest that the members of the Marine band should not be permitted to enter. into competition with members of the civilians bands:
 Il have examined and considered the facts and have to say that unless In case of peculiar or exceptional cir cumstances, or unless otherwise pro- hibited by law, I should be reluctant to prohibit an employe of the govern ment from engaging in private labor or enterprise when that engagement does not interfere with the full per formance of his duties under his ein- ployment by the government. This case is not one of such peculiar or exceptional character; your request is therefore denied''
 The New York branch of the musical labor union has also met with the same trouble as their fellow members in Washington-that is, they have met with comDetitfon from the army bands. which offer their services for less money than they. The New York union bands have decided to "start q stronger agitation against the compe- tion of army bands with civilian musicians.
 During the past week Senator Mitchell (Rep. Oregon) introduced in the senate the Chinese exclusion bill which was agreed upon by the com mlttee of senators and representatives from the Pacific coast states. The Dill re-enacts the existing laws for the exclusion of Chinese laborers and has additional provisions which win insure more rigid enforcement of the law. The treasury regulations are made a part of the law so as to carry out it's interst. It is provided In the above law that no Chinese 1aborers from the Philippine Islands shall be permitted to come to the mainland of tho United States. not even if such Chinamen were born or resided in the islands before they were ceded to the United States. This provision in the bill is made so as to exclude Philippine Chinamen, even though they may be declared in the future to be citizens in common with the other inhabitants If the islands. If the above bill is passed laborers in this country will nee.1 to have no fear of cheap Chinese labor
 The Buffers, Polishers and Brass Workers held their regular meeting at Il aGrand street Thursday night. There was a large attendance. A communi- cation was received from President Lynch regarding the governing of the district conference boards, and $25 a month will be paid by the International union to any district having business agent act as organizer. One of the merchants who recently purchased q new cash register will return it. 4 committee was appointed to act upon and notify merchants not to purchase the National cash register. W. Y. I Johnson, firearms. recently indorsed the American Federation of Labor.