The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-27
POKE AT THE BEEF TRUST
1T Is TAKEN BY CENTRAL LABOR
UNION IN RESOLUTIONS.
Endorsement of Primary Election Re-
form Similar to the Minturn Bill
Routine Business.

trail Labor Union last night in the adoption
of the following resolution. introduced by
Edgar A. Perkins, president OF the State
Federation of Labor:
Whereas. There is widespread and pro-
nounced belief that the cost of living has
been greatly enhanced and the difficulty
OF securing nourishing food greatly aggra-
waited by the manipulation of the beef
trust; and
Whereas, The investigation of the In
terstate-commerce Commission has devel-
oped the fact that there has been grossly
unjust discrimination in railroad rates in
favor of the beef trust concerns. all con-
trary TO law; and,
Whereas. The said beef trust is further
protected in it's manipulation of the Amer
lean market by-tariff taxes; therefore. be II
Resolved. That Congress be petitioned 20
remove all tariff taxes on products of cat
tie and other food animals and that the
Interstate-commerce Commission be so
strengthened as to enable it to prevent all
discriminating railroad rates; and,
Resolved That Senators Fairbanks and
Beverage and Representative Overstreet
be requested TO vote for measures aiming
TO secure the results herein petitioned for
The resolution was put TO vote with little
talk and it passed with but one dissenting
vote.
PRIMARY ELECTION REFORM.
The central body showed its interest in
primary election reform and a bill TO be
introduced in the next session of the Cen
eral Assembly that is being prepared by
committees representing the State FEEDER
alton of Labor and the boards of trade
and commercial bodies of the State by
unanimously adopting the following resolu-
ton:
Whereas, There was presented in the
last Legislature bill drafted by commit
tees of the State Federation of Labor and
the State Beard Of Commerce, which bill
was known as the 'Minturn bill. being
introduced in the House by Joseph A.
Minturn, of Marion county; and,
Whereas, There will be bill along SINH
lar lines introduced at the next session of
the Legislature; therefore, be il
Resolved, That we indorse primary cleo
ton reform along lines advocated in the
Minturn bill and that in the event that
said Joseph A. Minturn is again a member
of the Legislature we ask that in view of
his knowledge gained in his previous ex-
perence. that he lend his best efforts to
the passage of bill of this nature"
The resolution was introduced by Elwood
Sands, of the Agents Union.
1t was expected that there would be a
lively tilt between the representatives of
the Painters Union and the Hardwood Fin
ishers, but il did not take place. The ar
bitration committee of Central Labor Union
was asked to settle differences between the
two organizations over trade jurisdiction.
The painters said the hardwood finishers
were doing inside house work, and as the
latter's scale is about 10 cents less on the
hour and they work two more hours
day, the painters objected to the COMPETE
ton. The decision of the committee was
that the hardwood finishers might do house
work If the painters refused 10 do it, The
painters objected and had their interna-
tional officers her to fight for them. As
the hardwood finishers did not have their
national officers present to speak in
their behalf the matter was laid over until
last night to give them chance TO be
heard.
Thomas 1. Kidd, secretary of the Hard
wood Finishers' National Union,
pected 10 be present but he was unable to
attend the meeting President Belhorne,
of the Painters international Union, was
on hand to meet Kidd. He spoke and for
the first time outlined before the central
body what the trouble was He said the
hardwood fnishers were doing interior
house work in the factory much below the
painters wages. He said the painters had
fought for years to bring their scale up TO
80 cents an hour and reduce the hours TO
eight day, and il was unfair to have work
that they have always done taken away
from them and done by class of men
working longer hours and for less wages.
He said he did not blame the men for doing
the work but the principle was wrong.
METHOD OF SETTLEMENT.
The matter was finally settled by tabling
the report of the arbitration committee
and referring a settlement to the two ma
tional organizations. President Belhorne
said he had tried to make an appointment
with Secretary Kidd and would meet him
in Chicago, June ., to settle the question.
Pending a settlement the central body de-
cided that the two organizations would
abide by a decision of the arbitration COM
mittee rendered Aug. Is, 1900, which gives
the hardwood finishers the option of letting
interior house work alone or Joining the
Painters Union
The action of the Retail Clerks Union in
asking for a general closing of the stores
at $3.50 on Saturday night was Endorsed. The
union reported that nearly all OF the large
downtown stores had signed an agreement
to close at that hour.
A vote was taken to notify the American
Federation of Labor that the Van Camp
Packing Company had been taken off the
unfair list.
The Cigar Makers Union reported that ii
would have picnic in Hammonds grove
the first Sunday in June and Nthe Saw
Makers Helpers announced their picnic at
the same place on June %. The Iron Mold
ers' Union notified the central body that it
would have picnic in New Columbia Park
June s. These announcements brought up
a discussion over union hack drivers. A re-
quest was made that no hacks be hired for
these picnicS unless they were driven by
union teamsters. 1t was contended by sew
eral delegates that there were no union
drivers for hacks and someone asked if
they were to walk. The matter was left
unsettled.
The Women's Label League was granted
the free use Of Central Labor Union Hall