Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03
IN LABOR CIRCLES

When Congress reconvenes Monday the
American Federation Of Labor will have
its lieutenants on hand to resume their
work in behalf of the bills which nave
been submitted by that organization and
which have been for some time under
consideration before the committees Of
the House and Senate. The bill pro-
viding that eight hours shall consti-
tute a days labor for workmen employed
by the government or upon contracts let
out to private firms by the government is
the most important of the measures in the
labor budget and is attracting widespread
interest
President Gompers and Secretary Morri-
son of the American Federation of Labor
are actively advocating the bill and hope
to secure its speedy passage. inc Dill
was reported to the Senate just prior 10
the adjournment for the Christmas holt
days and was placed on file among the
bills to receive the attention Immediately
upon reassembling. According to advices
the bill remains substantially in the same
shape In which it left the House at the
last session of Congress. 1t is understood
the measure. as slightly amended, has the
Endorsement Of the Senate committee on
education and labor
1t might be said that the legislative COM
mittee Of the local Central Labor Union is
working in unison with the Federation for
the bill. in that it has framed resolutions
favorable vote on the measure.
Another bill in which the Central Labor
Union and the American Federation of
Labor are Jointly Interested and which
will be brought to the attention of both
houses of Congress Immediately upon the
disposition Of the eight-hour measure, is
that providing for reduction in the hours
of labor of the firemen Of the District of
Columbia. The measure was introduced in
the House at the last session of Congress
by Representative Mudd of Maryland and
in the Senate by Senator Mason of ILL.,
nois.
Negotiations are on foot between the rep
resentatives of the Maryland Granite Com
board Of the Granite Cutters National
Union. with headquarters In this city, look
ing to the settlement of the differences be-
tween that company and the union granite
cutters. The company has the contract for
all the granite work on the new custom
house of Baltimore, Md. now in the course
of construction, and, 1t Is stated by the Of
flcials Of the union. has experienced some
trouble in carrying out the contract
About the middle Of last July the union
cutters who were employed on the build
Ing were locked out by the company and,
1t Is declared. non-union workmen were
hired The Granite Cutters National Union
took hand In the difficulty and issued an
order prohibiting its members from ham
ding the granite furnished by that firm,
claiming. Ii is said, that II was the product
Of non-union labor. The effect of this or
der was felt in Washington. the granite
company at that time having number OF
contracts here. When the granite arrived
at the various buildings here to which 1t
was consigned, the union cutters refused to
touch it, and, In consequence, 1t Is said,
there was a large amount of correspondence
between some Of the local contractors and
the granite company.
About week ago. 1t is said, all the non
union men who have been employed on the
granite work at the custom house building
T. d.. Al lt.1lx
ent, pending the results of negotiations,
the work, so far as granite cutters are con-
cerned, is at a standstill. The members of
the national union and representatives of
the granite firm have had several confer
ences of late. and it is the opinion of an
official Of the union that when the granite
work on the Baltimore building is resumed,
within few days, union cutters will be
renstalled.
At the last meeting of the Central Labor
Union Messrs. John II. Brnkman of the
Carriagemakers' Union, ]. F. Mccarthy of
the Bartenders' Union and w. c. Common Of
the Bookbinders Union were appointed a
committee to wait upon the District Com
missoners and the officials of the board Of
health for the purpose Of requesting them
to ask Congress to take action compelling
all the street car companies of the District
to provide closed cars. removing all Of the
open cars during the winter season.
The labor trouble which developed sew
eral weeks ago between the members of
the National Alliance of Stage Employees
and the local theatrical managers and
which was thought to have been SUISSE
quently adjusted, threatens to become an
issue again. The union men claim that the
managers have not lived up to the agree
ment which was reached at conference
between a committee of the Central Labor
Union and the managers The managers,
It is said. have not as yet signed the con-
tract which was recently framed and which,