The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-12
NUMEROUS CHANGES MADE BY PRINTERS Monthly Defense Fund Assess ment is Made Permanent AROUSED BIG DISCUSSION There Was Also Long Argument on the Question of Beginners Being AL
 lowed to Learn Machines
 In Three Months.
AROUSED BIG DISCUSSION

Washington, August 1.-The real busi- ness of the convention of the Interna- tionaI Typographical union began today with the presentation of the report of the committee on laws. The report con- kained numerous recommendations for changes in the laws, among them being . suggestion to make permanent the monthly assessment of cents per capita for a defense fund as provided by the Cincinnati convention for the Los An geles fight. The suggestion aroused con- siderable debate, but ultimately was adopted.
 There also was considerable discussion of a proposition to permit local unions to fix the time allowed to apprentices to learn the use of type-setting machines at three months A substitute providing that no one who is not member of the order shall be permitted to learn the use of ma chimes in union offices was offered by Delegate Lawhead of Ohio. Considerable criticism of schools for teaching the use of machines was indulged in, and 1t was argued that while this speciality may be speedily taught, the instruction thus given does not cover any other of the neces- sary branches of the printers art.
 The substitute was lost-72 to 94.
 A proposition to make the time for learning the machine six months instead of three also was voted down. The re- port of the committee on this proposition was adopted.
 Changes in Constitution.
 Following is a summary of changes made today in the constitution and laws of the union:
 Providing that the international union shall derive its revenues from dues amounting to 35 cents per month per member and from payments for charters To subordinate lodges at 30 each; Tro- ,yiding that in the distribution of funds five cents shall go to the general fund, seven and half cents to the burial fund and ten cents to the printers home en- dowment fund; declarating that the spec Ial defense fund shall be devoted to ad- vancing and defending the principles of unionism as applied to the printers trade; prohibiting subordinate unions from issuing labels of unauthorized le- signs; amending section four, article seven of the bylaws so as to provide that appeals to the executive council vhall be made within thirty days; re- uuiring that local dues shall be charged from the first of each month; amending gection forty-four, general laws, so as to require the deposit of per capita tax pay ments with the proper office of the juris- diction in which he may be employed and recurring the suspension of members failing to comply with this requirement.; amending section forty-hve, general laws, so as to require the reception of this certificate by secretaries of local lodges If the card is clear; invalidating certh- cates of membership issued by a sus- pended local union; requiring learners on typesetting machines to be members of the union or applicants for membership. The convention recommitted to the com mittee on laws a recommendation declar- ing it to be unwise to make enactments relative to the international affairs of printing offices.
 Stereotypers.
 The electrotypers and sterotypers union also continued its session today, devoting much of It's time to the consideration of reports. Among these reports was one committee appointed last year dealing with the questions of taxation of mem bers relative to their wages. The ques- ton was discussed at length but no ac- ton was taken. There was also con- siderable discussion of the old question as to the propriety of pressmen doing the work of sterotypers and the pratice was generally denounced.