Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-23
MILLER CONTROVERSY
American Federation Nav
Not Act Upon It.
MEMBERS RETICENT
BUSINESS TRANSACTED TODAY
BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Governor Hunt Tells About Labor
Conditions in Porto Rico
Other Matters,

There is a probability that the Miller con.
| troversy will not be acted upon by the ex-
ecutive council of the American Federation
of Labor. now in quarterly session at Typo
graphical Temple. in this city Notwith-
standing the fact that copy of the reso-
lutions asking President Roosevelt to modf-
fy his order of mo discrimination and to
order the dismissal of w. A. Miller from
the government services, to promote the
efficiency of that service. were forwarded
to Secretary Morrison Monday evening. the
controversy has not been brought up thus
far by the executive council.
Although the members of the council are
extremely reticent and reserved. 1t is un-
derstood that 1t is the opinion that tha
case will not come before them at this time.
AS the local union, No. 4, Brotherhood OF
Bookbinders, is not a directly affiliated orr
ganization of the federation, 1t is pointed
out that it would be improper for it to ask
the council to take action In the contro-
versy.
1t could, however. with perfect propriety.
1t Is declared, appeal to the International
Brotherhood Of Bookbinders or the local
Central Labor Union, with which IL is al
lied and which are directly associated with
the federation, to request a ruling from
the council. AS far as can be ascertaned
III q reliable quarter neither course has
been pursued, and as the session of the
have to be taken immedat ately.
At the close of the morning session today
President Gompers gave out his stereotyped
announcement that the Miller controversy
had not yet been taken up. Mr.. GOmpers
was importuned by newspaper correspond
ents for additional statement. but he
refused positively to talk. He requested
Vice President James Duncan to give the
correspondents a synopsis of the morning
proceedings
Business Transacted.
A delegation of the membership of the
International Union of Workers on Glass
and the Brotherhood Of Painters and DDc-
orators, by mutual agreement, laid their
dispute over putty window work before the
council. 1t was reported that the contro-
versy had been before a board of arbitra-
ton, but that no agreement had been
reached. The matter was being heard when
the noon recess was taken and no decision
rendered.
The International Union Of Workers an
Glass also requested the council to extend
It's charter, SO to give it jurisdiction over
ornamental, cathedral and opalescent glass
work. The flint glass workers and tho
glass blowers representatives raised objec-
ton to the extension of jurisdiction. No de-
cision was rendered on the application
Several other applications for charters and
disputes involving trade jurisdiction wero
also considered
Gov William H. Hunt Of Porto Rico ap>
peared before the council at yesterday ars
ternoon's session. He spent about an hour
conversing with the members and was him. ]
self fnterrogated to the labor conditions
and also in regard to the proper enforce /.
ment of the eight-hour law for all mechan-
les, artisans and laborers in the island.
A delegation from the engineers unions
of New York appeared before the councl
yesterday afternoon.
The party was composed of President
Patrick Mcmahon, George Lghthall, Matt I
McConville, Frank Murphy, Thomas Dwyer. /
Thomas Duffy and ]. J. McCracken and .
Timothy Healy and asked the good offices
Of the executive council for the purpose OF
bringing about honorable adjustment OF
the building trades dispute in New York
city and to insist upon the rights to which
the unions are entitled being accorded them
by affiliated organizations. Without arriv-
ing at any conclusion upon the subject, tho
council then took up the matter of the CON-
troversy between the brewery workers,
gineers and firemen, the following appear
ing In behalf of their respective organiza-
tions: Representing the brewery workers,
Gabriel Shirolf, August Preisterbach, Egge-
mann and Louis Kemper; representing the
engineers, P. Mcmahon, G. V. Lighthan
and J. McCracken; representing the fire.
men, c. L. Shamp and Timothy Healy.
The situation In New York city, with tho
controversy over jurisdiction, in which tho
engineers, firemen and brewery workers OF
st. Louis are concerned, was discussed at
last evenings session of the council.