Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17

IL lS UNDERSTOOD that the Dill recently
framed by the Registered Drug Clerks
Union. providing for reduction In their
hours Of labor. will be reported to the
House Of Representatives and Senate with
in the next week or ten days. The bill
was submitted to the District committees
Of the House and Senate and the members
Of those committees are considering It. The
union clerks have the assurances Of mem
bers Of both committees that they will
favor the passage of the measure.
The officers and members Of the union
alike have been working necessarily In be-
half Of the measure. Many meetings OF
the union have been held Of Late and the
measure has been thoroughly reviewed. 1t
is the opinion Of many that the bill In Its
present form, If passed by Congress. will
greatly alleviate the situation.
The union officials and representatives OF
the Washington Pharmaceutical Assocla-
ton, which is composed of the local employ
ing druggists. have had several conferences,
and it is said, the proprietors proposed
twelve-hour day, with two hours on Tor
meals, which they claimed would be the
same as a ten-hour work day. 1t Is also
said the employers agreed to pay the clerks
for extra time. The union clerks did not
see their way clear to accept such propo-
sition. giving as reason that they were OF
the opinion that their employers would re-
duce $50 mans wages to $40 per month.
and then II the clerk worked three nights
week which were supposed to be his nights
off he would receive the $40 for extra work.
The Washington Pharmaceutical Associa-
ton is said to have agreed to support the
pending bill If the clerks would concede
seventy hours Of service each week. At q
recent meeting of the union the proposition
of the employers association was rejected
and the employers were SO informed.
The pending bill provides for day for
the pharmacy clerks OF ten hours. six days
l4. L., mn
sonnet Of the local pharmacy board from
five to seven. The clerks hoped to gain
recognition on this board by the appoint
ment Of the additional two members from
the union.
The clerks have been trying for many
years to have their hours Of labor reduced
and have protested, It Is said, against the
employment Of unregistered clerks. They
declare that the practice OF leaving a drug
store in charge Of unregistered clerks is
dangerous, besides being contrary to law.
Speaking Of the measure. q prominent
local labor leader said:
the hearty approval OF all Waehngton's
residents The clerks are now compelled
to work many hours, which tends to make
a man careless-not for the want Of inter
est In his vocation. but from sheer want
of rest and recreation. Their work re-
quires precision and accuracy, and to attain
those qualities, which are without doubt
essential to their profession, they should
be required to work only reasonable time
each day. II the members OF Congress
consider the measure in the proper light,
I am positive they will give it their hearty
support"
The bill for the reduction of the hours
Of labor Of the firemen Of the District nre
department Is also topic OF interest The
officials of the Fire Department Employees
Local Union No. ss48 and the American
Federation Of Labor are working in uni
son in behalf Of the measure. and have
secured the cooperation Of many OF Wash
ington's prominent men and the support
of members Of Congress.
At a recent session Of the Brghtwood
Citizens Association the bill was Endorsed
and copies OF the resolutions ordered to
be sent to the District Commissioners and
members OF the District committees OF
the Senate and House. In the opinion Of
the association. the f1remen should have
reduction in the hours Of labor at the same
rate of pay.
The bill as introduced In the House Of
Representatives by Representative Sidney
e. Mudd February IA last provides that
hereafter the period Of service Of the mem
bers Of the fire department Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia shall not exceed twelve
hours which shall be consecutive. in each
calendar day, except In cases OF extraor-
binary emergency or public peril, and for
which service. not exceeding twelve hours
in each day, as aforesaid they shall re-
ceive the same pay or salary as Is paid
to them at the time Of the passage Of this
act"
Within the near future a joint conference
will be held between committees repre-
sentng the international Typographical
Union, the International Brotherhood OF
Bookbnders and the International Press
mems Union, with view to adjusting. II
possible, the existing grievances Of the or
CARNATIONS and to frame new agreement.
The conference is to be held in accordance
with resolution adopted at the last con-
vention Of the American Federation OF
Labor.
The executive council Of the American
Federation Of Labor will begin its quar-
terly meeting Monday morning at Typo
graphical Temple and continue In session
until matters engaging its attention shall be
disposed of. The principal object Of the
first quarterly meeting Of the body in each
year is for the purpose Of considering all
matters referred to 1t by the annual con-
vention of the federation.
Among the various matters which will
occupy the attention Of the members Of
the committee Ia the question Of urging
state legislation against child labor In the
southern states. In his annual report
President Samuel Gompers devoted a large
amount Of space to this topic, setting forth
the crying evils of the situation.
A report is expected from Vice President
Max Morris of Denver, Col, relative to
the western labor movement. and also in
regard to the status Of affairs in the west
ern states. Mr.. Morris is expected to al
Jude at some length to the settlement of
the long existing grievances between the
central bodies composing the Western La
Dor Union Of the inter-mountain country
Of the west and the American Federation
Of Labor, which have been the source of
much restlessness among the wage earn
ers of that section. From what can be
learned the difficulties were adjusted along
national and International policy lines.
All the members Of the executive council.
with the exception of Vice President John
Mitchell. will be in attendance at the ses-
sions. Mr.. Mitchell who is president of
the United Mine Workers of the United
States and who became a national charac-
ter through the recent strike In the anthra-
cite coal regions Of Pennsylvania. is in
Philadelphia attending the deliberations Of
the coal strike commission and Will there
fore, not be able to attend He WILL how
ever, leave the Quaker city about the mid
die Of next week to preside at the annual
convention of the United Mine Workers, to
be held in Indianapolis, Ind.
Mr.. Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor. spent sew
eral days of the present week in Cincin-
natl, Ohio, looking after matters Of inter-
est to unionists Of the country.
Mr.. Harry w. Sherman. general secretary
Of the International Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers. visited Philadelphia, Pa,
the first part of the present week for the
ofc a strife OF