Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-06

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With the birth Of the new year the two
great carpenters organizations. the United
Brotherhood OF Carpenters and Joiners o.
America and tbs Amalgamated Society OF
Carpenters and J0iners, became united.
The consolidation was In accordance with
the decision Of Mr.. Adolph Strausser'
former president of the international Cigar
makers Union, arbitet in the controversy
between the two bodies.
To the organized laboring people Of the
country the amalgamation Is one OF the
greatest events in the history Of the labor
movement In America. BY the terms OF
the decision of the arbiter, the TWO or
CARNATIONS shall cooperate for the term OF
one year, and IL at the expiration Of that
time the plan proves satisfactory and bene-
fscial to the interests of the parties IN
volved, the consolidation will become per-
manent.
The trade agreement is the most Inn
portant feature Of the decision. The salient
provisions Of the agreement are:
In places where no branch of the Anal
gamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
exists every member of the organization
working in such districts shall obtain OF
a working card, and comply with all trade
rules of the district. For violation OF any
rules he shall be subject to fines and PEN
alties, payable into the funds Of the district
council or local union.
Any branch or members of the Amalga-
mated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
violating the trade rules of district IN
which there is district council Of the
United Brotherhood shall be tried by that
body, and IL found guilty a secret ballot
by a two-thirds vote Of the members pres
ent, shall be punished In accordance with
rules to be adopted by the district council
IT. the month of January, 1904. No appeal
shall be permissible from any judgment
rendered to higher tribunal prior to the
complete amalgamation of both organiza-
tons.
Any question affecting change Of wages,
hours of labor, etc, under the jurisdiction
of any district council shall be submitted
to a popular vote Of all union carpenters
represented in the same, and II approved
by q two-thirds majority on a secret ballot,
shall be binding upon all branches, unions
and members.
The district council authorized to be
formed shall have power by two-thirds
vote on roll call, to levy assessments. not
exceeding 81 weekly, three months prior
to a contemplated strike or lockout and
pending an authorized strike. on every
working member represented In the dis
trict council. for the management Of strikes
and lockouts. and for the payment of bene-
fits, the benefit not to exceed 81 weekly.
The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters
and Joiners shall have equal representation,
in proportion to membership represented in
the district, on all committees comforting or
arbitrating with employers about the reg
ulation of wages. hours employment, trade
agreements. etc. .,sdf9IG
Each organza ton shall deposit as
guarantee for a faithful compliance of the
trade agreement the SUM of twenty-five
thousand dollars (S25, 0OO) in savings banks,
bearing interest. The amounts to be de-
posted in the name Of the president. secre-
tary and treasurer of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. as trustees Of said guaran-
tee funds. All amounts must be deposited
prior to January 10. 1854 g
All claims for damages shall be filed
within thirty days after the commission of
any act by either party IN violation Of trade
rules. and trades union principles in gen.
eral, with the general officers OF each or
ganization. A copy of the same shall be
filed with the president Of the American
Federation of Labor
A court of claims composed of two rep
resenfatfves from each organization who
shall elect an umpire, shall convene the
second Monday I'm December. 1904. at the
city of Cleveland, Ohio, for the settlement
of all claims, which shall be final; the
awards to be paid within ten days from
the guaranteed fund deposited in the banks.
The local unions of the Brotherhood and
Amalgamated Society held a joint meeting
several days ago for the purpose of taking
tile preliminary steps looking to the f0rrnu-
lation of local agreement and the admis-
sion of the local representa- tives of the
Amalgamated Society into the Allied Coun-
Gil of Building Trades and the Central La
Dor Union. 1t is thought they will be ad-
mitted to the central body next Monday and
to the council the following night.
President James O'Connell Of the Inter-
national Association of Machinists and
President John Mulholland OF the Interna-
tfonal Association of Allied Metal Mechan-
les have held several consultations during
the last few days In connection with the
proposed consolidation of the two organiza-
ions. The TWO officials are framing I'D a
working agreement, to be submitted to a
referendum vote Of each organization.
At this time the officers OF the local unions
of machinfsts are preparing to petition Con-
gress to increase the annual leave of ab-
Sence OF the employees of the navy ward
from fifteen to thirty days
The labor leaders Of the country are oh
serving with interest the numerous notices
of the large corporations, factories etc. to
the eject that the country Is on the verge
of financial depression, and that in conse-
auence they will be compelled to reduce
longer hours. 1t is claimed that the reasons
for such a move advanced by many employ
ers are inconsistent.
One instance of such Inconsistency was
PoiAeoa oSt " q IcpOAtcE VI l. ne 6LdT yes
terday by President James O'Connell of the
International Association Of Machinists
Several months ago." said Mr.. OConnell
when all workmen were in demand. GER
tain employers declared that they must
have their employees work more hours in or
der to fill their contracts. Such q reason
for longer workday seemed consistent.
and the workmen were glad to work few
hours extra each day, providing they were
paid for the time. The employers now
claim they will have to increase the hours
of labor because work Is slack. A COMPARE
son of the two reasons will demonstrate
their Inconsistency.
There is an effort on the part Of certain
employers to have their workrnen return to
the old work day of ten hours At present.
eight hours constitute aday's labor In q
number of cities. white In other centers the
werkmen are compelled 10 work nine hours
The reduction OF the hours OF labor was ac-
complished only by the hardest struggle on
the part of the labor unions. and 1t il safe
to predict that any attempt to compel en-
ployes to work ten hollrs a day VIII meet
with bitter opposition from the unions. As
for the International Association of Ma
chiniSts, 1T Will not accept q ten-hOur work