Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10

Charles =. Miller,
Secretary Convention Committee.
upon their fellow craftsmen to organize
| but owing to the disorganized state of the
| country at the close of the war the COM
| mittee's efforts were not successful
Success Crowns Efforts
I'm 1868 and 1883 committees appointed
| for the same purpose. and at the con-
vention of bookbinders held in Cincinnati
Ohio, May f. 1885. the bookbinders Of Wash
| ington were represented by a delegate, Mr.
H. s. Tinker. who was elected first vice
president. but as that organization became
the International Bookbinders' Assembly OF
the Knights of Labor and proved to be
unsuccessful. the object they sought to OBJ
tain was not accomplished until 1892 when
the International Brotherhood of Bookbind-
ers was organized at Philadelphia and the
Journeymen Bookbinders' Society of WASH
ington became Local Union No. of the
international body.
I'm all movements for the advancement
of labor they have been the aggressors. adj
vocating and assisting to pass every law
that would be not only benefit to the
bookbinders and employees of the govern
ment printing office. but also benefit to
organized labor and the laboring class in
general.
From February 10. 1877. the date of the
passage of the appropriation bill reducing
the pay of the mechanics in the govern
ment printing Office from 81 per day to
So. 90 until its final restoration they never
let session of Congress pass without a
committee before that body endeavoring in
every way to have the old rate of wages
restored.
October A. 1898. Charles w. Nelson. pres
ident of the local. rendered his resignation
and J. l.. Feeney was elected his successor
He Immediately took up the matter of the
restoration bill and at his reelection at the
December meeting appointed himself as a
committee of one to have charge of that
bill.
December 10. 1898. Senator German in
troduced the bill in the Senate 1t was
deemed best before the introduction of the
bill to invite Columbia Typographical
Union to join issue with the bookbinders
but the president. Mr.. z. c. Jones' hesitated
to do so. as he stated the printers had APP
pointed committee for that purpose He
was informed that unless the committee
having the matter in charge were request
ed to withdraw and only the president of
the union permitted to have the matter in
charge the bookbinders would go it alone.
After little delay and several consulta-
lions the ARRANGEMENTS were agreed to.
Struggle for Benefits.
1.-THE bill passed Congress so late in the
session that 1t prevented an appropriation
to carry the bill into effect. and as the in
creased compensation amounted close to
100000 the public printer was somewhat in
quandary. AS Congress had failed to
make an appropriation, he had no money
available to pay the increased rate of
wages. and 1t would be impossible to put
the law into effect July l. He stated he
was advised by counsel, his bondsmen and
friends that 1t would be unlawful to pay
out money that was appropriated for an
other purpose. The president of the Print
ers Union acquiesced, but the president of
the Bookbinders Union objected June o.
at the request of the president of the union
the arbitration committee issued a call for
a special meeting to be held June q for
the purpose of amending the constitution
preventing any bookbinder as a member
of the union. from working in the govern
ment bindery at less rate than 80 cents
per hour.
packed with the members, as the vote to
be taken was IN reality declaring a strike.
Objection was raised by several members
to the legality of the meeting and the pres
dents decision was appealed from, but up
held. After a report by the president and
considerable debate. the motion to amend
the constitution was adopted by a rising
vote, only one being recorded in the mega
tive
THE public printer was notified the next
day of the vote taken at the meeting. and
June 20 he sent for the president of the
union and stated that after further consult
tations with friends he had decided to take
the risk and put the law into effect July 4.
and pay all printers and boollbinders the
new rate. as passed by Congress, so cents
per hour. The president of the bookbinders
told him he would not regret his decision,
and that President Mckinley would be re-
quested to approve it. President Mckinley
did approve the action OF Public Printer
Palmer and he also received vote OF
thanks from the Central Labor Union ana
the American Federation OF Labor It was
found before the year had expired that
Congress had inserted figures making the
law only good for one year. and It was
necessary to have It enacted again, which
was done without great deal OF trouble
and no expense whatever to the unions
Union and Civil ssrvics.
.sWhsn the government printing once
was enrolled In the civil service In 1896
Local Union No. 1 entered it, protest