The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-12
TRADES COUNCIL
HOLDS A SESSION
Railroads Unable to Deliver
Enough Building Material
WILL SEEK LEGISLATION
Short Car Supply Causing Mines to
Operate Half Time-Law Courts
Too Slow in Settling the
Damage Suits.
WILL SEEK LEGISLATION

At the semi-monthly session of the Bir-
mingham Trades Council held yesterday
afternoon at the hall on Twentieth street,
it was the sense of the meeting that the
failure or inability of railroads to trans
port material was seriously interfering
with the building trades in this district.
Delegate c. O. Jacobs of the Bricklayers
union reported that during the past few
weeks considerable percentage of the
500 members of his organization had lost
time, and wages on this account. II was
also stated that some of the coal mines
in the district are operating only half
time because cars are not furnished for
shipment of the output.
Serious Detriment to Work.
Delegate Jacobs and other delegates re-
ported that this condition was a seri-
Gus detriment to work of the building
trades, and that it was becoming so
chronic that many expert mechanics were
leaving the Birmingham district and going
to sections of the country where full
-@-
point was emphasized that the trouble
lay entirely with the railroads as there
was plenty of work TO do and local con-
tractors and builders We're as anxious as
the workingmen, to get the material and
supplies ON the ground.
In this connection the recent report of
President B. b. Conner of the Alabama
railroad commission. came in for hearty
commentator and his recommendations
for the enactment of law by the next
Legislature requiring railroads OF the state
To give more adequate service was APP
proved. 1t was decided to ask labor or
ganzations throughout the state to urge
legislative members to enact such a law.
1t was declared that unless reasonably
steady work was provided for the skilled
mechanics in the building trades that they
could not be retained in this section, as
there is a strong demand for such work
men all over the country
Delegate Andy Marx called attention to
the Sells damage trial, which had con-
sumed three weeks, and to the many
other suits growing out of the Virginia
mine disaster, and their significance to
workingmen He said that under the
present method of hearing both civil and
criminal cases, many of those in which
workingmen were interested would be de-
layed until they grew gray-hcaded be-
fore hearing could be had, and he there
fore urged the need of more trial Judges
for this county. This sentiment seemed
TO meet with the approval of delegates
present, but the matter was not generally
discussed
Legislative Demands.
The legislative committee of the council
composed Of c. c. Houston, chairman;
Jacob j. Rush and b. +. Shrlmpton. was
instructed to present the legislative de-
mands of the workingmen to the mex;
meeting on the fourth Sunday OF this
month for general discussion and adop-
ton. These demands will deal with mat
ters considered vital to the interests of
fare, embracing such questions as were
presented to the legislative candidates
during the late campaign
A motion was adopted to invite the rep
resentatives in the legislature from Jeffer-
son county to meet with the Trades Coun-
ell at the first meeting of that body in
December, to consider and discuss these
demands. 1t Is understood that several
members elect of the legislature have ex-
pressed a desire to meet with the dele
gates, and gain thorough understanding
as to their Views regarding state legisla-
ton. 1t Is expected that this meeting vii.
prove to be one Of the most important
held by the district labor body during the
year.
The following new delegates from the
Paperhangers' union presented credentials
and were seated: Ed X. Smith, Thomas
Vail and J. w. Richardson.
Delegate Brown from the Copper
smiths union. reported that the members
of that craft had been granted an in
crease in wage schedule.
The Stage Employees association pre-
scented the council with three groups of
pictures, which were accepted with
thanks
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