Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-05
IN LABOR CIRCLES


The spirit of investigation seems to De
abroad among the organized workihs"eh
of Washington. as several inquiries Oh Hore
or less Importance are in progress. III Tue
frat Mace the Central Labor Union has
begun an investigation as to the expendi-
ture of the public lecture fund. At the last
meeting of that body 1t was alleged that
the fund was being diverted from the chan-
mel in which it was intended to fiow-free
lectures for the education and ediication or
the masses-and was being used for the
benefit of select few public school teach
crs who were invited to listen to technical
talks. given at the expense of the fund.
Delegates to the central body expressed
themselves freely. and criticised those VINO
are said to be responsible for the ''unaw-
ful expenditure of the money. President
Adams has taken the matter up, and de-
clares ne will apply the probe. He gave 1t
as his opinion that the $1,000 appropriated
by Congress at its last session was intended
To bc applied to free lectures for the work
ing people. and that the money should not
he used for any other purpose.
The officials of the American Federation
of Labor arc also said to be investigating.
They want to know whether the alleged pc
titionS of labor unions that have been pre-
scented to Congress in favor of the ship
subsidy bill are bona fide. or whether they
are signed by Knights of Labor or other
associations not affiliated with the A. F. of
l.. The reason for this investigation be-
comes apparent when II is known that at
the recent convention of the federation
resolutions were adopted by unanimous
vote against the proposed ship subsidy act.
The machinists have been investigating
the rates of pay received by their fellow
craftsmen in Baltimore. Philadelphia and
other nearby cities for the purpose of MAX
ing comparisons with similar figures OBJ
tanned by the wage board of the navy yard,
for use in determining the wage scale for
the yard during the coming year. The ma
,y-fe. 1nt.A ole TO- cd
of house rent. the cost of living and the
price of coal for use in the same connec-
ton. 1t is their hope that the machinists
and other mechanics in the navy yard will
receive substantial increase in their sal
aries for the coming twelvemonth
A summary of some of the most import
ant work accomplished at the recent con-
vention of the American Federation of
Labor has been prepared by Editor t. NJ.
Ring of the Trades Unionist, as follows:
Calling upon Congress to correct abuses
in the postal clerk branch of the federal
service.
Endorsing and urging the passage of
Representative Gauldens bill in Congress
to safeguard passengers ON ocean steamers
to prevent such disasters as the
Socum and Valencia horrors.
calling on the President of the United
States to apply the Chinese exclusion act
to- the shipping of seamen. cooks, ETC., on
vessels flying the American flag.
''Pledging the American Federation OF
Labor to use it's best efforts to further leg
islation which shall check the overlooking
Of ocean and lake vessels.
THAT government contractors should pay
the prevailing wages in the district where
their work Is carried to competition.
That the federation support pending
legislation repeating the part of The Sher-
man antitrust act under which trades
unions may be enjolned.
THAT the alien contract labor law be
extended to cover low-grade foreign mu-
sicians.
"rhat the federation support a pending
bill for the investigation of the conditions
Of women and children workers.
THAT the federation support pending leg
islation to give the postal clerks an eight
hour day.
Commencing the work of the late
George f. Mcneil, and donating $1OO to-
ward the memorial which the Massachu
sets Federation of Labor is to erect in his
memory.
Committing the American Federation of
Labor to assist in the movement of the In
ternational Typographical Union in its fight
for a government ownership of telephone
and telegraph system.
"Reaffirming the attitude of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor to the labor press
and calling on all locals. central and state
bodies in an effort to aid i'll this laudable
purpose"
Thirty thousand textile workers in Fall
River, Mass have had their wages increased
10 per cent This increase is the direct re-
suit of the determined stand taken by the
Fall River unions Their demand for the 10
per cent increase, which is a restoration of
the wages paid in 1903. at first refused
by the mill operators. and the unions issued
ultimatum that unless the increase was
granted the 3o0G0 members would strike
the following Monday. NJ. C. d. Borden,
who employs $3.50 hands. independent
cotton manufacturer, the first to an
nounce the raise. No demand had been
made on him. and his action forced the 9TH
er mills to follow suit. The new wage
10 of -a,,ft lone
ing ninety-two mills, besides an iron works
plant. 1t is probable that other cotton mills
In New England will follow the lead taken
I'm Fall River. and that thousands of out
side mill hands will ultimately share in tine
increased wage scale.
Chicago has three cigarmakers who GER
tainly believe in their union. The union
principle is firmly Embedded in them that
they have made provision for their organza-
ton after their death. John MacNamee
celebrated his SEVENTEEN anniversary by
making a VIII In which lie beuueathed $3.50
to the Cigarmakers Union. with which he
has been identified for many years. Will
liam Foster bequcathcd a similar sum to
the union. John Porter. another member.
set aside the sum of $50 for the members of
the union. the stipulation being that his
ellow-workmen expend the money by hav-
Ing good time at his funeral.
1t is said tentative movement was start
ed by certain members of the Washington
Central Labor Union at its meeting last
Monday to erect a monument over the grave
of Milford Spohn, who was known as the
father of the central body" This action
was inspired. it was added. by the several
impressive memorial addresses setting forth
the life and services of Milford Spohn
which were delivered at that meeting
The Citizens Industrial Association now
in session at Chicago. is said to be discuss
ing in executive session the Sherman anti
trust law and its application to illegal la
Dor combinations. The manufacturers
hope to be able to show that labor unions
are criminal trusts which have for their
object the creating of monopoly in labor
No doubt they will prove it to their own
entire satisfaction, as all of them believe it
now, but it may be more difficult to prove 1t
to the satisfaction of the fedor raj authorities
or the public generally.
In this connection Luke Grant saws "it Is
hard to see why the abor union is a trust
In the general meaning of the word 1t is
true the unions aim to control the supply
of labor and through this control set the
price on it. But the trust as commonly
understood is combination to benefit a
few individuals at the expense of the many
while the labor union is intended to benefit
the many at the expense. perhaps, of the
few employers who do not want to pay the
market price for labor.