The San Francisco call., 1907-02-26

0tSouTS6Q was SZb.1U4.33, winch was
contributed by the international and
sister unions. Following is the re-
port:
Your committee herewith submits fnal re-
port Of receipts and disbursements of the funds
contributed by the executive council of the
and individuals for the relief of members of the
International in this Jurisdiction who were suf-
ferers through the earthquake and FIRE of April
last report covering the transactions of this
committee. together with duplicate receipts for
all expenditures and the report OF the auditing
committee, have been forwarded to the executive
council of the 1. T. T., together with check
for $500. the balance remaining in the fund
after transferring 10 our local relief fund sum
sufficient TO care for those Of our members who
are still SEX ineapactated as result of the
disaster Of ten months ago.
We believe that the history of the trade union
movement in this country cannot show another
instance of such generosity and promptness
ganizations when the news of San Francisco's
misfortune was flashed across the continent.
and congested condition Of the telegraph offices
prevented messages from reaching your officers
for several days, we were soon made aware of
the anxiety end solicitude OF our fellow crafts
men throughout the country. Before learning
Of actual conditions. and being informed that
all our funds were inaccessible. the executive
council promptly remitted $1,000. and three days
later, when message reached the council ad-
Yising 1t of the true state OF affairs, $4,000
more forwarded.
Meanwhile. sister unions throughout the juris-
diction were sending money-some direct to No.
until the grand total of S26104 80 was reached.
Most of the contributing unions asked to be
from cash contributions many OF the unions.
particularly on this coast, received and cared
for those Of our members whose circumstances
rendered 1t necessary for them to leave this
jurisdiction.
The disbursement of this fund in the interest
of those for whose benefit it was contributed
has been the duty of this committee The self
reliance and fortitude of the members of No
81 in the weeks following the disaster contrib
n EO Of he lnT1if
the April meeting. held in Oakland eleven days
after the earthquake. the union adopted the
recommendation Of the executive committee that
no stated or fixed amount of relief be given to
all members alike; that each applicant for re-
lief stand on the merits of his own case; that
the disbursement of funds be made to relieve
cases of actual distress and sickness of mem
be given TO those who were willing or desired
to leave San Francisco.
This action entailed much labor on your COM
mittee. but ii eheerfully undertaken, as
under this plan relief not only given where
needed but in amount as each instance war
ranted. AT the May meeting it was decided that
the scope of the committees labors be enlarged,
and that in addition to caring for the imme-
diate wants of those sick and In need, clothing
be furnished to those requiring same, and that
in the case of married members who were burned
out and who contemplated resuming housekeep-
ing a sufficient TO make a start in this
direction be given. San Francisco Mailers
Union No. 49, under instructions from the ex-
eeutive council participated in the fund, and
requisitions from that union to the amount OF
S50s. 75 were paid.
This committee has made monthly reports tc
the union, have also your auditors. by whom
the accounts of this committee have been vised
and reported upon each month. In this report,
as in our monthly reports, the expenditures have
been grouped under four general headings. viz.
transportation cash relief; hospitals, doctors
and medicine; furniture clothing and rent.
These cassiications cover every dollar expended
from the fund. Not cent has been taken
from the fund for administrative expenses all
going for the purpose for which it con-
tribufed-relief. What little expense your com
mittee incurred in prosecuting its labors was
4 %1ff fhn f1nd rfr tia TTT7in and
the balance in the fund, after extending relief
in all worthy cases, the union has ordered re-
turned to the executive council. Here follows
a tabulated statement of the receipts and ex-
lenditures.
In closing this report we desire to thank the
union for its uniform support in upholding the
committee in the prosecution of this important
task Although the great & calamity through
struetion to mark its trail. we believe that our
organization is stronger today than ever. before
in its history. May its power Tor good never
80" '''S' GEORGE A. TRACY,
JOHN ". KELLY.
GEORGE S. HOLLIS,
Fl. L. WHITE,
r i. DoNNlN1lOS' IN
stituted as a relief committee by order of
the union on April 2s' 1906.
1t is asserted that the wage board
sitting at Mare Island will raise the
wages of mechanics. Increases of 16
cents a day for mechanics and 81 cents
in some crafts and 4S in others for
helpers is said to have been decided
upon. The results of the boards work
have been forwarded to the department
at Washington. This raise will amount
to about 10 to 90 per cent for helpers
and material raise for mechanics
Chicago has just formed a new labor
union, articles of incorporation having
A.
The organization is known as the Re-
tail Drug Clerks and Soda Dispensers
Benevolent and Protective Association.
The organization has made no move
toward affiliation with the Chicago
Federation of Labor.
H G. Shaug of Los Angeles organized
the clerks in the railway mail service
in this city last week. The associa
tion is known as the Brotherhood of
Railway Mail Clerks, and its object is
to better the condition of it's members.
A chapter has been formed in Los An
geles, and it's promoters say that the
order will gradually spread through
every division of the railway postoffice
department in the United States. In
speaking of the movement, Shaug said:
In this movement we invite investigation We
want TO know the sentiments of the people to-
ward action that we may know how to
proceed. The need OF organization long
ago impressed upon all; organization founded
upon the principles of mutual advancement and
protection. and conceived under the guidance
of the better judgment rests with us. 1t can
not be considered that the best interests of the
people would be opposed by uplifting the calling
of men serving them, nor that organization for
mutual advancement would menace efficiency
Experiences teaches us that there has not
always been a paternal interest taken in the
welfare of the clerks by department officials
To be candid there has been evident a policy
that may be said to be almost despotic ano
fairly defes the rights of American citizenship
have observed that gradually one by one the
personal liberties of connected with this
service have been restricted, and we find our
selves in a position at present that is but
step from serfdom. I may run the risk of being
termed agitator, but he who mocks without
reasoning has little right Of being heard or
needed.
The Washington, D. c.. Central La
Dor Union recently gave reception In
honor of Mayor Schmitz and the Board
of Education of this city. President
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor, who presided, paid a high
tribute to Mayor Schmitz and his con-
freres, and declared that in bringing
about the exclusion of japanese labor
from this country they had won a VIC
tory for which the American Fedora
ton of Labor had been fighting for