The Washington herald., 1907-02-05
RESCIND GAS ACTION
Central Labor Delegates Vote
to Reconsider Report.
DECISION IS NOT ENDORSED
strong Arguments in Favor Of Lower
Rates Presented by President
Adams. of the MachinIs;s, and
other MemberS-WhOIe Mut.er Is
Finally Laid on the Table.

At The meeting Of the Central Labor
Union last night that body reconsidered
its former action on the report Of the
committee on the Madden gas bill. advis-
ing that no action be taken by the body
in support OF the bin providing for -
| cent gas in the District. Last nights ac-
tion was taken on the motion of Presi-
dznt Adams. delegate from the Columbia
Lodge OF Machinists which recently
adopted q resolution opposing the action
Of the Central Labor Union.
His motion brought forth many argu-
ments from the members Of the organiza-
tioR, who opposed the action OF the or
g2nization and strongly favored the re-
ducUon in the price Of gas The speak
ers nearly all We're In favor OF the reduc-
ton in price. and felt that the Central
Labor Union should iBdorse tho bin and
work for its passage By Congress. The
decision was finally made that the action
would be rec0nsidered. and this was inn
mediateiy followed bysa motion 60 lay the
matter ors the table, which was passed.
Delegate Adams talked at length on the
subject and he was followed by Dele
gates Wolf and Hartley. arguing that the
organization should take stand in favor
Of the reduction Of the price in gas.
NachiniSts for Reduction.
'I have been instructed by the LOO
members of my organization TO make the
motion tor the reconsideration Of the ac-
tion Of this body" said Delegate Adams
in support Of his position.
In the first place. I believe the Central
Labor Union has gone out OF its sphere
in taking up matter which should be
carefully investigated. These statistics
cannot DE obtained 10y any one. bUt the
question is one that has been gone over
Ycarefully by many of the members Of
my union, and they are sincere in their
belief that the Madden bill should become
law"
''The price of stock i'm the gas company
/ is certainly a crite~-cn by which TO ar
rive at conclusion as TO whether or
not the price Of gas is higher than il
should be-" said Delegate Wolf Look
at the dividends ihat are paid by the
company and ask some Of the people who
make a business of stock investments
whether or not an investment in this
stock is not considered one of the best
Of the local industries.
For my part. I cannot see why this
company cannot reduce the price Of gas
materially and then continue TO operate
with a profit that would be more than
fair 10 the stockholders. The company
has always been opposed to organized
labor and has given many evidences Of
this fact"
Can StiII Make a Profit.
Delegate Hartley also insisted that the
company should cut the price of gas and
thsn continue to operate at a profit
ITO my mind" he said, 1T would look
fairer if the company would reduce the
price OF gas and put some of the money
that is now '.sed in paying dividends into
the hands Of the employees of the COM
pany as well as the stockholders
The action of the committee was de
Tended by Delegate Rodier. who said
that the committee had acted 20 the best
of its ability, and had reported that no
action be taken because Of the fact that
the question is a large one, and one that
they could not investigate fully enough
to feel they were competent to pass judg-
ment upon.
1De Delegates from lte painters and
decorators locals. also entered a protest
against the previous action. and reported
that their organizations are in favor of
the enactment into law of the Madden
bill, putting themselves on record IN that
way.
smoke Law Opposed.
The following resolution, presented by
Delegate Riggles. Of the machinists. was
referred to a special committees consisting
Of Delegates RiggIes. Beatty. and Hart
ley: "The smoke law is detrimental to the
manufacturing interests of this city,
which employs union labor. Experience
tells us that smoky cities are the wealth
lest because every cloud Of smoke repre-
seats the employment of high-priced men.
As Washington is a residential city. there
is not enough smoke TO inconvenience the
people. while the smoke law will work
many hardships to the laboring men here.
of which $500 viii be affected
y resolution was also referred 10 the
legislative committee against the prohi-
bition bin as drafted by Representative
Webber, of Ohic Daniel P. Kelley of
the Hatters Union Of New York. made
brief speech.
Get youT St=rt in Life
yg,- far,pr,foc hank aeeor1nf Paulrfr,u-