The San Francisco call., 1909-02-20
LABOR COUNCIL HAS
A LENGTHY SESSION
Report Against Proposed Law
to License Stationary En-
gineers Is Received
India Basin Project Is Endorsed
and Various Other Mea-
sures Considered

~~sssD Ss.ssS5ssss57 Francisco lab r
council met last
night with President Kelly in the chair
Delegate E. H. Misner of the ma
chinists lodge No. 6S reported that he
had been before the committee on labor
and capital in Sacramento in opposi-
tion to the bill introduced by Assembly
mar johnson of Placer in regard to
licensing engineers operating station
airy steam generating plants. He said
that in this locality such a bill would
forever bar any member of the machin-
lists lodge from obtaining license, is
it provides for the examination of ap
plicants before board composed of
three men, one of whom shall have
been employed as a stationary engineer
for five years within 10 years preceding
his appointment, one who shall have
had for the same period the active
management of some factory or work
shop in which steam apparatus is used,
and the third shall be a graduate of
some reputable college of engineering
Misner said that there was nothing in
the bill to hold either, of those three in
check, but that it would give a splen-
did opportunity to three men to de-
clare who should and who should not
work and of allowing men without
merit to secure positions.
The machinist who is competent to
run an eng Sdlu DelSSdJe MlSneT,
could. under the bill, be barred from
securing position as engineer if the
three or majority of examiners saw
fit to refuse him license. Many own
ers of steam generating plants prefer
first class machinist as an engineer
but the bill would forever bar a ma
chinist from the engine or boiler room
The majority of boiler explosions
are not caused by poor engineers, but
~
is to have competent boiler Inspector
AS many boiler explosions occur in
cases where men are examined for a
license as in cases where no license is
required. The bill is a party bill and
would cause more or less change with
every administration.
"A bill for the licensing of engineers
should be kept as far from politics as
possible. The bill is one of the worst
attempts at procuring a license law and
its passage would be bad legislation for
every one it is intended to protect
There is every reason to believe that if
it becomes a law it will be declared un-
CONSTITUTIONAL
Misner was of the opinion that the
stationary engineers could draft a bet
ter bill than the one before the Iegis-
lature
The Asiatic exclusion league notified
the council of an important meeting to
be held next Sunday afternoon
HE me retail cIerkks gave notice of
LaVlhg accepted the recommendation of
the district council of clerks as to
hours and wages for women clerks.
Inc united garment workers of New
York drew the attention of the conn
ell to labels that are being affixed to
garments made in prisons. The matter
was referred to the label committee.
communication regarding the bill
now before the legislature in relation
TO the writ of review was referred TO
the law ,aVt and d. legislative committee.
dent of the freight handlers union,
asking that steps be taken to organize
freight handlers in San Francisco. was
A request from Mary Palmer of the
| California club asking the council to
| support the bill before the Legislature
for the establishment of a state tuber-
| culosls hospital was passed to the
law and legislative committee.
More than an hour was taken up in
relation to the electrical workers dis
pute and the. seating of delegates from
| local 633. Finally the matter was re-
| ferred to the executive committee The
subject was discussed by International
Vice President McConoughey for the
McNulty faction and NJ. j. Sullivan and
W.. Rhye for the Reed faction.
communication was received from
the united meat. workers asking that
the delegates of butchers union No.
115 be unseated, as its charter had been
revoked.
T.
the butchers opposed the request, and
asserted that the union had good rea-
sons for withdrawing from the meat
workers. The communication was filed.
A complaint from boiler makers
union No. 25 against the stationary en-
gineers union that it is interfering e
with the boiler makers in the matter OF
retubing boilers was referred to the
executive committee.
Legislative Agent John I. Nolan pre-
sented lengthy report of the status
of the different labor bills in the leg
islature. He recommended that the
council indorse the India basin bill. The
council, by unanimous vote, gave its
Endorsement, as suggested
Division No. 205. Garments union sent
a communication to the council in re-
lation to its delegates. and 1T was re-
| ferred to the executive council without
reading.
Communications from congressman
announcing that they will support the
piece work system in the navy yards
and the proposition to move the marine
hospital We're read and filed.
Mayor Taylor, in reply to a request
that the fire commissioners be required
| TO pay hostlers in the fire department
/ 500 per month. sent letter addressed
| to him by the commissioners, who said
! that the men called hostlers were elas- :
| sified as Stablemen, and that they are
| The matter was referred to the secre-
tary for further investigation.
The council voted TO concur in the
request for an increase of four supe-
rior judges in San Francisco. During
| the debate one of the delegates said
| that now that the anti-betting bill had
| been signed speedy action in the courts
would follow.
Millmen's union No. 42S at its last
meeting indorsed the amendments
to the laws of the district council of
| carpenters.