Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-10
IN LABOR CIRCLES

Il
Secretary f. X. Hall of the Employers
Association of the Building Trades says
there has been no contention between en-
ployers and employees in the District over
the eight day. as has been pub
lished.
II wish to state for the hundredth
time" he adds, that the contest has not
been over the length Of the working day
or the scale of wages. the contention OF
the Employers Association being only Tor
the right to employ such men as they see
fit without regard to affiliation or nom
utilization with any labor organization"
The Trades Unionist says on January
- last, 1.-THE senate of North Carolina
suspended its sittings for the day as a
token OF its high regard for the character
and teachings Of Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor. the day being his tifty-ninth
birthday.
This act of courtesy by the Legislators
of this state is one to be appreciated by
every trades unionist in the land. and is
the first instance of this kind ever hap
heninS to a labor leader
The workingmen> of Washington will
honor the memory of Abraham Lincoln
at services commemorative of the Tooth
anniversary of his birth. The meeting, to
which all are invited will be held in Odd
Fellows Hall, 9TH street between ID and
E streets, Friday evening. beginning at
o'clock. Stories of Lincoln's struggles In
the early days OF his life and of his
browning triumph at the last will be told
by members of the Central Labor Union
and their guests. Representative Nichols
of Pennsylvania will preside, and there
will be music and other features.
Referring to Lincoln, Sam De Nedrey
described him as 1.-The child Of humble
birth, the student OF nature, the man of
sorrow and compassion. the acknowledged
representative and trusted friend Of the
common people A name everywhere re-
vered and associated with all that is best
in human endeavor.''
The information was given out at tho
headquarters of the American Federation
OF Labor on G street that the interna-
tional unions affiliated with the A. F. l..
paid out the following benefits during
the year: Death benefits, $1,251,O 600: sick
benefits. $685. unemployed benefits.
sos. O0o: travelling benefits. s51.OOO; death
benefits account Of members wives, $751;
400: total insurance, s2,44l,Oo0: strike
benefits, $4.5S4OOO.
The law of New York forbiddng BOYS
and girls under fourteen years of age
from selling newspapers on the streets
between 10 pm. and am. has gone into
effect.
Washington bakers are said to favor the
new bakery law which was introduced In
the Missouri state legislature by the
Bakers Union. No. 4. of st. Louis. The
principal provisions OF the proposed law
are: Six days work a week: boys under
sixteen years of age not to be employed
later than O'Clock at night; all bakeries
to be ventilated at least twelve hours
To-, 60 <a
side of the bakeries. and no sleeping
quarters to be in flour or other ware
rooms; no bakeries in cellars or base
ments: all bakery employees to undergo
medical examination to keep out those
suffering from tuberculosis or skin dis
eases.
In the current state Of New York de-
partment of labor bulletin appears the
following article that Is Of general in
terest to workingmen:
Three among the recent decisions OF
New York courts recorded IN the Duiletln
are of exceptional Importance. All are
decisions by the court of appeals. Two
determine important points under the
eight hour law for public work, while the
third defines responsibility under the
child labor law. The authority Of the leg
islature to regulate hours OF labor on
public work has never been in doubt, so
far as the state constitution was con-
cerned, since the constitutional amend
ment of 1905 expressly authorized such
legislation. But the constitutionality OF
the penalty provided by the eight-hour
law of 1906 for its enforcement. namely,
forfeiture of money due for the work
done, has been questioned In the case
of People ex rel. Williams Engineering
and Contracting Company VS.. Metz the
court of appeals affirms the constitution
ality of that penalty, and af1rms also the
consttutionality of the entire law under
the federal Constitution. In the case OF
Bohnen VS.. Metz the contention OF some
that the .eight-hOur law APP
plies to the manufacture Of materials pur-
chased by contractor for public building
work as well as to the actual construc-
ton has now been unanimously negatived
by the court of appeals. The child labor
law in prohibiting the employment OF chill
dren under fourteen years of age or those
from fourteen to sixteen without certifl-
Gates. prescribes that no such child shall
be employed, permitted or suffered to
work. etc. In the case of People VS.. Tay-
lor the court of appeals holds that in the
light of the other provisions of the labor
law the responsibility for violation Of this
prohibition rests upon the proprietor of a
factory and upon those of his subordi-
mates who hire the children. but does not
apply to a superintendent who does not
himself hire the children and who in good
faith has given express direction against
illegal employment of children"