The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-09-20
TRADES COUNCIL NEWS.
COUNCIL TAKES ACTION
ON RENT PROFITEERING
A Committee on Liberty Loan
Drive Appointed to Cooper
ate With Committees From
Local Unions.

President Mrs. Tyler, having return
ed from the east occupied her chair.
Credentials were presented by
Bros. Powers and Thompson of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,
Bro. J. H. Michel of the Building
Trades Council, and Bro. C. L. Joyce
of the Shipyard Laborers, to sue
ceed Delegate Peck. The creden
tials were received and delegates
seated.
On request of the Building Trades
Council f. Cloke of the Building
Laborers and II. o. Bartholomew
of the Carpenters were taken off
the unfair list.
A communication was received
from Commissioner Clay relating to
the issue of Municipal Market war
rants and asking the Council to
dispose of $4OO worth of them. The
proposition was favorably consid
cred and referred to the affiliated
unions with recommendation to pur
chase that amount.
The following communication was
received from the American FEEDER
alton of Labor relating TO rent prof
iteering:
Washington, d. c., Sept. 6, 1913.
To the Secretaries of the State Fed
erations of Labor and City Central
Bodies:
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
The delegate from the Pennsylvania
State Federation of Labor to the
st. Paul Convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor submitted
resolution, No. 1877, which reads
as follows:
Whereas, The United States of
America is engaged in the most Sc
rious conflict in the history of the
world, for democracy, and that all
people are called upon to contribute
and sacrifice to bring the same to
successful conclusion; and
Whereas, The wage-earners, as
whole, are called upon and expected
to loan their resources to the full
extent to buy Liberty Bonds, War
Savings Stamps and give support
to the Red Cross; and
Whereas, The profiteering real es-
tate owners through their renting
agents in certain industrial communl-
ties in the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, have and are making con-
ditions for tenants intolerable by
raising rents from one to ten dol
lars per month, on account of the
scarcity of rentable and habltable
living quarters; and
Whereas, Such nefarious and un-
patriotic acts are in direct conflict
with the best interests of the Ma
ton, and it robs such afflicted ten
ants of the opportunity and the right
to purchase and donate to their full
extent in behalf of world democracy;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Pennsylvania
Federation of Labor, here assem-
bled, empower the Committee on
Resolutions to draft resolutions pro-
testing to the law making powers
of this government, insisting on the
abolishment of this evil practice;
and, be it further
Resolved, That the delegate to the
coming convention of the American
Federation of Labor be instructed to
introduce a resolution therein that
will, eventually, prevent such fu-
ture abuse and evil placed upon
Labor.
The convention directed that the
first resolve should be referred back
to the Pennsylvania State Federation
of Labor and, further, that the Ex-
ecutive Council should cooperate
with all state federations of labor
in formulating measures which will
successfully overcome the evil about
which complaint is made.
The Executive Council, at its re-
cent meeting, referred the entire
matter to the officers at headquar'
ters with directions to carry out the
instructions of the convention.
The object, therefore, of this com
munication is to bring to your at.
tention the declaration of the con
vention and to advise you that the
officers of the American Federation
of Labor will be glad to cooperate
with the officers of the State Fedora
tions of Labor and of the city cen
tai bodies in evey way within theil
power. | should be very glad
therefore, to have you advise me