Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-14
VERMONT BRANCH
OF At. OIL. MEETS
Hears Reports of Local Bodies
Legislative Committee
Submits Report

sions of the Vermont branch of the
American Federation of Labor convened
at 10 O'Clock this morning in City Hall
in Montpelier with some 80 delegates at
tending. Z. r. Merrill, city clerk, gave
the address Of welcome, while the Rev.
+. j. Long offered the prayer. The meet
ings are presided over by Fred w. Suitor
of Barre, president of he organization.
Probably, the most interested part Of the
meeting tok place this afternoon when
the delegates gave the reports of the or
ganizations in the different towns. Among
these was Burlington in which Jack
Mason gave an interesting report upon
the situation at the Vermont Milk Choco-
late companys plant, while one of the
carpenters in the presence of the Commits
sioner of Industries John :. Buttles called
attention to the fact that the men worked
last Sunday night behind lockd doors
in the chocolate company's plant. Mr. Ma
son explained at some length the details
of the unorganizcd strike that took place
from the plant and how the organization
occurred after the girls had left the place
and the improvements they obtained in
the way of working conditions. He also
explained the trouble that occurred with
the University of Vermont where nom
union help was employed, but which was
Strengthened out and that Alex Ironside,
the State secretary called to Bur
lington, and a conference between Mr.. Ma.
son, Mr.. Ironside and Acting President
Bailey occurred in which the adjustment
was satisfactory and the non-union paint
ers employed a few weeks since left the
job.
BURLINGTON LABOR CONDITIONS
Mr. Mason explained the card system
that was used in the Burlington Traction
company strike and stated that the en-
ployes are now 100 per cent organized.
| The carpenters painters metal work.
ers and plumbers made reports showing
) that they had received increases i'll pay
and the metal workers explained that
since they had organized the company
has been unable to All its orders for
baking ovens. This has provided over
| time work for the last year.
MIR. BUTTLES SPEARS
Mr.. Buttles spoke for a few minutes
! to the body. explaining that he is new
, as commissioner and that the work was
new to him so they must not expect too
much of him at first but that If any per-
son thought he We're not getting a fair
deal to approach him on the matter. He
asked the delegates to report matters
to him that in their Judgment should
be improved He believed that the en-
ployes do not all understand their rights
under the workingmen's compensation
act and he urged them to seek informa
, ton.
Mr.. Ironside inquired if he had seen
the letter which the Governor sent
r. w. Simonds June 10 relative to inn
: proving the dust condition in granite
sheds. Mr.. Buttles replied he had not
but that he had it under advisement and
would he forthcoming
Mr.. Ironside asked that a woman in
spector of the factories be appointed and
claimed that the $4,000 was all there
was for two years leaving out salaries
and claimed this sum too small for the
work.
Willie Mr.. Buttles was present COM
painl was made about the conditions
under which men work at the granite
) quarries NJ. ID. Sullivan stated that in
one quarry there is ladder 80 feet long
and that some of the time there are two
hand rails but at times none at ALL He
advocated a double ladder with three
ratings The condition in which the
grout is piled up near the quarries was
called to the commissioners attention.
e COMPLAINT FROM RUTLAND
Alderman German of Rutland referred
to the lack of inspection in Rutland where
|
of building without suitable fire escapes.
Mr.. Ironside referred to the granite quarry
conditions damnabe and Mr.. Sutton as
deplorable.
u Resolutions were referred to the comb
e mittee which pertained to labor and the
l high cost of living. one of these asked
the governor to call a reconstruction con-
vention when the employees and employers
could meet and discuss matters relative
II to the reduction of tine costs of living, also
: another resolution asked the governor to
y appoint committee to ascertain what can
be done about the reduction of the high
Il cost of living. There was a resolution fav
= orng the League of Nations. 1t was urged
that the State representatives in Congress
be urged to use their influence in the re-
ducton of the cost of living.
The different organizations in Barre
:. and Montpelier expressed satisfaction at
a the advances they have received and the
r good working condition. excepting those
II at the quarries and the need for dust re-
: moving equipment in the granite sheds.
r LEGISLATIVE COM. REPORTS
s If the last Vermont Legislature had
II an idea that it was progressive that
idea will be rudely shaken by the
e report of the legislative committee OF
8 the Vermont branch of the American
= Federation of Labor as it was made to-
- day to the assembly. 1t states:
r LAST LEGISLATURE CRITICIZED
The Legislature of 1919 may be
. classed as the most reactionary body
y that has represented Vermont in the
, past 20 years in so far the welfare
of the workers is concerned. 1t was
&C indeed no fault of some of our legis-
u lators that even our present labor laws
y were allowed to remain on the State
y books. 1t took considerable of the
u time, money and patience of labor's
e representatives to convey to those re-
n dictionaries that they were playing with
IS fire and that any work undone by them
t would help to stir the flames of unrest
which have been held in allegiance dur
d ing the war period.
= True, we had few friends who
s recognized the fact that we deserved
e as much attention as cattle, pigs and
: fish. but look over your improved laws
e and you will find that outside of $50, 00C
voted to INDECENT tuberculosis patients
and $4,000 to hospitals, $4,000 has been
q set aside to carry out the work of the
n commissioner of industries for the next
a two years. Hence it does not take a
a person to be gifted with much fore
;, sight to see that the workmen's COM
. pensation and factory inspection de-
. PARTNERS will function only in proper
N,.t., . t,, l,l -.