Official Notice.

To the Officers and Members of Local Unions: Dear Sirs and Brothers.-While Section 27 of the International Constitution provides that the Secretary-Treasurer shall make monthly report of all money received and expended and publish same in the official Journal, it is the opinion of the International Executive Board that it would be well to omit at least part of this report during our strike against the American Bridge and other companies.

This being our opinion, the Secretary-Treasurer is hereby instructed to omit publication of "Expenditures" and "Recapitulation" until further instructions are given. The monthly financial report for the present shall consist of the receipts alone.

A complete statement of "Disbursements" will be published in the Magazine at a later date. This will comply with the law and also serve the best interest of the International Association. Fraternally Yours,

F. M. RYAN,

E. A. CLANCY,

J. H. BARRY,

J. T. BUTLER,

F. C. WEBB,

H. W. LEGLEITNER,

H. S. HOCKIN,

J. J. MCNAMARA,

International Executive Board.

Unfair List-Lest We Forget.

The following firms have been and are still unfair:

American Bridge Co.

Circular Letter No. 180.

Indianapolis, Ind., December 3, 1909.

To Affiliated Locul Unions, Greeting:

Frequent complaints are received at Headquarters that the Financial Secretaries of Local Unions do not return transfer stubs as promptly as they shculd. The Financial Secretaries of Local Unions should make note of these complaints and avoid their repetition by returning transfer stubs promptly.

On the Financial Secretary's report no space is set aside for the entries of Withdrawal Cards that are returned or deposited. When Withdrawal Cards are deposited or returned it is suggested that Financial Secretaries make note of same under the heading of "Withdrawal Cards Issued" and note that Withdrawal Card has been deposited or returned instead of issued.

Recently the increase in our membership has assumed large proportions. The best evidence of this is that over 400 new members have been recorded at Headquarters monthly. It goes without saying that a great many of them are former members who have had membership numbers, and that being the case the Financial Secretary can readily understand that matters will be complicated considerably at this end and numerous duplications in membership numbers will take place, unless it is known when name is reported to Headquarters whether the applicant has held membership formerly or not.

In writing to Headquarters for membership numbers and recording new members on the report Financial Secretaries should note the former members; if possible give their old membership number or at least the Local Union with which they were affiliated and about what year they beld membership. This information is desired because former members when reinitiated should retain their original membership numbers and in a great many instances it is impossible to grant the original numbers unless it is known that the members were formerly affiliated with our organi

zation.

It is to be hoped that Financial Secretaries will be guided by the above suggestion.

As soon as the report of the referendum vote on the amendments to the Constitution is tabulated, the necessary corrections will be made and Constitutions for the year 1910 forwarded to

all Local Unions

A supply of the new Constitutions of the Building Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor, together with a supply of the proceedings of the second Annual Convention of the Department held at Tampa, Florida, in October, 1909, has been ordered and a copy of each will be forwarded to all Local Unions for their Information. It is suggested that they be placed

on file for future reference.

Resolution No. 25, introduced by our delegates to the Tampa Convention in which the request was made that iron and steel in reinforced concrete construction be awarded to

our Interna

tional Association appears on Page No. 52 of the proceedings, and the action taken by the Conven

tion appears on Page No. 131.

1911 will be received from the printer shortly New Membership Books for the years 1910 and

and forwarded to all Local Unions. Members are coming into Local Unions so rapidly it is suggested that Financial Secretaries notify Headquarters as to just how many of the new membership books will be needed to supply the demands. If, however, this information is not received, the average membership of the Local Union will be taken as a basis, and that number of membership books will be forwarded. Nothing will be lost by pursuing this course, for it is a foregone conclusion that any excess number of books that may be received by any organization can be used very readily during the next two years.

From this time forward more attention is going to be paid to the Monthly Reports of Work and the Monthly Reports of Financial Secretaries, and it is suggested that the officers of our Local Unions send in these reports promptly.

Local Unions failing to send in reports are to be recorded in the Magazine from month to month. It should also be borne in mind that the International Constitution provides a penalty to be levied against the Local Unions whose officers fail to forward reports to Headquarters as required.

In connection with the Monthly Report of Work it should be borne in mind that two copies of such report should be sent to Headquarters regularly, for the Constitution provides that one copy is to be forwarded on to the President for his information and the other copy is to be placed on file at Headquarters.

With best wishes for the success of your Local Union and wishing all members a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year, we

are

Fraternally yours,

F. M. RYAN, President.

J. J. MCNAMARA, Secy-Treas.

Circular Letter No. 181.

Indianapolis, Ind., December 13, 1909.

To Affiliated Local Unions, Greeting:

Beginning December 11, 1909, new membership books for the years 1910 and 1911 are being for warded to all Local Unions, and it is expected that all books will be shipped by December 15th.

In a former Circular Letter, Local Unions were requested to inform Headquarters as to just how many new books they desired. Financial Secretaries that did so will receive the exact number of books ordered.

Where no such information has been received the membership of our Local Unions has been computed on the basis of Per Capita Tax paid, Monthly Work Reports, etc., and that number of membership books forwarded.

It of course goes without saying that any Local Union desiring an additional supply of membership books for the next two years can receive them by ordering from Headquarters.

With the exception of a few Local Unions that are situated a great distance from Headquarters, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash., all Local Unions should have their membership books by December 20th, and if such is not the case we would suggest that

Headquarters be notified immediately, so that the matter could be looked into without delay.

Some slight changes have been made in the new books, and we feel safe in saying that our International Association has the best membership book on the market today.

If Financial Secretaries will observe the following instructions in issuing new books a great many doubtful points will be cleared up and a great many misunderstandings and future difficulties avoided.

In the new book a pocket has been provided for the working card of the Building Trades Council. It is suggested that only the current card be carried in this pocket by our members, and that the old cards be either destroyed or filed away elsewhere.

Local Unions should insist on their members filling out the identification sheet, for if this information is at hand in case of accident, serious illness or sudden death it avoids numerous delays and inconveniences.

All the membership books received in the first shipment will contain Renewal Stamps for the years 1910 and 1911, and should only be issued to persons who are already members of the International Association. For the new members who join the International on and after January 1, 1910, an additional supply of membership books that do not contain the Renewal Initiation Stamp should be procured from Headquarters.

In connection with this matter it may not be amiss to say that the membership books of all members initiated on and after January 1, 1910, must contain the regular Initiation Stamp, which can be procured from Headquarters. Careful attention to this matter on the part of Financial Secretaries will prevent a great many future complications.

The blank lines to the right of the Initiation Stamp is provided for local reference, numbers, etc.

The first page of the new membership book is practically the same as in the old book, with the exception that the blue seal has been removed, which makes it easier to distinguish the printed matter thereon.

Membership numbers never change and when Financial Secretaries are transferring the name and number of a member on to the new book particular attention should be paid to this transaction so that the name and number will be entered in the new book as plainly and correctly as possible.

As a general proposition it is suggested that the information on Page No. 1 of the old membership book be transferred to the new membership book so that it may be possible to keep a record of a member as far back as possible.

In case members have transferred it will, of course, be necessary for the President and Financial Secretary of the local in which member is in at the present time to attach their signatures in the space set aside for the signature of the President and Financial Secretary.

The method of attaching Monthly Dues and Assessment Stamps has not been changed. The matter of collecting the International Assessments for the months of June, July, August and September, 1909, from members who have not paid

these assessments as yet will be taken up in a separate Circular Letter.

As an addition to the new membership books a separate page is provided for a record of attendance at meetings. It is self-explanatory and will do away with the use of a separate attendance card. As a general proposition there are but four meetings a month, and in connection with this page in the new membership book it will be an easy matter for the sergeant-at-arms or some other official to note the attendance of members at meetings wherever they may happen to be.

When new membership books are received it will be noted that the cover is securely sewed to the inside sheets, which will prevent the separation of the cover from the balance of the book, which caused considerable trouble during the past two years.

Any additional information will be cheerfully given Financial Secretaries if they will take the matter up with Headquarters.

Trusting that the contents of this letter will be of some benefit to you and that the new membership books will prove satisfactory, we are, Fraternally yours,

F. M. RYAN, President.

J. J. MCNAMARA, Secy-Treas.

Circular Letter No. 182.

Indianapolis, Ind., December 22, 1909.

To Affiliated Local Unions, Greeting:

On February 6, 1906, Local Union No. 63, of Chicago, Ill., composed of finishers and architectural iron workers, was suspended by the International Executive Board for violating the rules and regulations of the International Association.

On December 21, 1909, Local No. 63 complied with the ruling of the Executive Board and has satisfied all the demands of the International Association.

Such being the case, you are hereby notified that on and after this date, Local No. 63, of Chicago, architectural iron workers, is to be considered in good standing in the International Association, and members of other locals will be allowed to deposit their transfers with Local 63 when working on finishing work in Chicago and vicinity. It naturally follows that the transfers of members of No. 63 are to be accepted by all affiliated Local Unions.

The reinstatement of the above Local Union adds 300 additional members to the roll of the International Association.

Fraternally yours,

F. M. RYAN, President.

J. J. MCNAMARA, Secy-Treas.

Circular Letter No. 183.

Indianapolis, Ind., December 22, 1909.

To Affiliated Local Unions, Greeting:

Enclosed you will find copy of letter from Secretary-Treasurer Spencer of the Building Trades Department. It is self-explanatory.

According to its provisions the Marble Work

ers' International Union is given jurisdiction over the setting and placing of slate treads.

The Executive Council of the Department held that this decision should be in force from the date of adoption, December 3, 1909.

Fraternally yours,

F. M. RYAN, President.

J. J. MCNAMARA, Secy-Treas.

(Copy.)

General Office

BUILDING TRADES DEPARTMENT, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.

Jas. Kirby. President. Wm. J. Spencer, Sec.-Trs. 412-413-414 Ouray Bldg., Washington, D. C. CHICAGO, ILL., Dec. 3, 1909.

Mr. F. M. Ryan, President, Bridge and Structural Iron Workers' Ass'n, Indianapolis, Ind.:

Dear Sir and Brother-Herewith follows a copy of a communication this day addressed to President Price, International Association Marble Workers, containing the decision of the Executive Council as rendered in the dispute between your organization and the International Association of Marble Workers:

"You are herewith advised the Executive Council of the Building Trades Council, A. F. of L., during the Chicago session, December 3, 1909, gave consideration to dispute between the organization you have the honor to represent and Bridge and Structural Iron Workers' International Association over the Setting of Slate Treads on stairways, and after a lengthy review of the dispute, it was agreed that the work in question (Slate Treads) comes properly under the jurisdiction of the Marble Workers' International Assocelation, as set forth in its claim on file to the Building Trades Department, and it is the sense of the Executive Council that the dispute be so decided."

You will please accept this information as your cfficial notification as to the action of the Executive Council.

Trusting this will meet with your approval, I am,

Fraternally yours,

WM. J. SPENCER, Secretary.

Circular Letter No. 184.

Indianapolis, Ind., January 1, 1910. To Afiliated Local Unions, Greeting:

In conformity with the provisions of the International Constitution, all Local Unions are hereby notified that the amendments adopted by the Minneapolis convention have been approved by referendum vote.

The agreement entered into with representatives of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners last June, 1909, has also been approved.

An itemized table of the vote reported by Local Unions to Headquarters will appear in the January, 1910, issue of the Magazine.

Following out the established custom and the provisions of the International Constitution all Local Unions and all members are hereby notified

of the ratification of the amendments adopted by the Minneapolis Convention and are also notified that they will be in full force and effect on and after January 1, 1910.

The New Constitutions are now in the hands of the printer and a supply will be forwarded to all Local Unions at the earliest possible moment. Local Unions desiring an additional number of International Constitutions can secure them by writing Headquarters.

Fraternally yours,

F. M. RYAN, President.

J. J. MCNAMARA, Secy-Treas.

Circular Letter No. 185.

Indianapolis, Ind., January 1, 1910.

To Financial Secretaries, Greeting:

Membership Books for the years 1910 and 1911 have already been forwarded to all Local Unions. There is a possibility that owing to the holiday rush the delivery of Membership Books in some instances has been delayed. Barring something out of the ordinary all books should be at their destination by this time.

The Switchmen's strike may have occasioned some delay in the delivery of Membership Books to our Local Unions in the northwest.

In order to clear up several questions that have arisen it might be well to give Financial Secretaries additional information as to the new Membership Books and other matters connected with them.

PRICE. While the new Membership Books are much more expensive to the International Association than were the old ones, they are furnished to Local Unions for the same price, namely, 12 cents each.

In connection with this matter it might be well to say that it is no more than right that individual members pay for their Membership Books, and we make the same suggestion now that we made two years ago, namely, that members be charged 15 cents for their new books.

EXPRESSAGE.-All Membership Books were forwarded prepaid and if you have paid any charges on them to the Express Company it is suggested that you take the matter up and endeavor to have the amount refunded. If you are unable to do anything in the matter I would suggest that you write Headquarters about it.

Financial Secretaries are again cautioned that Membership Books with Renewal Stamps for 1910 and 1911 should only be issued to persons who were members prior to January 1, 1910.

To persons who become members on or after January 1, 1910, membership books without Renewal Stamps and bearing the regular $25.00 Initiation Stamp should be used.

Should Financial Secretaries have a surplus of Membership Books with Renewal Stamps for 1910 and 1911, they can exchange them for blank membership Books by returning them to Headquarters.

When Financial Secretaries are ordering new Membership Books for the next month or two it is suggested that they specify whether blank books or books with Renewal Stamps are desired. It is noted on Membership Books of deceased