In April 1899, President Melville accepted a position with the Boston Fire Department. The job coming through the department of wires recognizing the union and Melville's capabilities. The job is as telegrapher and lineman.

In August 1899, the new Press Secretary William A. Thomas announces results of this years election:

President Joseph Matthews

Vice President Lawrence White

Recording Secretary John McLoughlin

Financial Secretary Leonard Kimball

Press Secretary William A. Thomas

Trustees R. H. Bradford, Don McDonald

Inspectors Michael Birmingham, Richard Shannon

Foreman Charles Tolford

Thomas speaks of licensing wiremen, as gasfitters and plumbers are, but the Mayor and City Council did not enact the law until 1915.

A new corporation in Boston, the New England Telephone Company, assured visiting officers of LU 35 that they will employ only union men when they begin installing wires.

In 1899, Thomas Wheeler, a lineman from Cincinnati, was elected Grand President, and Robert Tripp was elected Vice President. The officers invited independent wiremans unions in New York and Chicago into the Brotherhood and they accepted. Many members were opposed to this decision. Linemen considered it a "Labor Trust" and tried to initiated referendum vote on the question but President Wheeler would have no change of mind. "Four dollars a day and an eight hour day is worth living and fighting for. It costs money and energy to get these conditions."

High initiation fees, examining boards, and examination fees were now part of the Constitution.