The Portland daily press., 1886-05-03
Congressman Investigating the st.
Louis Strike.


ST. LOUIS, May 1.-The members of the
Congressional investigating committee arose
early this morning, and after partaking of
breakfast Immediately proceeded to the GUS
tom house, where deputy sergeant-at-arms
Coombs had gone before, and perfected ar
rangements for the comfort of the commit
tee and witnesses. The investigation is be-
ing conducted in the Circuit Court cham
berS. There were present at the opening of
the session, committeeman John Hayes and
G. H. Liman, representing. the knights OF
Labor, and general superintendent Kerri-
gan, master car builder John G. Hodge, mas
ter mechanic Bartlett, general attorney I.
p. Porlis, E. K. Sibley and others for the
railroad Before opening the session, the
committee had consultation in the witness
room adjoining the chamber, and on account
of the illness of Vice President Hoxie,
changed their plans by determining to exam
inc the business men of the city.
A. M. Simmons was the first witness. He
said he had resided in st. Louis Al years.
Chairman Curtin directed the witness at
tention to how long business had been sus-
pended here; extent of the loss to the manu-
featuring interests, mercantile business and
all other branches of trade so far as he had
personal knowledge. Mr.. Simmons stated
fold character. First, on this side of the riv-
er it was with the country which draws its
supplies from us and business was suspend
ed absolutely three or four weeks; second,
IL dIIoCC6u GTdUb Ill our HUI DeluS dDlt 10 S6t
supplies from the East after the strike was
inaugurated in East st. Louis.as we get our
freight largely over the Vandalla line. At
first it affected us in the distribution of our
trades, but afterwards it extended to and in
terfered with us in getting our supplies;
that the season started in with very favora-
BILE prospects, more favorable than he had
known there for the last five or six years,
and everything indicated an unusually sue
cessful and useful spring trade
Notes.
The wages of New York goldheaters have
been advanced 25 per cent.
Washington horse car employees are rejoic-
ing over 12-hour schedule
All the employees at Betz q Sons brewery
at Philadelphia struck Saturday, and all
work was stopped.
G. W. Grace & Co., shoe manufacturers of
West Scituate, have accepted the schedule
presented by their employees.
Martin French & Co., shoe manufacturers
at Dover, N. H., notified their lasters Satur-
day that they would increase wages on Mon
day.
A strike of 5000 brewers has occurred at
Milwaukee, Wis. They asked for an increase
of $40 per month, which was not granted.
Several cutters returned to work Saturday
at the factory of Keene Bros. in Lynn. 1t is
announced that on Monday the entire force
of cutters and female stitchers will return.
A law and order league has been organized
at Wyandotte, Kan, to prevent a repetition
OF the violence lately enacted there. They
threaten summary punishment if another
outrage is committed.
All Of the employees of the Indianapolis
Central Chair Company, so in number, went
out on strike Saturday. They asked for a
Saturday half holiday, without decrease of
wages The firm denied the request.
About 800 employees of furniture manufac-
turers and 100 employees of the Brunswick g.
Bake billiard table manufacturers at Gin
cinnati are out, in consequence of refusal
to grant 10 hours pay for eight hours work.
The Pittsburg furniture manufacturers
having refused to grant reduction from 10
hours to eight hours, a general strike was in
augurated Saturday Nearly every furni-
ture factory in Pittsburg and Alleghany City
is closed and over 600 men are idle.
Two hundred men employed ON the st.
Louis, Mo-, water works struck Saturday for
eight hours work per day and 10 hours
wages. The city refused to grant their de-
mand and endeavored to procure new men to
fill the strikers places.
At a meeting of stone masons of Pittsburg
and Allegheny tonight it was decided to
strike tomorrow for $3.25 per day and nine
hours work. Their employers are willing to
concede them decrease in hours but say
they cannot afford to pay more than 80 cents
an hour. About 1000 men will be thrown
out by the strike.