The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-01
THE LEADING QUESTION.

WASHINGTON, April 24.-The Presidents
message on the labor question occasloned
more or less comment here to-day, not
only in political circles, but everywhere.
Senator Beck is outspoken in praise of the
Presidents plan. He says II he could he
would adopt it, and name ex.Senators Thur
man. Mcdonald and Conkling as the arbi-
trating committee, and give them $4,000 a
year apiece. Such board would command
the respect of all parties. Senator Van
Wyck thinks the Presidents idea a good
one, and one that, if adopted, would bring
good results. The two prominent Knights
of Labor in town to-day, AIessrs. Pow
derby and Mcdowell, both gay it
Is good as far as it goes, but that
it does not go far enough. Mr.. Pow
derby said: ut is not just what want,
though. want department of labor.
don't believe in d0ctoring these troubles.
want to 20 to the root OF the disease.
Strikes are but medicine. They relieve the
patient for time but his sickness comes
back on him. The matter must be seri-
ously and carefully studied. We need a
department of labor, to have records on file
to make a careful and constant study of the
labor question, and be ready to act and to
recommend action at any time. Arbitra-
ton should be conducted from this depart
ment." The Presidents idea of having
permanent commission on arbitration
Mr.. Powderly liked better than the
bill that came from the House Labor Com
mittee, which provides for arbitrator to be
appointed in each particular case. Mr.. Nc
DOwell's recommendation Is that an eXecu-
tive department, with a cabinet minister at
its head, should be created and that the con-
troll OF external navigation or the mercan-
tile shipping interest now held by the Treas
ury should be turned over to it, This de-
partment should be known as the Depart
ment of Labor and Commerce. By having
an executive department controlling inter-
nal and external transportation, railroad
and marine matters, he believes the present
difficulties could be reached and an eQuita
bic system of regulation established.
STRIKE STATISTICS.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-The advance
sheets of the report of Joseph d. Weeks,
expert and special agent of the census bu-
reau upon strikes and lockouts In the
United States during the calender year
1885, have been received by the Interior
Department. The records show, he says,
that many strikes and lockouts still grow
out of the most trivial causes 1t is also
true, especially in localities where large
bodies of workmen are gathered that there
will always be found men, who, too fire.
quently from sinister and mercenary mo-
tives, create discussions and endeavor to in
augurate strikes. When strikes are in pro-
gress their duration is liable to be pro-
h,yf hsfa Of oil, Vak
the tendency is toward less frequent strikes
and lOckOuts.
The number Of strikes in certain Of the
prominent trades, as given in the report, is
as follows: Iron and steel industries, 1856 |;
coal mining, 1853; textile trades, AZ; cigar
making, AZ; building trades, SO; Transports
ton, SO; printing trades, 81; glass indus
tries, 81; piano making, IA; boot and shoe
making, IL. Much the greater proportion
| OK per cent of the strikes and Ockouts
reported upon were caused by differences
as to rates of wages, total of SOB, or SO
per cent relating to rates of wages Strikes
growing out of demands for an advance are
much more uniformly successful than those
against reduction. In conditions of trade
that justify an advance it is much more to
the interest of the employer to give in than
| have his work STOP
OF the S13 strikes the results of 4S1 or SO
| per cent. are given. OF these 1869 or 35 per
cent we're successful: IS or Is per cent.
were compromised and 227, or Al per cent.
were unsuccessful. While the larger num-
Der of strikes, SOB out of S13, were for an
advance in wages, larger proportion Of
strikes for this cause were successful than
for any Of the other important causes.
The report concludes: "As to wages lost
it appears that 64,779 employees lost So, ILL.,
097. This would be at the rate of S57 each.
AS the entire number Of employees estimated
was 22S, 1873, the total loss of wages on this
average would be S13, 003, 1865, which would
have been received had the works run con.
stantly. or course there would be mum
Der of offsets to this. In case the strikes
were successful, the additional wages would
compensate for portion of this loss. Ii
other cases, where uniOnism existed in the
trades where there were strikers, the mer
receive strike pay or strike benefits; bu
the strike benefits were in most cases sim
ply refundlng money that had been previ
Ously paid. Then in many cases the parties
on strike secured employment in other in
dustries, and hence heir actual loss would
be what wages they would have earned a
their old labor, minus what they did earn il
presumably less profitable employment"
SECRETARY TURNER TEsTIFIEs.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-The fourtl
days session of the House Committee OF
the Labor Difficulties in the Southwes
opened yesterday with the examination o
Frederick p. Turner general secretary an
treasurer of the Knights of Labor. He ba
taken part in the attempt to arrive at a sci
Element, and was present at POwderly's in
terview with Gould. The Knights of LabO
had no political object; did not seek to il
fuence legislation, and had made no sue
movement on their part.
The witness thoroughly believed in arb
tration, and would like to see arbitratio
compulsory.
Mr. Grain asked: Suppose the arbitri
tors reported that the Knights of LabC
should 90 to work at one dollar day whe
they wanted S1.50, are you willing to sa
you would ask your fellow members of tl
Knights of Labor to abide by that?"
Mr.. Turner replied: If | entered I'M
, an agreement to abide by arbitration,
, would submit"
Referring to a remark made yesterday