The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-05-01

LABOR TROUBLES.
Progress of Negotiations with the Railroads
at Pittsburg, Penn.

at Pittsburg, Penn.
P1rTsBURG, Penn, April 23.-Grand Mas
ter Wilkison, Vice Grand Master Downey
and several big guns of the railroad fed
Grafton now in this city have announced
that this is their last day. After this time
they will not deal with the railroads, but
transfer the whole matter to the executive
council.
The yard switchmen, the original causes
of the difficulty, are more persistent than
ever in their demands, backed as they now
are by thousands of men in other branches
of the railroad federation who have joined
| them.
The entire city is nervous this afternoon,
| as a railroad strike in Pittsburg is far more
ominous than strike i'll city twice its
size. Even if an agreement is rot reached
| whereby the men are satisfied in regard to
wages 1.-THE principal striking point) then
the leaders say there will hardly be strike
before few days, as the executive council
| of the federation, TO whom the manage
ment of the affairs passes, will require
some time to fully comprehend, or rather,
weigh the situation.
THE CHICAGO STRIKE.
| CHICAGO, ILL.,, April 23.-At the head
quarters " the carpenters tooaylG was said
that tile strike bids fair TO last a couple of
months. Its duration, the strikers think,
will depend on the length Ut time necessary
| for the new Boss Carpenters association
| to grow strong enough to employ seven
eighths of the strikers. 1t is said the strike
has already resul,e ed in an increase of rents
in business districts. Mammoth otfic
| buildings which were to have been COM
pleted by June l are now in an indefinite
state as to date of occupancy.
Meanwhile business men who expected
| to occupy a stole or office in the new
structures find themselves obliged to re-
main in their old quarters, and in many
instances at much larger rent. President
| Gompers of the Federation of Labor left
| for Detroit this morning. He will deliver
an address there tonight.
The cases of thirty OF the striking car
penters who were arrested yesterday for
interfering with non-union men at work
and attacking police were continued to
May2 in $500 bail each. The prisoners
were released upon giving bail.
AT THE BRICKYARDs.
The situation among strikers in the
brickyards of the north side practically
remains unchanged.
THE HARNESS MAKERS.
The demand of the harness makers for
| an increase Of Is per cent on the present
rate of wages, both for day and piece work,
and the establishment of minimum rate
per day for filters and st!tchers hired by
the week, were presented to the manufact.
urers today. No immediate answer was
gwen, but it is thought that if the demands
are not granted concessions will be made
that will avoid strike.
THE GAS FILTERS.
The gas filters of the city go out on a
strike next Monday to enforce demand
for an eight hour day and a minimum
rate of wages, $3.50 per day. The employers
have decided to discharge all gas filters on
Saturday night. The gas filters are now re-
ceiving widely varying rates of pay. The
scale runs from 50 day for less competent
to $3.50 for thoroughly skilled mechanics.
The men object to this and will
insist like members of kindred
trade plumbers on minimum
rate of wages. The bosses say that only
about half of the trade are members of the
Union and that as work is slack owing to
the carpenters strike, they can get along
very well without the union men.
THEY WANTED TO SMOKE.
OTTUMwA, Ia, April 23.-The conductors
and engineers of the electric street railway
struck today for shorter hours and the
privilege of smoking on duty. Their place
were filed after short delay.