Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-08-27
General Labor and Industrial.

General Labor and Industrial.
No laborer can leave the Hawaiian
islands while he is in debt.
Women are getting 81 a day for driv-
ing teams in the harvest fields OF Cow
ley county, Kansas.
1t is proposed to build a railroad on
the Labor Exchange plan from some
point on the gulf of Mexico, in Texas,
to San Diego.
Australian clergymen attached to the
Presbytery at North Melborne are agi-
tating for minimum wage of $1,000
per year.
British railway employees are making
efforts, which in many cases are meet
ing with success, to have the hours of
labor reduced.
Report comes that the CHILEAN con-
gress has offered $125,000 as subsidy
to any corporation establishing an iron
foundry in that country.
Gov. Hastings, of Pennsylvania, has
signed the Weller bill to protect en-
ployes of corporations in their right to
belong to labor organizations.
The Durham Miners association OF
England is now voting on the propo-
sition to either demand 10 per cent in
crease in wages or an eight-hour day.
In Germany bakers are protected by
law, no baker being obliged to work
longer than twelve hours, when he is
entitled to rest Of eight hours.
The st. Louis city council, by a de-
cisive vote, adopted resolution where
by all city horses and mules must DE
shod by union horseshoers and the
union scale paid for the same.
The 500 operatives employed at the
Metheum Co.'S cotton mills at Me-
theum. Mass, have decided to accept
the 10 per cent cut in their wages rath-
err than have the mills shut down.
The new Minnesota law requiring
BARRIERS to be licensed went into effect
July 20, and resulted in throwing out
of business several hundred first class
BARRIERS who had failed to comply with
the law.
The National Association of Railway
Postal Clerks is striving to get con-
gressional legislation in favor of $50
per month pension for clerks who have
been in the service twenty-five years.
A member of the International Brick
LAYERS union written to by another
member from any quarter and upon any
subject must answer such letter or be
fined S. upon complaint of the ag-
grieved member.
Another great strike is threatened in
the British shipbuilding industry, the
dispute being over the employment of
unskilled labor USUALLY boys) as ma
chine tenders, to the exclusion Of
skilled mechanics, whose places have
been supplanted by such machines.
The Coal Trade Journal, organ of the
operators and mine owners, does not
look upon the great strike as an un-
mixed evil, and says: With higher
soft coal prices there will come better
condition of affairs, for it will stop the
decentralization that has existed for over
year."
Brewers will hold their national con-
vention at Boston September 10. It Is
quite probable that resolution will be
sprung and adopted favoring independ-
emit labor class political action, and the
delegates to the American Federation
of Labor will attempt to force the same
through that body.
The Canadian house Of commons has
passed an alien labor bill. 1t is a fac
smile of the American bill with two
exceptions. While the American law
can be enforced by a custom house off,
GER, the Canadian act can only be en-
forced by the attorney-general OF the
dominion, or somebody whom he au-
thorizes to do SO. The act only applies
to the United States.
The material for the first steel build
ing to be erected in Japan is now being
manufactured in the United States.
Japan is subject to frequent earth
quakes, and the character of buildings
has always been low, few exceeding
one story, and the material mostly
bamboo, light and elastic. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that steel buildings of
four or five stories may be safely ven
tured upon,