The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-04-21
CONDITIONS OF W0RKINGMEN
IMPORTANT STATEMENTS BEFORE
 THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.
Strength of the Brotherhood of Loco motive Engineers and of the Carpen- ters' and JOiners' Organization or America-St Generally Successful and Conditions Improved.

Washington, April 2O.-The industrial commission to-day heard statements from P. N1 Arthur, chief of the Brother hood of Locomotive Engineers, and F.. J. McGuire. secretary of the organiza- tion of Carpenters and Joiners of America Chief Arthur described the status of the locomotive engineers as quite satisfactory in most respects both as to their organization and relations with the railway companies. His order had written agreements with 90 per cent. of the railways as to the conditions of work. Strikes had been severe and generally successful in the past, but were on the decrease. Their strike fund had not been touched for several years and now amounted to $100,O00. Two other funds were set aside, one for cur rent expenses and the other for the re- lief of widows and orphans. Of the lat ter SAP 900 was disbursed last year. The insurance feature of the order was im- portant, $8,000,000 having been paid on
 
 about the same as for the past fifteen years but the added purchasing power of the dollar made it practically larger.
 Certain practices of the railroads in putting age limits to employment and in enforcing extra severe physical ex- aninations were not approved by the brotherhodo, but the strength of the or ganzaton made the railway companies reasonably considerate in dealing with it's members MT. Arthur said that 90 percent of the 36,000 locomotive engin- eers of the country belonged to the brotherhood. The order was strict in maintaining high standard of morals and efficiency, discharging in one year 172 members for cause This evidence of desire to furnish only high class men made the railroads look with considera- ble favor on the order.
 MT. Mcclure said the carpenters and ioiners' organization had been known and more ON less dreaded as striking organization because it was chosen by the Federation of Labor to inaugurate the great strikes for the eight hour day from 1882 to 1887. Since 1883 the car penters had participated in 1.031 strikes, had won 90S, compromised ,67, and lost 61. The necessity for striking had de-. creased owing to the strength and de- termination of the organization. In the past three years they had struck only 73 times, losing twice, winning 62 and compromising '. Computing in purchasing power the carpenters wage was 30 to 40 per cent higher than thirty years ago. The social condition of the workers, as rule, had improved in the large centers. They lived better in better houses and were better cloth- ed. Still there was a fierce struggle for existence in the business. Improved machinery had replaced hand labor throwing, an immense number of men out of work and employment was so irregular that men are forced to move frequently to keep in touch with work and in the off seasons many had to seek other employment. Child labor and unrestricted immigration he re- garded as the two great evils of the labor world, and he was in favor of well considered restriction in both cases. He had tried cooperation and was satisfied that it was impossible un- der nresent conditions