The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11
TRUST THAT BENEFITS
III. w. STEINBISS SAYS ORGANIZED
LABOR Is A COMBINE,
He Contends, However, TINT 1t Helps
Mankind-Tests of Storm Warm
ing Lights i'm Harbors.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-H. w. Stein
bliss, of st. Louis, president of the National
Building Trades Council, to-day testified
before the Industrial Commission concern
ing labor organizations, arbitration, strikes
and other matters He said that in 1894 he
had framed a paragraph in the constitu-
ton of the National Council declaring that
experience showed that strikes were fail
ures, but he had since changed his views.
and the constitution has been amended
AS amended ii made strikes a last resort
He contended that strikes were successful
in accomplishing the ends aimed at La
Dor organization, he said. is progressing
in this country. This has resulted in rails
ing the rates of wages and shortening
working hours, though as much work was
accomplished, and it was of better class
than before. He conceded that this made
building more expensive. but he did not
believe ii prevented the construction of
any buildings. He said the council had a
membership of 2500O0. Mr.. Steinbiss de-
nounced agreements that contractors are
said TO have with employees that the latter
contractors organization and alleged colu-
sion of the furnishers of materials with
contractors. He said this policy of the
contractors was dangerous and tended to
Mr.. Steinbiss was asked: us not organ
lied labor looked upon as a trust?"
Yes" he answered, land L acknowledge
that il is q trust. But ii is a trust that
benefits mankind"
He did not thing the trusts had unionized
labor, as a member of the commission had
suggested.
The closing session of the representatives
OF the metal trade unions was held at the
office of the American Federation of Labor
to-day, and a policy was outlined for the
presentation of uniform requests to the
Employers Metal Trades Association
which is 10 meet at New York during the
coming week. Apart from this an invita-
ton was extended to the national unions in
the metal trades, which were unrepresent-
ed at the conferences held in this city. and
1t is expected that an alliance of all the
national unions in the Industry will be
formed in full utilization with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor the purpose be-
proved conditions for the workers in the
metal trades, without the necessity of trade
disturbances or strikes and lockouts.
xxx
Tests are now in progress in this city of
storm-warning lights, to be placed on the
new signal towers recently authorized by
Congress to be established in the principal
harbors of the country. A large number of
makes of lights have been submitted for
adoption and are now under consideration
1t is planned to test the power of the re-
spective lights on the tower of the postof-
flee building in this city. IL authority is
given by the postal officials. The object
aimed at is to increase the carrying capa-
city of the lights. While the present maxi
mum is about five or six miles, it Is hoped
to reach a distance of twelve miles at sea
With the new oil lamps and fifteen to eight
cen miles with the electric lights in ordi-
nary weather. Makers OF lamps in this
country and Europe have entered into the
competition, which is now closed. for equip
ping the three hundred stations contem-
plated. american makers have protested
against the award of the contract TO the
foreign manufacturers, and Chief Moore
Of the Weather Bureau, has decided that
preference will be given to the American
bidders unless the European lens greatly
exceeds in power the American lamp.
The population of the State of New Jer-
sey. as announced by the Census Bureau.
is 1,SS3,66s. against l.4449 $50 in 1890 This is
an increase of 43S. 1856. or 1913 per cent.
The population of the State of Idaho is
16l. az. against 1885 in 1890. This is an in
crease of 1887. or 91.7 per cent.
The population of Colorado is 5ss. 7oo
against 4l2,l5S in 1890. This is an incease
OF II, 021. or 3o-s per cent.
The appropriation for rural free delivery
service, which the postmaster general will
ask from Congress for the next fiscal year.
probably will be upward of two and one
half million dollars. as it Is proposed to