Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-01-27
NEWS OF THE LABOR WORLD.
Items of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.


Sources.
The validity of the eight-hour ordi
nance for public work in the city o.
Milwaukee will in all probability be
tested in the courts, so as to furnish
a precedent for other cities. The A
F.. of l.. will make the case.
1t is stated that the United Typothe
tae of America is at present accumu
lating a defense fund in order thai
the eight hour day enforcement may
be combatted. 1t is hoped by the EN-
poyers to gather together at least
100000.
OF 1887 unions making returns to
the American Federation of Labor for
November. with an aggregate mem
bership of S4,663. there were 3.9 per
cent without employment. In the
preceding month 1,006 unions. with a
membership of 1O5,6C7, reported IL
per cent out of work.
Repairs having been made in the
plate and rail mills at the South Chi
cago plant of the Illinois steel works,
fully $500 men are at work in those
two departments. More than a month
ago 5000 men were notified that their
services would no longer be required.
About 500 of this number, however,
returned not long afterward.
The National Alliance of Amalga-
mated Painters, Decorators and Paper
Hangers is in favor of amalgamatlng
with the Brotherhood of Painters. AT
recent session of the alliance in
New York committee was appointed
to arrange a conference with the
brotherhood to settle all differences
and bring about consolidation.
An act recently passed by the House
of Representatives of Rhode Island
prescribes a fine of $3.50 to $500, or
Imprisonment from three to six
months, or both, against any employer
or corporation attempting to prevent
working people from belonging TO
labor organization as a condition or
new or continued employment.
Course of Child Labor" is the title
of circular which has been ordered
printed to be distributed broadcast at
the instigation of Senator Penrose OF
Pennsylvania, with view of working
up sentiment in favor of the act pro-
posed by Philadelphia trades unions
for the purpose of shortening the
hours of women and raising the age
limit of children. The circular deals
with the inadequacy of the present
laws.
Florsheim & Co., shoe manufacture
ers, of Chicago, have found that an
agreement with union that does not
provide for arbitration is not to the
interest of the employer. The union
officials have been asked to terminate
the present agreement May 1, instead
Of June 1, and make new agreement
for one or two years, covering wages
and working conditions and providing
that all disputes be submitted to arbi-
tration.
The Chicago South Side Car Mems
Union and the Chicago City Railway
company have made an agreement
covering all points at issue. 1t will
expire April 80, 1906. The company
lad objected to it's expiration the COM
ng April, as it would be necessary to
)egin making new agreement i'm.
nediately. There was no change in
he wage scale. The union has 1000
% H. o ON o,,,D1oyoc of tho ooroponv
IN it's membership roll.
At the National works of the Ameri- |
AN Tin Plate Company at Monessen,
"a, the hot-mill employees were re-
emily paid a bonus of $4,000 for |
aithful and continued service with |
he company, it being 8 per cent of
he net earnings of the men for the
asst year. The National works is one
f the largest controlled by the COM
any and contains twenty-four hot
nils and twenty cold mills. The an
ual output is $4,000 gross tons of
lack plate for timing.
After holding out for five months.
900 of the United brotherhood of
carpenters and Joiners of New York
eem to be on the verge of submission
, the conditions required by the
osses, and the strike, or lockout, as
is called by the men, will be form
lily declared off. The one moving
ause for this action is the fact that
lie funds of the organization have
cen exhausted. For two weeks