Evening star., 1905-10-18

fit This brings forth the question OF
whether our members are willing to pay IL
or 81 20 a year additional to what they are
already paying. 1t also brings forth the
question as to whether they are willing to
be assessed about two dollars apiece with
which to raise the original sum necessary
to purchase and equip such an institution
must have Let US first raise the
money After that it would seem that the
officers already elected to carry out the
best interests Of the organization would
find it possible. in the course of events, to
compare figures and visit other similar in
stitutions together with special commit
tees, and arrange through the referendum
for the adoption of such rules as would
govern such an institution and cover the
matter of the election of proper su-
pervisor." q
Credentials have been received and dele
gates seated in the Central Labor Union OF
this city as follows:
Bartenders' League, No. 75-Jere F. Nc
Carthy, James H Howard, w. e. Brown,
T. F. O'Keefe and B. V. Walz
Brewery Workmen No. 11s-F. Hellmuth,
vice Louis Schroff, jr.
The Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
Local, No. 8, will meet next Friday even
ing at Costello's Hall. 9th and G streets
northwest.
There has been received at the headquar-
ters of the American Federation OF LABOR
prison labor by Coils Lovely, general vice
president of the Boot and Shoe Workers
Union. These reports of Mr. Lovely have
attracted much attention and comment, as
the writer made personal inspection or
many of the prisons in the United States.
Referring to shirt-making in Rhode Island.
he says:
LAS a final example Of the piece price
plan I will take up the benefcent state OF
Rhode Island where l found 240 convicts at
Howard employed in the manufacture of
fine shirts-the kind that usually retail for
from 81 to S1.50 a shirt The contractor de-
livers all ma aterals necessary to manufac-
ture the shirts at the prison warehouse.
which is furnished by the state, and there
his expenses end until he receives the fin-
ished prodhct packed and ready for the
market. For the cutting, making, starch
ing ironing, folding and packing of these
shirts, including a pair of cuffs for each
garment, he pays the state 90 cents dozen.
Think of how long it would take one
person to cut, make, starch, Iron and pack
dozen shirts. including cuffs! Yet 50 cents
Is all this labor Is worth in Rhode Island.
Can any firm employing free workers who
have to support themselves compete in the
open market with one having the advan-
tage of such contract?
"The Rhode Island state prison is not
free, either. from the cruelties existing else
where. The favorite punishment is the
straitjacket, an instrument which was
intended to be used only in the case of a
raying and unmanageable maniac. In spite
of the state laws this has become the STAN
dard method of punishment in Rhode Is
land, and has even been approved by the
state prison board"
The generally prosperous condition in the
building trades Is q matter of favorable
comment in local labor circles. report
Just received from Pittsburg. Pa, is given
as "a straw showing the direction of the
wind" It says:
Building operations In Pittsburg and
- @Ty ~ Lob, fn
clearly indicated by the unprecedented de-
mand for skilled labor. According to the
reports received by J. G. Kephart. secre-
tary of the Pittsburg district council OF the
brotherhood OF Carpenters and Joiners.
there are now employed over 1000 more
carpenters than at any time In the history