Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-04-07

lNc dDSOluIc lullllty VI q ioSoi va e"'A
cation attempting to override the au-
thority of its parent body, and the
necessity of having public sympathy
in a conflict with public or quasi
public corporation.
Secretary O'Brien of the Bridge and
Structural Ironworkers' union has is
sued a report of the number of men,
bers injured and killed while at work.
About go per cent of the membership
suffered, making the trade the most
dangerous in the building line. The
number killed and injured in 1904, as
compared with 1908, were
1904. 1908.
Deaths 20 IS
In Tired . 81 1O3
The amounts paid in benefits were:
1904. 1903.
Deaths ....:...............' S.'d4V s-'o00ge
Total disability .....'....'.. 3 S90 S SUS
Totals 100 s5,46O
The United Labor League of Ala
bama has expended nearly $1,000 in
attorney fees, court costs, etc. in de-
Tense of trades unionists who have
been arrested on charges of violating
the anti-boycott law. There lave been
no convictions. The United Labor
League is an organization consisting
of one delegate from each local union
in the state working under the juris-
diction of central committee of ten,
organized to contest the validity of
the Alabama anti-boycott act, to secure
bonds and legal service for those ar
rested and to protect trades unionists
of the state from prosecution, under
tie specific charges of the act. So
far they have been successful.
The state of Kansas is to own and
operate its own printing plant A law
to that effect has been passed by the
legislature and signed by the COVER
nor. The new law directs the gov
ernor to Immediately appoint three
persons as a commission to purchase
and install therein printing and
binding plant, says the Topeka Labor
Champion. The bill carries the follow
ing appropriations: Six thousand dol
lars for purchase of grounds; $4,000
fo- erecting building; $4,000 for
purchase of equipment. Total, $6S,000
The bill also stipulates that the build
ing shall be in close proximity
to the state heating and lighting plant.
Thus the power, heat and light for
the state printing office will be fur
nished by the states own plant.
Statistics of the Pennsylvania rail-
road pension department show that
during the five years of its operation
there has been authorized to be paid
in pension allowances to the retired
employees of the company the sum OF
s1.614,0S76 SO. made up each year as
follows: 1904, $39O,OOO; 1903, $780,
S74.32; 1902, s32S,409.10; 1901, $780,
29O.2O, and 1900, $244,O19.97. This ex-
penditure does not include the ex-
pense of operation of the department,
which is borne by the company. Dur
ing the five years application of the
pension plan 2,418 employees have
been retired as pensioners from the
active service of the company, of
which number 700 have died. OF the
total number retired 56S were be-
tween the age of 65 and 60 years, of
whom 4S9 were retired on their own
request, with the approval of the en-
ploying officer.
A unique place in the ranks of labor
organizations is held by the Interna-
tional Jewelry Workers Union of
America by reason of its policy in
never employing business agent,
and the nature of the agreement it en-
tiers into with employers, which make
no provision for a scale of wages for
members of the union. Opposition to
"one-man power" is distinct feature
of the principles of the jewelry work
ers. and for that reason no member
ever has been invested with the right
to conduct the business of any local
belonging to the international union.
Instead, the executive board, COM
nosed of the officers and five members
of each affiliated organization, trans
acts all matters that ordinarily would
fall to the lot of a business agent
The iewelry workers declare they
have found this plan to be very sue
cessful, as the combined wisdom of
the members of the board is more apt
to bring satisfactory results than If
one member were charged with decid
ing the various questions that arise.
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