Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-02-15
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By a vote of 27,637 to 11,76O, the
Brotherhood of Carpenters has decided
to increase its per capita tax instead
of continuing assessments.
The National Board of Cancellation in
the building trades in England has lately
been organized, which already has 1884,
| 600 men pledged to give the proposal a
fair trial, comprising joiners, masons and
bricklayers.
The annual report of the Piano and
Organ Workers Union, one of the infant
internationals, shows that during 1905
benefits aggregating $50. 2S2 96 were paid,
distributed as follows Strike ST., 1873 II,
sick So ,6S9.J4, death $4,000.
According to Duns mercantile agency
the cost of living has risen 81 per cent
in the last seven years. With the ex-
ception of a few workers in some of the
highly organized trades, this increase is
much greater than the increase in wages
for the same period.
Tilelayers' Union. No. %, of Boston.
recently adopted its wage request for
May /. 1t provides for minimum of
S4.60 day for journeymen, for the eight
hour day, and also for Saturday after
neon half holiday. The desired rate for
the Saturday half day is fixed at $3.50.
The painters in Chicago have demand
ed an increase in wages from 40 to 80
cents an hour, and several conferences
have been held between representatives of
the union and the master painters. The
indications now are that the men will be
granted the increase without being COM
PEELED to strike.
State Labor Inspector Thomas 7.
Scally, in his annual report to tn COM
missioner of labor and statistics, states
that in Kentucky 10.13S women are en-
ployed at an average daily compensa-
tion of S712 cents. The average compen-
sation for men is S1,631a. He says that
women who belong to organized labor
are receiving nearer the wages paid
to men. The inspector praises Ken
tucky's child labor law, and says: 1T
has done more for future generations
than any law enacted in Kentucky for
many years"
Twenty million pretzels were manufac-
tured by Berks county (Pa.) bakeries in
1905. One baking establishment leads
the list with 100000 pretzels: another
made 100000: the third comes close
with 100000. 1t required more than
5000 barrels oe -four to make the 90
100000 pretzels. Nearly 100 men were
kept busy all the year by the work. The
pretzels were not only sold to Pennsyl-
vania consumers. but were shipped to
nearly all the States and territories.
Great shipments were made to Spokane.
Wash, and TO the coast cities of Cali
fornia.
Although the agreement between the
Masons' and Builders Association and
the Bricklayers' Union of Chicago will
expire May 1. no trouble is expected in
that trade. The bricklayers will not ask
for any Increase this year. as there was
such a demand for men last season that
the minimum scale of 6215 cents an hour
was practically ignored and the men were
paid in many instances as high as 70
cents an hour. They expect the same
conditions will prevail this year. and they
are not particularly interested in the
minimum scale, as very few of the mem
bers work for it.
The annual report of President John
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers
shows that his organization tour of the
anthracite coal region resulted in adding
about $4,000 members to the union The
paid-up membership when he started last
spring was less than $4,000. The reports
for November, the end of the fiscal year.
shows that a per capita tax was paid on
more than $4,000 members. Since that
time, it is said there has been a steady
increase in membership.
The dues of the member, of the Inter-
national Association of Machinists have
been increased from 50 TO SD per year.
A number of protests have been made,
but so far no unions have withdrawn.