Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-07-20
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, July 20.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. !
Washington, July 20.
With the contracts for convict labor in
penal institutions pOnOpolized by few
companies, the bureau OF labor of the
Department of Commerce and Labor,
which has Just completed third inves-
tigstion Of convict labor, after a ten
year period, finds that the competition OF
this class of goods with the product OF
free labor assumes a more serious aspect
It would appear that the bureau puts
considerable faith In The complaint OF
the manufacturers employing free labor
that such competition is ruinous and un-
fair, demoraliziDg to markets and bust
ness stability, compelling the reduction
of prices below fair margin of profit and
often even below the the cost of pro-
duction. "Wages are forced to the low
est limit" reads the report on the ill.,
yestigstiOn. 4" in vain effort to lower the
cost of production to that of the prison
contractor. 10 some cases ( 9eterior-
alton of quality of material used and 10
others an entire abandonment to the
prisons OF the manufacture Of certain
grades of goods has became necessary.
Prison made furniture, tor instance, ii
ia pointed out, has compelled the aban-
donmeut to the prison OF some lines.
One contractor controls the output OF
seven prisons in Ave States and be is
able to greatly undersell his competitors
making the same line of goods. Manu-
fscturersIof the same grade of brushes as
are made in prisons, it WAS found, must
sell at cost and rely for their profit on
better grades. Tue consumer who buys
the better brush is thus compelled to
pay profit which the consumer of the
poorer brush should have paid. Similar
experiences were found 10 the manufae'
turer of brooms.
Through Consul F. w. Mahin, Of
Nottingham. England the report has
reached the State Department that every
good product with "OhicagO" marked
oa !. is boycotted, at least in certain
parts of England. Mr.. Mahin speaks
only for nottingham. &c secured his
information about the boycott iron Z
large firm dealing in the goods. There
is now absolutely no call for canned
meats, either American, domestic, or
colonial, the dealers told the consul
Sales o. canned salmon have much de-
clined also. Sales Of American fresh
beef from Chicago houses shog no de-
cline, Mr. Mahin says, but an increase,
if anything, Similar reports are madeon
American canned fruits and vegetables.
In concluding his report to the Depart
ment, Mr.. Aahia predicts that proba-
bly, some of the canned meat trade Of
the United States with Great Britain
will be permanently lost. Representa-
lives of the colonies are making the most
of tbs opportunity to exploit their own
canned products, he adds. Along this
line Mr.. Mahin calls attention to the re-
markable gain Canada has made On the
export of bacon to England as one that
should hsye the attention Of American
OF thai article.
Special inducements are being held out
by the government in order to procure
clerks for the Philippine service. The
big employment bureau, known as the
Civil Service Commission, has just 40
nOunced that the wives or sweethearts OF
applicants for such positions may also
be examined for positions as teachers.
AS rule, the government irQwns upon
the practice of more than one member
Of family serving the government. In
many of the bureaus in Washington,
women who have married government
clerks since obtaining their positions
have been compelled to Tstsip their
maiden names on the official psyrolls in
order to keep from being busted. Not 50
10 the Philippines, however. The govern
nent las found it exceedingly difficult to
i'll the available positions in the clerical
Iorce at Manila, and other Philippine
towns. Hence the Official invitation,
ssued today, according to the terms OF
which women whose husbands or dances
ire taking examination for the service,
will be preferred over all others in filling
vacancies in the staff Of teachers, if they
pass the required tesla. Salaries of
Philippine clerks are 81 200 year st the
'taSt, but, says the commission, sin
,ase unusual or exceptional qualifications
ire shown, the entrance salary may
De more" Teachers are paid from
$500 up.
The Civil Service Commission an.
lounces thSt the United States Govern
nent stands ready to pay the handsome
,molument of 81, 900 8 Year..to the man
Sho can speak Auently Greek, Bulgar-
an and Syrian, and in addition has
working knowledge of Roumanian, Yid-
iish and Portuguese. Such 3 linguistic