Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-06

vacation with pay and unlimited
SICK leave, while the same type OF men
engaged directly under the Isthmian
Canal Commission must take vacations
without pay and have their sick leave
limited. American employees paid by
the month are granted vacations, with
pay, but monthly men who are not
Americans get none. Again, employees
o. the Panama Railroad company on
the lsthmus receive vacations but
the officers of the steamships owned
by the same line do not. 1t Is alleged
ttat men paid by the hour receive ex-
ira pay for overtime work, and that
monthly men do not. and, therefore,
IL Is fair that the latter should re.
ceive pay when on vacation although
1t is denied the former. However.
since the employees are allowed n va
cation because physicians consider an
lannunl change of climate essential for
the average man not accustomed tn
work In tropical climate, ii would
seem that vacations with pay shoul
be allowed all Americans especially
as hourly men in the navy yards In
the United States are so privileged.
There is intense feeling among GER
tain hourly men that they have greater
skill than some classes which have
been recently awarded increase of
wages. There has been adopted re-
Gently longevity plan. which pro.
vided a certain percentage Of increase
of pay each year for twenty-four types
lof employees. There Is dissatisfaction
because it has not been made appli-
cable to others, especially powder men
engaged in dangerous work.
| The men feel that there is no sta
.,,1. a.,
changed. There are improvements In
the new regulations which took effect
July 1, an especially generous pro-
vision allowing mechanics time and
ono-half in addition to regular pay
for holidays. But ''the straw which
broke the camcls back" is the one pro-
Ividing for wholesale discharge of all
lemployes at the end of their next leave
Il periods, to bring everyone under tho
same rules. This is regarded rs n
breaking of contracts by the govern
lment.
There is no general discrimination
against unions on the Isthmus, but
there is strong anti-union sentiment
among officials and an unwillingness
to deal with union committees, which
has caused dissatisfaction and seems
inconsistent, in view of the fact that
Secretary Taft meets the national Of
fcials OF the same organizations ami
confcrs with them relative to the con.
ditions of their men upon the 18TH
linus.
The President has removed one long
standing cause of irritation oy order
ing the hours of mechanics to he made
Identical. e.. eight hours. But the
situation is SO complicated that it
would be impossible to equalizc con-
dltions unless n careful study were
made by an expert labor commissioner
whose sole duty would be the cor
Isideration of labor matters.
| A Canal Newspaper Desirable.
There should be published IL Eng.
fish. Spanish. Italian and Greet, n
weekly bulletin similar 10 thos, of
many private employers. Through
such channel the Canal Zone news
would be conveyed to employees who
would be less discontinued when 40
tilted that disasters rather than in
attention are the cause of discomforts.
For instance there would be pub
lished the loss of ship containing
vegetables or of shiploa,l OF lumber,
both of which occurred during the
Investigation, and changes III rulings
with reference to mess houses. the
reduction of prices ut commi5sarics
and other improvements. This paper
could be supplied with the Associated
Press dispatches. furnishing employees.
leagcr for news from homo, pleasant
diversion.
Transportation Service.
The Panama Railroad Company own
led by the government, operates lire
lof steamships between New York and
Colon. The condition under which tho
employees are transported to aud from
the Isthmus are simply ints!erable.
The boats are overcrowdcl, some
staterooms poorly ventilated ana bad
ly located. the food is awful and some
of the ships are unsafe. II Is not 100
much to say that both, with reference
to the treatment OF the Isthmian canal
lemployes and the attendants of the
boats, the steamship service Is dis
grace to the nation.
The transportation service upon the
lsthmus ia necessarily limited, as
numerous passenger trains would inter-
fere with excavation work. Attractive
stations have been built by the gov
Iernment mt the various camps. I'm
lprovement In terminal facilities are
necessary, and now that there are so
many married women upon the zone,
smoking should be limited to one car.
There might he constructed n street
railway line in connection with the
proposed amusement park.
1t is to the interest ofthe enter
prise that needed reforms be expedi-
tiously introduced, for whatever can
be done to maintain competent and
permanent force of employees will be
a contribution to the efficiency OF the
work.
An Old Suffolk Fish Story.
Shlngle street Is some seven miles