The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-07
SEC. TAFT LAYS
WAGE SCHEDULE
FOR LAB|'|0RERs.
Conditions Under Which En-
ployes Of U. s. on Panama
Canal Shall Work.
FREE HOMES FOR
MARRIED WORKERS
Leave With Full Pay When
Sick and Free Care By
Physicians.
FREE HOMES FOR
MARRIED WORKERS

ing decision by Secretary Taft at
fecting rates of pay, hours of labor,
ETC.. on the isthmus of Panama fol-
lowing his recent personal investiga-
ton of the various complaints received
here from time to time. has just been
made public at the white house after
President Roosevelt had given his APP
prevail to the secretary's recommends
tons. The decision applies to three
classes Of canal employees, first steam
shovel men, embracing engineers,
cranemen and firemen; second. con-
struction locomotive engineers, and
third. construction train conductors.
Much attention is then given to the
question of wages to the steam shovel
men who on March 1, last applied for
increases.
Taking figures officially submitted,
an average of wages paid by eighty
firms throughout the United States
would be $102 for cranesmen, and for
engineers 1852.
Secretary Taft says:
CATER giving the matter the con-
sideration which its Importance de-
serves, and after weighing the COM
parative advantages which the 18TH
milan shovel men enjoy over their
brothers in the states, with the dis
advantages which they have to bear
in going to and living on the isthmus,
I have reached the conclusion that the
existing standard of pay for the shovel
engineers and foriori for the cranes
men is a liberal one, and ought not
to be increased except under some
NJ
plicable to all veteran skilled employ
es of the commission who are paid by
class rates. AS already seen, the rates
paid to the isthmian shovel engineers
are certainly from Is to IS per cent
higher than the average of those paid
in the states and this by no means
states all the difference in favor of
the isthmian terms of employment.
"a steam shovel man on the isthmus
can count on twelve months constant
employment in year, and steam
shovel men in the United States can
not expect to be employed more than
nine months in the year. This arises
from the interference with contract
work in the United States by winter
conditions, and also by the necessary
intervals arising between change of
contracts. Mr.. Stevens estimate is
that every steam shovel man in the
state should count on a loss of four
months instead of three in each year.
However, for the purpose of the argu-
ment we can leave it at nine months.
The rate of pay for steam shovel en-
gineers in Alaska. as before stated,
is said to be $500 month, but we are
not advised as to the circumstances
surrounding this employment except
that we can reasonably presume that
the working year there would hardly
exceed six or seven months.
Second, every shovel man on the
isthmus is entitled to six weeks leave
with pay as vacation, so that he re-
months work.
Third, steam shovel men on the
isthmus work but eight hours day,
whereas many, though not all, of the
steam shovel men in the United States
work for ten hours day.
Fourth, every employe of the 18TH
mus is permitted. if he falls sick, to
enjoy twenty days sick leave. with
pay.
Fifth, in addition to the sick leave
above mentioned, If the employe re-
ceives an injury during his work he
is entitled to an additional thirty days
sick leave.
sixth, every married man is en-
titled to be furnished quarters for
himself and family free, with modern
plumbing conveniences, water, fuel
and light free; and a commissary
which aims to sell all necessaries at
cost to commission employees. The
married quarters are, generally in sep
arate houses. Every bachelor is en-
titled to his furnished room free. to-
gether with light, and board at a
reasonable rate at a mess house or
hotel. The cost of food and neces-
saries is about what it Is in eastern
cities, or slightly higher.
Seventh, every employee is entitled
to free medical attendance and hospi-
tai service. The medical visits of
the commission physician, after the
first, have involved charge of one
dollar each, but Col. Cocktails advises
me that this is to be dispensed with.
at may be admitted that service on
the isthmus is attended with greater
discomfort and greater risk OF illness
than that in the states. due to the
climatic conditions; and that the dis
lance from home. the difficulty of Sc
curing usual and rational amusements
and the naturally depressing effect of
continued high temperature makes
the service on the isthmus less desir-
able than that in the United States.
But it is to be remarked that the
original conditions of unhealthfulness
which existed when the original rate
for shovel men was fixed in 1904 have
been greatly bettered, that the yellow
fever has been stamped out, that the
rate of death and sickness among
Americans is exceedingly low. and
that life on the isthmus Is becoming
more and more like that in the United
States and this improvement Is GER
tain to continue. The opportunity to
visit the United States each year, II
improved, is a great aid in maintain
ing health. 1t has been urged that
service on the isthmus SO undermines
the health of the steam shovel man
that he is utterly unified for work
In the United States when he returns.
I cannot agree with this view. The
health statistics and the general con-
dition of the Americans on the isthmus
refute the claim"