The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-10-18
Washin gton-The bureau of 1abo


tereSting comparison, showing what
an hours wages, on the average,
would buy of food in 1906, as coIs9-
pared with the average during the
decade from 1890 to 1899. The retail
price Of the principal articles of food,
weighed according to family consump-
ton of the various articles, was 1871
per cent. higher in 1906 than the aver
age price for the ten-year period; but
taking the increase of wages into &C
count, the purchasing power of an
hours wages in 1906, as measured by
food was 7.3 per cent greater, and of
full weeks wages "a per cent.
greater. The reduction in hours of
labor explains the fact that the pur-
chasing power of a weeks wages in
creased less than the purchasing pow
er of an hours wages.
Alexandria, Ind-The 500 striking
Penn-American plate glass worlxmen.
who went out on a strike recently de-
| handing pay days every two weeks
on Saturday, have failed to accomplish
anything and went back to work. The
company will perhaps stick to its de-
| termination to pay on the 10th and
| 25th of the month, or as near that
| time as it chooses. The ten days of
shutdown has been improved by the
| factory in making repairs to machin-
cry and buildings.
Washington.-After conference
with President Roosevelt, Postmaster
General Meyer announced that the
| attorney general had completed an
opinion sustaining the Meyer modifi-
cation of the Cortelyou mail-weighing
order, which, it is stated, will save
the government several million dollars
year in railway mail pay. The Mey
err amendment makes Sunday a work
| ing day" in all cases where the mails
are carried and weighed on that day.
Helsingfors, Finland.-The bakers
went on strike and the master re-
solved upon a new departure. They
| invited women and girls to take the
| vacant places at the same wages the
strikers had refused. The places were
instantly, filled to the great satisfac-
ton of both employees and employers.
| Heretofore baking has been a male
pursuit only in Finland. Men and
women here receive exactly the same
| WAGES lOT Tie SAME hllu VI WOIh.
| Berlin-Letter carriers here begin
on a salary of 900 marks( mark equals
| 23S cents), with an allowance in ad-
dition of $50 marks after years of
service. They work IL hours a day,
and the average weight of mai deliv-
cred daily is 100 pounds, except when
| the American mails arrive, which in
| crease it to 300 pounds. Appoint
ments are made by examination and
preference is given to those who have
served in the Germany army.
Pawtucket, R. 1.-The scarcity of
help in the mills and factories through
out the Blackstone valley is proving
serious offset to the general pros
perity resulting from a favorable mar
ket for the product of the mills. Most
of the factories are being rushed to
the limit, and at the same, time are
refusing orders for goods. Nearly
every trade in the district is expert.
encing the same shortage of unskilled
labor.
Indianapolis, Ind.-F. NJ. Ryan of
Chicago was reelected general presi-
dent of the International Association
of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
at the annual convention here, over
Dave Jennings of Cleveland. The con-
vention decided to meet here again
next year.
Shamokin, Pa.-The Shamokin and
Mount Carmel transit line between
this place and Ashland, which was
tied up since last May by employees
going on strike, has been sold by
the principal stockholders, residing in
Lancaster county, to coal-region capt.
talists, headed by former Congressman
E. W. Samuel of Mount Carmel. The
road, which is 16 miles long, will be
reopened at once.
Pittsburg, Pa.-The big Bessemer
departments of the Homestead Steel
works, as well as the Duquesne works
of the United States Steel corporation,
have been closed. The Dequesne de-
partment will not be reopened. The
Homestead bessemer department VIII
be closed for at least 80 days. This
is one of the first movements at reduc-
ing expenses.
Providence, r. 1.-The Rhodes Is
land State Federation of Labor has
petitioned the members of congress
for the enactment of a law which
would prohibit government bands COM
: peting with civilian bands.
Misunderstanding to the census
returns, wages in Canada have in
creased 81 per cent. the past five
years.
: Charleston, w. Va.,-The outlook in
! the West Virginia coal fields for the
| coming winter is considered grave by
the coal operators owing to the scar
, city of miners. In the Pittsburg dis.
trict, however, both miners and oper.
ators declare that conditions are nor
NAL; in fact, little better now than
they were at the same period a year
ago.