The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1908-03-06

M
President Roosevelt, upon nearine
hat the principal railroad systems were
preparing 10 announce a general re-
duction In the wage OF employees.
started an investigation with o view
10 finding II such a reduction Ii justi-
tied by the facts. To this end, arting
Under the Erdman law. he he request
~ Chairman Knapp OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission and Commits
sioner OF Labor .NeiIi to make ar In
y~estigation aud report on what they
find According TO Chief Stone OF the
Engineers brotherhood. the Chicago
and Great Western In To start TIE wage
cutting movement. The various nnion
arc prefra red to resist the reduction to
the uItesmcst. The presidents action
IN calling upon the Interstate Com
Ii.sTce Commission tn Investigate tie
q Hle,npia ted reduction Of wages by the
railroads has caused no little recent
mcnt on the part OF the railroad Of
icials. especially as regards the intiina-
tt0Ai tst1t ttiSI att&tHf - Iva tht InA iNSt
II d~lscreliting the administration. They
irs.st that the decrease In revenues
nessssifates a reduction Ia operating
expresses. On the otlsr hand. repre-
sertatiyes az the raiIroad employees
state the earnings Of the men are al
ready pa the lowest living basis ana
will not stand n reduction. Mr.. Comp
ers OF the American Federation OF La
Dor Is represented as saying: The
wages OF the railroad men can not
stand n reduction. The cost Of living
has been increasing faster than the
wages, which. In fact, have not been
increasing Mt all" The statement is
alSo made that representatives OF the
railroad organizations at q meeting In
New York city decided that under no
circumstances would they consent to a
reduction OF the present wage scale.
49,
The Secretary of War has accepted
bids for furnishing heavier-than-air fly
ing machines from J. r. Scott. Chicago;
A. NJ. Herring, New York. and Wright
Bros. Dayton. Ohio. In all, forty-onT
bids were received. but the three me-
toned were the only ones that complete
with the specifications. 1t was a par1
Of the agreement that none OF the par
ticUlars Of the bids were to be giveE
out. but retained ms confidential. Some
or the conditions OF acceptance are that
the machine must remain in the air at
least one hour, land without damage, be
under perfect control and equilibrium
and be capable Of a speed OF at least
forty miles an hour in still air. The
machines are expected to be ready for
trial next fall.
The report OF Interstate Commert-
Commissioner Lane upon the charges
against the Southern Pacific and their
Investigation by him has beer made
public. II shows that since the rate
bil. went into effect a system of rebat-
Ing has been in force upon the Southern
Pacific In utter defiance of the law. 4
list OF los firms is given which received
preferential rates. and one of these is
shown to have received 500 .9O4 during
the period from April. 1906. to the date
% the investigation. 1t is assumed hat
the Department of Justice will CON-
mence prosecution In the near future.
A new arbitration treaty between the
United States and France has been
signed by representatives Of the two
countries and will soon be submitted
to the Senate for ratification. This
provides that practically all questions
arising between the two governments
shall be settled by arbitration.
In reply to the recent request of the
railroad managers for an extension Of
the time for putting into operation Of
the nlne-hour law. the Interstate Com
nierce Commission that it
can not interfere with the new law.
except In particular cases where good
cause IL given.
A comprehensive employers liability
bill was introduced in the Senate by
Senator la Toilette OF Wisconsin. and
In the House by Representatives Ster-
ling OF Illinois. The authors say the
bin has the Endorsement Of the railroad
employees.
-.
The Secretary Of the Navy has &C.
cepted the resignation Of his SON. Mid
slipman Victor N. Metcalf. because Of
I'll health. 1t was with considerable
reluctance that Secretary Metealf ac-
eepted the resignation. as he was anx-
ions that his son should have a navy
career.
-
The new armored cruiser North Caro-
Ina completed her trial speed test, hay-
Ing maintained an average speed OF
Els knots, which liz in excess OF the
contract speed required. and is said to
I've the hest record ever made BIZ a YES
sci OK the 1rlnoreL cruiser class.
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