The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-07-14
LABOR IN GENERAL

at number OF ports by corpora
lions that are endeavoring to break
the combinations of seamen and
longshoremen and enforce a lower
wage level with cheap labor. This
effort has SO far proved ineffective.
Mining conditions remain firm,
with here and there an unimportant
break for wage reductions on the
part of small curb operators. ;"
More men are gradually getting
back to work.
A healthy note comes via Wash.
ington to the effect that the re-
duction of wages threatened by
the Southern railway--which cor
poration was said to be the leader
OF a group that contemplated a
bear raid on wages-has been held
in allegiance, at least until after
election. The Southern and several
other roads betrayed signs of run
ming amuck early the present year,
but President Roosevelt instructed
Chairman Knapp of the Interstate
commerce commission and Labor
Commissioner Neil to learn wheth-
er the proposed reduction of wages
would include the salaries of Off
cials and dividends of stockholders,
with the result that the "readjust-
ment" was deferred.
The new child labor law has
gone into effect in Ohio. The work
ing hours of children under 16
years of age are reduced from
nine to eight hours per day, and
in many of the dangerous and I'M
healthy occupations boys and girls
will be set free and given an OPP
portunity to breathe the fresh air
and enjoy the sunlight and grow
up well and strong. About 25,-
600 children are affected by the
law and as result of the change
several thousand adults will be
enabled to invest their labor power
and support their families instead
of being supported by child toilers.
Certain small manipulators have
intimated that they will be driven
out of business II they are prevent.
ed from using cheap child labor,
and threaten to test the constitu-
tionality of the new law.
The street PAYERS in various cit
les who work nine or more hours
per day, have decided to enforce
the eight-hour day Nav /, 1909, in
order to furnish employment to
some of those who stand idly in
the labor market awaiting buyers. |
The Eight-Hour League of Amer
lea is endeavoring to make the
workday a dominant is |
sue in the political field. Candi |
dates are being placed on record on |
this question.
The national executive commit |
tee of the Women's Trade Union |
League recently held meeting in |!
Boston to outline plans for the in |
auguration of a vigorous campaign |
to combine the women workers of |
the country. The league declares |
NudL SlSHt HoulS a uds IL lOIlS
enough to toll and that every |
woman who does the same work |
as a man should receive equal pay. |
Observing that the prices of
chops, steaks, etc, have been |
steadily Observation-Disclosures of al |
legged scarcity of cattle. because OF |
high prices of feed. because of low |
prices of hides, because of in |
creased marketing OF Australian |
jack rabbits. because their wages |
have been steadily cut and slashed |
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and the Brotherhood OF Butcher |
Workmen are considering plans to |
consolidate and form labor |
trust" to loot the looters and in
crease their average dividends"
of 81 and SO per week by a few
cents more