The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-01-02

1t was decided to close down all their
factories and remain closed indefinite
ly About $500 stained window glass
workers employed in the active fac
tories of that territory will be made
idle. The decision of the manufactur-
ers was brought about by demand
of window glass workers for the aboli-
ton of the wage agreement and an
advance of rs per cent. over the pres
ent rate and the maintenance of the
new rate as a fiat scale for the rest
of the year. The shutdown may ex-
tend to other districts, as the demand
of the workers is not confined to one
section.
Springfield, Ill-Gov Deneen has ap-
pointed Peter W. Collins, grand secre
tary of the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers; Edwin Wright,
tion of Labor, and William NJ Russell
of the Chicago Federation of Labor to
be members of the commission to in
vestigate and report on necessary
legislation for the health, safety and
comfort of employees of the state OF
Illinois. The appointment of this COM
mission was authorized by the last
legislature, and it's duties will be to in
vestigate and advise the enactment OF
remedial legislation for the protection
Of the health and lives of the workers.
Fort Wayne, Ind.-General Mana
ger Emmons of the Fort Wayne &
Wabash Valley cheered the hearts of
employees by restoring to them the
wages and salaries paid before the
panic set in year ago. At that time
the salaries of all who received $40
or more month were cut with the
exception of the motormen and con-
ductors. This cut has now been re-
stored in view of returning business.
w. Fl. Fledderjohann, president of the
Decatur & Springfield interurban has
just returned from Cleveland, where
he paid off the last of note for $780,
900 which was borrowed to complete
the road.
Washington.-Rep of Of
ficials and employees of the Missouri,
Kansas & Texas railroad were in
executive conference with Chairman
Knapp of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and Commissioner of
Labor Neill whom both sides had Sc
lected to arbitrate the controversy
over wages and conditions of employ
| ment. Messrs. Knapp and Neill are
not acting as mediators under the
Erdman act, but as arbitrators, both
sides having agreed to abide by their
decision.
Fort Smith, Ark.-At Fridays SEES
sion of the union miners of Arkansas,
Oklahoma and Texas assembled here
| to probe charges against district Off
GERS of misri ..,a ging a recent strike,
| the latter We're exonerated of certain
| of the charges. During the session
| National Organizer Mooney of Mis-
souri, defended National President
Tom L. Lewis, who he declared had
During his speech he broke down and
wept.
| Sheffield, Eng.-A serious strike is
threatened in the engineering indus
tries by reason of the employers de.
mand for a reduction of 25 cents a
week in the wages of molders, to the
! number of about 1,200. At a mass
meeting held, the men resolved to re
| sist the reduction. A 25-cent advance
| was granted in October two years ago;
the wages now are $3.50 a week
Melbourne, Australia.-In giving
| judgment in connection with the
bakers strike at Wellington, the New
Zealand arbitration court held that the
operatives union was entirely re
| sponsible for the strike, and fined il
$1,000, intimating that If the fine
were paid within week only nominal
| penalties would be inflicted on the
men individually. If the union did not
pay the court would inf1ict substantial
penalties on the operatives who struck
Washington.-Prof. Kobatsch of Aus
tria, recognized authority on Labor
questions and economics, recently is
sued a statement in which he sets
forth that compulsory arbitration can
not be adapted to the economic and SO
cial conditions of continental Europe
He cites in support of the stand he hal
taken that in England, the most pro
gressive Industrial country III Europe
proposal for compulsory. arbitration
was defeated by a majcrityxoe 100000
Boston.-The workmen OF, % biz
trades at the Charlestown navy yart
have been granted a wage increase TO
1909. The increase in many CASE
brings the yard wage up to the genera
trade union scale in effect outside thu
yard, and in some cases exceeds 1t.
Boston.-Trans-Atlan steamshi
clerks assembly wage scale has bee
adjusted after several months of cor
L It'll
vides for the hourly day wage, the oil
plan Of increased night wages an
double time payment for work be
tween five and seven a. m. Anothe
conference will be held April 1.
Berlin, Germany-In 1901 the sur
\ OF $27 sos. 900 was expended by en-
ployers in Germany for the direct al
of their employees. More than two