Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-28
NAY AFFECT WORLDS TRADE
Meeting in Copenhagen is Of Wide
Interest.
IT MAY BECOME INTERNATIONAL
Declare ton Is Made that the Big
ship Owners Are Trying TO Ex-
terminate the SeRmRn's
Union.
T MAY BECOME INTERNATIONAL
BY ERIC GRUNMARk.

COf EIN ltANTtlN, AUG. Et.-NSpeClAl TO Inc
Bee)-A meeting is now in progress in this
city, the results of which may very Sc
riously affect the commerce of the world.
II is the conference of the sailors and the
firemen's union and while definite action
has not yet been taken, it is regarded as
altogether probable that general strike
Of sailors and firemen on British ships will
be ordered II this is done. there is little
doubt that the strike will become world
wide. and involve other trades which have
to do with ships and shippers
Havelock Wilson, secretary Of the union,
says there Is no doubt that the big ship
owners in the shipping federation are plan
ming a war Of determination on the sea-
mans union, and the union is ready for IT,.
For some time the treatment CT the men
has been bad and It has now become in
tolerable.
Men Ready for Fight.
He says: 81 have reason to believe that
the policy of the shipping federation is one
Of determined opposition. and l therefore
advise the men to get ready for a fight.
Everything is ready. 1 shall propose that
seamen agree on a date, which will be
known only to the leaders of the men. and
on the signal being given that there is to
be no Cancellation board, all the seamen
in the British isles shall Immediately cease
work and remain out of work for two
weeks. The date will be a closely kept Sc
cret, but It will not be long delayed
We have had enough of the treatment
we suffer from now and have suffered
from so long. We are determined this
time. The men are unanimous and are
even more determined than their leaders"
COpenhaEen's street Railway.
Copenhagen is to have municipal street
cars. The city by majority of eight, de-
cided to take over the electric tramways of
the city beginning August, 1911. The system
In question includes S.5 miles Of double
track and ten miles of single track, and
Employs 27s motor cars and 191 trail cars.
Five of the latter are single horse cars.
The company has a capital stock which in
American currency would be about $4,000. COO
In 1909 the company carried 7O949,345 passen-
gers and about 100000 motor-csr miles
were run. According to the franchise
terms, beginning August 1890 the tram
way system would revert to the city, With
out any payment. after lapse of thirty
years, or could be taken over, at a fixed
price, at periods of three years. after one
years notice, these periods to commence
with 1s07-0S. In 1907 the city decided not
to utilize the right, but this year the vote
to purchase was carried by the small ma
tority mentioned. The price to be paid
will be settled by arbitration.
Under the existing franchise the city re-
ceived per cent OF the company's gross
receipts, and also has a monopoly of sup
plying with power at 1 cents per lillowat
hour. The profit from this latter arrange
ment amounted to more than S2O0,OOO last
year and the city's net income in 1909 from
both sources amounted to about 100000
The company now charges a uniform fare
OF cents and gives free transfers The
maximum travel possible for a single fare,
without transfer, is about seven miles
At the Peace Conference.
There were some interesting features at
the recent International meeting of the
Worlds Pace Societies at Stockholm.
There were 500 delegates, representing
twentys nations, Az fitting in Scandinavia,
women formed q considerable portion OF the
total delegation, and had no small voice
In the resolutions passed. A strong depu-
tation, headed by Prince Dolgorouki rep
sented Russia. Finland and Poland we're
both represented, and the affairs of both
countries received considerable attention.
Ex-senator Mechelin, the Grand Old Man
OF Finland, was chief OF these, The aged
Count Tolstoy was unable to travel but
sent an address.
The most interesting woman delegation,
represented by Miss Enkstein of Boston,
who Is at present globe trotting and col
lecting signatures to a monster petition in
the cause of peace. was brought there for
the purpose OF her presenting such to the
new Hague conference