United labor bulletin., 1910-12-01

hood OF BOflermakers, Iron SnlpDuliu-
ers and Helpers. the fight for the final
passage OF the federal locomotive In
spection bill is being increasingly
waged, and upon the opening Of con-
gress in December the international
officers are prepared to submit new
data in favor of the proposed safety
law. During the last five years in the
United States, according to reports OF
the railroads themselves. there were
It'll boiler disasters, while In Great
Britain, according to figures furnish
ed by the board of trade railway de-
partment, the number Of boiler dis
asters for the same period were put
Al. While the number OF persons
killed in Great Britain through loco
motive boiler disasters were but four
for the same period in the United
States 265 lives were sacrificed. In
this country the number OF injured
was 3,O66, while under the English
system of government inspection. for
the same length of time, but 63 per-
sons were injured.
Boston.-For the first time In Massa'
chusetts litigation affecting strikes
request has been made for the impris-
onment of labor leaders as penalty
for disobeying a decree of the court
i Engraving firms In Boston have asked
the superior court to infiict this pun
ishment upon certain officers OF the
local engravers' union for alleged dis
regard of the courts injunction
against pjcketing. The judge issued
an order returnable this week Tho
outcome will be watched with interest
by friends of organized labor and
those maintaining the employers
right to open shop.
Baltimore, Md.-Gov. Crothers has
come out In open advocacy of convict
labor in the construction OF public
highways. and will recommend the
adoption OF such a plan In his mes
sage to the next legislature. He does
not favor. however, the removal OF
long-term prisoners or those held for
serious offenses from the penitentiary
for this work. By using short-term
convicts he can foresee a great saving
to the state in It's road work.
Decentralization electrical workers
union 104. the linemen, is to make an
effort to have men Of the construction
force promoted to vacancies which oc-
cur In the operating force OF the fire.
alarm branch of the Boston fire de-
partment. The construction men are
the most experienced men Of the line.
It is stated. yet up to date no promo
tion to the operating force has been
made from its ranks.
New York.-During the last year.
the inspectors of the bureau OF mer-
camille inspection in New York city.
have caused the arrest Of 35S proprie-
tors for illegally employing children in
business Offices and stores. OF these
229 were convicted. which may be put
down as significant OF the fact that
the unlawful employment OF children
will soon be numbered among the
things that were.
Dallas. Texas.-The new convict re-
form bill. recently signed by the gov
ernor of Texas. provides for the abol-
ition OF the leasing of state couvicts
to contractors. II calls for working Of
convicts only on farms owned by the
state Texas viii spend about 1000. =
600 for land and equipment No con
tract for convicts viii be renewed. and
all contracts must be terminated with
in IS months.
New York.-The strike OF drivers
al helpers was formally declared on
and II was announced at strike head
quarters that the men will return to
work at once. The close OF the strike
was brought about by the New Jer-
} sey strikers. who voted to accept the
terms upon which the companies Of
fered to take back the men.
washington.-The total number of
J federated trade unions in Austria at
} the end Of 1909 was 4,450. consisting
of 81 central or national unions. 81 dis
} trict unions and 4.371 local unions.
In 1908 the total was 4.6i9. of which
81 were national. As district and 4.519
local.
Toronto. Carada.-The trade unions
this city have Instituted for the winter
months a series of lectures in they
different unions. along educational
lines. Every union win devote an
evening each month to a discussion
of its trad..
Ferrol. Spain.-The employees OF
the English company which is build.
ing the vessels of the new Spanish
navy stuck. The company threatens
to abandon its contract II the men do
not resume work
Sioux Falls. s. D.-The Information.
al brotherhood of Painters and Dec.
orators recently organized new To-
cal union here.
Marshalltown, lathe entire force
, employed in the Iowa Central railway
car and paint shops went out on a
strike this week because two negro
laborers had been employed in the
shops. However, the men have other
grievances against the general shop
foreman. whom they charge with
bringing men from his former home
town In another state and giving them
Jobs in preference to resident en-
ployees.
Pittsburg.-Of all barrels made in
the United States. It is said that 9s
per cent are turned out by union
coopera