The wageworker., 1910-02-19

men affiliated with the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen and employed by
thirteen railroads in what is known
as the Chicago switching district have
been refused demand for 35 per
cent increase over their present wage
scale. Announcement to this effect
was made following a series of con-
ferences which have been in progress
for two weeks between a committee
of the trainmen's organization and
number of managers representing
the railroads involved. 1t is not be-
Heved, however, that strike will take
place. 1t has been proposeA by the
managers committee that arbitration
under the terms of the Erdman act
be resorted to, and a vote on this prop
osition will be taken by the switchmen
\ within a few days.
Melbourne, Australia.-One judge
in this city after careful investigation,
gave gold mining company the op-
tion of paying living wages or clos
ing down the property. One law
| prohibits women from working in
| factory or business house between the
| hours of six in the evening and six
in the morning. The same law applies
| to boys under 18. Where communities
lack high schools, the pupils are trans
ported free on the government rail-
roads to the nearest high school-in
| one case as far as 60 miles. Tele-
| grams to any part of the country cost
| IL cents. The government telegraph
service was operated at loss until
the present low rates went into effect
1t is now profit-earning.
| Wilkes-Barre, Pa.,-Old men, many
of them grandfathers, broke the strike
of the 200 small breaker boys at the
White Oak breaker at Archibald and
compelled the boys to return to work
without getting the increased wages
| they demanded. When the new
child labor law, effective January /,
drove number of boys out of the
breaker, old men we're put on their
places and were paid $1.1O day,
whereas the boys got only 72 cents.
They demanded an increase, saying
they worked as quickly as the men,
and, being refused, they went on
strike. The company began filling their
places with old men and the boys
gave up and went back to work at
the old rate.
Hammond, Ind-The strike at the
plant of the Standard Steel Car Com
pany's works was declared off and
nearly 1000 men returned to work.
The demand for higher wages was set
tied on a promise of better pay when
conditions improved, and the company
promised to eliminate all grating
bosses. Some of the latter were
charged with making new tenants of
the company's houses pay back rental.
Minneapolis, Minn.-The switchmen
of the Northwest who have been on
strike since November 80 returned to
work. Virtually every one of the
strikers is in his old place. Although
the wage question is still unsettled
all will be governed by figures agreed
upon in the Chicago compromise con-
ference.
ST. Paul, Minn.-St. Paul carpenters
union recently celebrated the twenty
fifth anniversary of its organization.
The event was memorable one in
union history, as the union decided at
that time to purchase building site
upon which will be erected building
to be used as a permanent home for
| the union.
Omaha, Neb.-A general strike was
declared on the Brandeis theater build
| ing, now in course of erection, 300
men stopping work. The contractor
| for the sheet metal work insisted upon
employing nonunion men. Union
leaders objected and the strike re
suited
New York.-New York society WON
en- who some time ago took up active
ly the cause of the shirtwaist strikers
have now organized a campaign fol-
the establishment of trades unions In
several lines of work, thus far unor
ganized.
London Eng-Satisfactory settle
ments of points in dispute have been
made by the Metropolitan Railways
Company with the whole of its EN-
ployes in the traffic and permanent
way department.
London, Eng-Contracts have been
signed for the construction In this
country by the Fore River Shipbuild
ing Company of two dreadnoughts fol
the Argentine Republic. They will
cost $22,0OO,00o.
Bethlehem, Pa.-There was break
in the ranks of the striking machlnists
at the steel works. One hundred and
fifty men returned to work while SOC
are still out.
Chicago-Six hundred workmen
were killed at their labors in this city
during the last year.
Indianapolis, Ind.-The various sub
ordinates of the International Associa
tion of Printing Pressmen and Assist
ants have under consideration propo
sition to contribute annually one days
pay to fund to be used for the con
struction and maintenance Of tuber
culosis establishment for the members
of the craft.
Hartford City, Ind. = After five