Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-19
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Labor Unions Ask Packers to Give
Preference to Local Men.
HEADS SAY POLICY Is PURSUED
Postmaster Etter Makes Public Re-
port OF Connt OF Pieces OF Mail
Passing Through His
office.

1
Passing Through His
office.
| Pursuant TO a policy started by the labor
unions a petition Is being circulated among
the merchants OF South Omaha addressed
TO the packing companies, asking that
skilled and unskilled labor be taken from
this city in preference to that provided
by labor agencies either in Omaha or else
where. Certain OF the merchants speaking
of the petition said that something must
be done to give impetus to business In the
city. THE whole trouble" said one mer-
chant. lis that the foreign labor does not
patronize home markets The foreigner will
live on few cents a day and what he
does eat is often purchased from an timer
ant vendor Of his own people. AS a result
much money paid by the corporations OF
the city does not circulate among the home
people but is boarded
When interviewed upon the proposed pc
tition to be addressed 20 the packing plants
several OF the magnates declared that their
companies always gave preference TO home
labor and to the English speaking people
| ]. A. o'Hearn. superintendent of the
Armour Packing company, said: 1--WE dc
| hOl uSdi Win icOOi dBSnCACh- we nlTe lOCd
men as they apply at the gate. preference
being shown to Engiish-speaking appli.
cants."
| T. j. Sheehy, superintendent OF Cudahy's
said almost the same thing: I'VE hire moth.
ing but local labor and patronize no agen.
cies. We hire those who apply at the gate
Preference is always given to old residents
of the city"
j. A Patterson Of swift's company said
that preference was always given to loca
labor, but at times OF the year the city
could not supply enough men.
Union workers in City.
For several days the case of the labor
people and the contractors engaged In city
paving has been held in allegiance await
ing the determination Of the contractors
to remedy matters.
The labor unions of the city contend that
the contractors OF city work must pay
union prices and work their men accord.
ing to the union scale of hours. Unless
the contractors agree to the claims of the
| unions there will be strike and the unions
will bring civil suit to cancel the contracts
between the present paving contractors
and the city. This 10 IN accord with the
city charter, which prescribes that ali cit,
contractors must pay union prices and
maintain union hours for union men, The
labor people have retained able lawyers
and will fight their case to a finish. II
Is asserted that they VIII have no trouble
in breaking the contracts. A precedent
was established by the supreme court Of
the state OF Kansas and upheld by the
supreme court Of the United States in 6
parallel case. The contractors will in ali
probability arrange matters with this
unions and It is understood that about
twenty-five nonunion employees Of the con
tractors have already applied for admis
sion to the local labor unions.
The full determination Of the matter
will be heard in few days when parties
Of both sides and their lawyers have had
a chance to thresh out the matter to-
gether. II the contractors prove stubborn
the labor people will seek a restraining
order prohibiting the city council from
allowing the pay warrants OF the con.
tractors. At present the contractors ar,
anxious to see the color Of the city's
money Since the sale of the improve.
ment bonds no money has yet been re
ceived by the treasurer. 1t will be som,
days before the actual money will arrive
Count of Mail.
Postmaster l. r. Etter has Just com
pleted the figures on the count OF mai
which was had during the month OF May
This includes the handling Of ali letters
mailed, newspapers, magazines, circular
and advertising matter, merchandise
foreign matter and congressional as wei
as departmental franked matter, ana tn,
time consumed In handling each piece o.
the various classes.
There was dispatched from this offic,
6oO,O9l pieces, including all classes, o.
which 326 S1s were letters which wer,
handled at the aggregate rate OF six pei
minute. and the other matter was HANDLED
In about the same proportion.
The incoming mall amounted to 49,, Is
pieces OF which Sis,s1s were letters, 80 70
newspapers. 1923 foreign letters and the
rest divided among all other classes. Thes,
were handled at the rate of about clever
per minute.
The mail delivered by carriers amounted
to AL pieces OF which 296,666 were
letters and the rest divided into news
papers, magazines. and other matter. The
collection by the carriers amounted tc
SS6, III pieces.
The total number Of pieces handled ir
the office both incoming and outgoing
mail. amounted TO ss2S74 pieces OF whicr
644.6S7 were first class pieces.
Park Board ReOrganlsed.
The park board reorganized Friday night
with J. Ii. Kopietz as chairman and ]. NJ
Mccarthy as secretary. The other members
are p. C. Caldwell. John Sudyka, F. F.
Fanferlik and J. II. Van Dusen. A. casters
another member of the board, has not
qualified. Some bills were allowed by the
board and the meeting adjourned. An ap-