United labor bulletin., 1913-12-27

hiring 80 cooks through agents in
France. The indictment is said TO
be the first fruit of government cru
sade against the importation OF
cooks, practiced by many of the big
New York hotels and restaurants. The
hotel men have taken the ground that
q French cook is an artist, and that
by hiring them abroad they are no
more amenable to the contract law
than the managers of grand opera
are when they engage their European
singers.
Washington.-Predi that un-
der the eighthour act of 1912 manu-
facturers and contractors would ig-
more the navy departments call for
supplies and work and decline gov
ernment contracts have not come
true, according to Graham Egerton.
solicitor of the navy department. In
his annual report he says the act has
somewhat increased first cost" to
the government, but has not dimin-
ished competition nor increased the
cost of maintenance. Moreover, the
act has had decided effect in the
direction of making the eight-hour
workday more general, he declares.
Trinidad. Colo.-The military COM
mission which is investigating disor-
ders in connection with the Colorado
coal strike announced a formal find
ing in which 1t charged that Louis
Zancanelli murdered George w. Belch-
er, a detective, at the instigation of
A B. McGary and Samuel Carter, or
ganizers of the United Mine Workers
of America Zancanell. who con-
fessed the killing, is in Jail. McGary
and Carter have not been located.
Belcher was assassinated on the
streets OF Trinidad on November 20.
New York-Dr. Isaac A Horowitz.
a former member of the faculty Of the
University of Chicago, claimed that
the increased immigration during the
last two decades had not decreased the
per capita of wealth of the country
during a lively argument with Prof. H.
P. Fairchild of Yale university before
the Peoples institute in Cooper Union.
Dr. Horowitz believed he has proved
by statistics that the per capita
wealth had increased and that labor
union had been fortified by the immi-
grants.
New York-New York city's army Of
unskilled labor Is now larger than 1t
has been for four years. This was the
statement of Edward Carpenter. mana
ger of the National Employment ex-
change. With daily announcements OF
lay-offs by large industrial and rail-
road corporations, there is prospect
of the number increasing. Mr.. Carpen-
ter said: There are more honest and
able-bodied workingmen out OF posi-
tions now than at any time since 1909,
and the demand for labor is poorer"
Torrington, Conn.-The 100000
mill projected by the American Brass
company is somewhat embarrassing to
those who see nothing but hard times
ahead in the Connecticut brass indus
try. The mill is to be built beyond a
doubt. and the work of excavation will
begin soon. Notwithstanding the pres
ent slowing up in the metals indus
tries. there viii be revival later on.
and the American Brass company
knows 1t.
Washington. - Committees repre-
senting 1890 machinists in navy yards
of the east will confer with the sec
retary of the navy to protest against
the recommendation of wage board
that there be reduction of eight cents
in the present scale. Representatives
of the 1000 machinists at the Wash
ington navy yard saw Mr. Daniels
December 1S. They urged the reten-
tion of the present scale. adopted sew
eral months ago.
Cardiff, Wales.-Fifteen thousand
coal miners in southern Wales were
thrown out of work by the strike Of
engine drivers and stokers on the
Great Western railway. All traffic on
the Welsh branch of the line is dislo-
Gated. Leaders of the strike. which
began through the dismissal Of an en-
gineer for refusing to handle Irish
freight, are trying to extend It to other
lines.
Philippi, w. va.-van B1ttner. presi
dent of District No. 5, United Mine
Workers of America, was sentenced
to serve go days in Jail by United
States Judge Dauton for violating the
courts orders in connection with a
coal strike at Golfers. w. Va Eight
other mine leaders, contingent on
their good behavior, were given sus-
pended sentences.
Portland, Ore.-Under a ruling by
the state welfare commission. women
workers in Offices are limited to 81
hours toll week and their months
wage must not be less than $40.
Those affected by the order are ste
nographers. bookkeepers. employees OF
motion picture houses. billing clerks
and comptometer operators.
San Francisco.-The United States
district court, sitting en- banc, upheld
the constitutionality of the state law
passed by the last legislature provid-