United labor bulletin., 1913-10-04
ADVANCES MADE
BY THE WORKERS
Statistics Show a Thoroughly
Satisfactory Condition of
Affairs in the Country.
HOURS OF LABOR DECREASED
Efforts Of Labor Unions, az Shown by
Government Bureau, Have Been
AbundantIy Rewarded - Brit.
ish Organizations Also to
Be Congratulated.

Washington.-Strik figures are
presented in a report just completed
by the bureau of labor statistics in re-
gard to union scales of wages and
hours of labor throughout the United
States for the years 1907 to 1912. in
elusive. 1t is emphasized by the date
contained in the report that, while
wages have been decreased the last
six years in 40 trades in 80 of the most
important industrial cities. A care
fully worked out table brings out strik-
ingly the decrease In hours Of labor
and the increase in wages, an average
being struck for each Of the trades
covered in all the 80 cities combined
The figures in the table are based on
a comparison of the rates Of wages on
May Is of each year, and the hours
prevailing during the whole year. The
occupations covered are bakery, build
ing, marble and stone, metal. book and
job printing, and newspaper printing
trades. In the bakery trades there
has been in the period covered in the
SO cities, decrease Of III per cent
in hours of labor per week, and an In
crease of % per cent. In wages per
hour for first-class hands. For sec
ond-hands in the bakery trades the de-
crease in hours has been sc per cent.
and the increase in wages 26.6 per
cent. Among third-hands the decrease
in hours has been 10.1 per cent, and
the increase in wages 40.7 per cent.
The above figures are based on com
parison of the hours of labor per week
in 1912 with those Of 1907, and the
wages are those OF May Is, 1912. COM
pared with those of May is. 1907.
london. Eng-The growth of Brit
ish trade unions in numbers and
wealth is strikingly shown in blue
book by the chief registrar of friend
ly societies in the United Kingdom,
with statistics to the close of 1911. In
the decade 1902-1911, the membership
of the trade unions increased from
1.604,S1O to 2,37s,957. There was In
crease of registered trade unions In
1911 over the preceding year, and at
the close of 1911 the total funds OF the
unions amounted to $30.7SS,944. The
largest increase in the funds OF any
trades union in 1911 was in the en-
gineering, shipbuilding, etc, indus
tries, which showed gain of S1,424,-
1862 The next largest gain was in
the textile trade unions, which showed
an increase in their funds of S430,656.
Richmond, Va.-Representatives of
the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks
and officers of the Chesapeake &
Ohio railroad have succeeded in reach
ing an agreement and there will be
no strike of the clerks. The exact
nature of the settlement is not known,
but the statement was made by offi-
GERS of the brotherhood that the ad-
justment was entirely satisfactory to
them.
London, Enthusiastically, in par
lament, Stephen Walsh, leader of
the labor party group. introduced a
bill having for its object appointment
of day on which the state Is to take
over and operate all the coal and min
eral mines in the kingdom. for benefit
of the people at large.
Pittsburgh.-Coal miners are al
ready preparing for the joint confer
ence next year to make new wage
scale for the competitive states. Ohio
miners have declared for payment on
the mine-run system, for six-hour
day and working week of five days.
Washington.-The executive com
mittee of the American Federation OF
Labor has settled the long-standing
dispute between the brewery workers
and teamsters' organizations. The
teamsters remain in the brewery
workers organization.
Burton-on-Trent. England.-At a
mass meeting of railway men resolu-
tion was passed calling on the execu-
tive of the union to initiate at once
a united movement to secure an eight
hour day and minimum wage.
Chicago.-The distinction OF having
the best paid one-room country school
teacher In the United States Is claim
ed by Logan county, Illinois, which
pays its teacher $40 per month for a
term of nine months.
Northampton. England.-Twenty-tw
thousand members were represented al
the congress- OF the British Typog
raphers' union here.
Portland, Ore.-An initiative meas
ure in this state provides for an eight
hour day or a forty -eight-hour week
for all workers.
London. England.-The steel smelt
ers' organization. one of the most pow
erful trade unions in England. has
decided to enter upon a most ener
Setic campaign for an eight-hour work
Ing day.
81. Petersburg, Russ:a.-There is a,
present hygienic exhibition here. In
which the Russian trade unions have
FOR the first time, taken part. They
nave exhibited statistics, tables. etc.
Rome. Italy.-A law has come into
force In this country making indus
trial instruction for children of twelve
to fourteen years OF age. who are en-