The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-07-17

sian territory occupied by the enemy,
| industrial activity shows no important
slackening. This comparatively favor
able showing is due, in the first place,
| to the greater productivity of labor
following the cessation Of the sale of
spirits. Productivity has increased
from 80 to SO per cent, and this, to
| large extent, makes up for the short
age of labor consequent upon the call
ing OF the workers to the colors.
The controller of the treasury an
nounced in the Duma on jan rs, 1915,
that there was no great suffering, al
though the war had produced certain
economic difficulties. He aseribed this
condition to the prohibition of the
sale of spirits. In proof of this state
ment he gave statistics of the national
savings banks to show that the peo-
pie were better off financially than be-
fore the war. The number of depos-
itors in December, 1913, was 10000,
while in December, 1914, 291, 900 per-
sons had accounts. The total amount
of deposits in December, 1913, was
$17,000,000. In December, 1914, these
accounts had increased to $4,000, 900.
In an interview in Paris, Feb. 5, Mr..
Bark reiterated his previous state
ments, saying: "The suppression of
the alcohol monopoly entailed a
diminution of 470,000,000 rubles $685.
000,000) in the budget Of 1914, but the
benefits of this suppression are al
ready being felt. Although it was feared
that the calling of so many men to
the colOrs would seriously embarass
industry it has been found that thanks
alcohol the results of labor are from
80 to so per cent higher than before
the first half of 1914, when the budget
showed surplus of 100000 rubles
($77 100000"
These are surprising figures, but the
experience in some of the cities of
New England that have prohibition by
local option are confirmatory of them,
and we do not think that any of the
mine managers of Montana, Colorado,
| Nevada, Utah, Arizona, ETC., seeing
| them in the light of their own observ-
| ations, will find them incredible.
A London newspaper, reporting af-
fairs in Great Britain, remarked that
Labor still dominates the national
situation. Mr. Tenant suggested
| that Lord Kitchener-or the king
should grant a medal to any British
workman in the engineering trades
| who graciously consents to do his best
upon government contracts at nearly
double wages during the war. If what
we now hear is correct, the situation
is steadily growing worse, especially
on the Clyde, and many cases could
be mentioned where men scarcely put
in 40-hour week. Rates of pay have
| risen, with the only result that the
men do less work, and are even de-
handing extra and unearned money on
Saturday, as bride to prevent them
| seeking a job elsewhere.
Many of the employers are con-
WINGED that the government will have
| to close public houses in the arma-
ments areas il they want the output
to increase. If the men like to drink
away their money, that is no affair
of the states; but they are drinking
away their time and their energy,
which is very different matter at a
time when the acceleration of con-
tracts is of vital consequence. If we
had heard this view expressed by
temperance fanatics, we should have
dismissed it for an ex-parte attempt to
make the nation Bober by martial
law. But when Glasgow ironmasters
talk like this, and order water instead
of whisky with their mutton, one must
take the proposal seriously.
Now comes the Anaconda Copper
Mining company with the following
statement in a recent issue of the
ABODE, saying: Among the rules APP
pearing on the bulletin boards at the
mines is the following:
Never go to work after drinking
liquor, and if you must drink, stay
home. Experience has proven that a
great many accidents are caused from
drinking intoxicating liquors.
1t. will be remembered that from
Sept. 1, 1914, to Sept. IA, all saloons
in Butte, were closed; that from
Sept. IA to Sept. "a they were open
only from 8 a. m. to D. M, and that
for the remainder of the month they
were open only from a. m. to 10
p. m. The accident records of the
Anaconda Copper Mining company
show the following significant figures:
Number of accidents per 10000 shifts;
July, 6.22; August, 11.25; September,
AL; October, 1853; November, 6O7
There is thought to be a good pros
pect that the states of Montana and
Idaho will soon follow the example of
Arizona and Colorado in declaring for
prohibition and there is a prospect
that even Great Britain will do some
thing.
The chancellor of the exchequer,
David Lloyd-George, in a speech at
Bangor, Wales, March /, made the
following significant remarks:
Some workmen in the armament
works refuse to work full week for
the nations need. They are In the
minority. The vast majority belong
to the class that we can depend on,
but small minority of workmen can
throw whole works out of gear by
reason sometimes of one thing and
sometimes another. But to be perfect
ly candid it is mostly the lure of
drink. They refuse to work full time
arz1