The Spectator., 1915-06-25
Workers in Iron and Steel Indus try Have Done Well in
 Six Years.
FIGURES FOR THE PERIOD
Many Workmen Killed and Injured In Canadian Industries Last Year. Report of Unemployment is- sued by the Department
 of Labor.

NSSSAy LII ASPOA eSd by thO 0CPoi ehCht of labor in a statement giving results of an investigation covering the period from 1907 to 1913. Full time weekly earnings in three departments. blast furnaces, Bessemer converters and bar mills were from 6.6 to 26.4 per cent higher in 1910 than in any one of the six years preceding. In other depart ments wages were from 3.8 to 1S.3 per cent higher. Wages per hour in 1913 showed even a greater percentage of increase over 1907 or 1910 than do weekly earnings, the report shows. as the latter were materially affected by the reduction in hours. A marked in- crease in seven-day work is shown be- tween 1907 and 1913 through operation of relief gangs. The proportion of seven-day workers fell from 97.2 per cent in 1907 to 79.S per cent in 1913 in the blast furnaces. which are kept run ming continually. Reductions were made in other departments.
 A total of 5,79s workers were killed and injured in Cal Adian industries last year. according to statistics issued by the Dominion department of labor. Of these. 1,17S workmen were killed and 4.620 injured. The mining industry claimed the largest number of fatali ties-300, with 424 injured. There were 1.263 nonfatal accidents on Do minion railways: the number of killed totaled 197. The metal trades report on daotho and nQQ ipiurad Tn tho leather industry there were but three killed and two injured. During the month of June there were the largest number of fatalities. while July report ed the largest number of nonfatal acci- dents. Fewer accidents happened in September.
 The department of labor issued a re- port of an investigation of unemploy- ment by a life insurance company which showed that out of 399.SS1 fami- lies, including 664,35S wage earners. covered by the investigation, 73.000. or 1l.5 per cent were out of work, and 106.652. or 16.6 per cent were only partially employed. The highest per centage of unemployment. 20.3 per cent. was found in Duluth. Minn.. and the lowest. 4.3 per cent. in Bridgeport Conn.
 A voluntary increase of 15 per cent in the wages of employees of the zinc smelters of Bartlesville. Okla. was an- nounced The raise Is due chiefly. smelter men said. to the large increase in the demand for zinc since the be- ginning of hostilities in Europe. Bar tlesville is said to have the largest zinc smelling facilities of any city in the world.
 Members of the Alaska Fishermen's union are on their way to the fisheries in the far North. Under the terms of the agreement with the Alaska Pack CTS association the men will get an increase in the wages and satisfactory working conditions.
 Where Ohio employers pay the state $l in compensation premiums. Massa- chusetts employers pay $1.62: Michi- gan, $242; New Jersey. $2.16: Minne- sota, $2.39; Wisconsin. $3.22; Illinois. $3.24, and New York from $2.50 to 8.
 A congress of the Austrian Roof Workers decided, with one dissenting vote. to commission the executive to take the necessary steps for amalga- nation with the Austrian Building Workers union.
 Wisconsin state board of control submitted report to the legislature recommending that the law creating state aid to mothers with dependent children remain on the statute books.
 The Women's Trade Union league is endeavoring to protect the chil- dren of workers from fake or un- reliable trade schools. and has start ed campaign along these lines.
 It has cost the city of Winnipeg ex- actly 19A cents for each position it has found for the unemployed since the organization of the free employ ment bureau last October.
 Classes in social science. history and the significance of the labor movement are to be begun Tn the fall by the Jewish National Labor alliance in sev- eral parts of New York.
 The trade union movement in Lynn. Mass, proposes to recognize its pio- neers, and the post of honor will be given these workers at the Labor day celebration.
 United Mine Workers of America are preparing to hold their annual cleo tion of officers the second week in September and from all reports there win be an interesting battle for the presidency.
 The National Association of Gar ment Manufacturers has launched a campaign for the elimination of the prison contract and the tenement la bor system.
 Washington state supreme court su tained Tacoma court in refusing to continue q temporary injunction against the Typographical union of