The Spectator., 1915-07-02
Go on Record at Biennial Con- vention of Their National
 Trade Union League.
EiGHT-H0UR DAY IS UPHELD
Meeting Also Enters Protest Against the Imprisonment of John 8. Law son-Unrest in Cloak and Skirt Makers Union-Britain Is
 Seeking Mechanics.

Union league was held at New York A resolution asserting that woman workers were handicapped by disfran- chisement and asking workingmen to vote for woman suffrage this fall was adopted. A protest against the i'm prisonment of John K. Lawson, the Colorado mine worker. also was ap- proved The legislative program out lined by the league calls for uniform state laws, a minimum wage, an eight hour day, restriction of child labor, prevention of occupational disease. abolition of sweatshop labor and the abolition of private detective agencies, which, 1t was asserted. thrive upon strikes and are used to break them"
 Several thousand members of the Cloak and Skirt Makers union, at a mass meeting ia Madison Square gar den, New York, voted to the general board arbitrary powers to deal with the manufacturers who recently abro- gated the protocol under which 50,000 needleworkers and their employers have kept peace for the last five years Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, pledged the moral and financial support of or ganized labor of the country to fight against what the garment makers call a conspiracy to wreck their union.
 In quest for as many as 30,00O skilled mechanics as the dominion can supply. George N. Barnes, member of the British parliament from Glasgow, and w. Windham of the British Board of Trade, reached Ottawa recently to confer with government officials Messrs. Barnes and Windham were commissioned by the British govern ment to visit Canada on their mission The workmen wanted will be em- ployed in the manufacture of war mu- nitions in the British isles. A tour of the dominion from coast to coast is contemplated as part of the program to obtain skilled workmen.
 The federal bureau of mines is in- vestigating the question of explosion proof motors for use in mines where
 
 inflammable gases or dust A tech nical paper-No. 101-mentions the details of construction that the bu- reau considers essential for satisfac- tory service. and describes tests of an explosion-proof mining machine motor and accessories approved by the bu- reau.
 Workmen's compensation was writ ten into the laws of Pennsylvania when Governor Brumbaugh signed the six bills, effective January 1, 1916, which provide complete system of compensation and state insurance. By approving the bills the governor gave effect to what has been pro- nouLced the most complete compensa- tion system in the new world.
 Announcement was made that the Pennsylvania railroad has placed or ders for 155. 800 tons of steel rail. Or. ders for 12.000 tons have heretofore been given, making the total orders for the year 167, ,500 tons for the lines east and west of Pittsburgh. An or der placed recently call for 11S,OO0 tons of 10O-pound rail and 37.5Oo tons of 125-pound rail.
 The 15h per cent war bonus granted by the board of arbitration to the Eng fish coal miners has now gone into effect. On the same day the mine owners announced an increase of 75 cents a ton in the price of coal at the mines. The price of coal is now about tz.50 a ton above the price asked l2 months ago.
 The H. c. Prick Coke company has issued orders for the firing of 1000 ad. ditional coke ovens at Connellsville. Pa, which will afford employment to more than 1000 men. The company al- ready has 12,895 ovens in operation out of total of 19,224.
 An order by one of the allies for 600,000 rifles was offered to the Will liam Todd company at Youngstown. Ohio, but 1t was refused because the big manufacturing plant is busy mak- ing shells for the United States gov ernment.
 dOV6FilUT bIuIuDduSu OI feunSyl- vania has signed bill which doubles the number of factory inspectors in that state Under the new law there will be 100 of these officials.
 There were 334 fewer fatalities in the coal mines of the United States last year than in 1913.
 Owing to the shortage of teachers. fewer open-air classes will be held in London. Eng, during the summer
 San Francisco labor council has in- dorsed proposed legislation providing for state tuberculosis hospital
 There are 195 Jewish labor organi- cations. representing half a million members. in Greater New York.
 Typographical Union. No. 6 of New York city, has band of music com posed of 27 members.
 In 1898 Boston plumbers worked s 54-hour week for $22.50. They now