The Cordova daily times., 1916-12-26
LABOR TROUBLES IN ALASKA
 ARE FEW

In his annual report to the secretary of the interior, Governor ]. F. A. Strong discussed fully the labor con ditions in Alaska and the Alaska game law. In reporting on labor conditions the report says that the supply of la bor during the greater part of the fiscal year was fully equal to the de mand for mechanics of various kinds and for workmen on railroad construc- tion was greater than the supply. The demand for miners has also been greater than during the previous year A strike of labOrers and artisans en- ployed on the construction of the gov ernment railroad at Anchorage oc- cured during the early spring In creased wages were asked for and work was partially suspended. pend ing an adjustment of the matters in- volved. A board of conciliation and mediation, appointed by the president, proceeded to Anchorage, where an ex-
 
 The board recommended an increase in the various wage scales, and the men returned to work. There has been no difficulty experienced since, and the wisdom of settling the strike in an amicable manner has been warmly commended. No other labor troubles nF nA elsewhere in the territory In some of the mining districts increases of wages have been reported, also a de- crease in the working hours of men employed in surface work about the mines. In the placer mining districts of interior Alaska the wage scale is S5 per day and board for an eight hour day. The territorial legislature, session of 1915, passed a law cOnsti- tuting eight hours a days work. This law has been generally observed, ex- cept in few cases in the placer min. ing districts, where some of the em- ployers of labor have evinced dis. position to disregard it. Suit has been begun in the Fourth judicial division to test the legality of the act
 An Eight Hour Day.
 An act providing for an expression by the electors of the territory, as, to whether they are in favor or are not in favor of a general eight hour day for all wage and salary earners, was passed in the Alaska legislature at it's last session, for submission at the gen eral election in November 1916. The act also provides that, if the question is decided in the affirmative, the leg islature shall at it's next session pass such acts as may be necessary to cause such expression of the wishes of the electors to become effective.
 In some of the fishing sections of the territory the usual number of men have not been employed by the cannery operators because of a slack season for salmon, the run of this fish having been greatly below the normal. especially in southeastern Alaska. In this industry many Indians and Fili- pinos, and Chinese, Japanese and other aliens continue to be employed. Dur ing the year 1915 about 5000 Indians were given employment, an increase over the previous year. The figures for the year 1916 are not available. There has been substantial increase in the number of men employed in the lode mines of southeastern and south, western Alaska and in the Copper river valley, due to the opening of new mines, the resumption of work on others, and an increase of men em- ployed in the mines which have been steadily operated. The scale of wages paid in lode mines in coastal Alaska is from $3.50 to $4.50 per day.
 Relief of Destltution.
 With the increase of the population in Alaska and the lapse of years the demand for relief of those persons who have become indigent and inca pacitated from labor through old age, sickness or accident has naturally in- creased, and these receive some mea- sure of relief when it is required through the operation of an act of congress which provides that 10 per cent of the Alaska fund, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be appropriated and expended for their relief by the judges of the different judicial divisions. The judges are re- quired to file quarterly reports Of the expenditures made by them under the act with the secretary of the treas ury and the governor of Alaska. An appropriation for the relief of indi- gents of the territory, to be expended under the direction of the governor is also made by the territorial legis- lature.
 Chapter 64 of the sessions laws Of Alaska, 1915, provides for allowances to be made to those who become inca. pacitated from making a living, either through physical disability or old age, provided they have been actual resi-