The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-18
Workmen Are Given Good Wages and Disputes Are Few and Far
 Between.
WAGE SCALE IS GIVEN
Governor Strong Makes Thorough Statement Regarding Work in
 the NorthIand.

In his annual report to the Sec retary of the Interior, Gov. J, r. A. Strong discussed fully the labor con. ditlons in Alaska and the Alaska game law. In reporting on labor conditions the report says that the supply of labor during the greater part of the fiscal year was fully equal to the demand, except in the closing months of the year, when the demand for mechanics of various kinds and for workmen on railroad construction was greater than the supply. The demand for miners has also been greater than during the previous year. A strike of laborers and artisans employed on the con struction of the government railroad at Anchorage occurred during the early spring. Increased wages were asked for and work was partially suspended, pending an adjustment Of the matters involved. A board of conciliation and mediation, appointed by the President, proceeded to An chorage. where an exhaustive inyes- t!gation was conducted. The board recommended an increase in the var lous wage scales, and the men re- turned 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 trou- bles of importance have been re- ported elsewhere in the Territory. In some of the mining districts in- creases of wages have been report ed. also q decrease in the working hours of men employed in surface work about the mines In the plac- CT mining districts of Interior Alas ka the wage scale is S5 per day and board for an S-hour day. The Ter r,torial Legislature. session of 1915, passed Q law constituting eight hours days work in all the lode and placer mines. This law has been generally observed. except in a few cases in the placer mining districts where some of the employers Of la Dor have evinced q disposition to dis regard it. Suit has been begun in the Fourth Judicial Division to test the legality of the act.
 An act providing for an expression by the electors of the Territory, as 10 whether they gre in favor or are not in favor of a general eight-hour day for all wage and salary earners, was passed by the Alaska Legisla- ture at its last session. for submis- sion at the general election in No vember. 1916. The act also provides that, if the question is decided in the affirmative, the legislature shall at it's next session pass such acts as may be necessary to cause such eX- pression of the wishes of the cleo tors to become effective.
 In some of the fishing sections Of the Territory the usual number Of mes 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 h. dians and Filipinos. and Chinese, Jap anese. and other Gliens continue to be employed. During the year 1915 about 5000 Indians were given em- ployment an increase over the pre- vious year. The figures for the year 1916 are not available. There has been a substantial increase in the number of men employed in the lode mines of southeastern and south western Alaska and in Che Copper River Valley, due to the opening of new mines, the resumption of work on others, and an increase of men employed 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 Destitution
 With the increase of the popula ton in Alaska and the lapse oi years the demand for the relief oi those persons who have become indi gent and incapacltated from labor through old age, sickness, or acci dent has naturally increased, and these receive some measure of reliei when 1t is required through the oper ation Of an act of Congress which provides that 10 per cent of the Alaska fund, or so much thereof az may be necessary. shall ne approp riated and expended for taeir relic
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