The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-01-27
Laboring Seven Days a Week
Has BrutaIizing Effect on
Society.
LABOR CHIEF URGES REFORM
President of Ohio Federation OF Labor
Asks Social Groups to Take Mat
ter Up-FederaI Board Passes
on Eieht-Hour Law.

| Ile american aSSUCldllOu IOI A1ttpo'
Legislation devoted some time at the
recent meeting in Columbus, o. John
A. Vol, president of the Ohio State
| Federation Of Labor, who presided,
opened the session by declaring: 1T is
| impossible to measure the harm intlict-
ed upon society by the brutalizing in
| tluence of laboring seven days week.
| Social groups of all descriptions should
work in unison for this reform that
means so much spiritually, mentally
and physically to the human family
And he added: profit, material well
fare and interest must not be allowed
to stand in the way of human progress
and the preservation of mans soul
ard body"
The switchmen'S federal arbitration
board granted, in the name of the gov
eminent, an eight-hour day, pro rata
| for overtime and an increase of cents
an hour in wages, to $500 members of
yard crews on Is railroads. The men
had asked time and a half for over
time and an increase of 10 to II cents
an hour in wages. This was the first
tiiae that a federal board of arbitra-
ton had a chance to pass on an eight
hour day since congress enacted three
months ago the AdamsOn law, appli-
cable to 100000 railway trainmen on
all the lines of the country.
Work on building construction worth
approximately $50,000,O00 was sus-
pended at Pittsburgh by a strike of
carpenters and hosting engineers. The
carpenters went out to enforce a de-
mand that fathers be forbidden to do
work which the carpenters claim be-
longs to them and the engineers struck
in sympathy. The strikers number l.
| 100, but several thousand other men in
the building trades have been forced
into idleness.
Seven million dollars will be eXpend-
ed by the Cambria Steel company at
| Johnstown, Pa, in the erection of two
new blast furnaces and a new plant to
manufacture cur wheels, according to
announcement by officials of the COM
pany. Ground has been broken for
the new furnaces, which will cost 49,
100000 Work on the car wheel plant
costing $4,00O,OO0 will begin soon,
The A. f. Of L. convention has de-
clared in favor of the appointment of
a federal commission to investigate the
high cost of living and recommend to
congress measures designed to remedy
this situation and to prevent its recur-
renee.
Capital and labor must bury their
strife before the war ends if the United
States is to escape industrial disaster
E. H. Outerbridge told the Chamber OF
Commerce of the state of New York
Mt its annual dinner.
Fifteen locals of the International
Hold Carriers, Building and Common
Laborers of America in New York,
Chicago and Boston have increased
wages $3G59,39S in the past year.
Women represent from 10 to 16 pei
cent Of the total number of persons
employed on French railroads before
the war. In Germany they represent
between and per cent.
Secretary of Labor Wilson in his an
nual report recommends expansion o.
the governments public employment
service by creation of a separate blu
reau of employment.
Irish railway locomotive engineers
and firemen decided to strike unless
given the same war bonus as their fel
lOw-workmen in England. The bonu
is $3.50 a week.
Nearly 10000 striking garment
workers in New York have resumed
work as the result of settlements witt
30 manufacturing firms by the strikers
committee.
One days rest in seven must b
given employees of the Lackawann
Steel company, under a ruling of tn
New York state industrial commission
The weekly budget of food for al
average Canadian workingmans fam
lily has increased SO cents since Ser
TENDER, being now placed at $3.50.
Suggestions that the government
take over operations Of British Goa
mines, producing coal for the navy, ar
made by Lord Rhonnda,
For tampering with the time cloc
in order to show increased workin
hours, a Midland (Eng) munitio
worker was fined $780,
Telegraph operators employed b
the Western Union and Postal Telt
graph companies will battle for tn
right to organize.
An eight-hour day is universal in tn
jurisdiction Of the International Ho
Carriers, Building and Common Labor
ers of America.
Introduction of coIored labor on tn
docks in Great Britain is protested b
the National Transport Workers fec
GRAFTON.
Spanish railroads are conductin
campaigns of education along thei
lines 10 improve agricultural rondi
lions.