The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-12
Standards Win Not Be Lowered
to Increase Production, Gov
eminent Says.
CONVICT LABOR RESTRICTED
Governor Rye of Tennessee Signs Bill
Aboiishina Lease System In That
State October 1s, 191s-other
News of Workers World.

amounts or extra work VIII not De
allowed to interfere with hard-won
standards of protection for the health
Of labor. The governments position
was made plain by Secretary Of the
Navy Daniels in response to inquiries
by Prof. Irving Fisher of Yale univer-
sity, president of the American Asso-
citation for Labor Legislation. He said:
Those who serve in our Industries
are as necessary to successful prosecu-
ton of the war as are the fighting
forces. The increase and maintenance
of our naval strength will call for
maximum output, sustained effort, and
unimpaired s5or power, The fitness
of our industrial army must be safe
guarded. Testimony from Europe In
dleates that policy of lowering pro-
tective standards to increase produc-
ton, in war as well as In peace, is c
mistake, and defeats the very purpose
sought"
Governor Rye of Tennessee has
signed bill abolishing the convict
labor lease system in that state, to
take effect October /, 1918.
According to advices from Cleve-
land, NJ. E. Farr, president of the
American Shipbullding company, has
announced that he has closed con-
tracts for Sc steamers to be delivered
in 1918, all of them for saltwater
trade. The names of the persons who
ordered the ships have not been given
out, nor have the prices, but 1t is un-
derstood they will cost something like
100000 each.
Of the rs, 1875 persons who found en-
ployment through the federal employ
ment service in the fiscal year 1915,
61.9 per cent were ordinary laborers;
77.4S per cent were American citizens,
and of these latter 99.O8 per cent were
native-born Americans.
|, England is caring for its women
munition workers in a very practical
way. In most factories canteens sup
ply hot meals day and night, rest and
ambulance rooms have been set up,
Constant attendance.
Unions intending to order strikes
cannot expect sympathetic action by
other unions unless the latter are con-
suited before the walkout begins, ac-
cording to John Fitzpatrick, president
Of the Chicago Federation of Labor.
Women are now eligible to full men,
bership in the Machinists' union, the
International Association of Machin-
lists having by popular vote amended
its constitution so as to take in all
women working in the trade,
A clause has been added to the re-
vlsed constitution of Holland making
women eligible to all governing offices
and giving them chance to get the
ballot as soon as the government in
power will grant it.
Hamilton (Canada) labor council in
dOrsed the resolution Of the Guelph
trades council, asking the Dominion
government to remove the embargo on
oleOmargarine and to admit it duty
free
In several instances where British
munition factories have been built In
solitary waste complete village has
been built for the women, with school,
church and institute.
The industrial accident board of
Massachusetts,, In its report to the leg
islature Of 1917, strongly advocates
making the workmen's compensation
act compulsory.
The Bethlehem Steel corporation an
nounced an increase Of wages of ap-
proximately 10 per cent for all Its en-
ployees, effective May l.
The Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks
has secured working schedule signed
by the Maine Central railroad to ap-
ply to its general offices.
Two thousand and three hundred
Manitoba (Canada) boys and girls are
entering vegetable gardening compe-
tition this year.
The American tractor for agricul-
tural purposes is being largely intro
daced into China.
An increase has been made in the
wages of London( England) tallors Of
cents an hour.
Tiffin CO., Painters union has
raised wages from 30 cents an hour to
80 1-3 cents.
Auchinleck (Scotland) school board
has decided to grant a bonus to all
teachers.
Five hundred thousand women are
engaged In making munitions in Great
Britain.
Transfers at Toronto have been In.
creased 81 week.
Frisco upholsterers demand n mini
mum Of S. day.
Toronto (Canada) ciaarmakers ask
increased wages.
San Francisco has japanese Fed.
Grafton Of Labor.
CALIFORNIA; new chlid-labor law ex-
empts newsboys.
City flremen at st. Paul, MINI, have
formed union.
Oregon's legislature killed 4S-hour
law for women.
Kansas has strengthened its child
labor law