The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-01-06
FEEL PRESSURE or BUSINESS
Iron and Steel Manufacturers in the
South Forced to curtaiI the
Holiday Season.

uDie 10 grant employees long Mondays
this year. So pressing is the demand
for iron and steel products that INDUS
trial plants could not be closed for
more than day or two during the
holiday season. In past years ii has
been customary to close down the
plants by the middle Of December and
not resume work snW January 2. but
because of changed Conditions there
will be practically no let-up in work
this year.
A movement was launched In Den
yer at meeting of unorganized rail-
road employees which, its sponsors
say, Is designed to perfect an organiza-
ton of 100000 railroad employees Of
the country exclusive Of the four big
brotherhoods, for the purpose of ask
ing an Increase of wages. A resolu-
ton was adopted asking President
Wilson and congress to provide means
for bringing this condition about, and
urging the interstate commerce COM
mission to permit the carriers to In
crease their freight rates so their de-
mands can be met.
Under the agreement which ended
the coal miners strike in Australia
the miners are assured an eight-hour
day and the abolition of double shifts.
The owners are compensated by an
increase in selling prices The settle
ment caused intense relief throughout
the commonwealth, and its announce
ment was loudly cheered in parlia-
ment. The federal authorities will re-
main in control of distribution until
the coal output becomes normal.
Pennsylvania State Federation Of
Labor purposes to establish at State
college 40 scholarships for the educa-
ton of skilled young tradesmen and
women, members of labor unions, The
students will receive special training
which, added to their practical trade
and industrial experience, will enable
them to serve as teachers in the con-
| tinuation and vocational schools of the
state.
York of the organization under the
avs of that state of the New York
Shipbuilding corporation, capitalized
at $25000,000. The concern will take
over the business of the New York
Shipbuilding company of Camden, N.
J., recently acquired by. the American
International corporation, the Interna-
| tional Mercantile Marine and w. II.
Grace &; Co.
Two thousand men are affected by
increases in wages granted by two
companies at Toledo, o. Three hun
dred employees in the car shops of the
Wabash railroad started on a 10 per
cent increase. Seventeen hundred men
in the Edward Ford Plate Glass com.
pany began under an increase of s per
cent. making a total increase for the
year of &c per cent.
The miners of South Wales protest
the naturalization of the coal mines
of that section unless the mines Of all
| Great Britain are nationalized Owing
|
the owners, the government~was con-
WINGED that naturalization of the
mines was the only thing that could
prevent a disastrous strike at this crit
zeal stage of the war.
An increase in wages paid to com
mon laborers, the clerical and office
force and to other classes of employ
ees not already affected by recent sal.
airy adjustments will add approximate
ly 10 per cent to the pay envelope Of
$4,000 employees of the international
Harvester company beginning Deem
Der 1, and increase the annual pay roll
by $1,000,000.
Twenty thousand Alabama miners
are affected by general wage increases
announced by the Alabama Coal OPP
orators association. The advance Is
age of increase going to the miners
who make the smallest wages. The
immediate effect is to increase the pay
rolls about $4,000 a month.
The Bigelow Hartford Carpet com.
pany employing $500 persons, at
Thompsonville, Conn, announces vol
untary wage increase Of 10 per cent.
1t is understood that the increase also
affects the employees of the company's
mills at Lowell and Clinton, Mass.
The American Window Glass COM
pany announced that effective Deem
Der 16 the wages of all its employees
will be increased 10 per cent. The adj
vance affects about 5000 workmen in
Pennsylvania and Indiana.
More than thousand women are
employed as street cleaners in Vienna.
They receive the same wages that men
formerly received for the work.
Manchester, England looks for a
world boom in textile machinery after
the close of hostilities.
The present paid-up per capita affili-
alton to the American Federation of
Labor is 2,072,700.
A new law is proposed in Sweden
for the settlement Of Industrial dis
putes.
OF 590.944 factory workers in Hol-
land 39S,523 are unprotected by law.
A pension fund for employees of the
q Il -. (Nf.41-