The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-12
That Is the Demand Formulated
by the Brotherhoods of
RaiIr0aderS.
ALL NATIONS LINES INvoLv WE'D
Answer to Proposal Is Asked to Be
Made not Later Than Dec. ST.
General News of Interest
in Labor World.

ence with President Wilson made pub
lie their demands for an increase of
practically 40 per cent in pay. w. G.
Lee, president of the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen, and A. B. Garrett
son, president of the Order of Railway
Conductors, signed the wage schedule
which virtually every railroad In the
United States Is asked to approve. A re-
quest that an answer to the proposal be
made in writing to the general chair
men Of the labor organizations on or
before December 81, 1917, accompanies
the schedule Article A of the sched-
ue deals with the passenger service.
Trains propelled by steam or other mo-
tive power on runs of 1855 miles or less
q day are the basis of reckoning. 1t is
asked that conductors receive not less
than 3.5 cents a mile, $5.43 a day, or
Of $116.40 month flagmen and brake
than 2.5 cents mile, Sass a day
or S116.40 q month; flagmen and brake
men, not less than 2.33 cents q mile,
1851 q day or $10S.30 month. These
rates apply to miles in excess of the
daily minimum and to extra service.
Women are replacing men in the
federal bureau of mines, and recently q
night force of 25 women was taken on
to handle the increased volume OF
work. Since the beginning of the war
the force has been more than quad
rupled in the department OF the in
terror. Night workers get so cents an
hour. An effort Is being made to en-
ploy women who are out of work OF
are waiting for employment. No WON
an employed during the day is per.
mitted to join this night squad. The
former staff of the bureau, which oc'
cupied the old arsenal grounds at
Washington, numbered 200, all OF
whom were men.
Many employers engaged directly OIL
Indirectly in manufacture of goods fol
the government since the war, have
asked the Ohio state Industrial com
mission for relaxation or even genera
s~usp<nSion of laws regulating child and
To bors ACCORDING to q rel oEs y
sGovernIr Dix. Inability to get SUI
ficient help to complete contracts OF
schedule time is the reason advanced
invariably, it is stated. The commits
sion has refused any exceptions or con
cessions.
The Window Cleaners Protectiv
union, local No. 1876, of the A. f. 0
L., signed an agreement with the EN-
ployers' organization, the Citizens
Benevolent association, in New York
A closed shop was agreed upon, rails
Of SO q week all around and an eight
hour day.
The United States Steel Corporation
is to build great shipyard at Mobile
Ala. 1t will cover II, 500 acres and will
contain 10 marine ways, with full
equipment of shops of all kinds USE
In shipbuilding. Two villages, one TO
whites and the other for negroes, ar
to be built and will have 1900 houses
The Mobile company will be known a
the Chickasaw Shipbuilding Company
The Pennsylvania Railroad syster
has issued q pamphlet of instruction
for military guards and watchmer
whereby men unfamiliar with railroa
conditions may avoid danger while dis
charging their duties. The rules ar
based on those issued for protection O
railroad employees and have been es
pecially adapted to the needs OF NIL
tary guards.
A threatened strike of the $500
operatives In the 40 cotton mills Q
Fail River, Mass, was called off. Men
bers of the five textile unions voted t
accept the proposition of the Cotto
Manufacturers association for a 121
per cent increase in wages, work t
continue without interruption for 1
per cent advance.
In accordance with an arrangement
made between the German and Turks
authorities, 500 Turkish boys have bee
distributed In twos and threes through
out Germany-300 being apprentlced t
various trades and 200 to colliery worl
They are shortly to be followed by 5O
others, who will devote their attentio
to agriculture.
One of the most important question
In Great Britain for several years pas
and one which has assumed politics
prominence at many electoral can
paigns, is that of the housing of tn
working classes. This subject Is no
being taken In hand by departments
committee appointed by the govern
ment.
The Legislatures Of five states pr
vided during the current year for var
GUS lines of investigation in social Il
gurance. The states taking such actio
are Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Pen
sylvania and Wisconsin.
In France O law has been passed sc
ting up special fund for payment
compensation for industrial acciden
to men enMloyed in industry who nay
been previously disabled in the war.
The British government has made
pledge to British labor that every er
ployer shall, after the war, "reinsta
the working conditions of his factol
| an fha nra-war basis"