The Connecticut labor press., 1918-02-16
PORTO RICO TO
 SUPPLY LABOR
Arrangements Being Made for Transportation of Workers
 to This Country.
RAILROADS TO BE SUPPLIED
Understanding Also ls That They WlII Be Released for Agricultural Work When Needed-GeneraI Indus-
 trial NeWs of interest.

Arrangements for the early trans portation of 5O,OOO common Iaborers to the United States from Porto Rico are being made by the employment serv- ice of the department of labor. AS soon as tonnage is available 6O,OOO others will be brought from Porto Rico and the Virgin islands, sufficient, the department announced. to take care of any shortage in the domestic supply of railroad and agricultural workers. Director General McAdoo has asked the employment service to assist in supplying the railroads with labor for maintenance and shop work. The first men imported will be sent to the South and Southwest for railroad work, with the understanding that they will be re- leased for farm service during the press of the agricultural season.
 Abnormal traffic conditions during the first nine months of 1917 have made it impossible for the eight-hour commission appointed to make a study of the effects of the eight-hour day on the railroads under the Adamson law to make any definite recommendations.
 
 so declared in a report submitted to congress.
 After two days of stirring debate the United Mine Workers of America by overwhelming vote ratified the Washington agreement of October which grants substantial wage ad- vances to bituminous coal miners and provides penalties for violation of con- tracts. The agreement became effec- tive November 1 last and remains in force until April 1, 1920, unless the war ends before that date, in which event 1t automatically terminates.
 The Commercial Photographers union of America made public a tentative program which contemplates a nation al strike among the Western Union and Postal telegraphers. The plan calls for an Organization day." on which the te1egraphers will "organize openly, and If the telegraph companies attempt to discharge any one, inaugu- rate a general strike without delay" A supplementary statement adds that the time is rapidly approaching when federal control of telegraphers and telephones will be brought about.
 Reports of general labor shortage in the Oregon shipbuilding districts was declared unfounded by the em- plOyment service of the department of labor, which issued & general warning to skilled wOrkmen in other parts of the country not to attempt to seek em- ployment in those yards without first communicating with the federal em- ployment office at Portland. "Only skilled mechanics adapted to shipbufld- ing work are needed now at the Ore gon yards"
 An appeal to President Wilson to speed up governmental machinery in aid of production so as to relieve the anxiety of farmers as to labor supply, credit facilities, and seed shortage, was made in memorial from the fed eral board of farm organizations in be- half of more than 100000 organized farmers. The board asked for reply February 6.
 John P. White, former president of the miners union, joined the county fuel administrator of Indianapolis in appealing to the federal fuel admins trator at Washington to use his in- fuence to have the railroads provide trains to take miners to their work in Indiana. It is said about 1000 mine workers in Indiana have not been able to work because of lack of transpOrta- tion to the mines.
 Owing to the increase of living cost, it is the expectation of the Washing ton state minimum wage commission that an increase of wages to women workers will be necessary. The aver age minimum is now about $1O, and it Is expected that the increase will bring 1t to about SIP.
 Mobilization of shipyard workers, department statement said, has been placed entirely in the hands of the employment service by the shipping board. Independent recruiting by the board and the individual plants will be discontinued to permit concentra- ton of effort during two weeks cam- paign.
 The serious coal situation and i'll health compelled John E. Williams, fuel administrator for Illinois, to re- sign as chairman of President Wilson's mediation board to settle differences between SCOcKyaruS employeeS aAo their employers.
 Telephone girls have received in- creases in wages in the last few months in the following cities: Boston, Fort Smith, Ark, San Francisco, Aber- deen, Tacoma. Seattle, Olympia. Fres- no, Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Sam ta Rosa.
 There are more or less serious labor disturbances throughout Argentina. The shipping in this port has nearly been paralyzed as the result of a strike.
 City officials of Duluth Minn., have raised wages of common laborers from 37 to 40 cents m hour and skilled la-