The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-02
PORTO RICO TO
SUPPLY LABOR
Arrangements Being Made for
Transportation Of Workers
to This Country.
RAILROADS TO BE SUPPLIED
Understanding Also Is That They Will
Be Released for Agricultural Work
When Needed-General Indus
trial News of interest.


Arrangements for the early trans
portation Of $4,000 common laborers 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 10000
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 study
Of the effects Of the eight-hour day on
the railroads under the Adamson law
to make any definite recommendations.
Major General Goethals, the chairman,
so declared in 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 6
which grants substantial wage ad-
vances to bituminous coal miners and
provides penalties for violation of con-
tracts. The agreement became effec-
tive November last and remains in
force until April /, 1920, unless the
war ends before that date, In which
event it automatically terminates.
The Commercial Telegraphers' union
Of America made public a tentative
program which contemplates nation
al strike among the Western Union
and Postal telegraphers. The plan
calls for an Organization day." on
which the telegraphers will "organize
openly, and if the telegraph companies
attempt to discharge any one, inaugu-
rate 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 en-
ployment service of the department of
labor, which issued a general warning
to skilled workmen in other parts of
the country not to attempt to seek en-
ployment in those yards without first
communicating with the federal en-
ployment Office at Portland. "Only
skilled mechanics adapted to shipbuild-
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 adminis-
traitor at Washington to use his in
fluence to have the railroads provide
trains to take miners to their work In
Indiana. 1t Is said about 1000 mine
workers in Indiana have not been able
to work because of lack Of transporta-
ton to the mines.
Owing to the increase of living cost,
1T 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 $40, and
1t is expected that the increase will
bring 1t to about $12.
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 Ill
health compelled John q. Williams.
fuel administrator for Illinois, to re-
sign as chairman Of President Wilson's
mediation board to settle differences
between stockyards employees and
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-
deem. Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, Fres-
no, Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Sam
to Rosa.
Z 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. Mimi, have
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