The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-30
GENERAL LABOR NEWS

Lit lHtefdllleu ldDOE congress COH~
cluded its sessions at London, Eng,
with luncheon, at which the speakers
included the principal British and for
eign delegates. The luncheon was pre-
ceded by a protracted morning bust
ness session, at which was approved
a motion to send an interallied labor
delegation to the United States to con-
suit President Wilson, Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, and the leaders in
American labor organizations.
More than 10000 of the $4,000 Chi
cago employees of Armour & Co. were
Ill or met with accidents last year.
There were $4,000 vaccinations in
their families according to testimony
in the stock yards arbitration hearing
before Judge Alschuler When H. G..
Ellerd, head Of the company's welfare
department, which cared for the sick
and injured and did the vaccinating
submitted these figures Frank P.
Walsh, for the employers, said they
were amazing. .."
Beginning March /, the logging
camps and lumber mills of Washing
ton and Oregon went on basic eight
hour day, by an order of the govern
ment which was accepted by the lum-
bermen as move for ultimate control
of the Industry in these states by the
government. It was announced In
Washington that the government
would assume control of the spruce pro-
duction. Spruce is used largely in air
craft construction.
To hasten repair work on locomO-
tives and railway rolling stock, an
agreement involving frightening Of
working hours, promotions of appren-
tices and helpers and maintenance of
open shop conditions has been reached
between Director General McAdoo and
A. 0. Wharton, president of the rail-
way employees department of the
American Federation of Labor. The
agreement affects more than 100000
workmen.
On the ground that the Alaska eight
hour law violated the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution, as well
rs. the Alaska organic act, the measure
VI held unconstitutional in the Unit
y sASntes4 district court for the d.
vision of Alaska. The INNINGS VIZ
Immediately reported to the attorney
general Of the United States and will
be appealed unless authorization 9th
erwise is received.
An official invitation has been ex-
tended to the British National Union
of Railwaymen to send $50 members
of that organization to make a tour Of
the western front. The men selected
will be representative workmen from
all classes Of the organization. It ts
understood the railwaymen's visit. viii
be followed by visits from men of the
other great labor unions.
At the last convention Of the Metal
Polishers' Buffers, Brass and Silver
Workers Union Of North America, 1t
was voted to relinquish Jurisdiction
of the silver workers Beginning with
the first of the year this international
organization will be known as the Met
al Polishers' International union.
Since the United States declared
war, about 300 strikes or labor cOntrO-
versies that might have led TO strikes
have been settled by federal mediatOrs
Of the department of labor. They in
volved directly 100000 worlingmen,
and indirectly 100000 more.
A strike was threatened at Balti-
more by cotton duck workers, who de.
mand closed shop. The mills which
may be affected are engaged in gov
eminent work on tentage, uniform
cloth and blankets.
Lawrence B. Finzel of Hooversville,
Pa, is believed to have earned the
highest wages during the month ever
paid any coal miner, Finzel received
$34792 for the month.
The prohibition element in the
British Columbia Federation of Labor
failed to put through an amendment
for 21s per cent beer.
All the school boards of Caithness
(Scotland) have adopted a minimum
salary for assistant teachers, COM
mencing at $400.
Recent experiments in French NUM-
lions plants indicate overtime does not
Increase minimum production by wom-
an workers.,
An additional war bonus to be given
to the police of the city of London,
England, will amount to $4,000 year.
Wage increases Of 81 to $3.50
week have been negotiated by the San
Francisco Garment Cutters union.
Taxicab Drivers union men say
there are still about 1000 drivers out
on strike at London, Eng.
In most Of the industries of the
country, women are receiving better
wages than ever before.
A movement is on foot throughout
Ireland at present to form an Irish
labor party.
British cooperative societies did
business of over $S00,000,000 last year.
Virginia labor unions demand the
elimination Of convict.made goods.
Mason City Ca.) carpenters win get
the eight-hour day January 1, 1919.
There are ZOO. 900 Mexican laborers