THE MORNING OREGOXIAN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1906.
9
WHERE ME MEN
WHO WANT WORK?
Army of Laborers Is Needed in
Harvest Fields, Mills ,
and Railroads.
TOILERS 1N GREAT DEMAND
Six to Eight Thousand Men Could
1'lnd Employment In Pacific
Northwest at Good Wages,
and Sobs Go Begging.
WANTED MEN TO WORK.
Wanted 4600 men to work on th.
railroad construction now coins on In
the Northwest.
Wanted 2000 men to help harvest
the grain crop of the state.
Wanted 600 men In the logging
camps and sawmills.
Wanted 500 men to work on new
buildings, sewer digging, electric line
construction and other work In Port
land. "
From every part of the State of Oregon
and the whole Northwest comes the cry
tor harvest hands, railroad laborers and
sawmill men. Never was the demand so
Insistent and the response so inadequate.
Employers of labor estimate that from
WOO to 8000 laborers are needed today, tout
where they are to come from no one
tan answer.
Railroad contractors are short of men.
while the harvest fields are short-handed
as welL Sawmill men are paying the
highest wages in the history of the in
dustry on this coast, $2.50 a day for green
men who never saw a sawmill In their
lives. Wages for common labor in the
railroad camps were never so good as
they are now. The common laborer is
paid the eeneral wage of $2.25 a day by
railroad contractors, while some camps
offer $2.50 for 12 hours or the men can
work 14 hours if they like and get $3
for the day's work.
But In spite of these inducements men
cannot be secured to nil up the empty
railroad camps or round out the short
handed harvesting crews. But this is
not true because every Idle man is busy,
for there are hundreds of men to be
found in the North End any day, watch
ing the electric fans spin at Erlckson's
or Blazler's or loafing comfortably in
the City Park or plaza blocks, while the
industrial interests of the state are clam
oring for them.
Prefer Loafing to Work.
Instead of making hay while the sun
shines these men prefer to loiter, secure
In the knowledge that whenever their
last nickel is gone their services will be
in demand and they can go to work again
at good wages. If all the idle men would
enlist in the army of workers and stick
wild their jobs as long as they lasted,
the scarcity of labor that is now keenly
felt would soon be forgotten.
"No matter what conditions have pre
viously exlsteoV said C. R. Hansen, em
ployment agent, "the situation today is
such that-any able-bodied man may . se
cure work at good wages and be pro
vided with good, wholesome board and
accommodations.
"Many men are now Idle by preference.
If these men would go to work It would
help the situation a great deal.
"The Northern Pacilic has shipped In
tt great many men from Minnesota with
out exacting a nickel from them for fare.
It was agreed that these men should go
to work on railroad construction, but
many of them have drifted into other
occupations, such as logging, and saw
mill work. Of the vast army shipped in
In this way. few have remained with
lailroad work and the movement has
done but little good for the railroads.
"Although these men have been assim
ilated by the other industries of the
Northwest,- they are but as a drop in
the bucket. However, these men will be
likely to get back into railroad work
with the approach of Winter, when the
logging camps shut down."
Kail roads Xecd Men.
The Harrlman lines In the state are in
need of GOO men for betterment work,
while 300 more could be used to good ad
vantage on bridge and concrete work.
This number is needed by the maintain
ance department, exclusive of the large
amount of. new construction now going
on.
A thousand men are wanted on the
Lewlston-Riparia line, which Is being
built Jointly by the O. R. & N. and the
Northern Pacific. The contractors on the
Elgin branch of the O. R. & N. want
from 400 to 600 men. while 500 more are
needed by the Harrlman lines' alone be
tween Portland and Kastern Oregon at
intermediate points.
It is estimated conservatively that the
Js'orth Bank road, now undergoing con
struction by the Portland and Seattle
Railway, needs from 1500 to 3000 men.
The Klamath irrigation work is also re
ported to be short-handed.
Erickson & Petterson, probably the
largest employers of common labor In
the state at tills time, now have the
construction of i:!S miles of railroad under
way1. The Pacific Coast Construction
Company, of which H. S. Huson is pres
ident and general manager, also has a
large amount of work In hand for the
O. R. & N. at various points, and the
company is Just commencing the rebuild
ing of the main line of the O. R. & N.
from Troutilale to Bonneville.
Sidney Smith, of the firm of Smith &
Jones. Is working on the Columbia Val
ley Railroad and needs men to fill up
his camps. George McCabe. who is com
pleting the Blgin extension of the O. R.
N.. has had continual difficulty in
securing men enough to do the work and
he paid the record price for common la
bor, $2.50 a day, in order to complete
Ills contract.
These men. as well as contractors in
other lines, report that work has been
retarded because men could not be se
cured In large enough numbers. The con
stant shifting of the men I commented
upon by employers. After a short time
spent In one camp the men wander off
to other work or to spend a long vaca
tion In idleness.
Harvest Fields Short or Hands.
F"rom the harvest fields comes a call for
men. It Is estimated that at least 2000
hands are needed to gather the grain
crops. So severe ly the shortage that it
Is reported from "Walla Walla that a
family of society girls took charge of
heir father's teams to help him gather
his wheat crop.
Within the city limits there Is plenty
of work. Contractors who are putting up
new buildings In the business district
have difficulty in keeping full crews and
signs are noticed on the work stating
that men are needed. The streetcar lines
that are being built about the city need
more laborers, as well as the contractors
who are putting down sewers and build
ing streets.
The shortage of common labor that was
reported several months prior to the
Lewis and Clark Exposition has appar
ently continued unabated, although the
situation has now reached an acute stage.
It is likely that the new railroad work
constantly being opened up will cause
this condition to continue, possibly all
Winter and another Summer. The Coos
Bay extension t the Southern Pacinc,
the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul ex-
tentlon to the coast, the extension of
tne Hammond lines in the bpnng, to
gether with the continued activity in
the lumber trade, promise- to keep an
army of men busy for months to come.
WORK IX FIELDS OR GO TO JAIL
Stringent Vagrancy Law Is Revived
In Inland Empire.
SPOKANE. Wash., July 31. (Special.)
Idlers In Southern Washington must
either enter the harvest field or go to
Jail. The old "blue law" of New England
that "he who will not work shall not eat,"
has been revived throughout the wheat
belt of this state and Northern Washing
ton, at the instance of farmers, whose
chagrin upon having an offer of $3 a day
and board rejected by a man who was
apparently nothing more than a loafer,
must be appeased.
Accordingly, the Town Councils of Pull
man, Colfax, Garfield, Pomeroy, Palouse
and a half-dozen other towns, have ren
dered It possible to Inflict double penalty
for vagrancy, a fine and Jail, sentence of
30 days being Imposed and the prisoner
required to work on a specially provided
rockpile in the broiling sun. The defini
tion of the term "vagrancy" has been en
larged in Its application in the wheat belt
until it practically devolves upon the ac
cused to show that he has some means of
support Involving some physical effort on
his part, for. If it not . "visible" to the
police magistrate, the prisoner will surely
be held for vagrancy.
The demand for help Is almost a tragedy
in some localities. Farmers, realizing
that their crop will be practically ruined
should it not be harvested within a brief
time, make frantic appeals to any man or
woman capable of wielding a pitchfork.
They offer from $2 to $3 a day and board
and stipulate readily that the quality of
the board shall rival that at Delmonico's,
and the "hired man" can have the best
bed in the house for the asking.
J. N.TEALWILLIKVESTIEATE
GOES TO SAX FRAXCISCO TO
FIXU CAUSE OF CONGESTION".
With W. A. Mears He Will Also Re
port on the Inadequate Har
rlman Steamship Service.
The transportation committee of the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday de
cided on a practical move to get at the
reasons for the prevailing f-eight con
gestion between Portland and San
Francisco and the unusually Inadequate
steamship service now given between
these two ports. J. N. Teal will go to
San Francisco as the personal repre
sentative of the chamber with the idea
of making a complete investigation Into
the causes of tne transportation dif
ficulty. With him in this work will be
associated W. A. Mears, who is on his
way to Hawaii. Mr. Mears is now in the
Bay City and he will delay there long:
enough to go into the rail and water
transportation problem jointly with
Mi1. Teal, so that they can make an ade
quate report to the chamber on the
causes for the neglect Portland is get
ting by the Harriman Interests.
A communication was received yes
terday by the board of trustees of the
chamber from the Alaska Short Line
Railroad asking assistance in promot
ing a direct steamship service between
Portland- and Alaska. The proposed
Alaska railroad will have for its term
inals Thlamna Bay on the Coast and
Anvlk on the Yukon in the Interior.
The promoters of the road are anxious
to secure an outlet for their road by
way of steamship to Portland. The mat
ter was referred to the chamber com
mittee on Alaska steamship service.
Edward Newbcgin, chairman of a
special committee, appointed some time
ago to propose subjects for discussion
at the Trans-Mississippi Commercial
Congress, which will be held at Kansas
City in November reported that the fol
lowing subjects are of vital Interest to
Oregon and could be profitably taken
up by the congress: "Opening of Rivers
and Harbors Generally Alonar the
Coast." "Preservation of Forests." "Ir
rigation." "Isthmian Canal."
The following 17 new members were
admitted to membership In the cham
ber: J. E. Shears, Laeey Bros'. Packing
Company, Matson Navigation Company,
Crescent Paper Company, Charles H.
Carey, Wise Bros., Arthur A. Green,
Williams & Beggs, Portland Machinery
Company. S. H. Friedlander, S. S. Sigel.
Max Smith. Clarke Bros.. M. Siclicl. C.
P. Bishop, Mike Jacob & Co., C. M. Mc
Dowell. ST. JOHNS COUNCIL MEETS
Business Men's Petition Urges the
Granting of Telephone Franchise.
At the meeting of the St. Johns
Council last night that body was con
fronted with a petition from the busi
ness men of St. Johns demanding that
a franchise be given the Pacific States
Telephone Company, In accordance
with its ordinance as submitted several
weeks ago. This petlclon was a long
one and was presented by a representa
tive of the telephone company. Indi
cating the wishes of the people that
the service be improved. The ordi
nance submitted provides that the
company shall have a franchise for 21
years, and that Its total payments for
that time shall be $1700, the first pay
ment to be made after ten years. It
also gives the city free telephones.
The petition was laid over until the
next meeting of the Council. In the
meantime the petition will be further
circulated among: the people of St.
Johns, and the representative of the
company said that practically all the
business could and would be secured.
The license of Cedar Park was re
voked. The park was opened for busi
ness last Sunday, notwithstanding the
license had been declared revoked be
fore. Councilman Hewitt made a flghc
against renewal and won.
It was decided to license merry-go-rounds
at the rate of $30 a week, and
circusses at $50 a day. The City Engi
neer's estimates for the improvement
of Philadelphia street were received
and a resolution for its improvement
from Jersey street to the river will be
submitted at the next meeting.
The City Attorney was Instructed to
draw an ordinance regulating the post
ing of bills and submit the same at the
next meeting.
'POTTER IX SERVICE.
Popular O. R. X. Excuntlon Boat Re
sumes Trips to Beach.
The T. J. Potter leaves Ash-street dock
for North Beach, touching at Astoria, as
follows:
August 4. 1:30 P. M. : August 7, 6:40 A.
M. : August 9. 8 A. M.: August 11, 11 A. M.
From Ilwaco: August 5. 10 P. M. : Au
gust S. 12:01 noon: August 10, 1:30 P. M.;
August 12. 6 P. M.
Tickets at Third and Washington streets
and at Ash-street dock. Meals may be
secured on the boat-
Women, from their sedentary habits,
are often subject to headache and consti
pation. These are quickly removed by
Carter's Little Liver PI 11a,
CITY EMPLOYES
ARE REAPPOINTED
Executive Board Allays Appre
hension of 177 Office
Holders. POSITIONS ILLEGALY HELD
Appointments Are Made for One
Month Dozen Inefficient Em
ployes May Be AVceded Out
Later Bruin to Appeal.
Apprehension on the part of the 177
employes of the city affected by the
decision handed down by Judge Frazer
in the Bruin case has given way to a
feeling of security as yesterday the ex
ecutive board appointed all the illegal
appointees to the respective positions
which they have been filling. The execu
tive board also approved the payrolls,
and the employes will receive their
monthly compensation just the same as
they did before Judge Frazer began to
make history for the City of Officialdom.
The appointments are for a month and
the officials have still reason to feel
uneasy, as there are some few who
relationship with the city will be short
lived. Old men in the service who are capa
ble and who have been faithful in the
performance of their duties, need have
no fear If they cannot again take the
civil service examination under the pres
ent age limit, as the members of the
executive board are determined to pro
tect them. It is the intention of the
board 'to have the age limit raised by
a special dispensation rather than to al
low old employes to suffer. Only those
who are now employed will be permitted
to take advantage of the lifting of the
age limit, which -will be but temporary.
There are 23 employes of the Police De
partment alone who could be prevented'
from entering the service again unless
special provision is made.
Bruin Will Appeal.
While not deflnTte, it is believed that
Captain Bruin will appeal the decision of
Judge Frazer to the Supreme Court to
have the matter settled for good and all.
If the Circuit Court is sustained, then
all of the 177 positions will have to be
filled by permanent appointments, ac
complishment of which will consume
months, as there are no elisribles upon
the lists of the Civil Service Commission.
Incompetent employes who have met
with administrative disapproval will be
weeded out and there is no telling how
extensive these changes will be. The
employes will not be called . upon to
raise a fund to have the Bruin case ap
pealed tO"the Supreme Court, but It has
been suggested that the members of the
executive board stand the expense.
The action of the executive board yes
terday in making the appointments was
done simply as a precaution. If the
case is appealed to the Supreme Court
and the decision of Judge Frazer is set
aside, no harm will have been done and
until something definite was 'accom
plished, the members of the boaru
thought it advisable to make temporary
appointments. Thomas G. Greene strong
ly advocated that this course bo pursued.
"If the decision is accepted as . final
these men are out of positions," declared
Muskegon -Avenue, Muskegon, MiclL
Paved With Bituminous Ma
cadam. Laid Four Years Ago
by the Barber Asphalt Co.
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS FOR ALL THOROUGHFARES
IN THE BEST RESIDENCE DISTRICTS OF PORTLAND
should be encouraged by Portland people. An improvement that must be renewed
every few years is at best but a Makeshift. A permanent street improvement
. stands for efficiency, beauty and economy -
OFFICE 425 WORCESTER BLOCK. OSKAR HUBER, Manager
Mr. Greene, when the subject had been
brought up by Mayor Lane, who called
upon the members of the board for sug
gestions as to how to unravel the tangle.
"We didn't bring about this dilemma, but
it' an uncomfortable condition which con
fronts us. If the clerk of the commission
ever certifies to the Auditor the names of
the employes who are not entitled to their
positions we would all be personally re
sponsible if we approved the payroll."
"It will never be settled until it has
been before the Supreme Court," said the
Mayor.
Bruin Doesn't Care.
"Captain Bruin may appeal," replied
Mr. Greene, who is Bruin's attorney.
"Personally, he doesn't care much. He
would just as soon undergo another ex
amination and take his chances with the
others. I would be opposed to raising
money among the employes to meet the
expenses of an appeal, and if an appeal
is taken we should be able to raise all
that is necessary among ourselves." -
The members of the Executive Board
threshed the matter over for about two
hours, and then the resolution making
the appointments was passed by a unani
mous vote. The members of the board
will decide among themselves whether or
not the Bruin case is to be appealed, but
it is the belief that it will be done.
It may be that by the first of next
month some of the employes with whom
there Is dissatisfaction will be without po
sitions. Just before the resolution was
passed yesterday making the appoint
ments Mr. Greene asked what about those
whose services had not been all that was
desired. It was stated by other members
that It would take some time for the heads
JULY'S MARRIAGE LICENSE
RECORD.
The demand for marriage licenses
was fairly active during July, but the
supply of the documents available
prevented any corner on the market.
Aside from the fact that 41 per cent
of the grooms and 34 per cent of the
brides had passed the age of 30 years
there was nothing to distinguish tne
marriage license record for July. 1000.
from that of previous Julys. In the
month Just closed-. 153 licenses were
issued. One year ago that number
was exceeded by one. But last year
the Fair was on and many of those
who took out licenses to wed came
from distant states. This year the
blotter names but three persons out
side of Oregon who came "here to be
married. One hundred and nineteen
licenses were Issued In July, 1904.
of the departments to decide who are to
go and the matter was deferred. But
next month. If temporary appointments
are made again some of these 177 will not
be reappointed and others will take their
places.
Fire Hose Contracts Discussed.
Mayor Lane discussed with the members
of the board the awarding of the con
tracts for the fire hose by the Fire Com
missioners. He said the actions of the
Commissioners had been governed solely
upon their belief as to the merits of the
different kinds of hose, and that there
was uo favoritism whatever. He exhibit
ed samples, which were carefully exam
ined by the members of the board, who
appeared to be satisfied with the award
ing of the contracts. Battalion Chief
Young said that the brand of hose select
ed was. In his opinion, the best, and told
of a test that had been made by the
fire department which he said proved that
the Keystone hose'was the most suitable.
D. A. Pattullo moved that a resolution
be passed indorsing the action of the
Fire Commissioners, but Mayor Lane, aft
er It had been seconded and was about to
be put to a vote, requested that nothing
be done about it. saying that he had only
wanted to ask the advice and to ascertain
the feeling of the members of the board
as regards the awarding of the contracts.
Acknowledged to Be the
WORK STOPPED ON
NEW PHONE LINES
Electrical Workers Tie Up Con
struction of Home
System.
DISPUTE OVER CONTRACT
Men Want Company to Sign Agree
ment to Govern Wages and
Working Conditions When
Operation Begins.
A strike among the electrical workers
of the Home Telephone Company was
declared yesterday and work on the con
struction of buildings and lines is at a
standstill. " The strike is under the di
rection of C. A. Elmore, vice-president
of the International Brotherhood of Elec
trical Workers.
The Home Telephone Company Ls em
ploying no labor at present, having let
the contract for the erection of buildings
and the construction of lines to the Em
pire Electric Company. The Empire Com
pany has entered into a contract with
the men which Is satisfactory so far as
the present ls concerned, but as the con
tract expires as soon as the construc
tion is completed the men are demand
ing a contract from the Home Telephone
Company ao well, which shall continue
indefinitely. This the company refuses
to grant. Mr. Elmore, in speaking of
the demands of the union, said:
"When the Home Telephone Company
wanted a franchise the labor organiza
tions were asked to assist it. the promise
being given that the company would
abide by union conditions. The union
gave its support and the franchise was
secured.
"The union then askc8 the company to
draw up articles of agreement giving line
men $3.50. cable splicers $4.50. and inside
wlremen $4 per day. The Empire Com
pany gave the linemen an agreement for
$3.50 per day. but the telephone com
pany held aloof from all agreements.
"The Home Telephone Company ig in
terested In various companies and we
have had much trouble in finding out
Just whom we must d?al with, but we
have finally decided that Charles E.
Sumner Is the man, for he is president
of several of these companies.
"Our contract is good for the period of
construction, but we have reason to be
llve that the provisions of the agree
ment will be violated as soon as the
line and exchanges are completed. By
striking now we hope to force a con
tract embodying the principles of the
'Oakland' agreement, which provides for
an eight-hour day at the wages men
tioned, and thus eliminate further trou
ble which would be sure to come under
existing conditions as soon as the con
struction work is completed.
"We waited on Mr. Sumner last Friday
and he replied that he would be ready
to talk business to us in six or eight
months. As representatives or the North
west Councils were with him we gave
him until Saturday to consider. His re
ply was the same. Then we notified him
that we would strike yesterday.
"Mr. Sumner ls techlncal In his ad
vances, stating that if he hired one union
man according to union ' schedules he
would be fulfilling his Seattle agreement
Finest Bituminous
BEAT
FALL
BIGELOW
We have just received a shipment of Bigelow Ruga
in various grades and sizes, including
9x12 Bagdad Wiltons and
Wellington Wiltons
8.3x10.6 Arlington Axminsters
And Small Rug in All Grade
The Bigelow name is the highest guarantee of artistic
and material excellence. The new designs and color
ings are especially handsome and harmonious.
.G.MACK&CO.
Exclusive
Carpet
House
86-88 THIRD STREET
XH1L METSCHAN". President and Manager,
Seventh and Washington
European Flan
to employ union men. but so far he has
not employed even one union mar.."
Mr. Sumner, when asked about the sit
uation, said:
"At present the company Is employ
ing no labor. The contract for the ex
changes and construction of lines has
been let to the Empire Electric Company
and until Its work ls completed and the
exchanges and lines turned over to us
we have no plant.
"The union has asked us to make a
contract now for the period after the
lines are completed, but we cannot fix
a schedule of wages some six or eight
months In advance of the time when
service is to begin. By that time labor
may be higher or It may be lower than
it is at present and a scale of wages ad
justed now would be unsatisfactory at
that time. It is understood that the
men are to have fair treatment and when
one plant ls ready for operation the men
will find us ready to treat with them."
Costly Blaze at Buffalo.
BUFFALO. July 31. The plant of the
Montgomery Bros. & Co.'s planing mill
and box factory on Court street was par
tially destroyed by fire early today, caus
ing alOMeMtrnatedat$170100
I s - ... yO
TT
H
Paved Street in America
Just Write to Muskegon and
See What the People There
Think of This Pavement.
ARRIVALS
U IjtO
Exclusive
Carpet
House
Streets. Portland, Orecon.
- - - - $1.00, $1.50, $2.00 psr Day.
Pierce Automobile Company occupied the
top floor, where they manufactured the
wooden frames for their cars. They es
timate their loss at $100,000.
POLICEMEN AIDING BRUIN
Members of Force Contribute 7 5
C'enls Kach for His. Appeal.
To help Caj)taln Bruin fight his case
in the Supreme Court on the appeal of
the Mayor from the decision rendered
last week by Judge Frazer, all police
men are signing a petition making; a
contribution of 75 cents each. The
money contributed will be used not
only for the use of the captain but will
also be used In case other policemen are
removed from the force as a result of
Judge Frazer's decision.
Publishing Company Insolvent.
CINCINNATI. July 31. On applica
tion of local creditors, the "Men and
Women" Publishing Company was
placed In the hands of a receiver today.