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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1919)
I THE BEE: OMAHA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1919. OAR STRIKE IS STILL PENDING; RIFTJIDEHS Men Defer Action Until Fur ther Negotiations With Company 7 -Cent Fare Delayed. - , (CMtiBMd From Pac One.) the time for objection to the new rate by the city expires. Only four commissioners were present when the council voted down the resolution introduced by Mayor Smith. This resolution di rected Corporation Counsel Lam bert to notify the supreme court that the city council of Omaha will not oppose the 7-cent fare ordered Wednesday by the State Railway commission. Commissioners Zimman and But ler voted in opposition to the reso lution and Mayor Smith and Com missioner Towl in favor of it. When informed of the action of the council. Assistant General Manager Leussler of the company exclaimed: "It is very unfor ' tunate. -If everyone sits tight and nothing is conceded on either side a strike is imminent." '.During the voting by the city commissioners Mr. Falconer, though in the city, was not present. After the meeting the mayor stat- ed that if Commissioner Falconer notifies him that he is in favor of the resolution he will call a special council meeting to take another vote on the matte'r. "The action of Mr. Butler and Mr. Ziruman in voting down my resolu tion may precipitate a street car strike," said the mayor after the meeting. "The men Cannot get their in increase to 55 cents an hour until the new rate of fare goes into effect, and the new fare cannot go into ef fect next Sunday unless this council notifies the supreme court that it will interpose no objections." Expires on August 24. The mandate of the supreme court ordering the state railway commis sion to give the street railway com pany a higher fare rate was handed down about a month ago. The city ha&3gjdays from that time to object. The lo days will expire August 24. The mayors' resolution was as fol lows: "Whereas, the state railway com mission has made an order permit ting an increase in street railway .fares which requires the consent of this council in order to become ef fective immediately, "Be it resolved that Mr. Lambert, representing the city council, be au thorized to take such action as may be necessary to enable the company to' make its order effective im mediately. t "Resolved, further, that in the in terests of the public this council urge and insist that any contention between the street railway company and its employes over the wage scale or working conditions be ad " 'justed fairly and equitably to all par ties by conferences between them selves and that this be done without any discontinuance of street car service or inconvenience to the pub lic at large." "1 voted against the resolution of the mayor because the company and the men have not agrecdon a wage scale," said Mr." Zimman. "I pointed out to the men Wednesday night that 55 cents an hour is a mighty good rate of pay. I have 75 appli cations for positions on the fire de partment. and those men start in at less than that figure. ) ''At the same time. I think the company should not get so much of the increased revenue as will give them money to pay dividends on ex cess stock. , , Looked for in Middle West; Will Prosecute Profiteers Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri Officers Take Steps to Bring Down the Cost of Food, and Are Hopeful Their Efforts Will Be Crowned With Success. 20 Drown in Collision . "Off Island of St. Pierre - Halifax, Aug. 7. Twenty persons art believed to have lost their, lives when the schooner. Gallia was sunk last night in a collision with the British steamer War Witch. The schooner is reported to have carried a crew of at least 15 and possibly a dozen passengers, and only seven survivers are named in wireless messages from the steamer. The collision occurred close to St. Pierre and is supposed to have been caused by the heavy fog. The War Witch was bound for North "Sydney from Wabana, N. F.. while the Gallia was on its way to St Pierre from France. News of the catastrophe reached here in wireless messages to the agents of the War Witch. Wilson Asked to Make Lower Taxes Possible Washington Aug. 7. President Wilson is requested in a joint reso lution introduced today by Chairman Campbell of the rules committee, and Senator McCormick, republican, Illinois, to submit not later than December 1 such reductions in esti mates of government expenditures as wtll permit a reduction of $l,uou, 000,000 in taxation next year. Another resolution, introduced by Senator Myers, democrat, Montana, asked the senate judiciary committee to report whether legislation to pro hibit exports, for a limited time at least,. Of foods, clothing and other necessities would be advisable. 3iiiiiiiiiiiwimiMiiiimiiiiiiiiimmii: Chestnuts 5-lb. W, 22tf Per lb. S 10-lb. lots, 21 per lb. E 1 100-lb. lots, 20d per lb. " Please send your order S 5 in at once, so we can fill your order in October. . 1 j Max Cooper 1 ' r - v, Leepe Pa.;, . SbuBuuiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiuiiiiiiuiiiuiii By UnlTeraal flerric. With four states already taking steps for the prosecution of profit eers in food products, and other states expected to follow shortly, a rapid reduction in the high cost of living is looked for in the middle west immediately. ' Governor McKelvie of Nebraska has asked the state officials what steps should be taken and will con fer with the secretary of state and other officials next Friday. Gov. Henry 'J. Allen of Kansas and At torney General H. J. Hopkins have conferred and have decided to make prosecutions under the anti-profiteering law, passed by the last Kan sas legislature. Iowa county attorneys will confer "at Des Moines with Gov. W. L. Harding on the question of prosecu tion of profiteers, while in Oklaho ma City Gov. J. B. A. Robertson will meet Oklahoma county attorneys. Other steps taken by state offi cials include: Attorney General F. W. McAles ter of Missouri has asked Clifford L. Hilton, attorney general of Minne sota and president of the Attorney Generals' association, to make the high cost of living a matter for special consideration of the state attorneys at their regular meeting in Boston, September 2. A sweeping investigation of the costs of meats and other foods has been ordered by the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture. President J. A. Whitehurst has ordered the state marketing commission to conduct the probe. Governor Robertson has indicated a willingness to call a special session of the legislature to take necessary steps in prosecuting profiteers. Combinations Blamed. While the Nebraska governor is said to hold that prosecution is a matter of federal, rather than state, action, he has taken steps to stop profiteering within the state. He says: , "Profiteering is largely the result of combinations and agreements made in connection with interstate commerce, and these are entirely beyond the control of state authori ties." Mayor James Cowgill of Kansas City has placed the distribution of the army surplus food in the hands of the Loyal Order of Moose, and they are preparing to handle the matter at once. In Omaha, the city commission authorized the expenditure of $10,- 000 in buying food supplies to be re sold at cost to the public. At a meeting of the commission, a sug gestion was made by two commis sioners to order an investigation to learn if prices were too high. The mayor shouted, "Not on your life. 1 demand action now. Help the people first, then investigate." The Ismert-Hincke Milling com pany of Kansas City, with branches in several states, has made a reduc tion of 60 cents in the wholesale price of flour, and they predict an other drop of that amount. The Southwestern Milling C6. of Kansas City has dropped 40 cents. Other mills either made slight decreases in their wholesale prices, or else "sat tight" awaiting action. Drop Won't Affect Bread. On the other hand, the drop in flour prices will have no effect on the retail price of bread, according to several Kansas Gty bakers. The bakeries have a 60-day supply of flour on hand, and until that is used, no drop will be made in the retail price. Hogs on all markets west of Chi cago have dropped, and will con tinue to drop. Other cattle will drop, because of the food agitation, it is said. A serious shortage of sugar, due to several causes, faces this section of the country, according to Kansas City jobbers. The H. D. Lee Mer cantile company, with branches at Saline, Omaha and other cities, is entirely out of sugar, according to E. E. Euston. Freight congestion, not only in Kansas City but in other places, is given as one of the contributing reasons for the shortage. The yards are congested with incoming and outgoing freight and the condition has been aggrevated by the strike of shopmen. According to John C. Lester of the Ridenour-Baker Co. the sugar refineries are unable to refine sugar fast enough to fill orders. An increase in sugar is predicted by Mr. Euston, who says: "The price may go to IS cents before the return to normal condi tions. We expect to pay $13 a bag for what we buy in the near future." RAIL STRIKERS TOLD BY WILSON President Announces He Will Decide Demands ' for Increased Wages on Their Merits. PRICES FALL WITH CRASH ON EXCHANGE Many Disturbing Rumors Lead to an Orgy of Selling. New York, Aug. 7. Prices fell with a crash in the last hour of trading on the Stock exchange Thursday. Reactions of 5 to almost 20 points from the best quotations of the session were accompanied by many disturbing rumors and led to an orgy of selling. Reports from Washington to the effect that President Wilson's ad dress before congress would deal summarily with profiteers were sup plemented by rumors that action contemplated by the Department ot Justice would involve many indus trial corporations which flourished during the war. Apprehension was heightened also by the attitude of the railroad brotherhoods, whose representa tive before the house interstate commerce committee gave utter ance to serious accusations against Wall street "interests". Another disturbing feature was the further collapse of French ex change to a point never before, re corded in this market, bills on Par is falling to levels where they rep resented a discount of 33 per cent from par. The one reassuring feature was the ease of money. Call loans were in free supply at less than 5 per cent, while moderate amounts of time money, were offered for the first time in many weeks at 7 per cent. 4 Aside from its irregularity, the market gave no hint of demoraliza tion until heavy offerings of United States Steel and other leaders caused recessions of 1 to 2 points between sales. Lobsters are said to have a great dread of thunder, and when peals are very loud will swim to deeper water. Will Probe High Cost of Living in Nebraska (Continued From Fag One.) an abnormal price a criminal. 1 hope the governor goes the limit." City Crippled, Says Mayor. Mayor Smith voices the same sentiment. "The city," he said, "is crippled for the reason that the only law under which profiteers can be prose cuted, is that which pertains to con spiracy to raise prices artificially. Unless it could be proved that there is a combination or a conspiracy among individuals artificially to force upward the price of foods, rents, or whatever the matter may be, it was useless to press the case." At the Federal building James H. Daly, chief of local Department of Justice, hejd a conference Thurs day with Assistant United States Attorney Peterson concerning the program to be adopted locally in the hunt for hoarders and profiteers. The department is prepared to wage at once an intensive campaign through the city and county. "The entire machinery of the gov ernment has been thrown into this thing," Attorney Peterson said. "We are out for a finish fight and only hope that everyone who has a shred of evidence against profiteer ing will come to this office with it. We are prepared to punish as well as investigate." Payne Chosen Chairman of U. S. Shipping Board Washington, Aug. 7. Judge John Barton Payne of Chicago was elected chairman of the United States shipping board Thursday. The three new commissioners, Judge Payne, Henry M. Robinson of California and Commander Thomas A. Scott of Connecticut, assumed office. (Continued From Ffr One.) istration cannot deal with a prob lem of this sort or with any prob lems affecting the men, except through the duly chosen interna tional officers of the regularly con stituted organization and their au thorized committee's. Men Create Chief Obstacle. "Matters of so various a nature and affecting so many men cannot be dealt with except m this way. Any action which brings the author ity of the authorized representatives of the organization' into question or discredits it, must interfere with if not prevent action altogether. The chief obstacles to a decision has been created by the men themselves. They have gone out on strike and repudiated, the authority of their officers at the very moment when they wereytirging action in regard to various interests. "You will remember that a con ference between yourself and the authorized representatives of the men was'arranged at the instance of these representatives for July 28, to discuss the wage question and the question of a national agree ment, but before this conference took place or cquld take place, local uoaies ot railway snopmen tooK ac tion looking toward a strike on the 1st of August As a result of this action, various strikes actually took place before there was an oppor tunity to act in a satisfactory or conclusive way with respect to the wages. In the presence of these strikes and the repudiation of the authority of the representatives of the organization concerned there can be no consideration ot the mat ter in the controversy until the em ployes return to work and again recognize the authority of their or ganization, the whole matter must be at a standstill. , Accepted Agreements. j "When federal control of the rail roads began, the railroad adminis tration accepted existing agree ments between the shopmen's or ganization and the several railroad companies, and by agreement ma chinery was created for handling the grievances of the shopmen's organ ization of all the railways, whether they had heretofore had the bene fits of definite agreements or not. There can be no question, therefore, of the readiness of the government to deal in a spirit of fairness and by regular methods with any mat ters the men may bring to their at tention. "Concerned and very careful con fideration is being given by the en tire government to the question of reducing the high cost of living. I need hardly point out hovy inti mately and directly this matter af fects every individual in the nation, and if transportation is interrupted it will be impossible to ' solve it. This is a time when every employe of the railways should help to make the processes of transportation more easy and economical, rather than less, and employes who are on strikes and deliberately delaying a settlement of their wage problems and of their standard of living. They Nshould promptly return to work, and I hope that you will urge upon their representatives the immediate necessity for their doing so. "Cordiallv and sincerely yours, "WOODROW WILSON." Hines Notifies Unions. Director General Hines notified ! the uniorts immediately that the rail road administration was ready to take up. the question, as soon as the employes return to work. In a let ter to B. M. Jewell, president of the railway employes department of the American Federation of Labor, Mr. Hines said: "I enclose a letter which I have Rapid Easing of H. C. of L. RETURN TO WORIUSffi.v-CT importance not onlv in the interest of the oublic but in the interest of the employes themselves that they shall immediately return to work. The situation having been clarified by the definite indication that con gress does not wish to take action in the premises, the railroad admin istration stands ready to take up tne watre Question on its merits with the duly accredited international of? ficers and their authorized commit tee as soon as the employes return to work. The effect of the president's de cision, it was believed, "would be to put a sudden end to sporadic strikes throughout the country, denounced as illegal by union officials, but in volving perhaps 80.000 men. It was taken for granted also that the menace of a general strike to compel higher wages to meet increased liv ing costs likewise was removed by the president s action. If Director General Hines orders an increase in wages, since the rail road administration now is operat ing at a loss, either an advance in rates or a congressional appropria tion will be necessary to provide the money. The 14 principal railroad unions in a joint communication to: the director general have suggested the latter. Asked 25 Per Cent Increase. Wage demands were submitted by the 500,000 shopmen last February, but other pressing matters before the board of wages and working conditions affecting employes who had not previously received con sideration delayed a decision until July 16, and then the boajd divided, three holding that the increases should not be granted and three holding that additional nay was justified. The amount asked was 25 per cent. Conferences between the shopmen's officers and the director general were arranged, but even be fore they could be held, men began to go on strike, which led the presi dent to devote a considerable por tion of his letter to condemning their hasty action which violated all agreements. , Other unions also put in demands for more pay, with the exception of the engineers, who said they pre ferred a reduction in the cost of living. Thre was no indication tonight as to how Mr. Hines would proceed to the settlement of the wage de mands. In view of the wage board's previous consideration of the ques tion, it was believed that a new tribunal would be constituted for the purpose, with equal representa tion for labor, the railroads and the public. Plumb Issues Warning. Warning that the laboring man has reached that point where his ac tivities may cease "because he can- Embargo Lifted. Oklah oma City, Aug. 7. The gen eral freight embargo declared by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Wednesday was lifted Thursday. The road will accept all kinds of freight, subject to delay. This Strong Fibre Covered Trunk Built for Service, With Good Heavy Corners, Locks and Hinges. Two trays nicely lined, )A f 36 inches long ZP-SUiUU FUELING a STEINLE BAGGAGE BUILDERS 1803 FARNAM STREET -s- OMAHA Good Old Fashioned Lemonade Madefrom Sunkist Lemons Free Union Outfitting Co. A Great August Furniture Sale at This Store Brings a Saving of Thousands of Dollars. Furniture For Every Room in the Home in Single Pieces and Suites. It isn't often that one has an opportunity to secure values of snch a substantial nature as tne Union Outfitting Company is of fering during its big August Fur niture sale. k In fact, such savings would be impossible, were it not for the fact that for many months past their buyers have been visiting the leading makers of Grand Rapids and other furniture cen ters for the furniture offered in this annual event. And if the dollars saved leave a pleasant remembrance, there are big, free glasses of Ice Cold Lemonade made from, genuine Sunkist Lemons, to make it doubly so. You have heard of Sunkist Lemons. How plump, thin- skinned and juicy they are. Now come in and learn how delightful they are for making summer drinks. No purchase is neces At the Union Outfitting Com pany, no transaction is ever con sidered complete until the cus tomer is satisfied. not much longer stand the diminish ing return tor his work, was ex- pressed today by Glenn E. Plumb, counsel for railway brotherhoods, in urging enactment by congress of a bill drawn by him for public owner ship of railroads. f This gloomy view of' conditions was given by Mr. riumb near the close of a five-hour appearance on the witness stand, during which he charged systematic plundering ol the transportation highways of the country, and denied that he. had come forward with tne Plumb plan fof solving railway evils at this time in order to link it up with the high cost of living, on. which the nation's attention has turned.,-. Mr. Plumb apparrtly was cog nizant of the rurrtofs sweeping through the capital ithat he had picked an unusually propitious time for presenting his bill, which organ ized labor has claimed will help put down the living cost through reduc tion of freight 'rates and elimina tion of private capital from every transportation company in the United Staies Except for the invi tation from Chairman Esch of the house interstate commerce commit tee conducting hearing on all plans for railroad control, the Plumb plan, he said, would not have seen the light of day uvuil early fall. Radical Change Wanted. But it was while speaking through he country in its behalf, the witness declared, that he found an over whelming sentiment for radical change from the old system of railroad control. There was no doubt, he said, of great industrial unrest, due to the mounting cost of living. Pressed for an explanation of his statement that lie would not be surprised to see anything happen, the witness said this did not mean halting, of business activities, great destruction of industry or a cata clysm but the feeling in the minds of millions of workers was that something had to be done quickly in their behalf. "The feeling of unrest," lie de clared with earnestness, "is accentu ated by this ever-rising cost of liv ing, and the necessity of hnding some way to meet it." reached Chicago elevators and it was hoped a settlement would, be reached before the general cropn movement from the far northwest began. Live stock movement showed only slight reduction, but 'it wa's ex pected that a local embargo in Iowa would cut receipts here by tomor row. Coal, as we!l is being held up, in spite of a threatening short age for next winter. The roads entering Chicago are carrying freight "subject to lelay" and perishables and foods are" given preference. No Railroad Embargoes Are Issued in Crnago Chicago, Aug. 7. No railroad em bargoes have been issued in Chi cago as a result of the shopmen's strike; 756 cars of live stock, the approximate daily supply, arrived, and all trains were running. Officials of the Chicago district council of the Federated Railway Shopmen's union, who called the strike, asserted that about 300,000 men were on strike and would con tinue on strike until their demands were granted. As far as the grain crop was con cerned, one railroad official said that 15.000,000 bushels already had 6,000 Denver Shopmen Vote to Leave Work Denver, Aug. 7. Six thousand railroad shopmen in Denver will strike at 10 o'clock Friday morning, union officials announced today, fol lowing a referendum vote of railway machinists to strike. Ninety-six per cent of the machinists, who number 1,000. voted to strike tomorrow. Leaders of other unions persuaded the machinists Wednesday to deter the walkout until Friday, that a ref erendum vote among other railroad craf.s might be taken. Union leaders said today that in their opinion there was no question but all shopmen nere wouici waiK out Friday, lhey declared tne strike of machinists alone would tie up railway shops here. Roads that will be affected are the Denver & Rio Grande, Union Pa: cific, MolTatt, Colorado & Southern and the Burdington lines. 102 Passenger Trains on N. Y., N. H. & H. Discontinued New Haven. Conn., Aug. 7. The discontinuance of 102 passenger tr4ins on the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, because of the strike of shopmen and mechanics, was announced at the local offices late tonight. All dining and parlor car service is discontinued and the present time table is suspended. Bolsheviki Capture More Russian Towns London, Aug. 7. A war office communication issued tonight ad mits the bolsheviki hold the town of Onega, on the north Russian front, west of Archangel, strongly. In southern Russia the bolsheviki have recaptured Vladimirouka, but they are rapidly retreating north of Kamyshin. The bolsheviki claim to have occupied Aleshiki, five miles cast of Kherson, but it is believed the town is still in the hands of the volunteers. A bolshevik submarine has been sunk in the Baltic sea by the Brit ish torpedo boat destroyers Valor ous and Vancouver, according to an official statement issued by the ad miralty this evening. PROMISE STRIKE UNLESS MILITIA IS WITHDRAWN Representatives of 42 Union Locals of Chicago Stock Yards Employes Issue Ultimatum. (By the Associated Press.) Chicago. Aug. 7. Representatives of 42 locals of stock yards employes voted Thursday night for a general strike Friday unless militia, police-, men and deputy sheriffs are with drawn from the yards. More than 100,000 persons are employed in the stock yards. A strike was virtually begun to day when hundreds of white men quit their work after about 3,000 of the 15.000 negro workers returned to work under troop protection, fol lowing virtual exile of more than a week due to the race riots. Union men declared their objections based on the presence of the guards, and that while they held no prejudice against the negro's color, the ma jority of the negroes were non union. While union men said about 5,000 men had walked out, packing house officials placed the number at about 650. Previous to the strike vote of the local representatives, officials of the stock yards labor council held a conference with Judge Alshuler, federal arbitrator in the stock yard controversies. It is known that the negro situation was discussed and it is believed that the judge's aid in having the guards withdrawn was sought. While the grand jury continued to hear evidence in the riot cases and voted indictments against 23 more negroes, making a total of 54 negroes indicted, thus far, there was little evidence of race feeling in the riot zones. Two Mexicans were in jured in the stock yards neighbor hood, both supposedly mistaken for negroes. A negro who was beaten during the rioting, died Thursday, makinig a total of 36 dead. Cubans Want 6 1-2 Cents for All Export Sugar Havana, Aug. 7. A resolution which would authorize the presi dent not to permit the exportation of sugar corresponding to the 1919 1920 crop at a price less than cents per pound freight on board, was presented in the house of rep resentatives Friday. No action was taken on the request. I ; : : ll heTThomosonTielden Store jL 1 OUR lovely new furs, coats, coatees and separate pieces are selling now for 20 less than the prices after September first. All Summer Furs such as Sable, Stone Marten and Opossum are reduced one -third. from the hop o 50c Wash Ties for 35c, 3 for $!, Friday only. $2 Night Shirts $1.65 Faultless or Univer sal nightshirts, sizes 15 to 20. The August sale of shirts is showing splendid values in Ar row, Eagle and Earl & Wilson makes. All parasols from $2 up are selling for exactly half price. Sizes for both women and children. To the Left as You Enter. Tourists' Cases . FRIDAY-A Disposal of SILK SKIRTS Very beautiful Baronet satin, crepe de chine, Georgette, taffeta, silk faille, tricolette and Fan-ta-si skirts for $10.95 Convenient affairs of dainty cretonne, rubber lined, which have com partments for all your toilet requisites. The shades are blue, pink, brown, gold, and gray. From $135 to $2.50 each. Remnants of Curtain Nets Filet nets, voiles, marquisettes, mad ras and other yard goods in good cur tain lengths. Values up to $1 a yard. Friday 39c a Yard Two Baronet Satin skirts, one of palest silvery green, and the other peach colored, were formerly $ A figured silk, with batik design of dark green and dull red, was $16.50. A heavy shimmering bronze colored satin, was $35. A clinging black tri colette, was $25. Several soft g r a y skirts, one of faille, one of crepe de chine and another of crepe de chine and tricolette combined, which was $25. . A variety of white skirts may be had, an accordeon pleated white crepe de chine which was $16.50 and several of Georgette and faille. A collection very rich in color and material, in which you will sure ly find a bargain suit ed to your tastes. Netting Corsets Flesh colored summer corsets with a wide elastic band it the waistline. A cool and comfortable corset for this weather. $1.50 a Pair Washable Silk Gloves Milanese quali ty, in- b 1 a c k, white and colors, from $1 to $2.25 a pair. Balbriggan Hose Made from natural yarn, unbleached and undyed ; a splendid hose" for comfort Medium weight, 65c Light weight, $1. Very sheer and fine, $1.25. n
