A GENERAL NEWSP
OF ORGANIZED LABOR IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
UNION
Recognized and Endors-
ed by More Than Fifty
Local Unions and Cen-
tral Bodies Over Cam-
bria County and Ad-
jacent Mining Areas.
Union Pr
APER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS
ess, Established May, 1935. sion,
AN ATTAINMENT OF THE LARGEST GENERAL WEEKLY
NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
Our Shop Is Equipped
to Do Job Printing of
All Kinds. Nothing Too
Large or Too Small.
We Cater Especially to
Local Union, Printing.
Patton Courier, Established Oct., 1893,
VOL. 46. NO. 18,
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AREA.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1939
723 South Fifth Ave.
PATTON. PA.
SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 PER YEAR
NOTES OF NORTH
CAMBRIA INDUS:
TRIAL COUNCIL
Secretary John Frank Sends the
Press-Courier A Number of
Interesting Matters.
John Frank, of Marstellar, secretary
of the Northern Cambria Industrial
Union Council, sends the Press-Cour-
ier the following interesting matter,
pertaining to work of the Council:
The Northern Cambria Industrial
Union Council, as set forth in its con-
stitution, is a county federation of la-
bor unions chartered by the Congress
of Industrial Organizations, dedicated
to these main objectives:
To protect, maintain, and advance
the interest of all working people.
To extend unionism on the basis of
industrial organization where such
type of organization is applicable.
To secure and entorce legislation in
the interest of the working people.
To promote recognition and accept-
ance of collective bargaining in indus-
try.
To increase public understanding of
the labor movement.
The Pittsburgh convention thought :
- IL |
ganization that it expressly provided EX P E CTATIONS
union
councils shall be organized upon a
city, state, or other regional basis as
may be deemed advisable by the exe-
cutive board, and shall be composed
of the locals of national unions, Inter-
Bational Unions and organizing com-
mittees, and local industrial unions, Wages and Hours las has been in ef-
councils
such
council. It shall be the duty of na-
tional and international unions and or-
ganizing committees to direct their lo- |
so well of the council structure of or
in the constitution, “Industrial
and local industrial union
within the territorial limits of
cals to affiliate with the proper
dustrial union council.
It shall be the duty of all local iu
dustrial unions and local industrial un-
ion eouncils to affiliate with the pro-
per Industrial Union Council.
This constitutional section is a man-
date to all CIO affiliates to support
existing Councils by membership re- |
presentation to the N.C. I. U. C. In
doing so you will strengthen the whole
CIO movement and increase its pow-
er and influence in both economic and
legislative affairs in the several com-
munities in which we live. The best,
the most loyal and the most consci-
entious men and women in the labor
movement today are those who are at-
tending Central Labor Union meet-
ings regularly. For this reason we are
asking you to select a committee and
affiliate in the Northern Cambria In-
dustrial Union Council, for we also
know that the great influence in the
«bor movement of today is the labor
peoples’ buying power. The member of
labor organizations have neglected this
phase of the movement too long. Per-
haps, some through lack of thinking,
others are in need of education. Is is
vime to unionize our union earned dol-
ASSIGN BARGER (CAMBRIA IN GOOD
TO JOHNSTOWN | FINANCIAL SHAPE
Spangler Man Will Be Attached
to C. I. O. Office There.
Howard T. Curtiss, district organiz- | Controller
er for the Steel Workers Organizing |
Committee, who has charge of the
CIO office in Johnstown, Saturday an-
nounced that the CIO, for the first |
time in the Johnstown area, will car- | ancial condition it has
ry its labor movement into the non- |
industrial field.
Concerned in the area largely in the
past with the steel and mining indus-
try, organizers began Monday the task |
of building up a union for retail and |
wholesale workers. Elmer Barger, of |
Spangler, has been assigned by the
National CIO office to start the work |
in Johnstown. |
Mr. Barger is an international vice |
president of the Wholesale and Re- |
tail Clerks’ division of the CIO and
has been actively and successfully en- |
gaged in organizational work for the
Cannon's
fairs in 1938.
|
court on Monday.
was reduced $380,000 during the pa
bonds amounting to $207,000.
The present net bonded
cluding funds
in the sinking fun
REPORT INDICATES
Figures
Show Encouraging Fiscal Af-
Cambria county is in the best fin-
been for sever-
{ al years, according to the annual re-
{ port of County Controller Henry L.
Cannon, which was submitted to the
Bonded indebtedness of the county |
year and the county also refunded
indebted-
ness of the county is $4%81,199.02, in-
| The bonded indebtedness of the coun-
| ty has been reduced $1,772,000 since
1932, according to figures compiled by
in- | proval of employers and employ
past several years.
WAGE AND HOUR
LAW MEETING ITS
by General Compliance,
Washington.—Although the nationa
an indication of the widespread ob
|
act has won the overwhelming
alike,
{ ings of the law in the presence
ees. He found observance general.
| ployer who would be willing to
| by employees have, one after another,
| if the complaints stood up after inves-
| tigation, shown their willingness to
| comply with the act. In virtually all
| of these cases, the employers explain-
ed that “mistakes” had been made.
None showed any “defiance” of the act
to cite him to the Attorney General
| as a cause for action. A recent Gallu
|
|
approached favored the law.
Next October when the wage level
rises to 30 cents an hour, it is estimat-
| ed that some 550,000 employees will
| be affected.
The law leaves many problems open
Much Machinery Has Been Set |
i . ¢ | $312,714.35 on hand January 2, 1937.
up in Three Months Marked Cash on hand on January 3 included |
observation and information relayed | court, pointed out that the net bor-
from other sources have convinced ad- |
ministrator Elmer F. Andrews that the
ap-
ees |
In an inspection of trip of 8,000 |
miles, Mr. Andrews discussed work-
of |
thousands of employers and employ- |
| the county officials.
|
county commissioners.
Total receipts and transfers
vious year the amount was $2,090,254
ounted to $390,621.94, as compared
| $212,349.71 in the general fund, $15
| 000 in the bond fund to meet
| and $153,342.23 in the sinking fund.
~| Mr. Cannon, in his report to th
| rowing capacity of the county at th
| present is $7,015,459.33.
HINES PLEDGED TO
SQUARE DEAL FOR
secreary of labor and industry
| ment
| his third day in office.
| going to get shortchanged here.
| “My chief purpose is to bring about
|
if various groups will cooperate.”
| Hines said he new “plenty of con- |
cau P | scientious employers” throughout the |
| poll indicated that 71 per cent of those commonwealth who were anxious to |
| lend their cooperation to carry out his
plan.
| “But there’ll be no monkey busi-
| ness,” he added. “I want the help of
responsible leaders of labor and tu
| industry alike, but any discordant or |
| the
sars, so have your local union affiliate for the future. Reports already indi- irresponsible elements will not be tol-
and. help us make these things possi- | cate that there has arisen an increased | erated.
ble.
JOHN FRANK, Secretary.
Labor Council Notes.
To All Labor Organizations: Five
hundred CIO workers, members of the
American Newspaper Guild, are on
strike against William Randolph
Hearst in Chicago. The strike is the
result of 18 months’ of continuous at-
tacks by Hearst through his two Chi-
cago newspapers, the Herald-Examiner
and the American, on the working and
living standards of the employees. Dur-
ing this period Hearst has violated the
contract with the Guild 87 different |
times—&500 men and women have been
fired. Finally, on Dec. 18, Hearst re-
fused to meet with the srikers’ com-
mittee and announced that all strik- |
ers would be replaced with scabs, thus
attempting to turn the strike into a
lock-out. It is vitally important to the
interests of all organized labor that the
powerful anti-labor employer be com-
pelled to abandon this campaign of
trouble making, oppression and terror-
ization, to recognize the legal rights of
his employees and to deal with them
in good faith according to the law of
the land. THE N. C. I U. C. is call-
ing on all organized labor to give all
possible aid and support to Guild aims
and activities in bringing to Hearst
employees their lawful rights of or-
ganization and collective bargaining.
The N. C. I. U. C. is also asking that
all organized workers place Hearst's
papers on “We Do Not Patronize”
list.
The Distillery, Rectifiers and Wine
Workers’ Unions throughout the coun-
try have held their first national con-
vention in Louisville, Ky. One of the
important resolutions passed and sup-
ported by union representatives from
every section of the country was the
placing on the unfair list of Italian-
Swiss Colony Wines, to recognize that
tions. The co-operation that you and |
organized labor in your vicinity may |
give will be appreciated by the North- |
ern Cambria Industrial Union Council. |
This is to inform organized labor |
that Local No. 79 of the International
Brotherhood of Foundry Employees
section. Tibbott also was appointed to
the war claims committee.
has signed a contract with the Colum-
bia Radiator Company of McKeesport,
bringing to an end a labor difficulty
which had caused an unfair listing of
the products of the company since
1936. We take this means of calling to
they cannot continually avoid union | your attention the fact that the above
recognition and fair working condi- | mentioned company is no longer un-
fair to organized labor and ask all lo-
cals to take them off the unfair list, In!
consideration of the signed contract
we urge that all members of organized {
labor favor the business of the Col- |
umbia Radiator Co. whenever possi-
ble. §
use of the home work method of man. |
ufacture since the law went into ef-
| fect. Further legislation is necessary
| to remedy this abuse.
| FORESTS AND WATERS
DEPARTMENT THINS
PAYROLL BY $92,000
Charles E. Zerby, former district
forester in Johnstown, was among a
large group of Department of Forests
and Waters employees dropped last
week from the state pay roll,
G. Albert Stewart, secretary of for-
ests and waters, announced the dis-
missal or resignation of 68 employees
of his depaitment for a total of $92,-
000 annually in the payroll, Stewart
said, and none of the places will be
filled.
TIBBOTT APPOINTED
TO CONGRESS FLOOD
CONTROL COMMITTEE
Congressman Harve Tibbott of Eb-
ensburg, attending his first session as
a representative from the 27th district
has been named to the Flood Control
Committee of the House, according to
news dispatches from Washington.
Mr. Tibbott, when listing committee
The new secretary, an American
Federation of Labor leader, said:
“I want the cooperation of the C. I.
O. as well as other organizations in
| my efforts to harmonize labor and
| industey, There are plenty of respon- |
sible leaders and units in the C. I. O.
{ whose view on labor matters I will
| appreciate.”
Hines said that after a “scant per-
usal” of the department he was con-
{ vinced that many admininistrative
| economies soon could be affected.
“But,” he added, “they will not be
affected at the expense of efficiency.
We're going to start saving money
right now, but it won't impair our
operation as far the people are con-
cerned.
cerned.”
He said he had held several pre-
liminary conferences with Elmer F.
Andrews, federal wage-and-hour ad-
ministrator, in Washington on plans to
cooperate with the federal government
in carrying out the nationtal wage-
hour law. He added: :
“There are many details that have
to be worked out in that connection.
One of the most important is the mat-
ter of inspecting industrial plants that
come under the provisions of the act.
We have men traveling around thro-
ugh the state who can easily handle
that matter.”
Hines said he had no specific leg-
preferences some time ago, wanted on
the flood control committee in order to
be in a position to help the flood con-
trol program now under way in this
islation in mind at present to recom-
mend to the 1939 Legislature.
“As soon as I can get things organ-
ized the way I want them around
here,” he added, “I'll call a conference
of industrial and labor leaders to get
their viewpoints on legislation. After |
that we'll prepare a program.”
PORTAGE LAD LOSES
LIFE WHILE SKIING
Cambria county’s first skiing fatali-
ty of the year occurred in Portage
township on Monday afternoon when
James Daniel McGough, 14 year
son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Me-
, | Gough of Portage township, was in-
jured fatally. The youth suffered a
fracture of a cervical veraebrae when
i he lost his balance and fell, his head
old
triking the highway.
County tax collections during 1938
| amounted to $1,083,631.64 as compared |
| to $1,300,623.30 in 1937. It was said the |
| reduction in revenue for the count
| was due to the lowering of the county |
| millage from eight to ‘six mills by fe |
year were $2,001,094.12 ,and in the pre-
84. Cash on hand on January 3 am-
to
| pay-
1 | ments of bonds due, but not presented
arri — ania’ : y
Harrisburg Pennsylvania iid decide, the governor will deter-
The difficulty of finding some em- |G. Hines—Ilast week promised organi- | ine what to do about a long list of
” ” : PEE Subjects of greater or less Importance
test| zed labor “every fonsideration on | the state and its residents. Amon
| the law out in the courts has been | any requests it may have for state! h 0
one indication of the widespread ob- wage and hour legislation.
servance, in the view of the adminis- |
“Everyone is going to get a fair,
| trator. Employers complained against |
: |
and square deal as far as his depart-
is concerned,” Hines declared on |
| 2 more harmonious relationship bet-
{ ween labor and employers. I'm con- |
‘ vinced that this can be accomplished |
sufficient to impel the administration |
PENNA. AWAITING
JAMES’ VIEWS ON
Rolls of State Departments.
awaiting word from its new Republ
| can Governor, Arthur H. James,
years. He has kept his own counsel
[a
st
until he knows what it is all about.
d.
paring for his second.
fiscal period.
the result of his economy plans
learn whether or not state taxes, ca
ing an indication of the governor
Earle administration.
,-
the message, will show what the gov
| the objectives
2 spend state funds.
u Meanwhile the Governor plans
announce some definite plans.
| counting of his stewardship.
Along with the major policies
them are:
Liquor Control-—Whether he
| members.
State Government—How much
| with his cabinet members.
the governor will recommend,
| whether any changes are planned
| tem
| and lots of other problems.
idonn
|ONE THOUSAND STATE
| JOBS WILL BE ABOLISH.
ED FOR ECONOMIES
Harrisburg.—Governor Arthur H.
James decided on Tuesday to abolish
about 1,000 state jobs in an effort to
save 11 million dollars and balance
the state budget except for relief ex-
penditures by the end of the biennium
May 31st. The governor said he saw
a 45-million dollar deficit of which 34
millions for relief was unavoidable
The greatest proposed personnel re-
duction was reported by Secretary of
Highways I. Lamont Hughes. He told
the Governor that he could save ap-
proximately $633,240 through the abol-
ition of 323 jobs. Fifty-four other posi-
tions can be eliminated temporarily,
he said.
The reductions from each depart-
ment as reported to the Governor at
his cabinent meeting were: Agriculture
from 5 Oto 75; Banking, 68; Forest and
waters, 68; Health, 81; Insurance, 37 to
55; Justice, 10; Labor and industry,
190; Military affairs, 15; Property and
supplies, 22; Welfare, 7; and Public
assistance, 41.
————
GALLITZIN FACTORY
MAY GET ADDITION
Reports in Gallitzin are the effect
that the New York firm of S. Leibo-
vitz & Sons, Inc., owners of the Gallit-
zin shirt factory, are contemplating the
erection of a large addition to the
present factory and the installation of
a cutting and pressing department, The
proposed factory addition would be
built on the grounds adjacent to the
present factory and would cost in the
MANY PROBLEMS
Governor Already Has Started =
Drastically Trimming the Pay
As time goes on, Pennsylvania is
on
the policies that will map the course
of his administration in the next four |
great extent so far, and has refrain-
ed from making any committments
Bu the Governor has made a start
on his first task, that of drastically
trimming state pay rolls now listing | Ellsworth Pauley presided. Enter-
upwards of 30,000 persons and in pre- |
the completion
of a state budget for the next two year
SAFETY RALLY
HUGE SUCCESS
Jamestown Local UMWA Hosts
to District No. 10,
Members of Jamestown Local 1318,
UMWA, held a successful safety rally
last Saturday in their hall, and speak-
ers included Sheriff Cyrus W. Davis,
Coroner Patrick McDermott, Vice-
i- | President of District 2, Edward Swee-
ney; Attorney C. Randolph Myers: the
Rev. Father Habrowski; William Filer,
state mine inspector, Attorney William
O | Mulhollen of the Johnstown Motor
Motor Club; and Samuel Bolton, as-
sistant foreman of the Sonman opera-
tions of the Koppers Coal Co. All of
the union officials of the tenth dis-
trict were represented at the meeting
tainment features included selections
by a hillbilly group composed of Ber-
nard McIntyre and Charles and Will-
lam Ruffing.
37 MILLIONS ARE
~ LOST YEARLY IN
~~ COAL INDUSTRY
According to the National Bi-
tuminous Coal Commission’s
Report to Congress.
Washington.—The National Bitum-
inous Coal Commission reported to
Congress on Saturday night that the
commercial soft coal industry is los-
ing more than 37 million dollars an-
nually because of low prices and warn-
ed that grave social consequences may
follow if this situation is allowed to
continue,
“The money losses sutfered by the
operators are obvious, and they lead
to widespread bankruptcy, impover-
ishment of mining communities, a
shrinkage in local tax revenues, and
increased dependence on public re-
let,” the commission said in its an-
Business and industry are looking | ng wa
for the governor's fiscal policies and | to be held in district.
to
n | |
y | be reduced. Labor, after four years of | DPA T0 PROVIDE
a friendly administration, is await-
| policy on labor organization, bd M OR E CENTERS
last] of strikes, unemployment relief an
the new labor laws enacted during the
Gov. James will answer at least
some of these questions by Feb. 6,
when he said the new state budget | ville, Others in the North of
would be ready for presentation to the | ’ ’ >
legislature. The budget, together with |
| érnor proposes to do about taxes and
for which he would |
to
| give a report, next Friday night in a |
radio speech, on the condition of the
| state’s finances, and may at that time |
The
| speech will be the first of a series des-
CAPITAL, LABOR | ignated to serve as a contributing ac-
he
will
propose any change in the existing li- |
censing or state store system, and whe-
» | ther he will replace the Control Board |
“Nobody's | P
the
| pay roll cuts will amount to, whether
some existing departments will be re-
organized, curtailed or expanded, and
| appointment of new officials to serve
Relief—How large an appropriation |
and |
in |
| the present system of distribution, or
| the civil service personnel of the sys-
And then there is the all-weather
rnpike between Pittsburgh and Har-
| risburg; the public utility commission,
The meeting was the first of others nual report
“The extreme depression in one of
the nation’s largest industries tends to
unbalance the entire economy of the
country. The financial prostration of
the industry forces waste of coal re-
sources.
“Finally, the present situation aw-
akens, on the part of the mine work-
ers, a fear that the industry may slip
back into labor conditions prevailing
before the National Industrial Recov-
ery Act, with less of the hard won
gains in hours of labor and working
conditions, return to near starvation
wages, and breakdown of the machin-
ery of collective bargaining.”
Of its own 19-month effort to es-
tablish minimum prices for the indus-
try, marked by one attempt which the
counrts promptly enjoined as illegal,
the commission only said that these
activities took “an amount of time that
may not be appreciated by those un-
familiar with the facts.”
“The duties laid upon this commis-
sion resemble in many respects the
regulation of the railroads,” the re-
port said. “Instead of dealing with a
few major corporations, however, the
commission is dealing with an indus-
try of many thousands of producing
units scattered over 34 states. Its pro-
|
‘IN RELIEF HELPS
{Barnesboro Section, Patton, Ash-
the County,
Edward R. Golob, executive director
of the Department of Public Assistance
in Cambria county Monday night an-
nounced that five centers will be es-
tablished in various parts of the coun-
{ty for the accommodation of persons
employed on WPA projects who have
been ordered to appear for reexamin-
ation. The five new centers will be in
addition to the ones already establish-
ed in Ebensburg and Johnstown.
One of the offices will be located in
either Barnesboro or Spangler, depen-
ding on which proves the ggreater ad-
vantage; one in Patton to take care of
clients in ‘Hastings, Patton, Chest
€ | Springs and other adjacent communi- duct is sold to 90,000 carload-lot buy-
ties; one in Ashville for the communi-
ties in the extreme north of the coun- |
ty, another in Cresson for the Gallit-
ers and is sold and resold in truck
lots to millions of retail consumers.
“Since the law provides no exemp-
tion on the score of size, the determin-
ation of costs and profits, the fixing
of prices, and the work of enforcement
must encompass all these operations,
‘This results in what are undoubted-
i ly among the most extensive fact fin-
ding determinations required of any
administrative body. They must be
made with the eare, patience and ac-
curcy properly expected in findings
that affect property rights. The legal
| requirements that all intensified par-
| ties are entitled to a full and fair
hearing necessarily consumes time.
“To apply these well established
procvedure is so large and so scattered
procedure in so lar egand so scattered
an industry raises new problems in
public administration, The commission
| is confident that they can be met, but
| to meet them fully requires time.
|
| zin, Cresson and Lilly area, and ano-
| ther in Portage for Portage Wilmore,
| Summerhill and contiguous area.
| Director Golob stated that it is not
| the purpose of the DPA to impose
hardships upon WPA employes by
| requiring them to travel long distanc-
jes to be interviewed and wherever
| necessary by reason of large number
of clients other centers will be estab-
lished if suitable quarters are avail-
able.
At present the DPA is reexamining
only in cases where there are two or
more employables in one family.
TRUCKS FROM STATE
HIGHWAYS ON SUNDAY
Harrisburg. — Trucks and other
commercial vehicles would be bar-
red from streets, roads and high-
ways between 6 p. m. Saturday and |
6 a. m. Monday morning under the |
provisions of a bill Tuesday before
the Senate for action.
The bill, introduced by Senator
John J. Haluska, of Patton, Cambria
Democrat, was referred to the Com- |
mittee on Highways. A fine of $25
to $100 and costs or 30 days in jail |
| is provided in the bill for violation
of the Act.
|
|
[HALUSKA WOULD BAR
|
|
| URGE RIGID MINES
SAFETY REGULATION
Scranton, Pa. — More rigid safety
regulations for all Pennsylvania mines,
| including the appointment of additional
inspectors, is recommended by a spec-
ial commission named to investigate
an explosion which killed 10 men and
injured six others in the Volpe Coal
Company mine last June.
The commission reporting to former
Governor George H. Earle shortly be-
| fore he left office Tuesday, attributed
[PROPOSES CHANGES IN | the blast to a fall in the basin heading
| - T 7| of the Butler slope of the Pittston
WAGE HOUR LAW | Township mine, near Wilkes-Barre.
Previously a group of mine inspectors
| had said the disaster resulted from a
| flood of gas.
|
| Washington — Elmer F. Andrews,
wage-hour administrator, recommends
| three immediate changes in the Fair
| Labor Standards Act.
Andrews suggested three amend-
ments in testimony before a House ap-
propriations subcommittee:
1. Simplification of the law without
change in its fundamental principles.
2. Provisions relieving an employer R
from retroactive penalties if he fol-| Maj. Lynn G. Adams, Motor Police
lews Andrews’ advice and later finds | Commissioner designate, said he is and
the advice bad by virtue of court de- | @lways has been an ardent exponent
cisions, of enforcement of auto speed laws as
3. Congressional definition of the the most practical solution of the sta-
area of agricultural production, in| te’s highway traffic problems.
which workers are partly exempt from | _ He said he had recommended to the
the act. Earle administration at the beginning
that it try rigid enforcement of the
50-mile speed limit law as a means of
reducing highway deaths and that the
recommendations were not followed at
that time,
ADAMS TO CONTINUE
WAR ON SPEEDERS
Harrisburg.—Pennsylvania’s war on
speeders will continue under the Jam-
es administration,
BARNESBORO GIRL
BURNED BY LARD
neighborhood of $150,000, it is said.
Such a factory would employ at |
least 300 girls and would assure at
least 200 jobs for Gallitzin young men.
The present factory employs 500 and
has been operating steadily for the
last 18 months. It has been the source
of income for many Gallitzin families
its weekly pay roll being in the neigh |
borhood of $7,000. The new factory |
would insure Gallitzin a pay roll of 8
quarter of a million dollars,
Mary Fabian, 14, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. John Fabian of Barnesboro, | FRANK MYERS NAMED
was admitted to the Spangler hospi- COURT STENOGRAPHER
tal on Tuesday afternoon suffering of | Due to the death of Frank C. Shar-
second degree burns of both hands, | baugh, who was for many years the
her right arm, right hip and thigh. | official court stenographer of the Cam-
Hospital attaches were informed that bria county court, Frank J. M
the girl’s father had butchered hogs been employed in his place. The ap
and the mother was rendering lard pointment was made by President
when the kettle upset. The girl was Judge John H, McCann. Mr, Mvers ;
burned by the lard when she tried to keen the law librarian. He will
protect her younger sister. Her condi- | ve an annuat salary of $3,000.
tion is reported as favorable. merly received $2,400.
vers has