IN THE FIELD OF LABOR
The senate judiciary committee's
hearing on senate fiile No. 16 was
held last Tuesday afternoon. This Ts
the bill requiring protection for
workmen on all buildings, bridges,
viaducts, etc. Some opposition to the
bill manifested itself early in the ses
sion, but the union men of the state,
who were sponsers for the measure,
got busy and soon made it evident
that they were in earnest. Hereto
fore organized labor has been con
tent to introduce bills, and then laid
down and let them die of inattention.
It's different now. Legislators . were
bombarded ' with letters from union
men and from trades unions, asking
support for the bill. When the sen
ate judiciary committee met it was
confronted by thirty or forty men,
representing every building trade and
the State Federation of Labor, and
these men made it clear to the com
mittee that the provisions of the bill
were just and equitable. They also
made it very evident that organized
labor is "keeping cases" this year.
The committeemen fired questions
point blank at the supporters of the
bill, and got answers straight from
the shoulder. When the committee
arose it unanimously reported the bill
for passage, and the first round was
won. Several men came down from
Omaha to urge the bill, and an active
lobby will remain on the spot to pusJi
this and other bills demanded by or
ganized labor.
. Several employers liability bills
bills have been drawn, and perhaps
one will have been introduced by tht
time this issue of Will Maupin's
Weekly apears. The bill that will be
introduced will have the approval of
the legislative committee of the State
Federation of Labor. The chief dif
ficulty in drafting an adequate lia
bility law is to get it broad enough
without making it too complicated for
the average legislator. It must cover
many points to be of any servce to
the wake earners. The Oregon law,
adopted by referendum vote, is a
model law, but the mere sight of it
would frighten the average lawmaker.
It is long, involved in its provisions,
and covers every imaginable point.
Some of these days Nebraska wage
earners may hope to have a law as
good but it will be after the initia
tive and referendum is in effect.
Nebraska has a law providing for
factory inspection of a kind, but the
law is of no account for the simple
reason that there are no laws com
pelling the safeguarding of machin
ery nor adequate ventilation and
sanitation in factories. Neither Is
there any provision for factory in
spectors. A bill has been drawn
suplying these omissions, and it will
be pushed to the limit. It is the hope
of the legislative committee of the
State Federation of Labor to secure
a law licensing employment bureaus
and putting them under the direct
supervision of the commissioner ot
labor, the license fees to - be devoted
to the maintenance of the state's
free employment bureau.
j unless the latter are all discharged.
Blacklisting of discharged employes
or employes who have left their em
ployment for any reason is a mis
demeanor under the provisions of a
bill introduced in the California as
sembly.
A bill introduced in the California
legislature fixes the highest rate of
interest which pawnbrokers may
charge at 3 per cent per month. Tne
law now allows them 5 per cent a
month.
Manned by Mexican engineers who
took the place of striking Americans,
all trains on the Southern Pacific
lines of Mexico between Cananea and
Naco, Ariz., resumed operations on
January 19.
The board of inquiry investigating
the cases of sixty Armenian imml
grants arriving at Galveston on Jan
uary 11 has refused to admit fifty
five of them. The majority of these
men were bound for Los Angeles.
Train dispatchers to the number of
fifty, who have headquarters in Port
land, on January 17 presented a de
mand to the various railroads enter
irg that city for an increase in wages
i'roni $140 to $175 a month.
Practically all drug stores in San
Francisco have agreed to close their
doors on Sunday between the hours
of 1 and 6 p. m., thus reducing the
hours of the clerks and affording them
opportunity for much-needed recre
ation. The Cotton Screwmen's Benevolent
association has been sued at Pensa
cola, Fla., for damages of $5,000 by a
screwmen, basing his claim on being
prevented by the organization from
plying his trade. The suit Is brought
under the Sherman anti-trust act.
Governor Hay of Washington has
been notified by Secretary of State
Knox that the action of the Spokane
council in passing an ordinance bar
ring aliens from employment on pub
lie works is in conflict with a treaty
between the United States and Italy.
A strike of the mail clerks in tha
Goldfield, Nev., postoffice because of
discontinuance of double pay has
been postponed until February 1 to
allow congress time to renew the
emergency appropriation bill govern
ing postoff ices in Goldfield, Nome
and Fairbanks, Alaska.
A bill aimed at concerns employing
boys in night work was introduced in
the California assembly on January
20. The measure makes it a misde
meanor for any one to employ a
minor under 18 years of age to sell
goods or engage in other occupations
between the hours of 10 p. m. and 5
a. m.
Speaking on behalf of 25t),000 em
ployes actively engaged in railroad
ing, P. H. Morrissey, president of the
American Railroad Employes and In
vestors' association, recently pre
sented a formal statement to the In
terstate commerce commission In
support of the proposed advance in
freight rates by the railroads.
LABOR BRIEFS.
Japanese on the Hawaiian sugar
plantations where Filipinos are also
employed threaten a general strike
None to Dp the Chores.
More than four million people are
estimated to attend moving, picture
shows in the United States every day.
No wonder It Is getting so hard to find
Eomebody willing to do the chores.
Not in Esop's Language
A Grasshopper spent the summer in joy riding1 and
hitting- the bright and high places, laughing merrily in
the meantime while the Ant hustled to lay up grub for
the cold spell. The Grasshopper had lots of fun with
itself and the Ant while the sun was warm and the sky
cloudless. One day the blizzard came and. caught the
Grasshopper with nothing but a summer suit and a head
ache. Then it was that the Ant showed up with a warm
overcoat, good underclothes and plenty of grub stored
away in the cellar. Whereupon the Grasshopper asked
relief, and the Ant answered by winking of his-eye and -remarking:
"I'll give you a note to the charity organiza
' . tion." ' v ' --' , .
Moral: What's the use of telling you what the
moral is? You know
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Wageworkers ask you
Fraternal Insurance Order WHY
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year and prove to you they are
safe? THE MUTUAL PROTECT
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How do you know they won't bust to-morrow?
We Demand the Label.
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