Will Maupin's weekly. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1911-1912, April 14, 1911, Image 10
LABOR LEGISLATION BY THE LAST LEGISLATURE Just two years ago next June the Neraska State Federation of Labor was organized in the city of Lin coln by men representing eighty three different local labor organiza tions within the state. Many were pessimistic, believing that previous failures to maintain a state organiza tion would make it impossible to rally the workers into another compact state body. But the effort was made, and success was accomplished. The first convention after the or ganization was held in South Omaha in January, 1910. The second con vention was held at Havelock last January, at which time it was de cided to meet hereafter in September, and Omaha was selected for the next convention city. At the Havelock convention it was decided to get into the legislative game and make an effort to secure some legislation in the interests of the wage earners. For the first time in the history of Nebraska unionism an organized effort was made to secure legisla tion and the results of this initial effort were so great that the future of the State , Federation is assured. That success will impel unions not now affiliating to get into the fold and have a part in a work that is bound to push further and further ahead. Today less than one-half the local organizations in the state are affiliated with the state body, yet despite this lack of interest and sup port the Federation took the plunge and it has made good. What shall be accomplished in future depends wholly upon the support accorded the state body by the local organiza tions. At the Havelock convention a legl islative committee was appointed, and the president, as chairman of that committee, was empowered to make selection of men whom he thought best.fitted to attend to the work. It was understood that the finances of the organization would not permit keeping the entire committee at work, but there was enough money to keep one man on watch all the time, and two men a goodly part of the time. President Maupin selected H. M. Bridwell of Omaha and Frank M. Coffey of .Lincoln as the men best fitted to attend to the work. Mr. Bridwell performed efficient service until ill health and a pressure of duties in connection- with his Omaha work compelled him to retire. Mr. Coffey, whose experience as a lawyer peculiarly fitted him for the work remained on duty day and night while the legislature was in sessicn, and he drew most of the labor bills in troduced. President Maupin gave the work all the attention possible, and in this way it was pushed to th3 limit. The success that crowned the efforts of the committee is a source of pride to its members, and should be appre ciated by the rank and file. In all four good laws were secured, two of them being of especial value, and one law aimed solely at the wage earners was defeated by an appeal to Governor Aldrich. The law providing for the proper safeguarding of the lives of workers on buildings, bridges, and viaducts is of especial importance. This bill was drafted at the instance of the men in the building trades, and it met with fierce opposition from the start. A misunderstanding caused the bill to lie in committee for several weeks, but as soon as the legislative committee was permitted to exercise a free hand it was speedily brought to the front. By almost superhuman efforts it was put through the senate only to get into the ruck in the house. At the session's nearing close it was still far down, and was nowhere in sight when the sifting committee of the house was appointed. Then Cof fey and Maupin got busy and by working day and night had it lifted, put on its merits and ordered to third reading. The oposition was well or ganized, but the legislative commit tee had worked a bit, and when the bill came up for passage it went through with a whoop. Coffey fol lowed it to the engrossing room and by reason of his persuasive manner soon had it before the governor for his signature. It is now the law of the state. The factory inspection bill had easier sailing. It is not all that could be desired by any means as the labor commissioner has no money with which to make it really effective. But it is a long step in the right di rection and means a great deal to the wage earners in Nebraska mills and factories. It. provides for factory in spection, the proper safe guarding of dangerous machinery and proper sanitation. The state printing bill provided that the governor should be the com missioner of printing, with power to appoint a deputy at a salary of $1,500 a year. The deputy must submit bids in accordance with specifications, and the law requires that when an official or department specifies any "trade marks, monograms, designs or orn aments" the deputy must see to it that the same tappears on the printed work. In this connection it may not be out of place to mention that all union labels are registered as trade marks. It is now possible to demand and secure the label of the allied printing trades on all printed matter, and the label of the papermakers on all paper. While the grave and dignified senators were wrangling over a union label bill, and listening to the plaints of those opposed to such a law, the state printing bill was making its- way without much trouble. It was introduced in the house and went through with only three op posing votes. But it was among the last of the bills considered and it took some tall hustling to get it over to the senate and lifted by the sifting committee. The legislative commit tee succeeded, however, thanks to the interest shown by Senators Tan ner, Talcott, Bartling and others. There was not an adverse vote against it in the senate. Another bill backed by the Feder ation was one providing for in spection and safeguarding of moving picture theaters. The compensation bill drawn by the committee, with the help and counsel of Representa tive Evans of Adams, was bitterly fought before the committee by rep resentatives of organized employers. The legislative committee knew from the beginning that there was no hope of securing such a law at this ses sion, but it believed that by agitating it strenuously people would be set to thinking and the matter would be more thoroughly investigated. The bill was practically withdrawn before an adverse report could be made, but a resolution was secured providing for a commission to investigate the entire subject and submit a report to the next legislature. By getting such a resolution through the legislative committee will be able to secure the services of the state reference bureau thus liminating any jpxpense to the Federation for postage, stationery and stenographer's services. The governor will appoint? a Tjoard of in vestigators who sha serve without remuneration. The f Federation and the National Civic Federation will co operate in sharing the small expense incident to the work. The garnishee law, aimed solely at the wage earners, was passed despite the opposition of the. legislative com mittee. - The committee owes much to Representative Grossman of Doug las for his splendid fight against this iniquitous measure. When the bill finally passed the committee, together with Mr. Grossman, appealed to the governor. The appeal was not in vain, for Governor Aldrich vetoed the bill. He voted against the same kind of a measure when he was a member of the senate four years ago. This, in brief, is a synopsis of what was accomplished the first time try ing. If as much may be done in pro portion after- all the local organiza tions realize the benefits of affilia tion and get into the fold, a very few years will see Nebraska in. the f roe front of the states having wise and humane laws in the interests of the great army of wage earners. The list of legislators who - gave splendid assistance to the Feder ation's legislative committee would be a long one, but especial mention should be made of Representative Grossman and Holmes . of Douglas, Representative Evans of Adams, Rep sen tative Lawrence of Dodge, Repre sentative Leidigh of Otoe, Senators Taner and Reagan of Douglas and Senator Bartling and Talcott. With out the assistance .of these gentle men at the latter end of the session, the public building bill and the state printing bill would have failed. Last fall, while serving as deputy labor commissioner, Will M. Maupin secured the conviction of two Omaha employers on the charge of violating that section of the female employ ment law which prohibits the employ ment of women in stores and factor ories after 10 o'clock p. m. The cases have been appealed to he higher court and the Woman's Trades union league and the National Consumers league have pledged their assistance in prosecuting the cases through to the court of last resort. Deputy Com missioner of Labor Guye . will enlist the services of the attorney general of the state and push the prosecution. Richard Metcalfe Maupin is con to his bed by a severe attack of measles and as a result the editorial home is under quarantine. Secretary Chrisman of the State Federation of Labor will come to Lincoln in a few days, and with the assistance of Messrs. Coffey and Mau pin of the legislative committee will make out a full and complete report of legislative work for the informa tion of all local unions in the state. F. R. Lintner, formerly a member of the local Electrical Workers, has removed to Fremont. Mr. Lintner is an expert in his business, a true blue unionist, and a hustler for the good of the organization. He will be a great acquisition to the ranks of un ionism in Fremont. H. C. Peate announces his candi dacy, for delegate to the San Fran cisco convention of the International Typographical union. The Lincoln Typesetting Co. has installed the latest model linotype in the basement at 1201 M street, and is prepared to do commercial com position on short notice. That it pays for organized workers to forget their partisan differences and elect representatives to the leg islatures from their own ranks, is evidenced by the work of Representa tive Charley Fear of the Joplin, Mo., district. Fear, a union printer and a republican, was elected to the legis lature from a democratic district. He introduced a number of labor bills, among them the bill abolishing the leasing of convicts, and secured the enactment of seven in all, the convict bill among the rest. Among the laws he secured are the following: Com pelling the timbering of mines when needed, inspection of bakeries and prohibiting children from working therein, and prohibiting employers from paying in checks when they have no money in bank. There were others, all good. More might have been accamplished had Fear been Articles of Incorporation of the LINCOLN TYPESETTING CO. Notice is hereby given of the incorpor ation of the Lincoln Typesetting Com pany in conformity with the following articles: I The name of this company shall be the Lincoln Typesetting Company. II The principal place of business of this corporation shall be Lincoln, Neb. Ill The purpose of this corporation shall be to engage in any or all of the various branches of the general printing business; to own, lease or operate any or all kinds of machinery used in the general print ing business; and to own, lease or control any real estate necessary to the pursuit of the purposes- of this corporation. IV. The capital stock of this corporation shall be $10,000 divided into 1,000 shares of a par value of $10 each. This stock shall be preferred stock and in voting on matters of business, policy or manage ment each share shall entitle its owner to one vote. Any such owner may, by proxy duly filed with the secretary of this corporation, authorize any other stockholder to vote for him. Immediate ly on the filing of these articles of in corporation, the incorporators shall pro ceed to the election of a president, vice president and secretary-treasurer who shall hold their respective offices for the term of one year. The anmial meeting of the stockholders of this corporation shall be held on the Saturday next pre ceding the expiration of the terms of the officers of said corporation. V. The business of this corporation shall begin as soon as 50 per cent of the au thorized capital stock shall have been subscribed. The term of the existence of this corporation is . fixed at thirty years from the date hereof. VI. The officers of this corporation shall be those enumerated in section 4 of these a r deles and their duties shall be those ordinarily entrusted to such officers. This corporation may adopt such by-laws for its management as a majority of the stockholders shall at any time determine at the annual meetings or at any meet ings called by the president, notice of which shall have been duly served on all stockholders VII. The limit of indebtedness of this cor poration shall be two-thirds of its sub scribed capital stock. By GEORGE W. KLINE, G. A. MOSSHART, O. H. KLINE Incorporators. t