The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-07-19
The Conspiracy Bill.

In answer to inquiries which have
been made, we will give, in few words
the facts in relation to the passage of the
above bill at the late session Of the
Legislature.
In the House of Representatives
January 22d, 1872, Mr.. Brockway o.
Columbia county read in his place and
presented to the Chair a bill entitled
''an act to relieve laborers, workingmen
and journeymen from certain prosecu.
tions and indictments for conspiracy
under the criminal laws of this com.
monwealth," Legislative Journal, 90. !
The bill was referred to the Commit
tee on Judiciary, (General)
February l, Mr.. Brockway from the
Committee reported the bill without
amendment.
March 2S, on motion of Mr.. Brock.
way the House proceeded to the con.
sideration of the bill, and it was read
as follows:
"That from and after the passage OF
this act it shall be lawful for any labor
er or laborers, workingman or work.
ingmen, journeyman or iourneymen
acting either as individuals or as the
member of any club, society or assOcia.
ton, to refuse to work or labor for any
person or persons whenever in his or
their opinion the wages paid are insufn-
cient or the treatment of such laborer
or labOrers, workingman or working
men, journeyman or journeymen by
his, her or their employer is brutal or
nj ixyn hn 1,l, h.,
such laborer or laborerS, wOrkingman
neymen would be contrary to the rules,
regulations or bylaws of any club, So
ciety or organization to which he she
or they might belong, without subject
ing any person or persons so refusing
to work or labor to prosecution or in
dictment for conspiracy under the
criminal laws of this Commonwealth
Pouided, That this act shall not be
held to apply to the member or mem.
bers of any club, society or organiza-
tion, the constitution, bylaws, rules
and regulations of which are not in
strict conformity to the constitution of
the State of Pennsylvania and to the
constitution of the United States"
The bill being under consideration
the following additional proviso was
added, as an amendment, on motion of
Mr.. Lawshe, to.wit:
"Provided further, That nothing here
in contained shall prevent the prosecu-
tion and punishment under existing
laws of any person or persons who shall
in any way hinder persons who desire
to labor for their employers from so
doing, or other persons from being en-
ployed as laborers."
The bill then passed.
In the Senate, April 8, the bill was
called up by Mr.. Petrikin, went through
its several readings, and was passed by
unanimous vote, the yeas and nays
not being called thereon. (Leg. Jour-,
1O9S.)
The bill was not signed by the Gov
ernor before the adjournment, nor SUBJ
sequent thereto; nor are we informed
that he has yet signed it. The cause
for this delay it is difficult to under
stand, for the Governor has claimed
to be the laboring mans friend, and
though the bill may be imperfect in its
terms, as amended, it is step in the
right direction and should be approx
ed. Whether it be merely declaratory
of the law of conspiracy as indicated by
modern decisions, or introductive of
new rule or principle, it was just, right
and proper and conforms to the ad-
vancing and enlightened spirit of the
times.