Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-17
LABOR LEGISLATION.
The Recent Report of the X. of L.
Committee Not Approved by
SECRETARY-TREASURER CAFFREY.
He Publishes a Statement Sharply Criti-
cizing the Report.
MINOR NEWS FROM THE THREE STATES
ESPECIAL TKIEGRAMs TO THE DIsPATcH.l

ESPECIAL TELEGRAMs TO THE DISPATCH.l
HARRISBURG, Aug. 16.-The report OF
the Knights of Labor Legislative Com
m;ttee does not meet with the favor of p.
F. Caffrev, the secretary, and third member
Of that committee When Chairman Butler
prepared his report to the knights of Labor,
Secretary Canrey refused to sign it, de-
ciaring it to be inaccurate and biased. To-
day Mr.. Cafirey gave out a statement, the
substance Of which is as follows, which he
savs he can substantiate by the official re-
port of the sessions of the last Legislature:
The report Of the knights of Labor Legis-
lat;ve Investigating Committee by Messrs.
Wright and Butler is so unfair, inaccurate
and incomplete in its treatment of the sub
ject and so unjust to friends OF labor, TO Doth
sides OF the House, to the order and to my
self that propose to issue report upon the
action taken on all bills. The votes pub
lished in the so-called Butler reports contra
dict his own comments and conclusions IN
several instances.
He-e arc a few samples: The workingmen
are told that senators Robinson, Goblin, Fen
rose Lemon and Lieutenant Governor w at
rous were friendly on the Republican slde.
The recorded votes in the appendix to the
report show that senator Robinson was
present and not voting" upon the anthra-
cite mine bill, and also on the factory in
spectOr bill.
SOME GLARING INACCURACIES.
In one portion of the report we are told
that the factory bill was lost in the Senate,
while page 29 shows 81 Senators voting aye,
without a word OF explanation to inform the
reader that at a later stage of the proceed
ings senator Robinson moved to indefinitely
postpone the said factory bill, using the
very expressive appeal to ms colIeagues,
let us butcher this bill, and they old XIII
~1,...rF Ffaear nr1lfN
show that the vote was reconsidereo on
motion of Mr.. Keyser The bill then passed
finally and was messaged TO the senate,
where our friendly Robinson -'butchered
it" on the evening of May "a A fair report
would give the final vote on this or any
other bill in both Houses.
senator Robinson is recorded as absent
and not voting" upon the emasculated eight
hour bill: absent and not voting on the
dockage bill, which was not an extra"
measure, this report informs us, but was
named side by side with the company store
hill on the first six important demands con-
tanned in the circular letter to the House
and senate.
lie is also recorded as voting against the
checkweighman's bill to protect the miners.
The Old Roman" senator Brant is recorded
as voting for all our bills. He made gal
liant fight for ballot and taX reforms, and yet
in this brilliant report his name does not
apDear among those specially and honor
ably mentioned. That is a fair sample of
the whole report, and there are Others.
LANE EXCUSES IN THE REPORT.
senator Goblin, who according to this re-
port was friendly" is recorded as absent
ANA not voting five times and voting
against the check weighman's bill for the
protection of the poor miners. Senator
Goblin denounced ballot reform of every
description. The report is full of excuses
for the action taken upon the defeated
labor hills For instance, A. c. Robin
son, of Pittsburg, who was not a
member of either House or Senate, is
held responsible for the failure to secure
genuine eight-hour law. Whom will the
people hold responsible-these outsiders or
the men who were elected to represent their
rights? The report shows 16 Republicans
voting against the miners on that bill, and
10 Democrats and / Republican voting in
favor of abolishing stupendous system of
robbery and spoliation. 1t says little or
nothing about the House Committee on
Railroads and Corporations, which killed |
Burk's anti-Pinkerton bill, Seanor's anti |
discrimination bill, Ferry's safety coupler |
bill. and the railroad fence bill. Il
Did the gentleman who wrote this MIS- |
leading report forget how ably Mr.. Ritter |
defended the eight-hour bill before it was |
killed by amendments which the House ac-
Cepted2 DID he forget how enphatioally
and earnestly Mr.. Ritter demanded the
bill which our committee had approved?
Does he deserve no credit for the many
efforts made by him and his colleagues TO
perfa 1t the ballot reform bill?
oNLY A FEW OF MANY ERRORS.
These are but few of its defects, sufficient
at this time to indicate reasons for refusing
to sign it. / believe in giving every person
or party full credit for work done, but the
delegates who we're present at the State
convention of our order will remember the
intention was that full and fair record of
action taken for OF against the cause of
labor should be kept and published for in |
formation.
Considering the unfairness, inaccuracy |
and Incompetence of the aforesaid report, |
] deem il a duty which 1 owe to the order,
to the friends of labor on both sides and |
TO myself, TO prepare and submit for their |
consideration complete report made up |
from my daily notes and the official records. |