The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-19
DRAFTING NEW LAWS.
legislators and Labor UniOnists
in Conference.
AMENDMENT TO BALLOT LAW.
Large Number Of New Bills Indorsed-
Report on Longshoremen's and
Stevedores' Rules.

meeting OF about twenty representatives OF
labor unions and Knights of Labor aDem bles
was held yesterday afternoon for the considera-
ton OF labor bils to be introduced at the forth
coming session of the legislature. A large
number of important labor bills were suggested
and others were Endorsed and referred to COM
mittees, which will report them at the meeting
with the King county delegation Friday even
ing next. Chairman E. S. Meany, of the King
county delegation, Will r. White and w. +.
McElwain. representatives-elec,. were present.
W. G. Armstrong was elected chairman and
c. f. Hawkes. secretary. Mr.. Armstrong stated
tho object of the meeting and called for sugges-
tions of measures.
Fred j. Ware. of the stonecuttsrs' Union, ad-
vocated free text book law, and also offered q
bill, similar to the Ohio law, making it a GRIM
inal ofense for employers to discharge employees
for the mere fact Of their connection with a
labor organization. Both measures were in
dorsed and referred to a committee consisting of
Mr.. Ware, NJ. E. Clough and P. H. McXernan.
Mr.. Armstrong submitted bill for the crea
tion OF a bureau of labor STATISTICS, providing
for the appointment Quadrennially by the gov
ernor OF Commissioner and one deputy ut sal
aries of 5000 and 81 $50 respectively, with &
penalty Tor employers refusing the commits
sioner admittance to their factory or workshop.
The bill was referred to a committee consisting
of J. F. Croniu, Robert Bridges and Frank
Bazan
Mr.. McKernan submitted an anti Pinkerton
bill which provides for q fine OF S., 900 and i'm
prisonment for from one to five years for any
person acting as a member of an unlawfully
constituted armed force, or any person hiring
in any way directing the movements of such
force within the state. 1t was referred to Mr..
McKernsn Mr.. Bridges and Mr. Armstrong.
bill submitted by the Knights of Labor. pro-
viding that eight hours shall constitute a days
work on state. county and municipal work. was
referred to Mr.. Mckernan, P. X. Mohr and Will
liam Fitzgerald, for an amendment providing
for doing such work by the day, instead OF by
contract.
The Knights of Labor submitted bill provid-
ing for the establishment of state board of ar
bitration, consisting OF five members elected at
large, to settle disputes between employers and
employees, which was laid over for future con.
eideration.
A bill submitted by the Knights of Labor,
making it criminal offenss for employers
running stores to compel their employees to deal
at these stores. was Endorsed and referred to the
King county delegation.
A bill giving mechanics aud laborers a first
lien on the products of their own labor and also
on the site of buildings was referred to Mr..
Ware. Mr. Bazsn and Fred Albrecht.
T. &. Luckanovic, of the Fishermens Union,
submitted a request from his union that the
laws relating to the catching of sturgeon and
salmon be so amended that the Sc fish could be
caught in salt water the whole year round, but
prohibiting the catching of them in fresh water
from October l to November Is, each year. 1t
was also recommended that the law prohibiting
persons not residents of the state six months
from catching these fish be repealed. MI
Luckanovic, Mr.. McKernan aud Mr.. Armstrong
were appointed & committee to draft bill COW
ering the points.
Mr.. Bridges urged the amendment of the
Australian ballot law SO as to prevent the desig-
nation on the ballot of the political parties to
which the candidates belong. A plan for the
numbering OF the ballots az to prevent fraud
and yet preserve secrecy was also submitted.
Suggestions were also made regarding the
necessity for laws on the following subjects:
passenger and freight rates; abolition of the poll
tax: employ ers' liability for injuries sustained
by employees through lack of necessary safe
guards, and the licensing of steam engineers.
These were all referred to Mr.. Bridges, Mr.
Bazan and Mr.. Albrecht.
A bill was submitted. by Mr.. Armstrong, pro-
viding for the establishment of state printing
Office for doing the public printing for the state,
which was referred to Mr.. Hawkes., Mr. Fitz-
gerald and Mr.. Finnerty.
The meeting refused TO consider a letter call.
Ing attention TO the necessity for q law fixing
the rate OF interest at per cent
Mr. Meany spoke briefly, encouraging the
work and promising the united support OF the
delegation TO snch measures as might be con.
sidered reasonable and expedient All meas.
urss the delegation decided to introduce would
be divided among the members aud all would
do equal work and get equal credit.