Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-02
LABOR LEGISLATION
What May Be Expected Of Congress
Next Session.
HOUSECOMMIHTEE CHAIRMAN
The Proposed Non-Partsan Conn.,
mission Of Twenty-one.
OTH Err BILLS LIK ely

OTHER BILLS LIKELY
The next session Of Congress promises to
be an important and fruitful one to the in
terests of organized labor, and there is
good prospect of considerable legislation of
national character being enacted. The
committee on labor of the House will be
reorganiZed, as only eight out of its thir--
teen members were returned to Congress,
and 1t is not certain that all Of them will
be reappointed upon the committee. Those
members of the committee on labor of the
last House who will have seats In the next
House are Lewis D. Apsley of Massachu-
sets, James T. McCleary Of Minnesota,
Thomas w. Phillips of Pennsylvania, John
]. Gardner of New Jersey and Andrew R.
Kiefer of Minnesota, republicans, and Law
renee E. McGann of Illinois, c. J. Erdman
of Pennsylvania and William ]. Talbert of
South Carolina, democrats. 1t is probable.
therefore, that four democrats and one
pOpulist Ghe latter to succeed Lafe Pence
of Colorado) will be selected from the new
members.
Chafrmanship Gossip.
Toward the close of the last session. when
the surviving members were talking of the
possible formation of committees in the
EeXt House, there was considerable gossip
as to the craftsmanship of the committee
on labor. 1t was recognized then that the
pest would be important one, and that
there would probably be great deal of
work brought before the committee. Fol-
lowing the regular line of promotion, Mr..
Apsley of Massachusetts would be avail
able for the craftsmanship; but 1t was not
thought that Mr.. Apsley had any particu-
lar anxiety for the place. Mr.. McCfeary
of Minnesota was next in line, but he has
never been prominently identified with la
Dor matters. Mr.. Phillips of Pennsylvania
was talked of as being likely candidate,
on account of the great interest which he
took in labor matters at the last session.
He devoted the greater part of his time and
attention to business coming before this
committee, and it was his application to
labor affairs that gave rise to the gossip
that he may be the chairman.
The Proposed Commission.
One of the pieces of proposed national
legislation which will come before Con-
gress at its next session is the bill au-
thorizing the appointment of non-parti-
san commission of twenty-one persons TO
consider and recommend legislation to
meet the problems presented by labor agri-
culture and capital This bill was intro
! duced by Mr. Phillips last session and was
| unanimously reported from the committee
] but did not come up for action in the
House on account of pressure of other
matters. Mr.. Phillips will offer it again
next session, It is understood, and urge lis
passage.
This bill was Endorsed by the fourteenth
annual convention of the Federation OF
Labor and by Mr. Gompers. Mr. Hayes ana
| Mr.. Sovereign, insuring 1t influential spon-
sors upon its re-entry into Congress next
| session. The bill provides for the appoint
ment by the President of five men repre-
] sentative of labor. five men representative
of agriculture. and five men representative
| of business: but a majority of this COM
| mission shall not belong to any one of the
| political parties which took part in the last
presidential election. After the appoint
ment of this commission each division Of
| five is authorized TO choose or appoint two
additional commissioners to act with them
| on terms of equality. making the whole
number twenty-one; but no one division OF
| five shall make both of its appointments
| from the same political party; il shall be
the duty of this commission to investigate
questions pertaining to immigration, to
| labor, to agriculture, and to business, and
recommend to Congress such legislation as
! IT may deem best upon these subjects;
| 1t shall furnish such Information and sug-
gest such laws may be made a basis
| for uniform legislation by the various
| states of the union in order to harmohize
| conflicting interests, and to be equitable to
the laborer, the employer, the producer.
| and the consumer; the commission shall
| receive petitions and grant reasonable
time for hearings on subjects pertaining to
| its duties, and. If deemed necessary, 1t
shall appoint a subcommission or COM
! missions of its members to make fnvestiga-
| ton in any part of the United States, and
| it shall be allowed actual necessary ex-
| penses for the same, the whole expenses
| not to exceed $4,000 year. The salary
| of each commissioner shall be 5000 year
| and each division of seven shall have
! legal adviser at 5000 year and sec
| rotary at 500 per month.
other Legislation Likely.
| Renewed efforts will be made at the COM
| ing session to pass legislation for the pro-
| lection Of life and limb to railway en-
\ ployes by requiring uniform systems of
automatic couplings on the cars of inter-
| state railways, although the committee on
| labor may not have actual charge of these
! measures, the committee on Interstate and
| foreign commerce having more direct juris-
| 6iction.
| The character Of the legislation which
| Will he asked of Congress in behalf of Dis
| trict labor is familiar to readers of The
Star: 1t will include law regulating the
! liability of employees. the abolition of the
| emergency clause in the eight-hour law
| requirement that government and city
| work should be done by days labor and at
| the highest prevailing rates, and the ex-
! tension of the free school book plan to the
| higher grades. Efforts will also be made to
| secure law which will require safe scat
| folding to be erected on buildings in course
| OF erection in this city. The committees on
| legislation of the local labor organiza tons
are composed of energetic men, who know
| what their organizations want and will
| push their demands In vigorous manner.