The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-13

Senator Sutherland recorded himself
yesterday as being opposed to the
measure which declares that a man
shall not be discharged from the en-
ploy Of any person. firm or corpora
ton because of the fact Of his being a
member Of any labor union.
He so declared himself when house
bill g. providing that no person shall
lose his employment on account of his
being a member of any labor union,
came UP on first reading in the senate.
The speaker said the bill was in the
interest of vicious legislation, was I'M
wise and unconstitutional. Not that
he did not believe in the right of any
man to belong to a labor union, but
experience has shown that laws of this
kind have been held as void by the
courts Of several states. A lengthy
decision from the supreme court Of the
state Of Missouri was read by the
speaker in support Of the position
which he took. He averred that one
might as well provide that a man
should not be discharged because his
hair was red, OF because he wore false
teeth. as to provide that he should not
he dismissed on the grounds covered
in the bill before the senate. The
right of an employer to discharge a
man was a vested one in many re-
spects and should not be molested-
cannot be molested, according to de-
cisionS by legislation of this kind.
Glen Miller, one Of the committee on
labor, disa greed with the senator IN
this matter While the decision of
the supreme court of the state of Mis-
souri, might be against the law. there
were states where the same had been
enacted and held to be good. Miller
was willing to vote for the measure.
which was a step in the right direc-
ton. and permit the supreme court of
Utah TO pass upon the question of its
constitutionality when the time arrived
for q test. There should be legislation
in the interest of men who belonged
TO labor unions. Hitherto they have
been opposed by great corporations
and subjected to great inconvenience,
and their rights ought to be consfd-
cred.
This debate occurred on the first
reading of the bill. When it comes up
for final action there will be some
more talking. Booth was non commit
tai on the subject, saying he wanted
to examine the matter ere he voted.
If decisions are against the provisions
in this bill they ought not to be
passed-at least not without obliter-
aiting the Objectionable features which
have been found in those passed upon.
Allison and Sutherland had a little
tilt yesterday afternoon over the pas
sage of senate bill 80. which provides
for the certifying of all warrants and
obligations Of Indebtedness issued by
county clerks. city recorders and clerks
of school districts Sutherland asked
bo+ he 4nIa -,
der that Senator Jones. who had pro-
posed an amendment. might be pres
ent and be heard. The motion was put
to a vote. and Allison voted in the
negative with such vigor and vehem-
ence that the chair hesitated and mild
~ remarked;
The chair put the motion before
anyone had an opportunity of speak
ing. If the senator who voted in the
negative wishes TO speak. he will be
given an opportunity to do So
The senator from Ogden arose and
Tema rked that the amendment conSis-
ted of one single word only. The SEN
ate had fifteen members present and
thy ought to be able to determine
whether the same should be incor-
poratcd in the measure. Senator Jones
was absent and might be absent to-
morrow and the next day and the next.
The house held a three minute session
and adjourned because there was moth
ing on the table for II to consider. He
favored giving them something to do
Does the senator consider that post
poning the measure for one day will
have the effect Of still hindering the
business Of the house," said Suther-
land.
Possibly not; but there is a general
principle involved which ought to be
adhered to. We are here for the
transaction of business and we should
transact all we can in the interest of
our constituents"
The senator from Salt Lake and the
senator from Ogden then INDUCED in a
few pleasantries anent the motives of
each other in respect to bills intro
duced by each other and both, finally
subsiding. to the great relief Of the
chair, who halted between his great
love for them and his duty to the Gen
ate and the members Of the press.
who imagined a usual debate was
coming on.
Senator Snow moved to strike from
the bill the emergency <ause, an ac-
sion which prompted Sutherland to ask
why and wherefore.
Replying, Snow said the bill would
affect every officer of the character
mentioned in the state. The promulga-
ton Of the law would be slow task
and there might be many officers who
would render themselves liable to its
penalties simply because they had no
notice.
In the whirl of debate which followed
this announcement the bill went over
un&il TODAY, when Jones will appear
and discuss his amendment at length.
BILLS PRESENTED.
1t was a great day in the senate for
bills. there being no less than nine
presented, Of which the subjoined are
epRomes:
AS TO WITNESSES.
Sutherland introduced senate bill Ga
amending section / Of an act entitled.
AN act amending subdivision 9 Of sec ,
ton 1877 of the compiled laws of Utah
of 1888, relating to Witnesses" ap-
proved March Z, 1894, and thereby
amending said subdivision of section
3Sz7 by striking out certain words.
The bill provides that the section
shall be amended so as TO read as fol-
lows: "A party to any civil action.
suit or proceeding and any person d.
aRNn |