Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-16
Some Laws That Have Been Passed
for the Poorer Glass.
RESULFOF NIX. THOMAS INVESTIGATION
Compilation Given Out by the Re-
publican Committee.
A CHI A RGE ANSw RED

The republican congressional committee
has given out the following:
Mr.. John L. Thomas. assistant attor-
ney general for the Post Office Department,
gives the silverites a bad back-set. He has
taken the trouble to inquire into the charge
persistently made by the advocates OF free
coinage that all legislation of this country
in the past, and especially for the past
twenty-five years, has been in the interest
OF capital and against the poor classes.
The result Of his investigation presents a
remarkable array of facts. This showing
must convince working men that they are
being sadly imposed upon by Bryan and
those Of his followers who are preaching
the doctrine of socialism and appealing to
the passions Of voters
ITO write the history of the legislation
for the last fifty years for the anchor
alton Of the condition of the poorer and
laboring classes would require volumes but
IL may he summarized follows: Imprfs-
onment Tor debt has been abolished: laws
have BEEN passed exempting norlesteads
and large amount of personal property
from execution against debtors, who are
heads of families. their widows and or
phans: liens have been given by law to
mechanics and laborers the land or
thing which they pestow labor for their
wages. poor persons are allowed TO sue in
the courts, state and national, without the
Pe-y VI CcSlS OF me giving OF Spcur-
lty Tor costs: the courts. state and ma
ional, appoint attorneys to defend without
compensation, poor persons In the criminal
courts, and In some instances in the civil
courts; the courts in many instances ara
directed 10 enter judgment In favor of a
laborer who has to bring suit to recover
his wages or enforce his rights against a
corporation. for a stated sum to cover his
attorneys fees.
Reduction of Hours of Labor.
Seven hours in some cases, and eight or
nine in others, have been declared by law
day for public service, or on public
works; In the administration Of insolvent
estates the wages OF labor preferred
claims, and in some cases wages are made
preferred claims generally; laws have been
passed regulating passenger and freight
charges en- railroads and other transporta-
ton lines, and also of public warehouses
and elevators. and national and state com
missions have been created to supervise
railway traffic, by which charges have
been reduced two-thirds or more; laws re-
cucfng the rate of interest have been pass
ed In nearly all of the states. and EXTEND
ing the time for redemption after the fore
closure of mortgages CT deeds of trusts:
railroads are required to fence their roads
or lay double damages resulting from a
FAILURE TO fence; they are also required to
furnish safe places and appliances for
their Workmen; manufacturers and mine
operators are required 10 provide places
and machinery for the safety and comfort
of their employees: the incorporation of Ia
Dor organizations has been authorized by
law: Labor day has been made a national
holiday. commissioners of labor, state and
national. are appointed to gather statistics
and as far as possible ameliorate the con-
dition of the working classes.
For the Farmers.
THE Department of Agriculture has been
established and the head thereof made a
cabinet officer
nually are distributed free to the people.
1t is made a misdemeanor in many of the
states to blacklist poor man who has been
disc harged from service or has failed to pay
his debts, and il is made a misdemeanor to
threaten by postal card through the mails
to sue debtor, or by the use of any de-
vice reflect on him. In order to protect the
imprudent and unwary, the use of the
mails Is denied to those who who would
operate fraudulent lottery schemes
through this medium. Hostages have been
reduced, entailing a loss to the government
OF $o,OOU.oU annually, In carrying the mails
under the operation of which the people get
the county newspapers free of postage, and
the best magazines and periodicals have
been made SO cheap to put them within
reach Of the poor. Policies of life insurance
and shares in building and loan associa-
tons are made non-forfeitable for non-pay-
ment OF premiums or dues after a limited
time.
Banks, whether state or national are
subject to public supervision, and their ac-
counts to public inspection. The employees
in the public service are allowed leave of
absence, with pay, for thirty days in some
instances, and fifteen days in Others and
an additional thirty days for sickness of
themselves or families. The cooiie trade
the importation of laborers under contract
the labor of coIvicts of the United States
the further immigration of Chinese the i'm
portation of convict-la bor-made goods and
the peonage system have been forbidden by
law. Boards of arbitra fiOn nd
uonal for the settlement of labor disputes
have been created. Those employed in the
public service are allowed pay for the ma
uonal holidays-the LIST day of January the
I'D day of February, Decoration day the
Fourth of July, Labor day, THANKSGIVING
day and the 1lth dac Of naoan,bor