The San Francisco call., 1897-01-21
Senate Committee Acts on
Bills for the Relief of
Workingmen.
Insure Reasonable Hours, a Fair
Wage and Certainty of
Recompense.
Measures Intended to Protect the Em.
ploye Against the Loss of
His Earnings.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Jan. 20.-Every-
thing was pleasant sailing at the meeting
of the Senate Committee on Labor and
Capital tonight. Every bill up for con-
sideration was either favorably passed
upon or definite action was deferred. The
two measures relating to employment
agents, which raised such breeze before
the Assembly committee. were laid over,
and will not come up before the Senate
committee again until next week.
The mem bers of the Senate committee
who were present at the meeting tonight
were disposed to show every consideration
to the interests of the laboring man.
Those present were Senators Morehouse
(chairman). Stratton, Henderson and
Simpson. The laborers' interests were
represented by Labor Commissioner Fitz-
gerald, Deputy Labor Commissioner Dam,
Walter Macarthur and L. ]. Rose of the
San Francisco Painters Union.
With little discussion the measure fix
ing the minimum compensation for labor
on all work performed under the authority
of any public official at So per day and pro-
viding that stipulation to this effect be
made part of all contracts to which the
State or any municipal corporation is a
party was agreed to.
The next bill taken up was that pro-
viding for the proper sanitary condition
of bakeries, hotels an d public restaurants
and the health of the EN- mployes therein,
and providing for the appointment of a
bakehouse inspector. Senator Stratton
expressed himself as in favor of the BILL
with the exception of the section provid-
ing for the appointment OF a bakehouse
inspector. He explained his objection on
the ground that this carried an appropria-
ton. He thought the police or other local
officers could perform the duties of in
spector in connection with their other
duties.
Walter Macarthur, on being asked why
this suggestion could not be adopted,
stated that it required a man with special
knowledge OF bakes hops, such as practi-
cal baker. to properly appreciate the true
condition of bakeshop. Senator Simp-
son thought the provision relating to the
construction and maintenance of bake
shops were too much in detail. He
thought general provision for the proper
sanitary condition of bakeshops would be
sufficient. Labor Com missioner FitZger-
aid stated the section was patterned after
the New York law on the same subject.
Chairman Morehouse agreed with Senator
Sim pson. He said he would not vote for
the bill in its present shape, and certainly
not for any measure creating additional
inspectors. Further consideration of the
bill was deferred.
There vas no objection to the bill de-
signed to prevent collusion between en-
ployers of labor and employment agents,
and it was agreed to recommend its pas
sage.
The bill to secure the payment of the
claims OF material men, mechanics or
laborers employed by contractors upon
State, municipal or other pubic work
was considered Simpson did not like
the section making such claims legal
claim against the State, county, city,
town or district by the officers of which
the contract was awarded. Stratton sug-
gested that the officer making the contract
be made liable, instead OF the State, city,
county, town or district. The bill was
amended in this respect, and the commit
tee agreed to report it favorably.
The bill to protect citizens in their civil
rights, advocated by the colored citizens
of the State, was unanimously agreed to.