Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-13

! SEMBLY.
Legislative matters again monopolized
| the attention of the Ohio Valley Trades
| and Labor Assembly at it's meeting of
yesterday. Although the endeavor of the
| assembly to secure favorable action upon
the labor bills sent down to Charleston
has not borne fruit as yet, there is to be
no let up until success has been achieved
| or the gavel falls upon the last motion
for adjournment. The present status of
| the labor measures is not very encourag-
| ing, but undaunted, the Assembly will
| re-double its efforts, and step which
| has heretofore been approached with
! some hesitancy, was taken with this end
| in view. A letter from Delegate Connolly.
| read at the meeting, stated that he had
| reason to believe the bills will yet be
| enacted into law, but owing to the prox-
unity of the day of adjournment, the
| representatives of labor are uneasy and
| will not leave a stone unturned 10 COM
! pass their passage. The reports coming
! from Charleston, too, that certain amend
| ments are to be tackled on to the bills has
| excited the solicitation of those having a
| deep interest in their welfare. For Illus
| trdtion, it is proposed to modify the child
| labor bill so as to increase the age limit
and exempt from it's provisions children
| who have widowed mothers dependent for
| support upon their earnings. Also an
| amendment making the law imperative
| during vacation periods. The Assembly
looks upon these suggestions as simply
loopholes, which. if adopted. will render
the entire measure practically void and
| non-effective. 1t was on account of this
| seemingly critical point reached by the
measures that influenced the Assembly to
use additional and more strenuous ex-
ertion.
| In accordance NTH +lai-- s~.N+i--Aant and
| belief, after due elaboration and much
| discussion, it was decided to send two
| representatives. from the Assembly to
| Charleston TO use all persuasion at their
| command to secure early and favorable
| action upon the lines indicated Nearly
every legislator has been acquainted with
| the motives of organized labor in the Ohio
| Valley. either through friendly delegates
or by communications from officers of the
Assembly but it is regarded as being
more forcibe and prOmotive of success
| that the subject be placed before them in
| a personal manner. In pursuance with
| this idea, President NJ. F. Tighe and Del
| egate A l.. Bauer were selected to go to
Charleston and use their best efforts in
| behalf of the coveted legislation. They
| are especially instructed TO accept no
| make-shifts or substitutes that shall re
lieve legislators of responsibility while
| they fail to rectify or mitigate grievances
| as they now exist
| The Assembly yesterday met at the
usual hour with good attendance, Pres
| ilent Tighe and Secretary Salisbury in
their respective places.
| Credentials were filed by Enoch Bourne
| August Pagendaum vice Messrs. Hades
and Hughes, of No. s, n. 3. of o. p; also
| by Ned Sims and Oscar Howard, of Typo
graphical Union NO. 70.
| Legislative committee reported organ
| lied with Delegate c. f. Stein chairman.
| Delegate A. l.. Bauer had had talk
with Labor Commissioner Barton and the
latter thought the chances for labor bills
passing not fattering, unless strong pres
sure is brought to bear upon the Legisla-
| ture
President Tighe was Of the same mind
and favored an aggressive campaign until
the close of the session. He had always
opposed sending representatives 70
Charleston. but he deemed the time now
ripe for action.
Delegate Bauer thought It a humiliating
spectacle that labor should have 10 get
down on its knees for legislation which
had long been adopted by other States,
the saIutary effect Of which was unques-
toned. Both political parties are to
blame" said Mr.. Bauer, "and the sooner
la Dor gets to understand that the better"
Mr.. Tighe said the proposed amend
ments to the child labor law would defeat
| the spirit and purpose Of the measure,
and he was unqualihedIy opposed to them.
Mr.. Salisbury said that legislators must
| be given to understand that any Old law"
will not Go. They must meet the condi-
tons frankly and dispose Of it fairly.
Delegate Bourne cited the removal Of
GO children from the East Liverpool pot
| teries under the Ohio law, as an example
of the beneficial effects OF such legislation
Their work is now done by men, and the
boys and girls are being educated instead
| Of growing UP in ignorance.
| Delegate Stein thought the trouble with
West Virginia legislators lay in the fact
| that many OF them fail to appreciate the
conditions in the manufacturing coua-
| ties Of Brooke, Hancock, Ohio and Mar
shall He thought representatives from
| agricultural couItles WOH41 4Slu kut4F as
sistance willingly II the circumstances
were properly explained 10 them.
| Delegate Riley thought it anomalous
| that the Legislature should haggle for
| two weeks over the best place to hang a
man when hundreds OF working men and
children are being gibbeted right here in
| Wheeling for want OF ordinary legislation
which is their just due.
| -.
| the expense Of sending representatives 10
| Charleston TO show TO the tosling masses
| that the Assembly is not hah-hearted
in what it has undertaken TO accomplish.
| II was finally decided TO send two rep
| resentatives, a Democrat and RepubA-
can, and the choice fell upon Presidex