Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-12
OFFICERS REPORT.
Continued From Page 81

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port. under penalty of heavy fine,
the most trivial accident, even to boy
falling from horse, with this the
child labor law was coupled and which
was represented as preventing farm
er from sending his children to gather
eggs and then the factory inspection
law which was represented to be for
the most inquisitorial purpose, and to
mmct them for violence of the acts.
About this time came the defeat Of
the retail grocers' first garnishment
bill for which their first state conven-
ton was held in Des Moines as lob
by and national officers Of their asso-
citation had been brought from Mime
apolis and st. Louis to bring it to sue
cessful issue. This association hay
ing many members of their association
among the membership Of the house,
besides their paid officers almost con-
tinually on the ground, these at once
proceeded to get square with labor
measures by opposing everything that
was even intimated might be desired
by labor and whether right or wrong.
In the early days Of the session,
Senator Young introduced an exact
facsimile of the Alabama anti-boycott
law. Investigation developed the fact
that it was introduced at the request
of some OF his constituents from Lee
high, where some labor difficulties had
got into the courts, but were after
wards dismissed by agreements be-
tween the contending parties. 1t was
at this time thought that the measure
had only local support, but when it
became apparent that the measure
would be recommended for indefinite
postponement by the judiciary commit
tee of that branch. through informa-
ton from Sioux City, it was found
that an almost similar bill would be
introduced in the house, where lntiu-
ences for it's passage could be more
effective and also that some state wide
organization was behind it. For some
days prior to the Introduction OF the,
house. measure. members of the ex-
ecutive committee of the State Man
ufacturers' association were in EVIL
dence. the officers of this organization
had repeatedly informed officers OF
the labor movement that they were
organized for the purpose OF promoting
Iowa manufactures and especially to-
advertise such at the st. Louis expo
sition, and positively not for the pur-
pose of fighting labor unions, your
committee was therefore struck with
the utmost adherence when the dis
coyery was made that the measure was
introduced at the behest of the very
men who had all along protested the
greatest good will towards union la
Dor and that the bill had the support
of such association and also it's near
relative. the Citizens Industrial Ali
ance, under various names according
to the city of it's existence. 1t is not
able that after they had arranged for
a hearing before the committee on po-
lice regulations, when it became
known that our committee would be
present not single person appeared
for the measure and it was consequent
ly killed.
All .eefe 6rste influences, however,
mao we're Work of your committee on
the most meritorious of measures ex-
tremely difficult because of the large
number of men privately worked with
who had no knowledge of industrial
conditions in trade centers and more
particularly that class of able leaders
with an eye to the main chance.
On March the child labor law,
which had passed the senate, met de-
feat in the house by vote of IS for to
55 against.
On the day following the bill provid-
ing for a stenographer and two factory
inspectors for the state bureau of labor
statistics was lost by lacking three
~ constitutional ma iOritv
This bill was. however, later reconsid-
cred, an dafter cutting out one inspec-
tor became 81 law.
"A bill giving to the labor commits
sioner greater powers in the enforce
nlent of the law providing fire escapes
also became q law.
The bill to place gypsum mines I'M
der the inspection of the state mine
inspectors was drawn by Senator War
rem, of Madison, after a conference
with representatives of the gypsum
miners and your committee, and pass
ed by the senate without any opposition.
Bytthe time it got to the house, how
ever, the operators were fully lined up
against it. Two hearings We're had be-
fore the committee OH mines and min
ing and resulted at the second meeting
In the operators present agreeing that
they would not object to law provid-
Ing fol- the safety. ana nealtE OIL lne
miners, and the bill was accordingly
amended by the committee TO comply
with said agreement. 1t was therefore
with considerable surprise that youi
committee realized the most active OPP
position. engendered by parties to the
agreement and especially FROM one OF
the representatives, who is himself in
terested II this industry, and, who. by
the way, was present when the opera
tors voiced their agreement. The OPP
position was sufficient to defeat the
bill but later a concurrent resolution
passed the houses instructing the state
mine inspector OF the third district anc
the labor commissioner TO investigate
the conditions of these mines and re-
port for the action of the next genera
assembly. it was generally considered
that this resolution will furnish con-
siderable relief in correcting at least
some of the evils of these mines.
The compulsory education law was
amended by making the compulsory
period sixteen weeks instead of twelve
as heretofore, and also providing thai
the period shall begin with the first Of
the school year. While this is not al
that was desired, yet it is a step in tbs
right direction, and the specifying o.
the compulsory period makes the law
enforcible. something which the for
lner law lacked.
Shortly after the defeat of the law
tl,n icl, an of