Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-22

o uon that we must keep cut of this
. country every Chinese laborer, skilled
or unskilled-every Chinaman of the
coole class.
| This is what the proposed law vii!
do, it will be done as effectively as
Under the present law; and the present
law is being handled with the utmost
| efficiency. But | will do everything
in my power to make it easy and de-
sirable for the Chinese of the business
and professional classes. the Chinese
travellers and students to come here
and l will do all l can to secure their
| good treatment when they come.
| You have spoken Of the immigration
| laws. 1 believe not merely that all
possible steps should be taken to pre-
| vent the Importation OF laborers under
any form. but l believe further that
| this country ought to make resolute
| effort from now on to prevent the COM
ing to the country of men with Il
standard Of living so low that they
| tend, by entering into unfair COMPETE
| ton with, to reduce the standard of
| living of our own people.
Now, Il word as to the petitioning
| OF employees to Congress. That stands
| In no shape or way on par with the
nctition,ng of men not employed by
| the government. l cannot have and
will not have, when l can prevent it,
men who are concerned in the admin
istration of government affairs going
| to Congress and asking for increased
pay without the permission of the
| heads of the departments. Their bust
ness is to come through the heads of
| departments"
1t was agreed that on points of diff
| ference the executive council of the
federation should appoint committee
of three, which should draft the views
Of the organization and submit them
to- the President at a later date.
Earlier in the day the delegation
| called on Speaker Cannon and Senator
Frye of Maine, president pro tempore
| of the Senate, and laid before them
| the same memorial which they pre-
sented to the President.
The memorial refers in its opening
| sentence to "the grievances which the
workmen of our country feel by reason
| of the Indifferent position which the
Congress of the United States has man.
| ifested toward the just. reasonab BILE and
necessary measures which have been
before it these past several years. and
which particularly affect the interests
\ OF the working people"
Some of the complaints, briefly stat
| ed. are:
1.-THE law commonly known as the
S-hour law has been found ineffective
md insufficient to accomplish the pur-
| DOSE Of its designers and trainers. La
/ hnr fha
| of a law as to remedy the defects and
for its extension to all work done for,
| or on behalf of the government Our
efforts have been in vain.
"WithOut hearing of any kind grant
ed to those who are the advocates of
| The S-hour law and principle, Congress
passed and the President signed an ap-
oronriatlon bill containing rider, null
| lifying the 8-hour law and principle in
its application to the greatest public
| Work ever undertaken by our govern
| nert-ttic construction of the Panama
| canal.
The S-hour law has been grievously
and frequently violated; the violations
| have been reported to the heads of sew
| al departments. who have refused to
| take the necessary steps for it's en-
| forcemelit.
while recognizing the necessity fer
| the employment of inmates of our pen
Ii institutions so that they may be
| 5ef-supporring. labor has urged in
vaiE the enactment of a law that shall
safeguard it from the competition Of
iabCr of convicts.
"In the interest of all of our people
md IN consOnance with their almost
general demand, we have urged Con-
gross for some tangible relief from the
| constantly growing evil Of induced and
undesirable immigration. but without
| "esult The Chinese exclusion law is
iagrSn:ly violated and now by act of
| Congress. il is seriously proposed to
| invaiidate that law and reverse the pol
| ICY.
THE partial relief secured by the
avs of 1895 and 1898, providing that
| 'eanen shall not be compelled to en-
| idre Unfortunately servitude, has been
| ,er;ously threatened at each succeeding
| Congress. The petitions to secure for
| the seamen equal rights with all 9TH
| RS, have been denied and DISPOSE
| ton shown to extend to other work
nen the system Of compulsory labor
/ tiIiti lIt VI d UlI ~ SuUSl-
'.ze the shipping industry a provision
| s incorporated and has already passed
the Senate providing for form Of con-
| scription which would make compul-
| sorry naval service a condition prece-
Sent to employment on privately owned
vessels.
| Having in mind the constantly in
creasing evil growing out of the par
| simony of corporations. of towing sew
| eral under-manned and unequipped
vessels called barges, on the high seas
| where, in case Of storm or stress they
are cut loose to drift or sink and their
| crews perish, we have urged the pas
| sage of a law that shall forbid the
towing of more than one such vessel,
unless they shall have an equipment
| and crew sufficient to manage them
| when cut loose and sent adrift-but in
| vain.
| ''Thc beneficient writ of injunction
intended to protect property rights has,
as used in labor disputes, been pervert-
| ed so as to attack and destroy person.
| Ell freedom and in a manner to hold
| that the emplOyer has some proDerty