Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13
A LABOR COMMITTEE
Violations of Eight-Hour Law
Discussed.
ANTI INJUNCTION BILL
Mr.. Pearre's Measure Preferred to
That of Mr.. Gilbert.
HOSTILE PURPOSES SUGGESTED
Against the Failure Of Congress and
It's Committees to Report and
Pass Needed Legislation.

committee representing the American
Federation of Labor, consisting of Samuel
Gompers, president; Frank Morrison, sec
rotary, and Thomas C. Spellman, attorney,
discussed with President Roosevelt this
afternoon specific violations of the eight
hour law by officials of the government and
the status of the proposed anti-injunction
legislation now before Congress.
When the executive council of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor called on the
President last March to lay before him
what has become known as "Labor's Bill of
Grievances" the President suggested that
at some later time a committee might see
him TO present specific infractions of the
eieht-hour law on the part of government
officials.
The important part of the conference to-
day related to the status In Congress of
what is known the nti-injunction bills
now pending before the judiciary commit
tee of the House
Mr.. Gompers stated that the committee
seemed loathe to report them favorably to
the House, and on behalf of the oreaniza-
tfon which he represented urged the Prest-
dent to exert his influence to secure their
enactment into law, particularly the bill of
Representative Pearre of Maryland which
Mr.. Gompers stated represented mot how
great but how small a demand labor could
| AFFORD to make upon Congress which being
complied with would give the relief to
which we are clearly entitled"
Labor's Position.
Mr.. Gompers also presented a letter to
the President outlining the position of the
American Federation of Labor as to the
anti-injunction legislation desired and in
antagonism OF the Gilbert bill, so called
After stating their reasons against the
Gilbert bill, the following other points are
made:
Viewed from any point. the issuance OF
inJunctions, as we have witnessed them in
our country, cannot be defended in either
law or morals
There is no desire on the part of labor
Tor extra consideration or leniency at the
hands of the courts.
We neither request nor desire immunity
for any wrongful unlawful act when
committed by workman
we have the right, however to demand
TO be regarded and treated with absolute
equality before the law
We must and shall be content with Moth
Ing less.
our worst and most bitter antagonists
cannot dissent from our protest against so
vicious distinction made in injunction
cases In the courts by which punishment is
meted out to workman which is never
even made applicable WIN actions OF a
similar character are done by another.
Hostile Purposes.
"Of course. We hesitate to accuse any
committee of Congress of being actuated
by improper motives and hostile purposes,
Notwithstanding we have sufficient substan-
ual grounds for such accusation. The fail
ure of Congress and its committees to re-
port and pass needed legislation in the IN
terest OF Justice and "a square DEAF have
not been divulged TO us nor made public
to others
We cannot expect you, nor do we ask
you TO interfere with the work of Con-
gress or its committees, but we deem il
our duty to respectfully suggest to you that
you VIII make known to the judiciary COM
mlttee or the House of Representatives and
the leaders IN Congress your position at
least to that extent in so far as your Views
are misunderstood or have been represent
ed regarding this bill, the legislation re-
ferred to herein as well as the other fea-
lures of legislation named in labors bill
OF grievances of March 81 1906
The President did not indicate to the
committee what action, If any, he might
take on the subject presented.
Violation of Eight-Hour Law.
Charles P. NELL, commissioner of labor,
had conference with the President in the
afternoon prior to the call of the American
Federation officials Mr.. NELL has been at
work for some time upon the charges filed
by the American Federation Of Labor OF
violations of the eght-hour law, and he is
understood to have reported to the Presi-
dent the progress he has made. He is not
yet ready to file a complete report. which
may or may not lead to prosecutions for
violations of the law