Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-10

masses, while many others were faith
cred by organizations antagonistic to
the labor movement, and were intend
ed to either cripple or ultimately de-
stroy the labor organizations.
Child Labor Bill.
The child labor bill, in behalf of
which greater interest has in the past
been manifest by all of our member
ship than in any other measure, passed
through most tortuous and strenuous
course. 1t will be remembered that
through the efforts of the National
Child Labor committee, state Child
Labor committee was organized dur
ing the past summer and fall and hav-
Ing for it's object the uniting of all the
forces OF the state, favorable to such
measure. Under the auspices of this
committee, a bill was drafted and
agreed upon, this bill being introduced
In the house by Representative Hart,
of Allamakee county, and in the SEN
ate by Senator Dowell, of Polk county.
In both branches the bill was referred
to the Judiciary committees. The house
committee acted first by reporting a
substitute bill shortening the original
measure but in no way weakening the
same, in fact in some particulars max
ing it stronger. Upon the floor of the
house this substitute after being in
several particulars amended was pass
ed by vote of "a to "a against, IL not
voting.
When this bill reached the senate,
the Judiciary committee of that body
reported another substitute for the
house bill. In this measure the quar-
ry interests succeeded in having such
places of employment eliminated from
the measure, and when acted upon on
the floor, amendments were further
made striking out sixteen years as the
limit in dangerous employments and
substituting IA years instead. When
so amended the senate passed the bill
by vote of 46 for to against.
Enemies Active.
We we're then in the position Of hav-
ing separate bill in each house and
were in great danger of losing both by
disagreement between the houses. Sew
eral of the enemies of the measure,
especially in the house, made deter
mined effort to secure appointments on
the conference committee appointed in
such cases.. but fortunately both the
lieutenant governor and the speaker
of the house held the position that
both branches manifested their DISPOSE
ton on measure of this kind by pass
ing the same, and that therefore op-
ponents of such measure we're no long
er in sympathy with the sentiment of
their colleagues and therefore not COM
petent to act on conference commit
tee. The result was that the confer
ence committees appointed had no diff
ficulty in getting together and upon
their report being made was promptly
adopted and the bill became a law 1t
is worthy of note that the age limit of
the measure as passed was again made
16 years in dangerous employments
and also provision included provid-
ing for restriction of child labor in oc-
equations using high explosives which
effectua1ly includes quarries as these
practically all use such explosives.
Free Employment Bureaus.
1t will be-recalled that during mum
Der of conventions of the Federation
endorsement was given the principle
of Free Public Employment Bureaus
not that such protection is necessary
for the members of organized labor
who can and do always receive full in
formation of Industrial conditions
through the officers of their respective
unions, but in the interest of consid.
cradle portion of unfortunate men and
women, who because of their environ
ments. and general self-helplessness
fall an easy prey to private employ
ment sharks. During the converting
of the legislature, DR.. Connery, Of the
United States Department of Com
merce and Labor, who at that time
was making a special Investigation Of
Free Employment bureaus of the seq
eral states, arrived in Des Moines, and
after consultation with the governor
the labor commissioner, and the chair
men of the house and senate labor
committees, succeeded in arousing {
considerable sentiment for such blu
reau. Owing to Iowa conditions the
plan proposed was somewhat different
from that in vogue in other states, the
plan being the collecting Of a minimum
fee of fifty cents upon securing EN-
ployment, and ten cents when no EN-
ployment is secured, such moneys tt
go for salaries Of officers Of bureau
the state being under no expense ex
cept for stationery and postage. I'm
fortunately, the State Manufacturers
association fell prey to the hallucina
ton that the measure was an attemp
on the part of the labor unions to con
troll the labor market. The alright o
the manufacturers So worked upon thu
Des Moines Business Mems and thu
Sioux City Industrial associations tina
they passed through all the agonies o
epileptics and succeeded in. .defeatin,
the measure in the house with only q
votes in favor of the bill. The labo
organizations can have no particula
regret in the defeat Of this measure ex
cept that the old condition of exploita
ton Of a class of citizens who cal
least afford it and are least able to re
sist same is permitted to continue. S.
far as the organizations are concerne'
the very reasons given by the oppc