The San Francisco call., 1907-03-08

II
TGNHENAAA sssea Isslslissss Ss:l;lv. Of 9ss as
----~---~ appreciation OF the
growing import
ance of proper legal recognition Of the
rights OF the wealth producers.
A great many legal questions as TO
the probable or possible constitution
ality OF bills favored by labor have
arisen and have had q very consid-
erable influence upon the success Of the
proposed legislation. There is, how
ever, a sentiment prevalent among the
legislators as well as with the gem
eral public. that decisions as 10 ques-
tions OF constitutionality depend upon
the Judges and the circumstances sur
rounding the cases when the law IS
invoked The general opposition to
labor laws is that that kind Of legis-
lation is class legislation" The fact
that the constitutions of the several
States vary widely gives little oppor-
tunity for passing accurate judgment
according to decisions upon similar
laws In other States. 1 am Informed
that upon laws intended for the pro-
lection and advantage Of women In
Industrial pursuits in some States such
laws are held to be unconstitutional.
while in other States the contrary has
been held.
vi
One Of the important labor measures
before this Legislature was Assembly
bin Bl3. introduced by Assemblyman
Wilson. This bill, regulating the hours
OF employment for minors under Is
years OF age. is known as the child
labor law. Its counterpart was intro
duced in the Senate by Senator Reilly.
1t passed both houses by an over
whelming vote. Assembly bin 512 and
Senate bill s79, introduced by the same
legislators. limiting the working hours
of women TO eight a day, was also
passed by q large majority in both
houses
The furnishing OF free textbooks to
the public schools of the State was put
before the Legislature by Assembly
constitutional amendment (Estudillo)
and Senate amendments il and 10 NC
Cartney and Willis. respectively. The
general proposition has been unsuccess-
fully brought before the Legislature az
several sessions The free textbook
scheme has met with the active opposi-
tion OF the representatives OF the
Catholic church in each instance. Some
legislators opposed the free textbook
proposition in the interest OF economy.
Others are opposed TO il because of a
dislike for what they are pleased TO
term 'paternalism" and it is not un-
likely that other interests, in some
instances at least, are combined with
these The Estudillo measure passed
the Assembly. A proposed amendment
giving free textbooks TO all primary
and grammar schools. thus Including
private and parochial schools, was
favored by the representatives of the
Catholic church and indorsed by the
San Francisco Labor Council The
amendment was made to read all "ele-
nm rnfsl lr-x-ff c0h
mittee on education. On vote this
was beaten. as was the primary and
grammar" amendment afterward intro
duced; and finally the measure. which
required a two-thirds vote, or twenty
seven, for submission 10 the people
received only fourteen, while sixteer
votes were cast a gainst II. Other prop.
ositions for free textbooks to be fur
nished by counties and local boards
have also failed.
FREE TEXTBOOK BILL
The principal arguments made fo
free textbooks TO all schools were baseS
upon the fact that the parochial schools
educate a large number OF pupils. thu
saving the State great expense. Promi
nent California State and local educa
tors have favored free textbooks. be
ginning in 1875 and including 1900
Under various regulations ia twenty
| nished to the children in the publ
schools, and in the States where tn
| free textbook plan has been adopte
there has been the greatest satisfaction
and no request or movement has bee
| made for a return to the private pur
chase of books. II is to be regrette
/ that the plan was not favorably con
sidered by the Legislature, for it woul
probably receive the hearty support o
the people, were they allowed to vot
upon the question.
Senator Leavitt's bill, Senate 736, an
Assembly bill Se5 CEshieman). il
counterpart, IS a general employer:
liability measure similar to bills un
successfully introduced at previou
sessions. This measure was given tn
support of all labor representative
and passed both houses by virtual
unanimous votes. The bin has bee
signed by the Governor.
Senate bill 1e9 tMcCartney), addin
one hour to the voting time on electio
days. was believed to afford suficien
time for voters OF all occupations
deposit their ballots without interfeE
ing with their duties. IL passed bot
houses There IS a strong sentimen
} among working people that the impor
tance OF elections warrants the obseT
vance Of all election days as legal holi
days.
The eight-hour bill FOR railway en-
ployes (Senate 491, Leavitt, and Assem-
bly, 547. Johnson) passed both house
by large ma5orities.
Senate bill SAG (Keane) and Assem-
bly, bin 522 (Coghlan) place the en-
forcement Of the law fixing ten hour
maximum for daily service of dru
clerks in the hands Of the State Com
missioner Of Labor.
Senate bill 80. providing a minimum
wage OF SO day on public works. me
. with the general approval of worlkin
people. passed both. houses and wa
vetoed by the Governor Assembly bi
702 (cOghlan). limiting the eontinuou
hours Of labor to sixteen for railroa
employees, passed both houses.