The Cairo bulletin., 1907-02-26
coRPARATloN AGENTS REJOICE
AT BRIGHTER PROSPECTS
IN LEGISLATURE.
FEDERATION STRANDED
And Best Opportunity in Years to Sc
cure Favorable Legislation May
Be Passed Up For Lack
Of Funds.

report that organized iahOr iobbN
which has been watching bills of in
terest to Illinois toilers in this legis
lature, was threatened with disrup
lion through lack OF funds. This de
yelopment mpends just as the general
assembly enters upon its active stage
and when the labor spokesman ap
pears to b in a fair way 10 accom-
nlish more than in any previous leg
islature.
The Chicago Federation of Labor IS
said to be one of The organizations
whose legislative delegations may be
withdrawn in whole or in part. and
The Amalgamat Street aRilway En-
ployers' Union also is said to be in
doubt as to its programme W. NJ
Russell and Leland P. Smith have
been here for the Chicago body, while
D. Enrght Chicago and Charles A.
While Of Ofallon have represented the
street car men. These men have been
leaders IN the labor lobby and their
absenc would be a serious blow to
prospects. as the lawmakers pay lit
lie attention to absent treatment
Labor Has Opportunity,
In the enactment Of the fellow ser
want BILL which would abolish the fell
low servant rule as a defense against
damages growing out of accidents
'abor has an opportunity to repay it.
senf a thousand fold for the expense
Of its lobby here. Without the pleas
and presence of organized labor the
bill will fall, but is likely to 90
through if strongly pressed This
measure has the emitted backing of
labor unions. whose membership in
Illinois is more than 100000,
A hearing on the fellow servant bill
has been arranged for next Wednes.
day before the house committee on
corporations, of which Representative
Chiperfeld is chairman Mr.. Clipper.
field is also handling the bill pro.
hibitng the employment of convict la
Dor in manufacturing goods coming in
to competition with free labor. for
which measure hearing soon has
been promised by Chairman Dudgeon
of the house committee on penal and
ref-rmatory institutions
Have Had One "Set-to"
Chipes field. representing the labor
side and Dudgeon. author OF the con
Wet labor law, which allows 40 per
cent of the STATES convicts to engage
In manufacture, have had one warm
set-to over the date for this hearing
and Dudgeon will not be allowed to
held off much longer without having
his conduct drawn to the attention Of
the house.
Circulars hav been sent out by the
labor lobbyists to Unions throughout
The state. drawing attention to the
following servant and other bills, in
Guiding the measure introduced last
week by observation-disclosures. of
Chicago. giving State Factory lnspec
tor Davis the right 20 order guards
or o.her protectio1s for dangerous
The greatest progress made to date
on any labor bill is with Represent
tive Kings measur eliminating the
clause under which members Of rail-
road and other employees relief asso
Citations waive their rights TO sue for
damage in case of accident.
This bill is up to third reading and
many b passed this week in the
house.
Railroads Have Profted.
The railroads. harvester trust and
Dther great corporations have profted
OF thousands of dollars
through the enforced collections =
from 81 10 81 a month from their
employees wag I'm addition to escap
Ing liability for accident damages
Should the Chicago Fedora ion OF
Labor withdraw its representatives
here. Daughertys bill granting mum
cipalitics the ,igh' 10 construct and
operate public tility plants. including
gas Electricity and street railwav-
W. Md lose valuable support as tina,
was the first 10 indOrsr
The proposition The bill along with
several other measures regulating the
price Of gas and electricity IN any city
Of the state as Chicago was Empower
I'd TO do by the last general assembly.
arc before the house committee on
poraiions. Of which Rep
resen alive Fr Erickson from Sena.
emergcnci s. Add 10 his normal
shor age OF experienced labor the re-
~ legislation especially g
ho-r laws. and the problem becomes
critical. If th Shour law was stric.-
ly enforced the rsiIr adj would have
To stop -unninE 81 trains. They sim
My could not operate under Il.
= believe that Presiden, Roosevelt
when he issu his manifesto on this
subject did not stop 10 give the rail
roads second thought II be had be
would have seen the impossimiity of
hey being able 70 observe il. As
! hav aid. a railroad must continue
ali the line. no matter
what happens and rs the unexpected
often happens a Law that should cause