The San Francisco call., 1907-01-20
EDITED BY o. M. BOYLE

organized laDOr IN 1dllIOrnla has 8
number OF bills Of utmost Importance
10 its interests which viii be pre-
sented at the present session OF the
Legislature. George B. Benham Of this
city and l.. B. Leavitt Of Vallejo have
been sent TO Sacramento TO watch over
the bills and see that hostile inter
ests 90 not accomplish their defeat
Incidentally LabOr's representative es
yin bring back reports that will en-
le trades unionists 10 know who
aided and who opposed their inter-
ests. The list OF bills in which the
unions are interested is a long one
The one probably OF the great import
ance is that giving the State Labor
Commissioner $1,000 a year for the
salaries OF agents and for travelling
expenses, 10 be used in a more thor
ough inspection Of factories and work
shops and for the betterment Of the
working people. Another important
bin, particularly TO union men in the
southern part OF the State, is that ex-
tending the hours during which the
polls are open TO Z p. N. Still another
is the bill prohibiting the carrying OF
arms by any person not vouched for
by twelve responsible citizens and who
has not been a resident OF the State
for at least a year. This would pre-
vent the importation Of Farleyites from
the East in case Of strikes. The pro-
posal TO make textbooks in the pub
lie schools free is also considered an
important measure. The attorney of
the local Carmen's Union is at work
drawing up two bills which are OF par
ticular interest to San Franciscans.
One provides that a carmans work
ing day shall not exceed eight hours
the other that all dOUble-truck cars
such as are used in this city shall be
supplied with air brakes and other
modern safety appliances. At the
meeting OF the Labor Council on Fri
DAY evening Benham made an inter
esting address on the progress being
made with these bills in Sacramento
and expressed himself as confident that
the majority Of them would be passed.
AThe officers OF -Engravers'
Onion No. state that an aggressive
hght against the only open shop within
this jurisdiction is being waged against
the firm OF Strong & Bolton. The fight
has been taken up by all unions In the
printing craft, and il is said that firms
sending their work to the unfair house
are experiencing much trouble in hav-
ing II printed. The printing trades
unions realize that II the policy Of the
open shop should be permitted to take
root III would eventually affect all de-
partments OF the craft. Typographical
Union no. 21 and Printing Pressmen's s
Union No. "a. particularly. have done
very effective work. International
Vice President A. ]. Gallagher Of the
photo engravers, George A. Tracy.
president Of the Allied Printing Trades
Council. and George /. Berry OF No. p
have visited several OF the larger
printing houses and called attention 10
the complications that may arise IL
they should persist in patrOnizing the
firm OF Strong & Bolton. The case is
e particularly aggravated one, because
President Gallagher has ia his pos
session contract in which Strong g.
Bolton agree to run under union con
ditiOns. In spite Of this fact il is as
serted, the firm has broken faith with
the photo-engravers and has violated
every clause in its contract.
Steamftters' Union No. as met re-
Gently IN Labor Council Temple. with
President Cook in the chair. Six can
didates were obligated and eleven ap-
plications for membership received.
The question OF enforcing recognition
by the Building Trades Council was
t3a<en up and discussed at length. The
-ter Is in the hands Of the officers
Of the international Steamfltters and
they viii submit the case to President
Gompers OF the American Federation
Of Labor. The discrimination prac-
ticed against the union steamftters
obtains nowhere else. n is said, but in
San Francisco. The delegates to the
Labor Council also viii ask the CO.
operation Of the official organizer in
this city Of the A F. Of L.
frate-nal association. the Draw