The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-27
Meeting in St. Louis Will
 Take Up Legislation
BETTER LAWS ARE NEEDED
Several Associations Will Hold ses- sions mt the Same Time With a View of Working Together
 for Better Laws

St. Louis, December 26.-tSpecial J. Prominent economists, soclologists, sci entists educators and labor leaders from | all over the country are gathering hers to attend the convention of the Ameri- can Economic association, American As- | sociation for Labor Legislation, American l Statistical association, American Politi- cal Science association, American Socio- I logical society and the American Home Economic association, which open in this city todmorrow night and close Friday. | Unusual interest Is manifested in the sessions of the American Association for Labor Legislation. where resolutions will be adopted urging action by Congress and the various state legislatures on their legislative programme. which includes the prohibition of poisonous phosphorus in the manufacture of matches: inyestiga- ton of industrial injuries, and the en- | forcement of labor laws.
 Prohibitive Tax
 | I've feel confident that prompt action will be taken on some of these matters, D said John B. Andrews. secretary of the organization today. '"rhe association at the. present time has a bill before Con- gross which Is designed to put prohibi- | tive revenue tax upon matches made with poisonous phosphorus, and as President Taft has urged legislation on this sub ject in his annual message we feel sure Congress will pass the measure. Nine European countries prohibit the use of this phosphorus, and the United States should certainly fall in line.
 | "A special committee appointed by the president of our organization to investi- gate industrial diseases has made its re- port to President Taft. with strong rec of these subjects and we will urge con gressional action on this matter. Through our various state branches we will urge a more efficient system of factory inspection. a uniform work mems compensation act, and more ef- ficient systems for the reporting of in- dustrial accidents in the various states |"
 Better Laws Needed
 In speaking of the purpose of the or ganization MT. Andrews said.
 "Our cry is not more laws but better laws. The United States is about one generation behind Europe In its labor leg islaton, and we have, therefore. the op- portunity to profit by their mistakes. We are studying this problem purely from the standpoint of health If man or woman Is compelled to work in an insani- tary factory 1t is certain to have an ef- feet on future generations.
 "It Is necessary that these conditions be corrected. Occasionally one finds a humane employer. who would like to give his men better surroundings and provide some sort of compensation in case of injury, but he Is unable to do 1t on ac- count of the threat of some manufactur- CTS that they will move their factories into another state where the laws are less stringent.
 Our organization is gradually remedy ing these conditions by getting uniform iegislation in the various states.
 We are branch of the International Association for Labor Legislation, which has an admirably equipped labor bureau al Basil. Switzerland for the purpose of studying labor conditions all over the
 world. As member of this body, we are entitled to the results of their experi- ments. which are exceedingly valuable " The American Association for Labor Legislation has about 2O0o members from every section of the country, and repre- sentlng almost every profession.
 The programme for the coming meet ing provides for a joint session with the American Sociological society and Amer ican Statistical association on Wednes- cay evening, December 2S, at which ad- dresses will be delivered by Prof. Henry W. Farnum of Yale university, president, American Association for Labor Legisla- tion; Prof Franklin Fl. Giddngs, Colum- bia university. president American Soci- ological society. and MT. Frederick L.. Hoffman of the Prudential Insurance company, vice president of the'American Statistical association.
 The annual business meeting and the meeting of the general administrative council will be held Thursday morning and the afternoon session will be given ever to the discussion of industrial hy- giene, limitation of the working hours of women and the enforcement of labor laws.
 Most Important Session The most important session will be a. joint session with the American Economic association on Thursday evening, Decem- Der 29
 Addresses will be delivered by Alice |
 Hamiton. medical investigator Illinois commission on occupational diseases Frederick L. Hoffman, statistician, Pru- dential Insurance company of America ; Daniel l.. Cease. member national com mission on employers liability, and Thomas L. ParkiNon. counsel. Lesisla- ton Drafting association.
 The American Economic association and American Political Science association will open their meetings on Tuesday even ing with q joint session at which ad- dresses will be delivered by Dr. Ed- mund J James. president of the former organization. and Dr. Woodrow Wilson, governor-elect of New Jersey. head of the latter body. s
 | On Friday morning there will be an- other joint session of these two bodies, at which . state income tax and land nalue srs taxation will be discussed.