The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-18
VE'TOI|MPE N.DING
FOR R LABOR BILL

Un L:hD.U |. Dill
: Flaw in Title OF Measure for Pay
ing Wages Twice
Z Month. 81
Because Of a defect in the tile, It
seems probable that Governor Mann
will be compelled to veto the Casey
bill providing for the payment OF
wages to employees at least twice a
month. ut least so for as IL applies
to men who work forIthe railroads OF
Il Virginia.
This bill was introduced by Mr..
Casey early In the session Of the
Legislature. By. giving It his close
personal attention, tho patron secured
a favorable report from the Committed
| on General Laws. Later he got con-
l3sideration In the House. where, how
ever. 1t was amended to soma extent.
Finally. by whirlwind assault, Sens,
ator Folkes secured its passa ge in the
Senate on the last day OF the session.
The original act was designed Cor
z
engaged in mining or manufacturing
from charging a greater profit in
lcomnlissaries owned by them than was
charged to other customers buying for
cash and not employed by them. The
Casey bill amended this by adding
companies engaged in building or
operating railroads and by providing
that settlements must be made at
least twice each month. excepting in
the case Of mining enterprises.
Exceptions Made.
In the House this was amended by
excepting sawmills and lumber roads,
and finally by excepting railroads
under construction. Therefore. the
semi- monthly payment proposition
would apply to railroads now oper-s
5ating. excepting lumber roads, and to
all manufactures.
Following the passage Of the bill.
Governor Mann received letters and
| kilograms by the score aAsi pe him
not to sign It. Not a word he said
yesterday. was heard from any rail-.
road conpanles-all the protests were
from employees. These men were OF tee5
opinion that q semi-month1y pay rule
would cause the abolition OF the pay
car and the payment Of oil wages in
checks. which would be difficult OF
negotiation in the smaller places along
tho lines. II
Yesterday morning a large delcga-
ton Of workers called on tho Cover
nor urging his approval of the BILL
They were cordially received Shy the
executive In the ante-roonl to his
offices. Short remarks were made BY
Delegates Throckmorton, Toney. Baker.
Casey and Wingo; Senator Folkes, 4
Labor Commissioner Doherty, Mr..
Gardner, of the Legislative committee
of the local machinists' union, and
Mr.. Whltlock. OF the State legislative
committee Of the same organizations.
All OF these explained the position;lI
OF the men In this matter. saying that
1t was believed money could BIO saved
# the employees could get their wages
more promptly and buy for cash,
Intention is Good.
Replying, tho Governor said that
he approved the general policy OF tho!
BILL There might be some question
as to It's wisdom when applied to men
on the road, but as to the shop men A
he thought 1t was probably good
thing. But as matter OF principle he
believed that questions OF policYI'
should BIO left to the Legislature ana i.
notsdectded by him.
He did not mean to say by this that
he would not interfere In a matter ofi
policy. There might be extraordinary
circumstances He might be lied TO i
believe that q measure had been has |
thy con sidered ana that had the Cen !
eral Assembly been more deliberate itsi
Judgment might have been different.
Or q bill might present itself which,
was Inherently vicious ana wrong hi I
principle, and entirely foreign to thej +
policy and principle OF the State, In
which case no would be justified in|
veto.
AS to this particular measure, the
question was one OF constltutionality.
Tho object OF every bill ought to be
expressed I'm Its title The reason for
titles, pursued the Governor. was that
any Of the people might know what s.
was being contemplated ana he given r
an opportunity to oppose 1t IL they
desired to do So & ~
& In this case the title had not been
changed III so as to conform to the
81 adding railroad com
panies to the list, but still refers. as !.
in the old bill to nlanuf fact tories ana
coal mines. The question involved
was as to whether or not the people II
concerned In the effects OF this bill
had had an opportunity, by exanliningI=
Tho title, to appear against it.. He
wanted to- algn the bill If possible.
Acknowledgements Opinion.
Y Governor Mann here read q lotter
from Attorneys General Williams. in =
which the opinion was expressed thatI n
tho portion Of the bill relating to rail-
road companies was unconstitutional
This was tho offlcer, said the Governor, Is
whom the people Ind elected to con. q
strue3 tho laws OF the commonwealth :
and upon whose decisions he must
'cly.
\ Had the bill reached him in tina.
la would llava returned 1t to tile Leg Il
slaturef With a recommendation that IN
+ DO alnendel so as to cure the de- g
Get, That However, was low impos- ].
able sS q
& 8 Mr.. Y brock ton mad d a sugges-
ion coVerlngsa new poln + OF View bssS
which the bill mi ght ho construed To
lsS Icpnst itut lionel The g oyerno on said .