The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-02-17
Bills Pending of Inter-
est tOLabOr-Public
Utilities Commits
sion Bill an Unpop-
ular MeaSure-La-
Dor Legislation on
the Calender this
Week
Olympia, Wash, Feb. IA, 1911.

The fifth wek of the legislature has
been notoriously slow in advancing inn
portant legislation, apparently prefer
ring to deal with minor matters anj
thus delay action on important issues
Reasons given for this course are that
| further hearings and consideration OF
the big issues are necessary in order tC
ascertain the will of the people but
some doubt the sincerity of those re-
sponsible for these delays. Is it not
possible that the interests opposed to
the passage of the Initiative and Refer
endum, Compensation Bill and Women's
Eight Hour Law are delaying action in
the hope that the constant knocking OF
the large daily papers will eventually
defeat these measures to which they are
opposed.
Delays are being overcome, however,
and the coming week will witness all of
these measures in the foreground. The
Womens Eight Hour law will be on
Tuesdays House calendar, as will the
Initiative and Referendum I'll. b. No.
| 1889 The senate has placed II. b.
No. 60, (Amending the constitution by
the Initiative) on Tuesdays calendar.
The Compensation Bill has been amend
ed by the Labor committee this week so
as to eliminate much of the opposition
without in any way injuring the bill
from an employees standpoint. Prov-
| sion has been made for sliding scale
in the First Aid fund reducing the cost
of first aid to one cent per month on
the least hazardous occupations and in
creasng to two and four cents as the
hazard increases. Employers are desir-
ous of striking out all first aid provi-
sions and voluntarily caring for the vie
tins of industrial accidents during the
first three weeks, but employees realize
that such action would perpetuate ex-
isting conditions and victims of acci-
dents would not get decent treatment
in private hospitals where dollars are
the first consideration. Some employ
ers and newspapers are boosting S. B.
40, better known as the Casualty Com
pany's Compensation Act. They pre-
tend to believe in the principal of com
pensation, but shy at state insurance
as socialstic and robbing corporations
Casualty companes) of a chance to do
business.
S. b. No. 102 creates a Public Util-
tiles Commission and gives to them the
right, upon request of either party
Especial privilege corporation or people)
to adjust rates on all public utilities
such as water, gas, light, telephone and
street car service. Such bill would de-
prive our cities of the right of home
rule and place final control in state
commission. Cities are invariably GO
ing on record against this bill as they
learn of its contents. All printed cop
les are exhausted.
H. B. No. 225 is the opposite as it
aims to give all cities greater power
than they now have in the regulation
of rates in all public utilities.
H. b. No. 1919 aims to eliminate the
second choice provisions from our direct
primary law, thus making it easier to
control primaries by machine methods.
II. b. No. 2S2-A code on local i'm
provements contains a section (no. 59)
which provides that such work may be
done by city or county if authorities so
desire, instead of compelling the author
tiles to let same by contract to lowest
bidder.
II. b. No. 254 is copy of the A. f,
of H. Liability Law. destroys doe
trines of fellow servant, eontributory
negligence, etc.
/ II. b. No. 261 restores the nomina-
tion of supreme court judges to the peo-
pie.
H. b. No. 263-Anti-P Pledge Bill. "a
copy of bill passed two years ago and
vetoed by the governor)
i Ii. b. 29S-Child Labor Law. A copy
of the National Child Labor Commis
sions bill.)
s. b. No. 29-Semi monthly pay fol
public employees. It has been favor
ably reported by Senate Labor commit
I tee.
! S. b. No. 100 requires that all pris
on-made goods be so labeled. Favorabl,
reported by Senate Labor eommitte.