The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-01
House of Representatives Turns
Down Bill to Prevent Strikes
and Lockouts.
COMPULSORY FEATURES
OBJECTIONABLE TO LABOR
Minimum Wage Bill Reported
Out of Committee-Other'
Labor Bills Considered.
BY w. f.. McEWEN.

BY w. E. McEWEN.
ST. PAUL, March 30.-(Special
Correspondence.)- 1.-The farmer men,
bers Of the legislature, or at least
small number of them, attempted to
foist the canadian trades disputes
act upon the people Of Minnesota
Wednesday. The bill was introduced
by Representative Knutson, and un-
til just before the vote was taken
stood a fair chance of passage.
The bill had it's good features, and
labor would preferred to have gotten
behind the bill. but it's author would
not submit to any amendments that
would make the bill satisfactory to-
labor.
Where Labor Objected.
The Objectionable feature was in
the penalty clause. 1t provided that
if any number of men left their en-
ployment in unisoT before the board
of arbitration made its award, they
would be guilty of committing a mis-
demeanor. and subject to a fine Of
not exceeding $50 for each day they
were on strike.
On the other hand if the employer
should declare a lockout before the
board made is award he would be
guilty of misdeameanor and sub
ject to fine of from $50 to $1,000
for each day of the lockout.
Seems Fair on Surface.
On the surface this seems fair, but
In actual operation in Canada it has
worked against the laborers. A re-
port from the bureau of labor (Bul-
letin No. s6, Page 19) shows that
when an employer in Canada desires
to reduce wages he does not force a.
lockout. BUT simply closes down his
works for repairs. His contract with
his laborers cease, and them in a few
days when he wishes to start up
again those laborers who desire to re-
turn to work can do so at a reduced
wage.
Labor Handicapped.
1t would be difficult for any num-
ber of laborers who might quit work
simultaneously to prove that their
act of quitting was not strike. The
Canadian delegate to the last conven-
tion of the United Mine Workers. un-
ion introduced and had passed a re-
solution advising their fellow work
men on this side Of the line to be-
ware of the canadian trades dis
putes act"
The labor representatives at. the
Capitol disliked exceedingly to be
put in the position of opposing an
arbitration act of any kind, but they
were very skeptical of Mr.. Knut-
sons bill, and successfully opposed it
with justification.
Lundeen Bill is Favored.
The judiciary committee of the
senate on Wednesday recommended
for passage the Lundeen. bill, which
raises the amount that can be re-
covered in case of death by wrong
full act from $1,000 to $500. This
bill now stands a good show of pas
sing. The employers made a bitter
fight against this bill, but so far with
little success.
Minimum Wage Bill.
The committee of labor in the
house on Thursday recommended for
passage Father John Ryan's bill es-
ia ablishing an industrial board to have
power to fix minimum wage for
working women. This is the first
bill of it's kind introduced in an
American legisl lature, and is a copy
of the law now in existence in the
province of Victoria, Australia.
The bill may not pass at this ses-
sion, but it is step in the right di-
rection. and no doubt will have it's
educational effect. Some day such an
act will be necessary to protect the
health and morals of the wage earn
ing women. 1t is really necessity
today
Workingmen's Compensation.
The senate committee on labor
held a session Wednesday afternoon
ana an attempt was made to have a
report made on the Mercer-McEwen
code. One of the members wanted
the bill referred to the judiciary COM
mlttee' but it was final'v agreed to
mold the bill in the labor committee
until the house disposed of it. 1t
surely looks bad for any kind of a
Dill to get through the senate. The
statement was made that if the bill
ever reached the judiciary committee
1t would never be heard Of again.
-. Recalls Passes Senate.
The senate passed the recall bill
Tuesday after protracted debate
The bill was considerably amended,
but, Is now believed to be in better
form than when It was originally in
troduced. The judiciary is excepted
from the law. It cannot be used
against officials until they have held
office for a period of one year.
Woman's Suffrage Fails.
The bill submitting to the voters
of the state an amendment to the
constitution providing for woman's
suffrage, which has been before the
Coathued on Pase Six. 5Il77 90.