The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-28
FIVE silLs opsEREp TO BRING
HARnoNv.
Between operstors and miners In the
Fields ~ the United
Ststea
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So seriously Is the threatened
strike OF bituminous and anthracite
coal miners regarded In Congress.
that five separate measures are now
under consideration by the lawmak-
ers. for a settlement of the differences
between the miners and the operat
ors.
The great coal interests OF West
Virginia. just now enjoying unpreced-
epted prosperity as a result OF the
labor troubles in England and on the
continent are vitality interested in
the legislation now proposed in the
House and Senate for some form OF
arbitration that will effectively meet
the conditions that have arisen In
the American coal industry.
IL Is realized in Congress as II Is
realized in the state that any strike
In this country will paralyze the coal
trade and cripple many other indus.
tries dependent upon coal for fuel.
That is the reason that members OF
both the House and Senate are try
ing to find some legal means of pre-
venting strike now or hereafter.
Fosters Bill.
There was introduced In the House
by Representative Foster, of Illinois,
a bill creating a Commission on Min
authorized to study the relations be
tween the employee and the employer;
TO summons witnesses and to com
pen testimony; to look into the grow
the OF unions; to provide for more
safety and efficiency In mining coal,
and TO ind means of increasing the
usefulness OF the Bureau of Mines.
This commission is to be composed
OF eleven members, two OF whom are
TO be Senators, two Congressmen,
two mine operators, two miners, two
engineers and the eleventh one Is
to be a representative OF the Bureau
OF Mines and is to be appointed by
the President.
Almost at the same hour Repres-
entative Sulzer introduces a bill in
the House providing for the creation
OF Department OF Labor with a Cab
met officer at the head. All work of
the present Department OF Commerce
and Labor connected with labor prob
lens is TO be transferred to the new
division OF the government. All
questions bearing upon the relations
OF labor to capital are to be the mat.
ters Tor the new Secretary OF study.
Townsend Measure Discussed.
During the morning the Senate
! Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commission spent two hours discuss
ing the merits OF the Townsend bill
giving the President the right to ap-
point an arbitration commission in
cases OF labor disputes such as has
arisen In the coal industry at this
Tune. When he was a member OF the
House. Senate Townsend offered this
same bill. II was then designed 10
give President Roosevelt authority
10 interfere in the coal strike OF the
last administration. The measure
mas been introduced and is under con.
sIderation In the Senatee at this time.
Then too, there Is the Lee bill pro
Viding that the Erdman Act. authoriz.
ing the commissioner of Labor and
the Chairman OF the Interstate Com.
merce Commission TO offer their ser.
vices as arbiters where strikes effect
interstate commerce. be extended "a
meet the present conditions.
The Hughes-Borch bill providing
Tor commission which shall embrace
IN the Investigations the whole indus
trial life OF the nation, is now mend
ing before the House and Senate and
VIII be the subject OF extended de
bate in both bodies.
IL has developed that the labor in
terests do not oppose investigations
INTO conditions by federal bodies
now created or about TO be. but thess
interests are opposed to any bodv
winch 10 authorized by Congress 10
make recommendation. They fear
mat a hostile commission will repor,
soyersely inspite of any safeguard
Which Congress may throw around an
investigation oflabor troubles.
Ne" Easter Neektiss. use, soc.