The Washington herald., 1912-08-04
BID
FOR LABOR VOTE
Representative Wilson Issues State.
ment Telling What House Has
Done for Working Men.
MANY BILLS PASSED, he SAYS

The strong bid which the Democratic
House has made for the labor vote In
the coming campaign is indicated in
statement given out yesterday by Rep
resentative William B. Wilson, of Bloss-
burg. Pa. chairman Of the House COM
mittee on Labor. Mr.. wilson's state
ment outlines the accomplishments Of
his committee this session. 1t follows:
"The present House Is the first in six
teen years in which the lid has been on
of committees SO that labor legislation
could besreported to the House and acted
upon. and the result has been that more
labor legislation has been passed by the
present House than during all of the six
teen years referred to. combined.
Names Important Bills.
Among the important bills passed by
the House are the following:
First. the eight-hour bill. extending
the operations OF the eight-hour law TO
work done for the government as well
as work done by the government
Second, the children's bureau bill. TO
promote the welfare of children. particu-
iarly In connection with the subject OF
child labor.
Third, the anti-injunction bill, to pro-
tect the working men during periods OF
trade disputes from being considered as
property, and to give them the same pro-
lection in the courts that other men en-
Joy.
'.Fourth, the contempt bill. to provide
for trial by jury in cases Of Indirect con-
tempts, which frequently arise through
injunctions issued during strikes.
Creates New Department.
Fifth, the Department Of Labor bill.
creating a department with secretary
who shall be member of the Presidents
Cabinet. who shall have the power OF
mediation In trade disputes and the right
to appoint concilators in such cases,
when IN his Judgment, 1t Is wise to do
so. but shall have no power to enforce
his views upon the contending parties.
sixth, the Industrial commission bill.
to create a commission to investigate the
entire subject OF industrial relations.
questioning about employers and en-
ployes, with a view to ascertaining the
best methods of dealing with the prob
lens so as to protect the rights Of all
persons directly or indirectly interested.
Seventh. the investigation of the Tay-
lor and other systems of so-caIled shop
management. in order that the working
man may be protected against speeding
up beyond his normal powers.
Would Help Merchant Marine.
Eighth. the seamen's bill. to give free
dom to the seaman. to provide a standard
Of skill for seamanshlp. to equalize the
operating expenses of foreign vessels
with American vessels so as to build
up the American merchant marine with
out resorting to subsidies.
Ninth, the convict labor bill. requir-
ing the sale of convict-made goods 10
conform to the laws relative to con-
vict-made goods in the States in which
they are sold
In addition. there have been a num-
her of less important bills and items in
appropriation bills in which labor was
favorably interested passed by the
House. making the total number Of
such bills and items twenty-five in all.
There are several other bills still
lending on the calendar and likely to
receive favorable action at an early
date. among them being the musicians
bill. to prevent the unjust competition
CT enlisted men with civilians: the Dors-
mus eight-hour BILL to correct a de-
cIsion by the Supreme Court, which held
that dredgemen were not laborers or
mechanics, but seamen. and therefore
did not come under the operations of the
general eight-hour law, and a number Of
other bills Of similar character