The Washington times., 1912-05-21
ORGANIZED LABOR
GETTING RESTLESS
OVER LEGISLATION
Important Bills Are Being
Sent Back and Forward
and Not Passed.

Organized labor leaders are wondering
where they are at now that the end OF
| the Congress session Is beginning to ap-
proach. They are getting restless In
the situation in which they find pro-
rosed legislation for the benefit of la
| Dor. At the beginning of the session
they had great hopes of accomplishing
| much and getting a number of their
| important bills put through. Now that
| hope is waning. They are getting sus-
pic!ous that their bills are being whip
| saw ed between the two houses, and that
when the session Is over they will find
| comparatively little has been done to
pass legislation which labor for years
he's been insisting on.
4 result of this situation Is to make
orga led labor begin to contemplate
| political activity In the campaign ahead
this summer and fall. Labor leaders
| say they are not going to have any
wool pulled over their eyes this time.
, II the important bills they are demand
| ing fall by the wa%side. they are going
| TO Judge for themselves where the re-
| sponsibility lies and are not going to
rest content by having Republicans
| throw the blame on Democrats and
Democrats throw the blame on Repub-
liCans.
a glance at the legislative situation
| in the two houses shows that in spite
! Of the general feeling that much would
, be done in way of labor legislation when
| Congress met last December there has
| not been great deal accomplished.
That is, there is not much in the way
| of laws wanted by labor that Is actu-
| ally within sight of the statute books.
| This, say the labor leaders, is what
counts. They say II Is all we'll and good
| to get measures out of committee. but
| II at the end of the long session or
| Congress they are not passed the
| chances are they will not pass In the
| short session. and then In the next
Congress the whole thing will have 10
| be done over again.
Bills Are Whipsawed.
The anti-injunction bill has passed
| the House, but there is no sign it will
| pass the Senate this session. The con-
Wet labor bill is in the same situation.
| The workmans compensation bill has
| passed the Senate, but there is little
| hope Of il passing the House this ses-
sion. The Department of Labor bill is
| being urged In the House, and organized
labor is strong for it, but there seems
| no hope 1t will get through both houses
| this session. The bill putting fraternal
| and trades union publications on the
same basis as commercial publications
has passed the House. Bat has stiff op-
| position in the Senate. Passage OF the
Government employees compensation bill
| is unlikely. Clayton's bill for trial by
| jury in cases of indirect contempt, and
| the industrial education bill seem to
| stand no chance of passing this session.
Legislation for the relief of seamen may
| be brought about and there will be
strong pressure to crowd II through in
| view Of the Titanic disaster.
Favor Eight-Hour oil.
The prospects appear good for the
| passage of the eight-hour bill. II this
Is accomplished II will be a long step
forward for organized labor. and un-
organized labor also for that matter. 1t
seems likely to be the one big achieve
| ment of the session in behalf of labor.
Passage of the children's bureau bill
! and the bill to prohibit manufacture of
| the white phosphorus match, both of
which are through. marks step ahead.
! though the bills are not deemed by Or
although helpful. The provision against
| the gag rule" for postal employees in
the postoffice bill is also considered an
| important step ahead, though 1t remains
| to be seen what the Senate will do
will pass 1t, though opposition is begin
| ming to spring up. The eight-hour pro-
| vision for clerks and carriers in the
postal service will go through both
| houses. This is step forward for
labor.
The Industrial commission bill is pend
| ing ir both houses. II 1t passes, as
| to which there is a good deal of un-
| certainty, II will mean an Investigation
| into Industrial conditions that will be
| valuable. Organized labor is lukewarm
toward this proposition. however. he
| cause 1t is declared there has been
enough investigating, and the time has
| come to act.