The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-05-04
UNION LABOR WINS
AFTER LONG FIGHT
Continued from Page 1,


covering every material contention I
made by labor for absolute relief
from the, Antitrust act, and from in
reference by the injunctive writ with
personal relations of employers and
employees. Much interest is mani
tested in these bills by Members Of
Congress, and in view of the. fact
that they are referred to the Com
nittees on Labor, the possibility is
brighter for obtaining prompt, affirm
alive action than would be if these
propositions were before the Com
mittees Oh Judiciary.
The Contempt Bill which makes
it possible to obtain trial by jury
in cases coming before court I'M
der a charge of indirect contempt
has been favorably reported on by
the judiciary committee. The Con-
vict Labor bill has passed the House
by a practical unanimous vote, no
division being taken.
Contempt Bill Looks Good.
This measure is now before the
Senate Committee on Judiciary. No
action has yet been taken by that
committee. This bill when enacted
into law will authorize the states
which have or may enact legislation
to protect it's citizens from the evil
effects of convict labor, to prohibit
the Importation and sale Of the pro-
duct of convict labor of other states.
and because such other states would
be required to sell or consume the
product of their own convicts within
their own boundaries, humane and
nrocfio21 1ooic1ofino V~i1x,
follow in such states.
The committee was very much
gratified to report that the Children's
Bureau Bill passed both Houses and
has been approved by the President.
It is now law. The bill for Civil
Service Reform and commonly known
as the Gag Rule" Bill, is now before
the Committee of the Whole and it
is confidently expected that it will
pass the House at an early date.
Since the bill has been pending in
Congress President Taft issued an
| order abrogating tht Gag Rule Of
former President Roosevelt.
Try to Revive Gag Rule.
The new order issued by the Pres
ldent permits officers or employees in
the Civil Service to address COM
munications to the Congress or any
| member thereof, providing it is trans
mitted through the heads of the re-
spectlVe department. 1t is obligatory
upon such officials to forward such
petitions or communications to the
Congress without delay, with such
comment as they may deem requisite.
Evidently the President has seen a
great light, but his modified order
! falls far short of restoring to the
| Civil Service employees of the Govern
| rnent the natural and political rights
| which the American Federation OF
! Labor is striving to obtain for such
employees. Organized labor and all
liberty-loving citizens will continue
| their efforts to restore full citizenship
! rights to all government employees.
! The bill creating new cabinet Of
flee to be known as Secretary of La
! Dor, has been reported favorably to
the House. An early enactment of
! measure is confidently expected.
| Several Eight Hour Bills.
! Several Eight-Hour Bills are before
Congress. The principle measure was
held up in the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor until the
patience of that committee was ex-
hausted by repetition of statements
and so-called arguments by attorneys
and. special pleaders of the National
| Association of Manufacturers; the
! Founders Associations; the National
; Metal Trades Association, and other
elements associated with big bust
| ness On April 5 the committee de-
clded without a dissenting vote, to
report the bill favorably to the Senate
| as 1t passed the House and without
/ amendment. Senator Borah, Chair
man of the committee, promptly
wrote the report for the committee
and submitted it to the Senate April
IL. The bill is now upon the Senate
Calendar and can be called up at any
time under the rules.
! Eight Hour Day Wins.
| Congress included the Eight-Hou
| civilian fertilization bill. While this
measure was before the committees
| for argument and consideration, the
Legislative Committees of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor and the
Metal Trades organizations obtained
an eight-hour amendment to the
notifications Appropriation bill, in
| Tie SECTIONS prOVlulng Tor the manu-
facture of ordnance and powder
When that measure passed the House
this eight-hour provision was kept in.
tact in the bill, and when the bill
passed the Senate, the eight-hour pro.
visions were not changed.
Without doubt the Eight-Hour Bill
for postoffice clerks and letter carriers
will pass Congress at this session
The bill was unanimously reported
out OF committee and concluded in
the appropriation bill for the post
office department.. This appropria.
ton bill is now before the House ir
Committee of the Whole, and the
prospects look very favorable to the
enactment of a. strict eight-hour pro.
vision for postoffice clerks and letter
! carriers.
| Employers Liability
The committee reports that pros.
poets are favorable for the passage
of the Employers Liability and
Work mens Compensation Act durins
this session of Congress. The bill is
now in the Senate and it has beer