Las Vegas optic., 1913-08-19
MEDICAL union IS
DISCUSSED BY
BRITISHERS
ORGANIZATION AS LABOR BODY
WOULD ELIMINATE POSSIBLE
TIES OF DAMAGES FOR LIBEL
BEING SECURED

iI0 1T DNMA&E0 FOh LIBEL
BEING SECURED
London, Aug 49,. The British Medi-
cal association, at it's annual meeting,
seriously debated the advisability of
+ organizing as labor union.
Recently the official organ of the
association was mulcted for heavy
libel damages for calling a practition-
er a quack. Insomucn as, under
recent decision of the British courts
the funds Of a labor union cannot be
touched for such damages, the doctors
felt that the organization of their as
sociation in labor union would not
be without certain advantages.
The British Medical association in
its recent strike against the provis-
ions of the compulsory state insur-
ance act emulated the tactics of labor
unionists, but in spite Of the reputed
higher mentality or its members, it
suffered defeat on account Of lack
!of solidarity, just as many of its hum
bier exemplars have.
Following in the footsteps Of the
doctors, the police are contemplating
the formation of a labor union to be
called the Amalgamated Society of
Policemen. Letters appear every week
in the police organ, citing grievances
and suggesting the formation of a
union as the first step towards their
correction The chief demand is for
a maximum police salary of $40 a
week, and one correspondent suggests
Z that, as the police have to enfore fair
play in the labor disputes of others,
they should have little difficulty in
enforcing their own demands. One
writer limited that it might go badly
with the public if the police struck
for their rights One Of the chief
worries of the police is due to the suf-
fragettes whose activities have added
greatly to their overtime, for which
they get no extra pay Recently the
force has been increased in order to
give longer vacations, but the men
feel that their lot is still cast in hard
places.
"Brldge Builder" Dead
James R. Bell, the original of Kip
ling's Bridge Builder" is dead at his
home here Mr.. Bell was a sad re-
minder Of how the castiron rules Of
the Indian service hamper the effic-
iency of some of its best members,
for he was at the heydey of his
powers when he was arbitrarily retir-
ed at the age of 50. He was in ex-
cellent health IN the midst of some of
his best achievements and willing and
anxious to go on with his work, when
the orders came to cease his activi-
ties,
After his retirement Mr.. Bell pass
ed nearly every winter in India or
China, where his services as a CON
su1ting engineer were welcomed. He
came from a family OF engineers, be-
ing the grandson Of James Bremner,
who floated the "Great Britain" then
the largest steamer in the world,
when she stranded, in Dundrum bay
on her third trip across the Atlantic.
Mr. Bell built some Of the greatest
bridges in India. Some Of these struc-
lures are great engineering feats, for
the designs have to provide for in
undations and changes in the courses
Of the treacherous rivers they span.
"cat and Mouse" Effective
Home Secretary EIoRenna is being
execrated on account of the "Cat and
Mouse bill, but it is generally admit
ed that one effect Of this measure
has been to decrease militancy those
on the fringe of the suffrage move
ment having gone back to constitu-
tional methods, leaving only the ir-
reconciliables to continue the battle.
Mr. McKenna is being attacked
from two sides-on one by the more