The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-02-21

| employment agents make dppllCdIlOu
to me for such an arrangement"
That was enough for the saw mill
man for one evening, and he showed
no further desire to ask questions of
a man who knew so we'll of what he
was talking.
Rudolph Distler, Of Cosmopolis,
made a very earnest address to the
committee, saying among other things
that the Grays Harbor Commercial
company, a concern that monopolizes
practically all the business and indus
trial activity of that town, was par
ticularly fragrant offender along the
lines of collusion with the employment |
agencies.
Nearly ALL" he said, "if not quite
all the men taken into the employ of
the company, are hired through en-
ployment agencies, and it appears that
the company will not hire men who |
do not come through such employment |
agencies, thus forcing the men to pay |
for a job which seldom lasts longer
than to pay for the agency fee and
amount advanced for fare and board |
consumed during the time of working. |
The baggage and belongings Of men
are held for fee and fare advanced |
and often sold by the Grays Harbor
Commercial company if not redeemed. |
This brings about state of affairs !
where the company practically has
three crews, one coming, one working |
and one leaving. Such methods of
procuring men and the instability of
the employment cannot be but detri-
mental to the men themselves and to
the community wherein such acts are
committed.
"The company conducts what is
known as a mess house. When men
are hired, they are given a nominal
wage which includes board, in the
mess house. Should a man not de-
sire to board at the company mess
house he is allowed but SO a month |
and as good board will cost approxi-
mately 500 per month, the men are
practically forced to accept the board |
at the company mess house. About |
$50 men are. now compelled. to board
at this place. Such condition is not
only a detriment to the men but
works vital damage to the town in
general as it makes it impossible to
accept employment under such condi- |
tions This state of affairs works dl- |
rectly against the rearing of families, |
which is the foundation of civilized
government. The effect of this policy |
upon the growth of the city can be
shown by the fact that during the ten
years from 1900 to 1910 the increase
of population was but So
| The mothers pension" bill of Rep |
Iresentative T. j. Corkey of Spokane |
and Representative Dix H. Rowland of
Pierce county, has been passed by the |
Ihouse by a vote of rs to and has
been transmitted to the senate. 1t is
believed that this popular measure
will be favorably acted upon by the
Tsenate and will receive the approval
of the governor,
All the efforts that have been made
to make inroads upon the woman's
Ieight-hour law have proved so unpop-
ular with the members of the legis-
llature, that it is not likely that any OF
them will see the light of day. The
employers INDUCED in so much calam-
| ity talk two years ago about the un-
doubted injury that this law would
work upon all lines of business and
industry in this state, none of which
came to pass after the law was en-
acted, that the members of the legis-
lature who listened to their plaintive
tales then, are not inclined to look
with favor upon any Of the claims OF
the few disgrunted ones who now
come back with schemes to defeat the
effectiveness of the law by taking on
exemptions of one kind and another
In fact the law has worked for such
great good that the members who sup
ported it two years ago are mighty
proud of it, others have been won
over to it's side, and they will not suf-
fer any attack to be made upon it.
II The ,eight-hour law for women is here
to stay.
u The bill of the society for the pre-
vention of tuberculosis with Miss
| Bethesda |. Beals, of Seattle, in active
charge, passed the senate last Friday
with only one vote against. 1t carries
/ with it an appropriation for $50,0O0 to
aid the counties of the state to main
) tain sanitoriums in which to treat
, those who have become afflicted with
: this dread disease. The bill was en-
{ dorsed by the recent convention OF the
r Washington State Federation of La
! Dor.
5 ''''
81 A Joint meeting of the senate and
: house committee on privileges and