The Washington times., 1913-12-12
By JOHN SNURE.

Labor legislation of the utmost social,
economic, and political Importance wiz
be forced On the consideration OF Con-
sion.
Last Congress. after hamrnering at
the doors of the Capitol with only par
tial success for years. labor was able
to obtain a number of valuable Iegisla-
tive measures Among these were the
establishment OF the Department OF
Labor. the establishment of a children's o
bureau. and the authorization of the
Industrial commission. Much was ac-
eomplished TO enhance the welfare Of
the workingman, but even this, as the
leaders Of labor view It. was only a
beginning in the right direction and
they have q long program ahead Of
them.
The Chief Factor.
The House Committee on Labor Is the
body which In the last Congress and in
II is one has been chiefly instrumental
in getting things done which the
American Federation OF Labor and
other organizations have been demand
ing.
Liam B. Wilson. who is now Secretary
of Labor. and now has for its chairman
David J. Lewis, Of Maryland, the man
who more than any other Is responsible
for the enactment OF parcel post legis-
latiop. This committee is already be-
stirring itself and has two important
measures On the House calendar which
that body will be urged to pass within
the next few weeks.
One Of the measures Is the Booher-
Hensley bill Intended to prohibit con-
tract convict labor. The other is the
Peters bill. identical with the La Fol-
iette bill in the Senate, providing for
an eight-hour day for women and girls
wko work in the District Of Columbia
The anti-convict labor bill is one Of
the measures which organized labor has
been demanding FOR years. The bill for
District would be extremely valuable In
che promotion OF eight-hour legislation
for women throughout the country. Once
Congress has spoken out for an eight
hour day for women and girls at the
seat Of government, it may be expected
suit. Moreover, It will be the entering
wedge to legislation for general eight
hour day for females in this country.
Bitter Fight Expected.
A bitter fight is expected in Congress
before the convict labor problem is dealt
with. Still, Chairman Lewis expects to
see it enacted. For years the special
interests which benefit by contract con-
vict labor have found ways to head of
any proposed legislation in Congress on
this subject. But the evils of the ex-
ploitation of the conyicts for the bene-
fit OF small group of selfish contrac-
tors the lowering and debasing effects
10 49,.
selves to say nothing of the effects in
an economic and business way. have
impressed themselves strongly on the
country and on Congress- and 1t Is doubt
ful IL that body will permit Itself to
shield contract convict labor much
longer.
The pending bill on convict labor is a
simple measure providing that all con-
vict-made or convict-produced goods,
whether in whole or in part the product
of convict labor, when transported into
sny State or Territory shall be subject
to the laws OF that State or Territory
the same as II they had been produced
therein They shall not be exempt by
reason of being introduced in the orig
inal package Or otherwise.
Measure Is Constitutional.
This measure is undoubtedly consti-
tutional, because it is based on the Will
son act of 1890. which has been upheld
by the supreme Court, giving the States
the control OF interstate shipments of
liquor on their arrival in the States
Hitherto, any attempt of a State to
prohibit contract convict labor has been
resisted successfully on the ground that
it was interference with interstate COM
merce, which Congress alone can regu-
late.
But the Supreme Court holds that 1t is
for Congress to subject a
given article of interstate commerce to
State control II Congress sees fit by
appropriate legislation to do it, and so
there is practically no question that 1t