Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-04-17

man Of the Democratic congressional
committee, Representative James T.
Lloyd Of Missouri, has retired to be
succeeded by another man. Mr.. Lloyd
Las stated that he dropped the com
nlfttee leadership at a time when his
reputation as manager was secure
The Progressives are more active
in a political way than either of the
other parties represented in the fed
eral government. For some weeks
they have had headquarters open in
Washington. Their campaign, which
is to a large extent one of education,
is on, and an attempt will be made to
secure ammunition from the mistakes
if there are any-of the Democrats
and regular Republicans. The Pro
gressives intend to continue the mill
tant' start which they made on the
opening day of congress. They state
that they will fight for bills which
embody the principles OF their plat
form.
Tariff Is All important.
There are Republicans in congress
who believe that the chances Of their
party's return to power in the next
house depends in large part upon the
way IN which the Democrats revise
the tariff. Some of the Republicans
fear business depression and labor IN
rest as a result Of a reduction in the
tariff rates. The Republicans, both
the regulars and the Progressives, are
protectionists, and agree with some OF
the Democrats that any revision down
ward must be gradual. Some Of the
Republicans, again, say that 1t would
be the height of folly from a patriotic
point of view not to fight for every
duty which they believe is essential
At any rate, no matter what happens,
political observers in Washington ex-
pect to see plenty Of campaign thun-
der manufactured in the course of the
tariff debate.
The members of the Progressive
party in the house have announced
that they will fight for the recogni-
ton of the leg slative wisdom Of pre-
viding a permanent tariff commission
under the control of congress, They
have worked out a plan for which
they hope to get the support not only
of their own party, but also Of the Re-
publicans and Democrats. They de-
mand that the tariff be taken out Of
politics, and their intention is to up
hold on every possible occasion the
wisdom of such a course, even if they
have to do it in the time allotted fo'
Do,-anro hills
Social Workers Active.
Pressure has been brought upon
both President Wilson and congress
by a group of thirty-four social work
ers to consider at the extra session
this summer the passage of a dozen
measures which nearly passed the Six
ty-second congress and against which
there has been little open opposition.
President Wilson has been urged by
this group to direct the attention of
congress to this list of measures.
letter has been addressed to him
signed by such wellknown public>spir-
tier individuals as Louis D. Brandeis
Of Boston. Charles r. Crane Of Chica-
go, Irving Fisher of Yale, Josephine
Goldmark and Florence Kelley Of the
National Consumers league, Samuel
McCune Lindsay of Columbia uniVer-
sity, Henry Morgenthau of the commit
tee of safety, New York, Graham Ro-
meyn Taylor of Chicago. and Rabbi
Stephen B. Wise Of New York.
Affects Many Thousands.
The writer's of the letter pointed out
to President Wilson that the legisla-
ton which they proposed was legisla-
ton which would directly affect the
health and happiness of hundreds OF
thousands of citizens. They told him
that none of the bills were new; that
several of them have met with little
open opposition; that some had been
passed by one house Of congress, 9th
ers by both; and that all had been pre-
pared by experts and we're based upon
principles already embodied either in
the federal laws, in the laws of the
various states, or in the laws OF other
nations The signers laid emphasis
upon the fact that they were advocat-
ing the principles underlying the sew
eral bills rather than the specific pro
visions of any measure mentioned.
The measures are as follows:
Providing compensation for federal
employees suffering injury or occupa-
tional diseases in the course Of their
employment.
Providing compensation for en-
ployes in Interstate commerce suffer
ing injury in the course of their en-
ployment.
Harmonizing conflicting court deci-
sions in different states by giving the
state itself the right Of appeal to the
Supreme court of the United States.
Establishing the eight-hour day for
women employed in certain occupa-
tons in the District of Columbia.
Co-ordinating the federal health &C
tiyities and strengthening the public
health service,
Providing in the immigration act for
mental examinations of immigrants by
alienists; safeguarding the welfare Of
immigrants at sea by detailing Ameri-
can medical officers and matrons to
mmigrant-carrying ships.
Providing a hospital ship for Ameri-
can deep-sea fishermen
Providing for the betterment of the
conditions Of American seamen.
Establishing a commission to lives
tigate jails and the correction OF first
Offenders
Abolishing the contract convict labor
system by restricting Interstate COM
merce in prison-made goods,