Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-12
Board Is Supported.

OOoAu 40 0uppO1 tCNs
President D. J. Callahan supported the
action of the board in going before the
congressional committees to fight the
eighthour bill. He asked Chaplin Brown,
general counsel for the chamber. to make
statement as to the powers of the board
Of directors. Mr.. Brown told the chamber
that the board had acted unanimously
and also Well within its rights when 1t de-
cided to oppose the measure without
waiting to submit the matter to the
chamber.
p. J. Ryan of the Central Labor
Union supported the eight-hour bill, as
did several other members of the cham
Der, but 1t was apparent from the man
ncr in which the speeches Of those OPP
posed to the measure We're greeted that
the chamber was against the bill by a
large ma jority.
The bill was condemned by Joseph
Strasburger, president OF the Retail Mer-
chants Association: Washington Top
ham. Albert Schulteis. George Y Worth
ington and Odell S. Smith.
Arguments Against Bill.
They declared that the conditions in
Washington for working women did not
warrant or require such law: that they
We're tired of having Washington made
lation", that the proposed law violated
teed them by the Constitution of the
tnited States, and finally, that to enact
such law would be a great hardship
to the working women themselves,
since they could not make as much
money, and because many employers
would undoubtedly turn off the women
and employ men in their places.
Olivet Metzerott. however declared that
the District of Columbia could we'll af-
ford to keep up with the states in pro-
Tressive legislation for the protection
of the working women. He said that the
ten-hour law for women in Maryland
had been passed only after most vigorous
protest by the merchants. who declared
they would not be able To do business if
it went into effect.
las a matter of fact said Mr. Meter
OFT. the Maryland law is working well
and has not proved a hardship on any
one. II is To the interest of the public
10 protect the health of the working
women | DO not say that this particular
eiSht-hour law is right in it's details, or
that eight hours is the right limit of
hours Of labor In the District, hut ! do
say that this chamber could we'll afford
lation regulating hours of labor Of
women.
Cause of Ill Feeling.
ne Dodfu OF directors, instead OF act
ing against this bill. could better have
framed a bill regulating the hours of
labor Of women and have submitted it.
Il is such action as that taken by the
board. passing Judgment on this measure
without mature deliberation that causes
i'll feeling between iabor and the en-
ploEer.
Mi. Strasburger. earlier in the dcba te
had sad that the merchants would not
mind ten-hOur law. or would even ac-
cept a nine-hour law if they had to.
Glenn Brown was thanked by the cham
Der for his work as chairman of the
committee of 100 on the future develop
ment of Washington in helping to bring
about the final action of Congress In
placing the Lincoln memorial In the
Mall. as provided by the Mcmillan
park commission plan. Mr.. Brown
thanked the chamber for it's generous
support in the campaign which Was con-
Quoted i'll the interest of having the park
commission plan carried out.
Speaks on Panama Canal.
S. l.. Buckland delivered an address
before the chamber on the Panama
Canal and the New Golden Age of Trade
Competition Mr. auckland declared
that the opening Of the Panama canal
would mean the beginning Of trade COM
petition such as had never before been
seen in the world. He said that 1t would
be an epoch as important to trade as was
the discovery OF America by Columbus
in 1892, and the consequent rush of the ma
lions to extend their trade With the new
world.
Mr. auckland described the pIepa IA tons
which are being made by the slipbuildins
and commercial nations OF the world to
take part in this new trade competition.
England, Germany. France, Japan. Spain
and others We're all building new ships
If China entered the field with the energy
of Japan she would have to be reckoned
with, indeed. said Mr.. auckland.
Mr.. Buckland pointed out that the gov
ernments of these countries were aiding
their merchants and shipbuilders by CIV
ing ship subsidies for the merchant ma
rine How, he said, could American ship
builders and shipowners hope to COM
pete with foreigners il they were not only
denied ship subsidies. but also were made
10 pay tolls as large as their foreign COM
petitors when passing through the Pana-
ma canal.
An interesting description of the great
canals of the ancient and modern world
was given by Mr.. Buckland, who COM
pared them to the stupenduous under
taking of building the Panama canal
Model on Exhibition.
A sixty-foot model Of the Panama ca
nal, complete In every detail, showing
the great locks and their working and
ships passing through the canal, was on