The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1915-01-15
GOVERNOR URGES
LEGISLATION
FOR LABOR
Fundamental Right of Every Man to
Have Employment at Living Wage.

tiOnS that the state take an active
part in insuring good labor conditions
a minimum womens wage, reform of
the state business system, revision of
the registration and primary laws,
creation of the office of state labor
immigration with a free employment
bureau, establishment of a provisional
public works fund, and creation OF
the office of state defender, are
among the leading features of Gov.
Hunts message submitted to the
second state legislature this after
noon.
One of the real feature of the whole
message of approximately $4,000
words is that of the recommendation
that the state take active part in in
surfing good labor conditions.
'The fundamental right of every
man is to have such employment as
to render him livelihood" said the
governor. He urges that the state
devise means of taking up the slack
in the market when it becomes neces-
sary. AS a measure to that end he
recommends the creation of the Of
fee of state labor immigration com
missioner with a free employment
bureau under his supervision.
He also recommends the establish
ment of a provisional public works or
at least authorizing of the states
business board to draw on the general
fund whenever necessary to put heads
of families in limited number at work
Oh public projects such as highways
and bridges.
The governor points out that this
would be merely temporary device
while conditions are in process of ad-
jusIment such as following a lay off
from mines and railroads on account
of anything like a depression
This, he says, would do away with
a good deal of industrial discomfort,
would prove a saving in the end and
would promote a better feeling. be-
tween labor and capital.
He recommends a, minimum wage
for women sufficient to allow them
to live comfortable, pointing out that
1t has been said that woman to live
comfortable in Arizona must earn
at least ten or twelve dollars a week.
One of the main recommendation
made is that for the reform of the
states business system. He recon-
the plan of having the states
business placed in the hands of a
board of business consisting of the
governor a purchasing agent, and a
secretary as the active working corps,
" I'LL NAO ~AdAA IAd1 Ol I4S dPpIOPT1d-
tions committees of the house and
senate as members ex-officio. Such a
board as this is similar to that in Wis
cousin.
The duties of the public defender
would be to defend those unable to
employ counsel.
The governor in his message refers
TO conditions in general over the
state quite extensively.
He refers to the attack made on
the initiative and by certain individ-
uals since the last general election,
and suggests that the enemies of this
institution are trying to use a few
minor effects as a general argument
for the entire abolition Of the initia-
tive. -
He states that he believes that the
only real deficiency in the operation
OF the initiative is in the lack of
proper publicity methods whereby the
voters may be informed of the con-
tents Of the measures proposed for
adoption. To correct this he recon-
mends the establishment of a bureau
of legislative research under the su-
pervision' of a single director to ac-
curately inform the people concern
ing the proposed measure and to as
sist in its framing.
lr reference to the eighty per cent
law recently declared unconstitutiona
he points out that according to re-
cords of Arizona correction institu-
tions such as the prison, asylum and
industrial school, the state is being
burdened with very large number of
people who are of alien extraction,
these records, the governor claims
show that between fifty and sixty
per cent of the persons confined in
.hese institutions are foreigners This
'aises the question, states the COVER
1or, why new state like Arizona,
should have taxpayers burdened like
his merely because a few employers
frd profit by importing immigrants
If all description.
In his recommendation for a revi-
SIGN of the registration and primary
avs he refers particularly to the
primary. He would have it include
he provision that ever elector must
lnder oath declare his party affilia-
ion at the time when he registers
lie further recommends for the pri-
nary that any candidate receiving
majority vote over all other candi-
lates be declared elected without
urther election
The governor pays the federal gov
rnment a compliment for its attitude |
n using all reasonable measures to
1eep this country free from war. He |
the advisability of larger |
ational appropriations to build up
military and naval equipment. He ad-
COATES universal peace but at the |
anne time believes Preparedness for |
var is the best means of insuring |
eace.
The governor reports to the legis- |
ature that through appeals made bv |
he state to Washington the situa- |
on at present along the Mexican |
order is relieved.