The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-01-30
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|MA!lY Al PROBLEMS
xmHANE E1vHfu|Dvs Id I'LL
Executive Council in Quarterly
Session Gives Attention to Sew
eral Subjects On Labor.
WILL WORK FOR PASSAGE
OF IMPORTANT LAWS
Favors Abolition of Private izll-
ployment Agencies; Will Also
Organize Unskilled Workers

The executive council of the zAmeri-
can Federation or Labor held its quar-
~terly session in Washington and many
important matters were taken up for
consideration. The council declared
in favor of reduction of working hours
as a. gradual elimination of the un-
employed. Although favoring appli-
cation of the eight-hour day to- all
trades before agitating for six-honr
day, the committee promised support
to any organization which seeks the
six-hour day. s@s
The committee plans to continue the
campaign to limit working hours of
day and not more than forty-eights
hours a week, and where the women's
'eight-hour laws exist agitation will be-
gin Immediately for general eight
hour labor laws.
President Gompers was directed to-
appoint ? committee to consider es-
tablishment Of state labor bureaus
and abolition of shark employment
Offices. .ssas
call a conferei4ce soon in New York
unions of New York city and northern
New Jersey to plan for the protections
of the interests of MEMBERS.
The declaration Of the Philadelphia
convention was reiterated, that all
patent rights for arms, amunitions
and other equipment for war should be-
acquired by the government, and all
tured in government establishments.
Appointment of a. delegate to the
worlds congress on unemployment in
San Francisco was authorized. ss$ss
1t was voted to aid the building
trades department and the Journey-ss
men Stonecutters' Association to in-s
sure the erection of the $4,000, 900 Lin e
coin memorial in Washington under
conditions required by these unions.
Organising Unslkilled.
Special attention will be given by
organization of unskilled and
migratory workers this year, according
to decision Of the executive council.
The council voted to work for the.
passage sof the text book bdI ndaptsll
at the last convention. This provides.
for free schoolbooks, which shall be-
uniform in each state and. protected.
by copyright held by the school super
intendents :1..55 ss5sE5 fs=z# sassl
State federations will be asked to1
fight for this bill, State federationsl
/ will be asked to secure enactment OF
laws similar to. that recently enacted
in Massachusetts, correcting the ju-s
dicial Interpretation Of the rights OF
workmen and employers to enter Into
lawful agreements. 80 #ss
In the matter of workmen's CONS
pensation the council will try to se-
| cure longer time for payments for
accidents resulting in amputations..
| compensation during widowhood for
wives of men killed in industries. with
| additional rates on the basis OF chill
dren under IS. Efforts will be made
| to get laws which will eliminate em
| ployers' liability insurance companies
Congressional legislation will be
! sought to prevent stop watches in
shops or any system Of wages made
! to speed up workmen. -
| The council will present its views.
on the immigration bill to President
| Wilson on Friday Of this: week. ,Presi-s
dent Samuel Gompers has made arr
rangements for the audience, The
council will strongly favor the bill with
the literacy clause intact, in order to.
prevent. If possible, a great flow OF
cheap European labor. - ~ ssssss IS
A number Of jurisdictiona1 fights
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