Denver labor bulletin., 1916-12-30
Labor Now Large Factor
in Washington
Peace Movement Of the President
Given Wide Approval, While Ad-
vscates Of Man-Killine Strive
for Greater Armament
By LAWRENCE TODD
Especial Washington Correspondent The
Denver Labor Bulletin.)

Denver Labor Bulletin.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Two big
Rnins have beeI scored thus far in the
session of congress by the allied forces
Of labor, represented by the American
Federation Of labor and the four rail
road bruthcrhoods. The first was the
blocking OF the attempt proposed by
President Wilson 70 enact law com
pelling delay OF strikes during a period
Of official investigation. As pointed out
by Senator Cummins OF Iowa, II men
could be compelled by law to work dur
ing a period OF investigation. when they
wanted 10 quit work. they could just a.
surely be compelled by law to work dur.
ing the following period, under condi
tionp which might be prescribed by an
official body IN which they had no
voice
Thi, proposal Of involuntary servitude
has brcn 80 di-cTcditcd by every ppre-
sentative OF labor thnlout the coun-
try that the house lcadcr. are staying
far away from it. Senator Newlands
Is still trying 10 get it taken up, but be
has no serious support OF the five
senators on the joint committee which
recently tried to inquire into railroad
matters. only Brandegec OF Connecticut
sided with Ncwlands; Cummins of Iowa,
Robinson of Arkansas and even Under
wood Of Alabama refused TO be rcspon.
sibie for the plan.
Wage, Of Federal Employee
The second labor triumph has been the
bringing squarcly before the house Of
the question OF general increase of
wages for government employees. To get
past the opposition of Chairman Fitz-
,craid OF the house committee on appro-
priations. the labor men secured n spe
ciAl rule from the rulc- committee. which
declared that the whole subject OF sal
ary increase should be opened, in con
nection with the regular appropriation
hill for the legislative, executive and ju-
diciAl bnnchcs. But for this special
rule. the appropriations committee could
have dodgri the entire issue of the in
sufficient pay of federal employees by
making a point OF order" against any
amendment raising the rates OF salary.
The Nolan bill, proposing that not less
than ~ n day be paid to any civil sorv-
irc employc under the federal govern
ment, is being proposed, at the time OF
thi. writing. Rs an amendment 10 the
general appropriation bill Nolan, who
was formerly legislative agent for the
SAN Francisco Labor Council before the
legislature Of California, and is chair
man of the international executive board
of the holdern Union. has been working
for three years on this minimum wage
bill lie has had the backing of the
labor members, Of whose special caucus
Representative Heating Of Colorado is
chairman Heating IL ono Of the most
active in the fight for better pay for
federal clerks.
Have to Give En- q Shock
This house has to be shaken out of
,.r,l. I,~ oil
however. Nothing less than real ngI
tation. organized and pcrcmptory. makes
any dent upon its self satisfied indiffer-
cncc TO the poverty problem, or the
problems OF high cost Of food and fuel
in definite industrial communities.
Thus. when Representative Frank
buchanan of Chicago, II labor man. of
fcrcd nm amendment to this same appro-
pration bill. to provide for an invcsti-
CATION by the bureau of labor statistics
into the wages. hours and conditions of
labor in the coal mining industry, and TO
make an industrial survey of that in
dustry," at cost OF $4,000, he was
ruled out on point Of order without
even so much as an argument from the
committee.
Representative King of Illinois said
that Illinois mines sold their soft coal,
years ago. Mt sl.O5 ton. Purchasing
agents who bought that coal sold it in
Chicago Mt 1915 a ton. Tho same men
who own the mines form the selling con-
Germs in Chicago, and pocket the huge
profit Indicated by the difference be-
Tween Wholesale and retail price.
Childrcn's Bureau Wins Out.
The first dent made on the reaction
ary policy OF the committee was that of
the friends of the childrcn's bureau.
Headed by Representative Good of Iowa,
Republican member of the sub commit
tee in charge of the appropriation bill.
and by Minority Leader Mann, they
were succcssful in getting the commit
tees allowance to the bureau OF $780,
900 for salaries and 5000 for expenses
raised to Sl7s,00O for salaries and $685.
900 for expenses. When the vote was
taken, the crowd that had tried to pre-
vent the development of the work OF
the bureau was overwhelmingly beaten.
Representative Good showed that New