The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-09-08

this committee imam with the LABOR
Committee. The bill to repeal Sec
| ton 1896 injunction law of the
General Statutes, which we felt very
encouraged would be amended, at
last, so as to place our state in the
same line with the federal law, which
declares that labor is not a commodity
or article of commerce, but is a por-
ton of the life of the human being it
self. The hearing on this bill was
well attended. Our case was ably
presented by our brothers from all
parts Of the state and we had the ser
vices of the able Attorney Cullinan, OF
Bridgeport. The session lasted all at.
ternoon and evening. Many reasons
were shown why the present law is
| unfair and unjust. The arguments
were so clear that we felt encouraged.
In fact, we were told that our con-
tentions were just and that a bill
would be reported that would remedy
the existing evil, but the session closed
without that looked for and promised
relief. The bill concerning the ad-
lvertisements for labor during strikes
which is important, as it would pro-
tect men and women seeking employ
ment was likewise reported unfavor-
ably, as was the bill to prevent the
hiring of armed guards during
strikes; also the bill providing one
days rest in seven, which should have
become a law this year. was reported
unfavorably. The bill to provide old
age pension, the bill to establish
health insurance, and the bill to es-
tablish minimum wage, have been
referred to Commission for inves-
tigation and recomm endation to the
next General Assembly This Com
mission has appointed our esteemed
Third VicexPresident William Fitzger-
aid as member of this Commission.
| The hearing on the amendments to
the compensation law was an impor-
tant one and lasted until late in the
evening. Many representatives Of or
ganized labor were present and put
up a splendid argument for our
amendments. We also had the able
assistance of Attorney C. J. Danaher,
of Meriden, who very forcefully called
to the attention of the committee the
need of our amendments which pro-
vided that the waiting period be re-
ouced, that the compensation rate be
increased, that compensation for oc-
cupation or Industrial diseases be in
cluded In the law. All of these amend
ments were just and should have re-
| ceived favorable consideration by the
committee. The committee, however,
did not report our bill but did report
a Dill which somewhat improves the
present law, such as the waiting per-
| iod was reduced from ten to seven
days before compensation begins, the
maximum of compensation was raised
from $40 to $14 a week, and other
| minor improvements were made to
the present law, such as special al
loWance to minors under eighteen
| " for a1Sf TT.
er to the Compensation Commissioner
to appeal to the Insurance Commits
sioner to revoke the license of such
insurance company if 1t is found that
/, they are dilatory in adjusting claims
ior In making prompt payments; also
| provides that companies writing COM
p@nsation insurance shall furnish to
the Compensation Commissioner a list
of all employers that carry insurance.
This is beneficial, especially to many
ltradesmen who are working for small
employers.
| Our continued agitation against the
contract system in the states prison
| and our appeals at the sessions of the
General Assembly have had some eff
feet as a. bill was passed making an
appropriation of 100000, and rails
ing a commission to look up and pur-
chase a large tract of land for new
site where farming and other lines of
industries will be established that will
tend to- help reform the convict which
Is not possible under the present con-
tract system. Many other bills con-
corning the welfare of the workers
were referred to several committees.
1t is needless for me to say that a
number of unfavorable bills were in
troduced that we had to oppose and
prevent the enactment Of
| The 1917 session ended without Civ
Ing us the remedied legislation that
we had hoped for and had a right to
expect. It can be said that this was
9 most trying session. The war, with
| its many problems, especially in our
state, as a great supply of war NUM-
tons are made within its borders;
largely affected our effort to secure
legislation beneficial to the states
| best assets-its citizens.
| These disappointments must not
discourage us. Our efforts were not
entirely in vain as we did gain lit
tie legislation of beneficial nature and
prevented the enactment of other leg
islation that would have been harm
full. Let us continue to educate and
build constructively to guard our
rights and freedom, and work for the
protection of men, women and chill
/ dren against injurious tasks and ex-
ploitation.
Health Insurance
must call your special attention
to this important question or I would
feel that would be entirely neglect
full in my duty. The growing realiza-
ton of the fact that the health of the
swage working population depends in
Ia large measure upon economic condi-
lions, that there is need for more
comprehensive measures for relief
and prevention of disease. These
economic conditions are: 1, low
wages; 2, loss of working time, owing
4 to sickness or irregufarity of employ
ment makes the average wage small;
and 3, unheathful conditions of liv-
ing. These economis disadvantages,
at which a very, large proportion of
warge workers and their families are
placed as a result of low wages and
insufficient income, and that means
insufficient and improper food. Sta
tistics published by federal and state
] governments in the last few years in
dictate. that considerable proportion of
the families of wage workers have not
been able to maintain a diet that will
/ provide for proper nourishment.. Some
maintain an adequate diet only at the
sacrifice of healthful environments
and of other items which go to consti-