The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-03-30
Public Service
Corporations
Legislature
CONTINUED from Page u

through with little difficulty and the
legislators always found ample time
in which to give the interests of these
people full consideration. Witness
the passing of the five years. extern
sion of time to power companies of
the state in which to comply with
the safety spacing bill enacted at
the 1913 session. At that time the
power companies agreed upon this
law in conference with the linemen
of the state, when it was agreed that
the companies were to have five years
in which to complete the work of
spacing the wires so that linemen
might work on high-power lines with
some degree of safety. The compan-
les did not comply with the law that
they agreed upon at that time, and
came to this legislature asking for a
five year extension. They did not
come with clean hands, and had no
right to ask for the bill. Even now
the linemen have no assurance that
the companies will comply within
the time granted, and the legislature
even voted down proposal that a
certain percentage Of the work be
done each year as a guarantee of
good faith. There is nothing now to
prevent the companies from coming
back third time, thus extending the
time for this work for a period of Is
years, while they go on killing men
from electrocution because of working
on wires that are strung so closely
together that it is practically impos-
sible for man to work without COM
ing in contact with the deadly current
The only piece of constructive legis-
lation enacted from the standpoint of
the working men of the state is the
Reed-McCoy first aid bill, and this is
far from satisfactory to labor, mas
much as it violates all the funda-
mental principles of social compensa-
ton for injuries arising from the in
herent hazard of industry. However,
the bill sets in motion the principle of
"frst aid," and affords considerable
measure of relief that injured workers
have not heretofore received in this
state. In its operation during the next
year large experience can be worked
out in the administration of first aid
that will be invaluable to labor as a
basis from which to work out such
to the law as we may
care to go with to the next session of
the legislature, or to seek through the
initiative. AS the years go by this
law will need much amending along
to receive what is justly it's due. Let
us hope. that the voters of the state
will take note of the inequalities of
this law and see to it that it is i'm
proved along the lines of laoor's de-
mands.
l would not omit any good thing the
legislature did, so must commend it
for its refusal to inject the curse of
mllitarism into the public schools of
the state by defeating House Bill No.
B, which provided for compulsory
training for all male pupils in the
highschools having an enrolment of
30 or more. Also it refused to pass
compulsory military training bill for
all male citizens of the state.
Let the lesson of this legislature
to the people of the state be one that
will prompt them to give some atten-
ton to the selection of men and wom-
en- who will represent the progressive
views of the people of Washington. as
indicated by their votes on the deferred
measures last election. Elect men and
women who stand for humanitarian
measures; who stand for education and
advancement; men who stand for hu-
man welfare, rather than the almighty
dollar. When the voters do this, then
we will get the legislation the people
need-and we will not have to beg
for it, either.
H. L. HUGHES
Legislative Agent Washington
State Federation of Labor.