The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-04-20
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING

! WhA| CUNGktSS Is uulNG !!
Soldiers and sailors disabled in the
service will be taught forms of en-
ployment suited to their condition
under the terms of bill introduced
by Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia.
1t PROVES that the work shall be
conducted by the Federal Board Of
Vocational Education and that the
pay during the course shall be the
same as that received during the last
month of military service. The bill
seeks to make possible the return
of many men to useful positions in
civil life whose services otherwise
would be lost to the community.
On the ground that the hearings
sought before the foreign affairs COM
mittee on the resolutions introduced
on the Irish question would be an in
terference with and an embarrass-
ment to co-belligerent Of the United
States, Chairman Flood of the COM
mittee gave notice that no hearings
would be held.
An important bill introduced by
Senator Pittman and referred to the
banking committee provides for the
melting into bullion of not more than
250,00O,000 silver dollars now in the
treasury, that may be used for ex-
port to pay trade balances and for
sale to persons or governments need
ing the silver. The bill virtually
standardizes the price of silver by
authorizing the governments to pur-
chase silver at 81 an Ounce.
The appropriations committee OF
the senate has reported the legislative
appropriation bill carrying a total of
$70,096,323, the committee having in
creased the amount appropriated by
the house by only about 100000. The
Borland amendment adopted in the
house providing for an eight-hour day
for all government employees was
eliminated by the committee. 800.
The sedition bill, prohibiting, under
penalties of 20 years. Imprisonment
and $4,000 fine, language or acts OF
disloyalty or obstruction of the draft
law and Liberty Loans. was passed
Wednesday by the senate withopt
record vote. It went to conference
between the house and senate and
final enactment is expected soon.
From the military committee there
was laid before the senate an extern
sive report on the aviation situation
The majority Of the committee char
acterized that situation as "gravely
disappointing and recommended 8
change OF administration from the
signal corps to single executive to
be appointed by the president to take
charge Of construction and speed UP
the aircraft program. A minority re-
port defended the administration OF
the aviation branch of the war work
and emphasized the difficulties under
which it has been compelled to work
The report OF Admiral Bowles made
to the senate commerce committee or
conditions at the Hog Island ship.
building plant, made public recently
shows that marked economies have
been put into effect by him and great.
err efficiency provided. Blame for the
delay in construction was placed by
the report on Dwight P. Robinson
former president of the American In.
ternational corporation, which had
the shipbuilding contract. Admira
Bowles reported that he had removed
this official and thirteen other high.
salaried members Of the executive
staff. whose services were either I'm.
necessary or unsatisfactory.
BY a vote Of "a to Is the senate
rejected the conference report on thu
bill providing severe penalties for thu
destruction of war materials or in
reference in the production of wal
supplies. The action of the senate i,
| rejecting the report was based upo1
the acceptance by the conferees Of {
house amendment which declared
that nothing herein shall be con
strued as making it unlawful for EN-
ployes to agree together to stop worl
or not to enter thereon with the sol,
and bona fide purpose of securin.
better wages or conditions of employ
ment"
Senator johnson of California ha
introduced bill providing for tn,
establishment of uniform compen
sation system for all employees ant
their dependents killed or injured OF
American merchant ships.
From the house foreign affairs com
! mittee a. favorable report has bee,
made on a bill making the passpor
provisions and regulations much NOR
drastic than at present. It gives tn,
government complete authority in wa
time to regulate the departure from
or entry into the United States whel
contrary to public safety.
| Representative Gould of New Yorl
has introduced bill providing for tn
creation of the office of aircraft ad
ministration at salary Of $500 {
year, a vice administrator at $500 Z
year, and four assistants at $4,000 ,:
year, this office to have complet,
charge of aircraft production.