The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-04-13
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING


-...-.-.-....
The senate last Monday afternoon
passed the following measures of i'm
portance to the war department.:
Authorizing the president to take
over and operate street railroads and
interurban systems wherever neces-
sary for the transportation of work.
men in shipbuilding yards and in
plants where equipment for ships is
being constructed; giving the presi-
dent authority to prescribe zones in
navigable waters endangered by ar
tillery practice, by the transpQrta-
ton of explosives, or other war activ-
tiles; authorizing the president to call
men of draft age but physically unfit
for military duty to do clerical duty
In the war department; providing
for the enlistment of men outside Of
the draft age for civil duty in con-
nect1on witt. the army; a bill authorize
ing the Issuance of service medal
and ribbon for all officers and men
who served on the Mexican border:
granting authority to the government
to acquire real estate, or some right,
title, or interest, and many buildings
and improvements thereon. by pur-
chase, lease, donation, or condemna-
ton.
The senate adopted the resolution
introduced by Senator Thomas calling.
upon the war department for inform
alton concerning the number or non
combatant commissioned men Of draft
age holding staff positions in Washing
ton.
Congressman Norton of North Da-
kota has introduced a bill giving the
president. authority to fix prices Of
all farm machinery
The judiciary committee of the SEN
ate has favorably reported measure
imposing drastic penalties upon those
who commit any disloyal acts. It's
scope also includes any acts that
would curtail the production of war
materials.
A bill intended to make the So
called Reed bone-dry law applicable
to the District of Columbia has been
introduced by Senator Sheppard.
The housing bill, appropriating $780,
100000 for housing facilities for work.
ers in war industries and $4,000, 900
to provide living accommodations for
government employees in Washington,
was passed last Tuesday afternoon by
the house.
Both houses have adopted con-
current resolution requesting the pres
ident to set aside a day for prayer
for the forces and the cause of the
allies
A delegation Of workmen from
Gulf shipbuilding yards explained con-
ditions in these yards to the commerce
committee Of the senate last Wednes-
day. They showed that the average
of wages earned amounted to only
$2.0S a day as compared with the
much higher pay received in the
northern yards. G. H. Frank who
acted as spokesman, insisted that wage
adjustment in the southern yards was
necessary as workmen there were suf-
fering from the increased cost of liv-
ing as much as those in other por-
tons Of the country. He said also
that the lack of housing facilities
drove men away from the yards as
fast as they could be recruited to go
there and work.
The conferees of both houses have
penalties for the destruction of war
materials and for sabotage. 1t pro-
v.des penalty Of 30 years imprison-
ment and $4,000 fine. The measure
passed the senate sometime ago, but
in the house, at the instance of the
department of justice, it was substan-
tally broadened and it's scope en-
larged to include acts which actually
or are intended to, or which there is
reason to believe" are intended to in
jure or destroy war materials and
utilities. These would include prac-
tically every form of utility and every
article that could be manufactured for
the use of the government in case of
war. It also penalties the making
of defective military supplies or in
gradients for the same and tampering
ir any way with anything that is Of
use to or used for or by the govern
ment in the conduct Of the war.
A bill with the purpose in view of
restoring the old 1-cent postcard has
been introduced by Senator Calder of
New York.
Chairman Baruch of the war in
dustries board late Tuesday asked the
senate military affairs committee to
introduce and press legislation pro-
viding huge appropriation for hous-
ing munitions workers. He suggested
that about $15,000,000 be appropri-
ated in a lump sum, to be expended
under the presidents direction.
The house last Saturday passed the
Webb export bill, which permits
American exporters to combine and
provide joint selling agencies for for
eign trade. The provisions of the
antitrust laws, so far as they relate to
purely domestic matters, are safe
guarded. The senate passed the
measure several weeks ago.
The merchant marine committee of