The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-17
6. 0. P. LEADERS
 ALREADY KILL
 LABOR BILLS Employment, Training and Welfare Aids Defeated. MOON AMENDMENT KILLED FOR STARTER Will Reduce Railroad Wages
 Says Rep. Tess.

ncan leaders or congress Inal lIie Isl- boring man must expect the defeat of every policy and measure in which he is interested. The Department of Labor is to be handicapped in its up- lift endeavors and already 1t has felt the heavy hand of the 'Old Guard"
 There is a great contrast between the record of the Democrats and that of the Republicans In respect to this calss of legislation. Under the old regime the Republicans heard but did not heed the appeals of labor. The Democrats passed such measures in the form in which they were de- manded.
 Here are some of the beneficial laws enacted by the Democrats: The eight-hour law the bill establishing q chfldren's bureau, the child-labor bill, the bill providing for the safety of railway employees, the bill for bu- reau of labor safety, and others.
 The Republican leaders of this Con gress were not long in showing their antmosity toward ambitious working men and women who would better their condition. Only a few days af- ter Congress met the attack began.
 The killing of the Moon amendment to the bill to return the wires was the first open Republican thrust at the workers. The wire measure provided lIlGI the IILeS TOT SSTNlCe De IlOl re- duced for a certain time. The Moon proposition added that no reduction of wages of the telegraph or tele- phone employees now in effect shall be made so long as the rates fixed by the Postmaster General are effec- tive.'
 Almost to a man, under the leader- ship of Representative Frank W. Mon dell of Wyoming, the Republicans op- posed and the Democrats supported that amendment. That was the first opportunity the Republican leaders had to strike at labor and they struck. A few days later, Representative F'ess of Ohio declared with fiery vigor that the wages of railroad employees would be reduced by the Republicans.
 The interests of the workers were either ignored or compromised by the Republican majorities in recent con- ferences between the EEouse and the Senate committees on appropriation bills.
 Here are labor organizations or services crippled or destroyed out right by Republican leaders: The United States Employment service, which has done a great work in finding jobs for returned soldiers and discharged war workers, has been deprived of funds necessary to carry out an adequate program. The House made no provision for this service, although its director, John B. Densmore, asked for s2,000,00O. When the bill, which should have carried appropriation, went to the | Senate, the sum of s4OO, 900 was add ed through an amendment offered by Senator Robinson of Arkansas. In conference this was reduced by Sena- | tors Smoot and Warren to S200,000 | and would have remained at that 1 figure if Senator Robinson had not | protested and demanded that the i provision be sent back to confer | ence. Aided by Senator Kenyon. a | Progressive Republican, Senator Rob- 1 inson won his fight. The amount i allowed is too small for comprehen-
 sive work, but 1t will tide the Ser vice over until another appropria- ton bill is passed
 l. Denouncing the Republicans for
 their action in this matter, Senator Robinson said:
 You cannot justify destroying the l labor service on the theory that pri- | vate employment agencies, municipal
 and state bureaus will take adequate 1 care of 1t The ignorance prevailing
 on this subject is reflected in the dec- | laratfon recently made that practical ly all the states have employment
 services. According to the informa-
 tton coming to me, there are only | fourteen states that make any pre-
 tense of maintaining employment l bureaus"
 Workers are very much interested
 in the Woman in Industry Service''
 of the Department of Labor, which 1 was ''submarined'' by the Republi-
 cans Instead of the s30O,OOO re- Quested for this organization which
 has been busy formulating standards
 urging state labor laws, opposing
 night work for women and advocat- . ing other conditions to improve the
 status of the woman worker for this | service the last fiscal year was S15O,- 900, some of which remained unused July 1.
 Miss Mary A. Van K1eeck was al
 the head of this work for the better l ment of women. It Is believed that
 the $40,Oo0 appropriated was donated as sop" to woman voters. The Working Conditions Service another labor organization, asked fol $212,s2O, but got nothing. Last year it had S45,O00. Under the leadership of Grant Hamilton, this service ac , complished a great deal for tht betterment of labor. It's purpose wa. l the wage earners of the United States. It was destroyed by th' failure of the Republicans to provid,
 funds for its maintenance.
 | The Information and Education | Service, the purpose of which was t,
 promote sound sentiment in indus
 trial plants, to combat unsound in
 dustrial pIilosophies- and to acquain
 the public with labor conditions
 sought an appropriation of $736,4O,
 and received nothing. Last year
 had S225,o0
 Tho Investigation and Inspection
 Service asked for $300,000 and re
 ceived nothing.r The sum of $30o,00'
 was provided last year. The servic
 now goes out of existence. This wa l a war emergency service. but labor
 ing people asked that 1t be kept ur
 as it would aid in bettering workin conditions in the nation.
 The Training Service requeste' S888,400 but received nothing. It ha I q . R A T-- H1,g [, e. IA