The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-02-28
REVIEW Of LEGISLATIVE DO|NGS
AFFECTING LABOR IN THIS STATE

Bill, WHICH ellllllHdteS lllOSt VI thN
vicious features of the contract
doctor and hospital provision, and
has many other valuable amend
ments. an effort will be made to Sc
cure other necessary amendments
to this bill.
H. B. No. 245.-Has been intro
duced by Representative Thomas,
who is Secretary of the Miners I'm
ion at Newcastle. and provides for
free bath houses at all of the mines
in the State, for the miners.
II. B. No. 278.-Has been intro
duced by Representative Cotterill
and aims to regulate wholesale deal
ers of foodstuffs and to eliminate
the vicious discrimination now prac-
ticed by the packing combines
against retailers, and to materially
reduce the price of meat.
II. B. No. 283.-Is the Federal
Clayton Act, which makes lawful
labor organization and curtails the
powers of the courts to render in
functions in labor disputes, and de-
ing is not a commodity or article
of commerce. This bill has also
passed the lower House in Oregon.
and is expected to pass the Senate
there soon. 1t is part of the inter-
national legislation being worked
out at Versailles by the commit
tee of which Mr.. Gompers is Chair
man.
Fl. B. 295.-Provides for the ap-
pointment of three salaried secre-
taries under the Industrial Welfare
Commission, one to be located at
Spokane, Seattle and Tacoma.
Other bills not directly labor
measures, but that have our indorse-
ment are the Lamping Bill, the Mu-
nicipal Ownership Bill, amendments
to the constitution, and Non-Par-
tisan and a Blanket Primary Bill.
There are many bills introduced
in both Houses that we are vigor-
ously opposing and will leave no
stone unturned to bring about their
defeat.
They are Senate Bill No. 222 and
House Bills 81, rs, and 2SS, es-
tablishing a State constabulatory,
and Senate Bills No. 1S1, 236, 237,
239 and House Bills 1862, 219, 239
and 2S1, which range all the way
from having the affairs of the la
Dor unions conducted through the
county auditor to prohibiting strikes
and placing the adjudication of all
labor disputes in the hands of the
Supreme Court.
Since the late strikes in Seattle
and Tacoma every legislator at
Olympia who has had no previous
knowledge of the labor problems has
proceeded forthwith to draft a bill
and present it settling for all time
this trivial and annoying question.
AS far as they are individually con-
.cerned the public can rest assured
that the future is secure, the prob
lem is solved.
One bill provides that all strike
votes and referendums must be con-
Quoted under the auspices of the
county auditor, the majority rul-
ing and every one voting, while an
other provides that no alien must
advocate or vote for strike and
makes it a felony so to do.
If the Legislature enacts both
bills they get the poor skate both
coming and going, the absurdities
of each of the bills referred to
measure accurately the authors
knowledge of the problems he aims
to solve.
The, labor members in both Houses
are rendering excellent service and
much effective work is being done
by the federation lobbyists, there
is really brighter prospects of Sc
curing considerable favorable legis-
lation than surface signs would in
dicate.
The increases in awards under
the compensation law will approxi-
mate $500. 900 for the biepnium.