Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-08
LABOR is TO ENGAGE
THOUGHTOF CONGRESS
Comprehensive Program of Legislation Plan
ned, Designed to Reduce Friction
With Resultant Losses.

now being rushed through the COM
on the floor in a few days. Ii is in
evitable that during debate the labor
situation must come to the fore. The
railroad administration is asking for
another $1.250,00o.0O0 to meet in
creased costs This is due largely
to the employment on the railroads
under government control and opera
ton of many more men. IL Congress
should decide to turn the railroads
back now to the private owners il is
predicted that they would promptly
curtafl expenses and cut down the
losses borne by the government
through the simple process of laying
OF hundreds of thousands of men.
Such wholesale discharge, such COM
plication of the labor situation. 10
farthest from the wishes of Congress,
so close study will be given to the
labor situation when the railroad ap-
preparation bill comes out.
Labor is also vitality concerned in
the soldier settlement bill. which has
been considered at hearings before
the public lands committee. This bill
Is fathered by House Leader Mondell
and represents the plan of Secretary
Lane. 1t carries an appropriation of
$5OO,O00,000. Labor's relation to this
measure and the call it will make
upon labor to carry out the reclama-
ton projects and make the lands clear
for the returning soldiers will be dis
| cussed on the floor
President Wilson recommended
very urgently" that this plan should
receive the immediate and substan-
tial support of the Congress"
Three Proposed Labor Bills.
Three labor bills were considered at
the organization meeting of the House
labor committee last Wednesday. 1t
was the consensus Of opinion of the
committee that labor legislation
should be conspicuous for quality
rather than for a large quantity of
bills. Chairman Smith called the at
tention of the full committee to
President Wilson's message. pointing
out that he solicited legislation con-
| corning the relations between capital
| and labor. but that he failed to spe-
| city any reform. leaving that to Con-
gress. The committee must not evade
| that task, Representative Smith said
The three bills selected for first con-
| sideration are:
I'd The Nolan minimum wage bill,
T, on which hearings started on Satur-.
| day and which is to be taken up by
the House. possibly this week. This
provides minimum wages of SO a day,
$50 a month and s1.OS0 a year.
CD The administration measure for
| establishment of a federal employ
| ment service in the Department of
Labor. Much testimony is to be taken
this week at hearings on this bill. II
| was submitted by the department aft
| or, conferences with representatives OF
the various states, held in Washing
ton last April.
President Wilson solicited the par
ticular attention of Congress to this
measure. He said: There is one i'm
| mediate and very practical question
Of labor that we should meet in the
most liberal spirit. We must see to il
that our returning soldiers are as
sisted in every practicable way to
! find the places for which they are
fitted in the daily work of the coun-
try. This can be done by developing
| and maintaining upon an adequate
| scale the admirable organization Gre
ated by the Department of Labor for
placing men seeking work; and it
| can also be done in at least one very
great field by creating new oppor-
Here he linked in the soldier settle
ment proposition.
The relation Of. the employment
bureau and the soldier settlement plan
| is emphasized by Representative No
Ian in calling attention to the inter-
| ests of labor in the soldier settle
ment bill He says that the bureau
will find the labor to reclaim the lands
| needed for soldier settlement.
For old-Age Pensions.
(3j The old age pension bill, father
! ed by Gen. Sherwood, who was chair
| man of the invalid pensions committee
in the last Congress, was laid before
the labor committee by Representative
:
chairman Of the committee in the last
Congress. Whether the COMMITTEES
will favor an insurance system, where
the funds are to be contributed
wholly by the beneaciaries or in part
by the benefciaries and in part by the
government, remains to be developed
at hearings which will be held at the
committees earliest opportunity, fol-
lowing the employment service bill.
Much is expected from the House Ia
Dor committee. It is composed of
members of wide experience and
large affairs in industry and trade.
The first meeting had a full attend
ance, the members showed the utmost
earnestness to meet the problems con-
fronting them, and good legislation
may be ex > .cted.