The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-15

this money to employ men, preferably
former soldiers. sailors and marines.
in the drainage and irrigation Of pub
lie lands and later turn the lands over
to settlers for farming purposes. It
would have given employment to .
large number Of men for q time. 1t
was planned later to arrange the terms
30 that men without any capital could
take up these lands and begin faNm-
ing. But the house failed to act al
though there was . strong demand in
all sections Of the country for the leg
islation.
personally favored plan of APP
prOprfating a lump sum of 5000, 0OO. 900
for the president to undertake such
public improvements as circumstances
seemed to warrant and which he
should direct. Under that plan the
president could have offered employ
ment at any point and in any trade
where serious unemployment oc-
Cured"
Mr.. Keating's schooling was ended
at the age OF II when he went to work
as copyholder in q proof reading room
OF a newspaper office I'm Denver. He
later worked as reporter, city editor.
editor and owner Of newspapers in
Denver and Pueblo, Colo
Pass Wage Scale.
THE only measures passed by the
last congress to assist labor were the
minimum wage bill to regular employ
ment of women and minors. and the
child labor law passed as an amend
ment to the war revenue BILL" said
Mr.. Heating.
I'VE succeeded In the second session
Of the last congress In taking the teeth
~~%A r~fr
ish those who might destroy govern
ment property, but which was worded
in such a way that 1t would draft
labor. A section was put in one Of the
appropriation bills to punish those who
might destroy government property
and property Of concerns engaged in
business enterprises In which the gov
eminent might be interested. 1t was
worded in such a way that II could
be used to draft men working for con-
Germs doing work for the government
IL they attempted to strike or leave
for other employment. The teeth were
taken out Of that section when we
added another paragraph providing
that nothing in the bill should be con-
strued so as to prevent q MAJ: from
striking or seeking other employment.
It passed both the house and senate
in that shape, and defeated well
laid plan OF certain concerns to draft
labor at the time men We're being
drafted for the army
Congressman Heating expressed the
belief that the capital and labor of the
country will weather the storm Of re-
adjustment from war to peace times.
but said congress icould have insured
the transition against having bad re-
suits.
81 am not q pessimist and have not
the slightest idea that we are drift
ing into the arms of the Bolshevists,"
Mr.. Heating asserted. Neither can
I agree with Frank Morrison, secre-
tary Of the American Federation OF
Labor, that we shall have bread lines
NV May I'VE shall worry along
through this travail of reconstruction
in some way. but congress could have
done much to ease the process"
employment Service.
Mr. Heating then discussed the
failure of congress to provide funds
for the Employment Service Bureau
and said he had heard upon excellent
authority that President Wilson was
going to give out Of the lump sum
given him for war purposes the ST.
500. 900 the bureau needed to continue
its vitality important work of finding
Jobs for the workers and workers for
the jobs.
1.-THE most amazing thing about the