Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-10
LABOR To FIGHT
OBNOXIOUS BILLS
PENDING BEFORE
STATE ASSEMBLY,
So-caIled Arbitration Measure
Arouses Wrath of Union Men
Who Decide to Put Up Bitter
Opposition Against It,
TO HOLD CONFERENCE
AT CAPITAL TUESDAY
Committee Of Workers viii
Meet Representatives of the
Legislature and Endeavor to-
Iron Out all Differences.

lIUli oul al III ICI OIICCSi
At least two labor measures are GO
ing to encounter rocky shedding in the
state legislature this week--the last
of the present session. The bills are
going to be subjected 10 terrific
bombardment from the guns of or
ganiZed labor. This was decided at a
mass meeting held at the high school
auditorium Sunday afternoon. The
meeting was called by the Central La
Dor union and the State Federation of
Labor. A committee was appointed to
represent the State Federation at San
ta Fe Tuesday, when a conference on
pending labor legislation will be held
with the a committee from the legis-
lature, appointed by the governor. A
resolution also was adopted protesting
against H. b. No. 377, the most OBJ
noxious of the two bills which were
discussed.
This bill is entitled "An act Great
ing the New Mexico industrial COM
mission; defining its powers and en-
ployes: declaring certain acts unlaw-
full and providing penalties"
An Arbitration Commission.
The bill is known as the "arbitra-
tion bill" 1t seeks to create a COM
mission for settling disputes between
capital and labor and provides that
employers and employees shall give at
least thirty days notice in writing to
the commission of any intended or re-
quired change affecting conditions of
employment with respect to wages or
'sssEsg'' Tlsssss5i ina .1l.,.s. .s si,.an .lss-
ty days in which to make an investi-
cation, and the bill stipulates that
there shall be nothing in the nature
of a lockout or a strike until the COM
mission shall have completed its in
vestigation or hearing and rendered a
decision with regard to the matter un-
der dispute.
The most Objectionable feature in
this bill seems to have been voiced
by Harry V. Reeves at yesterdays
meeting.
I'VE do not wish to be forced to
give any notice." Mr.. Reeves said
1--WE want to have the right to quit at
any time. Under this bill, if it passes,
employees would have to give thirty
days notice of any change they de-
sired made, and then would have to
wait sixty days longer for the arbi-
traitors decision before any action
could be taken"
The other bill to which objection
has been made is known as senate bill
No. SS and seeks to prevent hostile
acts, melting riots intimidations and
nearly every overt act, great or small,
which might be committed in times
of labor troubles. In fact, 1t is claimed
that under the provisions of the bill
member of a union could be pun
ished for merely soliciting union
memberships.
One of Governors Measures.
Bill No. SS can be killed without
any difficulty, it is believed, but la
boring men are not so sanguine about
bill No. 377. This is one Of the gov
ernor's pet measures. 1t is also
backed by interests not in favor of la
Dor, organized or unorganized, accord
ing to William Cody, another union
man who spoke yesterday afternoon.
1.-THE governor said he wanted this
as form for something to go by" he
said He then pointed out tnat thirty
eight states in the union have arbitra-
tion measures, but the bill now before
the New Mexico legislature was pat
termed after the Colorado law, which
Is generally regarded as one of the
most Objectionable of the thirty
eight laws in existence.
who is the author of this bill?"
Mr.. Cody was asked by someone in
the audience.
"The Colorado bill was introduced
by some unknown person." Mr.. Cody
replied, "and so was the New Mexico
bill The latter was introduced by
the steering committee. 1t has no
father or mothe:."
1--WE are going to Santa Fe to hold
a conference Tuesday," said Mr.. Cody
in conclusion There will be no COM
promise. If we die, well die game
Attention was also directed to the
fact that the so-called arbitration bill
had been ruled out of order last week
because it was introduced after the
expiration of the time limit for the
introduction of bills carrying appro-
priations, but few hours later it
bobbed up again with the appropria-
ton feature eliminated and in that
shape was allowed to get before the
house.
bill SS is so one-sided and so
drastic that it is not going to be hard
to kill it, said w. S. Patterson "But
the arbitration bill is different. It
has fairly good chance to get by. It,
is the governors bill. He has sworn
that he will have an arbitration COM
in this state"
Resolution Adopted.
The resolution introduced yester-
day and passed without dissenting
vote, follows:
Whereas, it has become geneally
known to the public that house bill
No. 377 now before the New Mexico
state legislature provides that all dis
putes between employers and en-
ployes in this state must lie submitted
to a standing board of arbitration,
whether the parties to the dispute SO
wish or not, and
Whereas, this act requires that men
and women remain at work for thirty