The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-06-09
PROJECTS FORADvANCEMENT
AND IMPROVEMENT OF LABOR
Continued from Page H.

vent obstructive legislative methods.
The report lists among the meas
ures stalled by "the weary waste of
worthless words" in the last Con-
gress and in which labor was espec-
tally interested, the appropriation
bills for the war labor board, the
United States employment agency,
the women industry service. working
conditions service and the inyestiga.
ton and inspection service.
The executive council suggests that
the convention authorizes the print
ing and wide circulation OF list o.
measures in which the American Fed
eral!on of Labor is interested, among
which are the bill forbidding imigra-
ton for four years during the period
of industrial reconstruction; bill for
an old-age retirement system for fed
eral employees in the classified serv-
ice; bill providing minimum wage
of three dollars a day for federal
employees: Secretary Lanes bill to
furnish land for soldiers and sail
ors, bill to give states the same
power over products of convict labor
from other states as they exercise
over the products of their own pris-
ons. industrial vocational education
for persons crippled in industry, in
creased pay for teachers and educa.
tional ills designed to end dull illit-
eracy in the United States.
Appropriations for the department
Of labor are discussed at some length.
1t is stated in the report that Con-
gress, in granting meager sums to
that department has failed to inter
pref correctly the spirit and trend of
present day development, especially
"at time when there Is worldwide
recognition Of the fundamental i'm
portance of industrial problems
1--WE maintain the report contin-
ues, that the Importance OF the in
terests at issue and the faithful, 10y
al service the workers have given
the government and society, have
earned for us the right to fair consid-
GRAFTON in the expenditure OF nation
al funds.
We recommend that Congress be
advised that it is the earnest desire
OF the organized labor movement and
Of all Americas workers, that the de-
partment of labor be provided with
adequate funds for performing the
important work which devolves upon
IT," "a 4
The council recommended to the
convention the endorsement of gov
eminent ownership of railroads, at.
ter setting forth in great detail vari-
GUS suggestions about railroads from
different sources.
Discussing what is called the meat
packing monopoly the council quot
ed the report of the federal trade
commission to President Wilson and
said that hearings by the House In.
terstate Commerce Committee seemed
o combination which not only con.
a combination which ont only con.
trolls and regulates the prices OF
beef, lambs hogs and other meat but
also eggs, butter, poultry, cheese.
rice. fish canned goods of all descrip.
tons, leather and wool. It is then
stated that insofar as "this combina-
tion restricts the supply and en-
hances the cost of these necessaries
the laboring people of the country are
adversely affected and the matter be.
comes one of votal concern to the
American Federation of Labor
It Is charged in the report that the
packers during the war shortage of
leather, when 1t was difficult 20 fur
nish shoes for soldiers, boarded such
quantities of hides, that 1t was i'm
possible to find proper storage room
for them. The development OF Ar
mour & Co. is discussed at length
but no definite recommendations are
made by the executive council.
Brief sketches are given by the
council of the progress of legislation
dealing with tax exemption for CO.
operatives national war housing, pro-
posed amendments to the seamen's
bill, initiative and referendum. con.
vict labor. workmen's compensation.
government employees. payments and
privileges for soldiers and war work
ers, wheat prices. public borrowings,
motion pictures. censorship, postal
wage legislation, navy yard and arse
nal services and educational systems,
HISTORIC MESSAGES