The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-01-09
INDUSTRIAL CODE
COMMISSION FARCE

an Industrial Code Commission by
the Governor of the State, said
Commission to be authorized to in
vestigate the causes of industrial
unrest and empowered to recon-
mend to the next session of the
legislature constructive industrial
legislation that would bring about
larger measure of tranquility
throughout the State.
1t was agreed by the trainers Of
the legislation that the Commission
should be composed of two repre-
sentatives of the Employers, two of
Labor and an Independent chair
man.
The bill was later amended to
provide that two members of the
Commission would be chosen from
the Legislature, one from the Sen
ate and one from the Lower House.
for the obvious advantage of having
in the next Legislature someone on
the floor who could directly speak
for the Commission and present the
necessity for the enactment of the
legislation recommended in this
connection.
The late Governor Lister took i'll,
and later died, before the Commits
sion could be created, leaving its
appointment to Governor Hart
Governor Hart Immediately appoint
ed the five members of the Commits
sion, which included Senator French
Of the Senate, and Representative
Fred Norman, Chairman of the La
Dor Committee The State Fedora
ton Executive Council took the
question up with the Governor of
having the original intent of the
law carried out and two representa-
tives of Labor, one in addition to |
Fred Norman appointed on the
Commission. This the Governor |
temporarily declined to do.
A ruling was made later by the
Attorney General that no member OF
the legislature could receive from
the State any salary other than that
provided for him as a member of
the Legislature, and this later
forced the resignation of both Sen
ator French and Representative
Norman, and about the same time
one of the Employers representa-
tives, who had been appointed, Mr..
Botting, also resigned to take up
a position that had been offered |
him in the East. This left three
vacancies to be filled on the Com
The Executive Council of the
State Federation of Labor selected
committee from its members,
headed by the State President. to
wait on the Governor and insist
hat the original understanding ,
"hen the legislation was framed,
be carried out, and two Labor mem
oers appointed. The Governor ten
-atiyely agreed that this would be
lone, and asked that a list of
names that would be satisfactory to
labor be submitted to him. A list
II names was submitted by the Fed
eration, which included the names 1
II prominent members of the State
labor movement from the cities of
spokane, Tacoma, Seattle, and else
Where in the State, accompanied by
statement from the Federation
hat any two representatives chosen !
rom that list would be entirely sat
sfactory to the State Labor move
nent, leaving the selection entirely
o the discretion of the Governor.
Several months afterward the
Governor announced through the
'ress that he had appointed II. AL
In Moore and President Short, of
he Federation as the two Labor
MEMBERS. Neither of these two
Iames had been included in the list
ubmitted by the Federation, and
resident Short promptly declined,
n line with his adopted policy OF
efusing to accept any political ap-
and again urged upon
he Governor that someone be sub /
tituted for him from the list of c
ames submitted to the Governor I
y the Federation. /
No response was received in this
from the Governor of
Ice, and few days ago the public I
ress carried the information that ;
" p. Blake, a prominent official OF c
he Lumbermen Association. had b