The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-07-22

House bill 45, by j. II. Ryan, was
designed to limit a days work to
eight hours for attendants and en-
ployees of the State Insane Asylums.
1t was killed by indefenite post
ponement in the house.
House bill 81, by L. L. Miller,
required that all steam boilers in
the state be regularly inspected by
competent and practical boilermak-
ers. This bill was favorably re-
ported by the committee on labor,
but Mark Reed had it re-referred
to the industrial insurance commit
tee, where it was held SO long that
it never came to final vote.
House bill SO, by L. L. Miller,
made the safety standards as recon-
mended by the State Safety Board
mandatory on all employers. 1t
was held in the industrial insur-
ance committee until the session
was nearly over and then killed
House bill 200, by Lewis, pro-
hibited the use of paint-spraying
| machine where poisonous materials
were used. The bill was designed
to protect the health of workmen.
The labor committee reported favor
ably on this bill, but it was re-
referred to the industrial insurance
committee, which held it till the
last of the session, when it was
finally killed.
House bill 211, by H. C. Fulton,
regulated the repapering of rooms
in buildings and tenements by re-
curing that all old coverings be re-
moved from the walls so such build
ings would be more sanitary. 1t
died in the rules committee.
House bill 113, by Gleason, au-
thorized the sale of electric energy
by municipality owned power plants
outside the limits of Incorporated
cities. This bill was fought by the
privately owned companies. The
people wanted it because it would
have reduced rates for light and
power. The bill passed the house
by a close vote, but was killed in
the senate.
House bill 20, by Mckinney, pro-
hibited the adulteraton of con-
densed milk. tt was voted down
in the house.
House bill POI, by Beeler, pro-
vided for a state presidential prim-
airy so the people could express
their choice for candidates for nom.
ination for president. The bill died
in the rules committee.
House bill 315 general appropria-
ton billy contained an item of $500
for Hilda Rasi, of Seattle, who had
| been injured while in the employ of
the Howard Manufacturing Com
pany in 1919 and had lost four fin
gers. She had tried her case in
| the courts and before a final de-
cision from the supreme court was
| rendered (Which was against herr
one year had elapsed and she was
| outlawed under the compensation
act. The item passed both houses,
but was vetoed by the governor.
SENATE BILLS
The most important bill affect
ing labor in the senate was senate
bill 118 by Mccoy, which author
lied the director of labor to ZEN
courage" and promote" the or
ganization of industrial councils
and shop committees Rockefeller
plan) and other similar organiza-
tions. This bill would have put the
power, prestige and financial re-
sources of the state behind such
| organizations as the Four LIS and
other employers organizations de-
signed to break up real labor or
CARNATIONS. 1t also authorized the
director of labor and industry to
subpoena witnesses, books and doc
uments, and applied the penalty
| provided for contempt of court
where refusal to accept the sub
poena occurred.
Your representatives centered their
efforts towards defeating this very
dangerous bill. We are glad to
report that, although the senate
committee reported it out favorably
| we were able to convince a ma
| iority of the senators that it should
| not pass and it was finally killed
towards the close of the session.
Senate bill 10, by Sutton, was the
school code, which applied the same
centralized control by the COVER
nor to the schools of the state as
the Hart administrative code did
to the other departments of the
state. This was dangerous bill,
as the big employers of the state
do not desire the rising generation
to be educated along progressive
lines. The fight over the school
code was the bitterest of the ses
sion. Your representatives opposed
it's enactment, and, thanks to the
votes of the labor senators (O'Harra
and Ryan,, it was finally defeated
by only one vote.
There is need of a real school
code for our state, free from the
evils referred to in the above bill,
and one that will bring the chill
dren of the state the benefits that
were otherwise provided for in the
Sutton bill minus it's evils. A
more equitable distribution of school
funds is highly desirable, and the
labor, educational and progressive
interests of the state should get to-
gether and prepare for the next
legislature a real school code.
Senate bill "a, by Hutchinson,
proposed an amendment to the state
constitution providing for the es-
Establishment of an old-age pension
system. This bill was laid on the
table by the senate
Senate bill 80, by Hutchinson, re-
quired railroads to provide sheds
over tracks used for repairing cars
and other equipment so employees
would be protected from the rain
and snow. This meritorious bill
was referred to the committee and
died there.
Senate bill 159, by Rockwell, linn
tied the attendance at the Univer-
sity of Washington and consider
ably increased the tuition fees paid
by students. This affects poor