Montana labor news., 1933-09-28
NEWS FROM THE STATE


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The hours of labor of those employ
ed on maintenance work on the high
ways have not been reduced, and for
ty-eight hours or more per week are
being worked by some laborers. Some
steps should be taken to reduce the
work week of such workers.
While the hours of labor at the state
highways are not violated in actual
construction work, yet the hours of
those employed by the contractors in
the boarding house runs from twelve
to sixteen hours a day. This is some-
thing that should be remedied.
The statutes of Montana provide
that the highway commission may
construct highways by day labor and
this method should be given a trial,
as there has been much work on high
ways that has been expensive and un-
satisfactory. During the last session
of the legislature an effort was made
to amend the highway commission
law so that some of the labor would
be done by day labor. The highway
commission staff vigorously lobbied
against the bill and it was defeated.
The highway commission has never
been favorable towards labor and if
a more conciliatory attitude is not
taken by the commission as regards
labor, this convention should authorize
the initiation Of an amendment to the
highway commission law to be sub
mitted to a vote of the people at the
next election whereby the commission
can be reorganized, or take steps to
elect men to the Legislature that will
deal vigorously with the commission.
Drivers of buses and trucks on the
highways are being worked long hours,
sometimes as high as sixteen hours
a day. This practice is dangerous to
the life and limb of the travelling pub
lie. The railroad commission has the
power to regulate the hours Of labor
on busses and trucks operating on the
state highways, and that body should
be requested to take steps to protect
those who must use the highways.
The railroads, carrying through an
economy program, are not taking
proper care of the roadbed and rail
roads, and something should be done
to compel the roads to employ more
men to provide for the safety of the
travelling public.
Too many men are being killed and
injured in highway construction. Be
sides suffering from the injury, the
earning power of the injured party is
curtailed. A crippled mar is a LA
bility to society, and these injuries
sustained by the workers will event.
ually result in a raise in the cost of
construction.
The Industrial Accident Board has
the power to adopt a safety code which
will lessen the risk of injury to the
workers. In the interests of human
ity the board should put into opera
ton a safety code.
A bureaucracy seems to be in the
making in the unemployment service,
and some steps should be taken by or
gained labor to prevent this bureau
! from becoming a political racket. It
is possible to build a bureau into a
huge political machine which might
( foster the open shop plan. Labor
, must be on guard.
The last convention requested Judge
Bourquin for a federal grand jury in
vestigation of relief. The honorable
/, judge instructed the U. S. district at
torney to investigate our charges, and
2 the matter is now being Investigated
by the department of justice. What
the outcome Of these Investigations
will be is hard to say. 1t is a matter
of court procedure, as there appears
e to be some conflict in the laws. How
ever, we have sufficient evidence to
q show graft in the administration Of
: relief.
+ T The last session of the legislature
r enacted a law creating the Montana
! Relief Association. This bill was in
r troduced in the house by the commit
d tee on appropriations, of which Rep
u resentative Shannon of Sanders coun-
ty was chairman. The law provides
y that the governor shall appoint a com
a mittee of five to administer the un.
Y employment relief funds provided by
!, the federal government, and that thu
y five men appointed by the governor
d shall make what rules they deem adj
visable to administer the relief anC
also appoint local relief committees
Senators and representatives wht
voted for house bill No. 291 creating
the Montana Relief association ar,
now employees of the relief associa
ton and drawing salaries from relic
= money. And still we elect such me
Legislators.
1t is reported that the chairman o
r the committee which introduced tn
- bill is now an employee Of the relic
t. association. For Legislators to vot
u, to enact laws and then secure appoint
I'd ments under those laws when they be
OF come operative can hardly be elaine
N, to be in the interest of good govern
b ment.
~ III. L.. ..ou..l L.. Al. loosolat,..