Montana labor news., 1937-02-25
MUNICIPAL POWER
issue SUPPORTED
BY FALLS UNIONS
Continued from Page y

The delegates had as visitors
County Attorney Mr.. Phil Greenan
and State Labor Commissioner Ed
ward O'Byrne. These gentlemen APP
peared before the Assembly for the
purpose of obtaining information as
to what to do in relation to action
that had been taken by the Com
missioner in regards to violation of
the 8 hour laws prior to the adop-
ton of the amendment to the con-
~stitution which went into effect the
first of the year. MI. Greenan stated
that he was prepared to go ahead
and prosecute complaints that had
been filed by the Commissioner and
that he felt that they were all cases
of considerable merit and could be
used to test the constitutionality of
the law provided it was the desire
of the unions of Great Falls to press
any of these cases. It was the opinion
| of Labor Commissioner Mr.. O'Byrne
that the cases should not be dropped
and at least n Of them should be
pressed and brought up if necessary
before the Supreme Court for final
decision. The general opinion of the
delegates seemed to be that the cases
should be brought to trial. After
considerable discussion a particular
case was segregated and the County
Attorney and Labor Commissioner
requested to take it through the
usual channels of court procedure.
President Steinmetz reported that
an honor roll call of persons be made
in order to make up a deficit in
Cured at the general election in
November by the National Demo-
cratic Party in Cascade County. Per-
sons paying $1.00 would be enumer-
ated on the roll call. II was thought
that this plan would be better than
charging $500 per plate for the pro-
posed Jefferson Day dinner.
The labor unions of Great Falls
intend to resist any proposed reduc-
ton in wages on WPA or any
frightening of hours. This same
subject was taken up in the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council some
time ago and the organized labor
movement of Butte was instructed
to send protests to the local WPA
office in that county and also rea-
sons why no changes should be
made. The unions Of Great Falls are
going to follow the same line of pro
cedure and have been instructed to
notify Mr. B. /. Steinmetz, local WPA
director, recommending to him that
no notifications be made. It was
moved and seconded that the AS
sembly go on record as opposing any
cut in wages, o frightening of hours
to reduce the hourly rate. A sub
stitute for the whole was adopted
that the unions go on record to OPP
pose any increase in hours unless
accompanied with an increase in
pay, but to also request additional
hours of work at the established
hourly rate of union labor.
Another proposition of consider
able Importance that was taken up
at the last meeting related to the
subject of a public power plant. 1t
was decided to make a request for
the establishment of a municipal
power plant, at a public hearing to
be held in Great Falls March 3. All
individuals and unions are requested
to adopt resolutions supporting the
stand of the Central Assembly. Not
only this but the central labor body
appropriated $500 to publish a spe-
cial pamphlet outlining the power
issue in Great Falls. All the union
delegates were requested to attend
the meeting to be held at the Rain
DOW Hotel on March s..
Homer Whitmore, who has been
representing the central labor unions
at Helena during the legislative SEES
sion, gave a resume of the action of
the Legislature and his labors there.
Whitmore stated that the attitude of
the Senate was most d~iscouraging
and suggested to the Assembly that
he believed that the unions were
wasting their money in continuing
to have a full time lobbyist at Hell
ena. Mr.. Whitmore is very unselfish
in the matter and recommended that
due to the impossibility of getting
any worth while labor measures
through the Legislature that his
services be terminated. The dele
gates regretfully concurred in the
recommendation, giving him a gen
eral vote of thanks for his efforts.
A committee was appointed to as
certain food prices in Great Falls
compared with other cities. The men
appointed were Thompson, Hajek,
Talbot, Steele and Dawey.
Mr.. Nelson, member of the Coun-
Gil, was endorsed for the position of
State Liquor Administrator. Presi-
dent Steinmetz was endorsed for the
position Of State Relief Administra-
tor. The Assembly is urging the
other unions to do likewise SO that
both of these men will be in re-
sponsible government positions.