The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1951-02-08
Legislative Mills
Loaded With Bills
Concerning Labor

ton TO the problems Of working
men. Here is the latest roundup
showing action taken on wages and
hours, unemployment and work
mems compensation, FEPC, and
other matters directly affecting
union members.
ARIZONA: Bill introduced to
abolish Department Of Labor oper-
ated by the Arizona Industrial
Commission and appoint a labor
commissioner at $4,000 a year. The
appointment would be by the gov
ernor subject to senate confirma-
tion. T he commissioner would
handle wage disputes and have
authority ito arbitrate, hear and
determine any controversy relat-
ing to labor, wages, hours and con-
ditions of employment" He would
also report to the legislature on
the cost-of-living, sanitary and
safety conditions, and the use Of
labor-saving machinery. Another
bill would raise the limit on unem-
ployment benefits from IL to 20
weeks while lowering the rates for
small employers.
CALIFORNIA: A state labor re-
lations board has been proposed TO
govern collective bargaining among
interstate employees. Closed shops
and picketing for organizational
purposes would be outlawed by a
bill introduced by Harold Levering
Of Los Angeles. Another bill would
allow public utility workers to or
ganize-but not to strike.
COLORADO: Gov. Dan Thornton
wants "a reasonable and enforce
able" FEPC because he is "con-
vinced that right-thinking Amer
leans firmly believe in equal and
non-discriminatory work opportun-
tiles regardless of race, color or
religion" A bill has been introdu-
ced to raise the minimum wage to
81 an hour.
CONNECTICUT: Bills to estab-
lish a 75-cent minimum wage and
give equal pay to women are before
the legislature. Another bill would
increase workmen's compensation
to maximum of S32 a week and
provide that widows or widowers
of workers killed on the job be
given compensation for life or un-
til remarked.
DELAWARE: Time-and-a-h f
after 40 hours is provided in bill
sponsored by Sen. Frederick Klair.
1t would also set a 75-cent min
imum wage now, increasing to 81
in two years. Unemployment bene-
fits for workers on strike, or in
volved in any sort of labor dis
pute would be paid under bill by
Rep. Joseph A. Bruno. 1t would in
crease benefits from $25 to $50
weekly and raise minimum weekly
benefits from $8 to SIS.
GEORGIA: A bill would outlaw
secondary boycotts under penalty
of $1,000 fine, II months in Jail, or
both.
INDIANA: Proposals to streng-
then the Hoosier States FEPC law
and provide $4,000 for enforce
ment are before the legislature
along with a bill to found State
Labor Relations Board. The board
would investigate, hold hearings,
and fine violators of fair labor
practices. A similar bill failed to
pass in 1949.
MAINE: Hopes for state min
imum wage law faded as the Leg
islative Research Committee found
Maine workers "under no hardship
a minimum wage could correct"
MINNESOTA: The legislature is
considering FEPC, unemployment
compensation, and child labor bills.
The FEPC bill would create a nine
man commission to eliminate un-
fair employment practices through
conference, Cancellation and per
suasion." Minimum age for child
labor would be raised from IA to
16 and limit Is and 17-year olds to
eight hours a day by another bill.
Another bill would reduce unem-
ployment tax rates on employers
who hire a full quota of seasonal
workers and then must lay them
off.
MISSOURI: Rep. Donnell K.
Perryman (D) has introduced
bill to repeal the King-Thompson
law, which forbids strikes against
public utilities.
MONTANA: The Public Utilities
and State Commissions Committee
of the House of Representatives
has reported adversely on an FEPC|
bill. A bill is being pressed by Rep.
J. S. Brenner to boost workmen'sI
compensation payments $1.5O al
week.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Employees
of "hotels, restaurants, inns and
cabins" who were excluded from
the state minimum wage law two|
years ago, are covered in bill
which would establish a new SO
cent minimum.
NEW JERSEY: Speeding up of
appeals under the workmen's COM
pensation act will be possible underl
a bill sponsored by Gov. Alfred Il.
DriscolI Now. complaints must goI