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SUMMARY
OF THE
REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR lºº-
Cºº fe -
DECEMBER 29, 1921.
Each month the legislative representatives of the American Federation of Labor make a report of the
legislation proposed in Congress and the attitude upon it taken by Labor.
These reports are published monthly in the American Federationist. Following is a brief summary
of measures before Congress, but if you desire further information you will find the full report of the Legisla-
tive Committee in the January issue of the American Federationist. - -
Hawaiian Coolie Bill.—The Honolulu Star Bulletin declares that similar labor conditions exist in the
Fiji Islands as now confront the Hawaiian sugar planters. Years ago when the sugar planters of the Fiji
Islands desired low-priced labor they imported coolies from India to work in the cane fields. The Fijians
had rebelled against the wages and working conditions. There are about 60,000 Indian coolies there now.
But they also became dissatisfied with their unbearable working conditions and low wages. So they went on
strike and have been out for six months. Now the Fiji Planters' Association, who are very angry at the
Indian coolies because they have demanded sufficient wages upon which to live what a white man would call
a most miserable existence, are advocating the introduction of Chinese coolies to take their places. It is the
same kind of coolies that the sugar planters of the territory of Hawaii desire to import to “Americanize”
those islands. It can very well be realized the kind of Americanization proposed. The Star-Eartierin-in-air
editorial on the subject declares that “hard economic facts often change social attitudes.” It is certainly
a great drop for the people of Hawaii if they wish to reach the level of the Fiji Islanders. Furthermore, if
Chinese coolies will “Americanize” Hawaii it is to be presumed the Fijians want to be similarly “American-
ized,” although under British control. Mr. Walter F. Dillingham, chairman of the lobbyists who are seeking
to Chinaize Hawaii for the sugar planters, defends their failure to secure the passage of the coolie bill by saying:
“Powerful opposition that we had to combat was the American Federation of Labor, which from every angle
is a most formidable foe.”
Compensation for Longshoremen.—S. 745, known as the Johnson bill, provides that the workmen's
compensation laws of the various states shall be applicable to the longshoremen and other land workers injured
while temporarily employed on vessels in port. The bill should become law, as the workers affected now have
no effective remedy in law.
Department of Labor.—Mr. Walter F. Brown of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the Committee on Re-
organization of Government Departments, is becoming convinced that he can not “put over” the proposition
to subordinate or destroy the Department of Labor. General Sawyer has also given up the idea and is now
urging a department of education and welfare. He is advocating his original proposal to take from the De-
partment of Labor the Women's Bureau, Children's Bureau, Immigration and Naturalization. According
to information obtained from members of Congress more protests are being sent to Mr. Brown against his
plan of reorganizing the governmental departments than against any question that has ever arisen in proposed
legislation. The farmers are also much exercised because of the scheme to destroy the effectiveness of the
Department of Agriculture or to eliminate it entirely.
Monthly Labor Review.—Every effort has been made to bring about the passage of legislation pro-
viding for the continuation of the publication of the Monthly Labor Review of the Department of Labor.
Repeated conferences have been held with members of the printing committees of the House and Senate and
with friendly members of Congress, who were urged that the matter be attended to immediately. While
everybody appears to be friendly to the continued publication cf the Monthly Labor Review only the legislative
representatives of Labor have been doing anything particularly nºticeable to accomplish that end. Protests
against discontinuing the publication are being sent to members of Congress by many women's organizations
and colleges and universities as well as labor crganizations.


Immigration.—Two bills are being considered by the Committee on Immigration of the House. H. R.
85.25 provides for the extension of the 3 per cent law and H. R. 94.58 is for the suspension of immigration for
three years. Representatives of the A. F. of L. appeared before the committee and contended that every
able-bodied worker who had been admitted to this country under present economic conditions and who
Secured a job on his arrival had forced a man or woman now here into idleness. Therefore, the A. F. of L.
representatives urged a total suspension of immigration for three years with the exception that the dependent
blood relatives of naturalized citizens, or aliens who have declared their intention of becoming citizens and
are in a position to care for such dependents, should be permitted to join their natural protectors. It was
pointed out that this immigration should be restricted to the wives and minor children, to the widowed mothers
and dependent fathers of such immigrants. The reason given for the admission of these blood relatives is
that it will be better for them to be supported in this country than to have the money sent to a foreign country
and there expended.
Stabbing Railroad Unions.—Representative Madden of Illinois has introduced a most pernicious
bill (H.R. 9287), amending the Transportation Act of 1920. It provides that representation on all adjustment
boards shall not be limited to employes or organizations of employes representing a majority of the repre-
sentative crafts on any one road or group of roads either as the result of an agreement entered into or as the
result of any rule or regulation of the Railroad Labor Board.
U. S. Employment Service.—Through the efforts of the legislative representatives of the American
Federation of Labor an amendment was made in the Senate to the deficiency appropriation bill which pro-
vided $100,000 for the United States Employment Service. When the bill went to conference the House
conferees declared that the amendment would have to be stricken out or they would permit the bill to die.
Representatives of the A. F. of L. insisted that the Senate should stand by its amendment. Senator Curtis,
one of the Senate conferees, in a conference with Director General of the Employment Service Jones, said that
the bill would have to be passed December 15 and that it would be impossible to amend it on the floor of
the Senate. He urged the Director General to abandon the fight, promising that he would make an effort
early in January to have the $100,000 appropriated. Director General Jones agreed to this program.
Turnover Sales Tax-Representative Ryan of New York on December 12 introduced H. R. 9497,
being a turnover sales tax bill ostensibly to get the soldier vote by providing that it shall be used to pay the
bonus to the service men. The principle of the turnover sales tax has been discredited as a tremendous
burden upon the people, and the declaration that the revenue received from that tax should be paid to the
service men as a bonus is nothing more than a pretense to secure support for the measure which could not
otherwise be seriously considered. We shall keep a watch upon this measure.
Aid for Famine Stricken Russia.-Following the recommendation of President Harding, a bill appro-
priating $20,000,000 to purchase corn and seed grain for the relief of the people of Russia was passed
by the House. President Gompers had previously appeared before the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the House in favor of the bill. He said that the distressed people of Russia were suffering from the effects
of a most acute famine and that Congress should come to their aid.
Reclassification.—H. R. 8928, providing for the classification of civilian positions within the District
of Columbia and within the field services, passed the House December 15. Section 8 providing for a Federal
Wage Commission to adjust compensation schedules for mechanics and laborers from time to time was
stricken from the bill.
Reclamation.—President Gompers has written members of Congress that out of the mass of reclama-
tion bills presented one should be constructed that will cover every section of the country. Representatives
of the A. F. of L. appeared before the Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands of the House and urged the
early enactment of a reclamation law that would reclaim all swamp lands, cut over timber lands and arid and
semi-arid lands.
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Preside 4merican Federation of Labor.
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