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Show OPEN SESSION HELD BY LABORCOMMrTTEE Eight-hour Law Is tinder Discussion; Dis-cussion; No 'Decision Is Reached. The house committee on labor held another open session at tho Now Grand hotel 3"cstcrday on South wick's II. B. No. 2S, oxtending tho eight-hour law : to factories and mines. .Chairman Jones last night said tho committee had not decided upon final action and that further fur-ther hearings might be had. W. Knorr, representing the federation federa-tion of labor, spoke in favor of the measure, presenting many points from tho viewpoint of the workingman and worldngwomau in support or his contention con-tention that the bil ought to pass. A number of persoiis representing manufacturers were hoard. They desired de-sired a modification of the bill." An epitome of their arguments- was con-, taincd in a document filed with the eommittoc. which is as follows: Utah factories are now struggling to compete with the long hours and cheap labor of well-established manufacturing manu-facturing centers. Adverse freight rates add to the Utah manufacturers' difficulties In meeting the outside competition. An average of 75 per cent of the products of UtahK factories must find a market outside of the state, where they aro compelled to meet the long hours and cheap lnbor goods before montloned. Owing to their limited population. Utah faotorles -are all but Idle during certain portions of tho year. When the busy season comes. It Is very difficult to obtain the necessary laborers. la-borers. In many cases It Is Impossible Impos-sible to sechre one shift, to say nothing noth-ing of two or three shifts necessary tn keep the machinery colng day and night. Less than l per cent of Utah's population in engaged In manufacturing, manufactur-ing, m New Jersey, for Instance. 16 per cent are thus employed. Such a condition makes It obvious that Utah factories need to be helped, rather than to be hampored. Utah's greatest need is more factories fac-tories and mills. The welfare of our present population demands more adequate means of furnishing employment, em-ployment, and a greater population by Immigration can only be secured by the Inducement that we can hold out along these lines. Manufacturing Is Utah's greatest Industry, leading its nearest competitor com-petitor In the ratio of nearly two to one. So other Industry gives a greater great-er promise for growth and development. develop-ment. It. would be suicidal to palsy the hand that feeds. In the year 1912 the output of Utah factories was $7o.000.000- Employment Employ-ment was given to 15,000 people. The factory payrolls amounted to $11,-500.000, $11,-500.000, More than $22,000,000 wns paid to Utah people for the raw materials ma-terials to keep local factories running. |