The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-12-27
The Labor Qussti on.
ACTS PASSED BY THE SENATE nsLxrrvr
THERETO.


ACTS PASSED sY THE SENATE nsLArrvr
/ THERETO.
i FNo. 58l
4 AN ACT to provide for and regulate La.
Dor Contracts for Agricultural pursuits.
4 SEC. |. BE it enacted by the Senate
and House Of Representatives Of the
State of Louisiana in General Assem-
|bly convened, That all persons engaged as
liaborcrs in agricultural pursuits shall be re-
Iquired, during the first ten days Of the
month Of January of each year, to make
contracts for labor for the then ensuing
llyear; or for the year next ensuing the ter
limitation Of their present contract. An
|contracts for labor for agricultural purposes
lshall be made in writing, signed by the EN-.
1ployer, and shall be made in the presence
Iof a Justice of the Peace and two disinters
iested witnesses, in whose presence the con-
tract shall be, read to the, laborers, and,
when assented to and signed by the latter,
lshall be considered as binding for the time
prescribed.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
every laborer shall have full and perfect
liberty to choose his employer. but, when
once chosen, he shall not be allowed to
leave his place Of employment until the full
Ifilment Of his contract, unless by consent
lot his employer, or on account Of harsh
treatment or breach Of contract Oh tho
(part Of the employer; and if they do SO
Ileaye, without cause or permission, thew
lshall forfeit all wages earned to the time OF
abandonment for all lost time.
! SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the labor contract provided for above shall
be deposited with the Recorder Of the PAL;
lish in which the parties thereto reside, and
Ishall have the force and effect of an authen-
| tic act, and be conclusive evidence OF the
interest Of the parties thereto: but all dis
lpates arising between the parties shall be
decided before Justice OF the Peace Of
1.-THE District or Ward in which the parties
reside, and said Justice of the Peace shall
be authorized to enforce these labor con-
tracts.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
|all labor contracts shall be made with tho
heads Of families: they shall embrace the
labor of all the members Of the family able
to work, and shall be hindingoa all minors
1of said families.
SEC. S. Be it further enacted, etc, That
wages due under these labor contracts shall
be q lien or first privilege upon the crops,
mot more than one-half OF which shall b.
removed from the plantation until full pay.
ment ia made for said waops.
SEC. s. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
one-half Of the wages agreed upon shall be
tpaid at such stated periods as may be de-
itermined upon by the parties, but it shall
be lawful for the employer to retain tho
other moiety until the completion Of the
contract.
SIC. I. Be it further enacted, etc, That
Jail employers failing to comply with their
contract shall, upon conviction, be fined an
amount double that due the laborer, to be
paid to the laborer; and any inhumanity,
cruelty, or neglect Of duty on the part Of
THE employer, shall be summnrily punished
by fines within the discretion of the Court.
ito be paid to the injured party; Provided,
that this shall not be so construed as re-
mission Of any penalty now inflicted by
! law for like offences.
SEC. s. Be it further enacted, etc, That
in case of sickness of the laborer, wages
for the time lost shall be deducted, and,
where the sickness is feigned for purposes
of idleness, and, also, on refusal TO work
according to contract, double the amount
lof wages shall DO deducted for the time
lost, and also where rations have been fur
lnished, and should the refusal TO work be
continued beyond three days, the offender
shall be reported to a Justice Of the Peace,
and shall be forced to labor on roads, leyees,
and other public works, without pay, until
1.-THE offender consents TO return to his labor.
! SEC, 8, Be II further enacted, ETC., That.
when in health, the laborer shall work ten
hours during the day in summer, and nine
hours during the day in in winter, unless
otherwise stipulated in the labor contract;
| he shall obey all proper orders of his en-
lployer or his agent; take proper care OF his
work-mules, horses, oxen, stock; also, Of
TALL agricultural implements; and employers
shall have the right to make a reasonable
deduction from the laborer's wages for iniu.
tries done to animals or agricultural impie-
ments committed to bis care, or; for bad or
negligent work. Bod work shall not be al
lowed. Failing to obey reasonable orders,
neglect OF duty and leaving home without
permission, will be deemed disobediencc;
lirnpudence, swearing, or indecent language
Ito or in the presence Of the employer, his
family, or agent lor agents. or quarrelling and
fighting with one another, shall be deemed
tdisobedience for any disobcdience a-fne
Iof one dollar shall be imposed on and paid
lby the offender. For all lost time from
work hours, unless in case of sickness, tho
llaborer shall be fined twenty-five cents per
Ihour. For all absence from home without
leave the laborer will be fined at the rate Of
two dollars per day. Laborers will not be
required to labor on the Sabbath except to
! take the necessary care Of stock and other
property on plantations and do the neces-
lsarY cooking aud household duties, unless
Iby special contract. For all thefts Of the
ilaborer from the employer Of agricultural
products, hogs, sheep, poultry, OF any other
property Of the employer, or wilinl destruc.
ton Of property or injury, the laborer shall
pay the employer double the amount Of the
value Of the property stolen, destroyed or
Injured, one-half to be paid to the employ
er and the other half to be placed IN the