Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-12-28

set.
If the laborer IS disposed 10 work on Satur
day he cannot do so on any other estate than
that Of Bis regular employer without leave, and
no more thsn regular price stipulated by the
law can he paid OF received for the Saturday
days work The magistrate may order work
on Saturday as punishment for idleness OF neg
let, AID the pay shall be no more than the reg
ular enc.
4. At certain season Of the year, some kinds
OF work, such as working the mills 81
crushing the cane, attending the boilers. &c.,
cannot safely be interrupted during the break
fast and incoming hours. To these required "a
attend to that w0ck their meals are brought by
their families, and they are paid a special al
ditional price over and above the days wages,
one and a half cent for breakfast AID three cents
for noon. Bur no bargaining for work by the
hour or for extra pay above what is specified,
is permitted The grinding mill Is not to be
turned later than SIX O'Clock, nor the boiling to
be continued after ten in the evening. unless by
special permission Of the Governor, who IS 10
determine what extra pay shall be given to the
laboTers IN such case.
II. or THE REMUNERATION.
The hborers are to receive for their labor,
l. The use Of house or dwelling rooms for
themselves and their chillrou-,he same to be
bun. and repaired by the estate. but to be kept
in proper order by the aborers. By the bye
these houses are always bulk near each other
and near TO the mill, boiling houses. &c. Of the
estate, whereby any signal for proceeding to
work, as by ringing bell OF blowing a shell or
horn, can be heard without fail by al.
.. Each laborer Of the first or second class
is to have allotted to him on the estate to raise
vegetables, Sc, for his own US, a piece Of
ground dfyy feet s4uaro-that IS Of an area Of
$500 square feet, equal to about nine and half
square rods, English measure.
3. The wages Of each fret class lsborer is
fifteen cents d day, Of each second class l,borer
ten cents 8 day, and Of each third class l.barer
I've cents q day, for each Of the five working
days Of each week.
4. When the lsborer chooses to take the Gus
ton arg allowance Of provision. ri-., six quarts
Of Indian meal and two pounds Of salt fish each
per week, that Is to be reckoned as sre
cents, On the wages account. So that with the
customary allowance aforesaid each frif class
lsborer gets Ten cents il cash day for i've days
Of each week; q second class laborer fire cents
in cash, snd a third class gets no money. unless
by agreement be gets les thsn the full custom
AIRY allowance Of provision and the balance in
money. The wages Of minor children is paid to
their parents
am tod that universally the laborer, prefer
to take the customary allowance Of pr5yisiou-as
being far more valuable to them than five cents
4 day in money would be. Also, that though
it costs the owners Ct the estates much more
than five CENTS dsy for each allowance Of pro-
vision, they are quite willing to furnish it, IS
providing he laborer with more invigorating
ood than lie would be likely TO get for himself
Without it
.. Mechanics among the lsbcrers-tLat is !
'oopers, Lscksmiths, &c.,-are rated az FIST
econd sud third class laborers according ? o
heir proficiency. First class ones. when tf sy
iaye fuH 'rort, nro allowed fse cents is.y in
edition to the prescribed psy Of fifteen c.a;s for
ther labor.
e. Laborers not coming to work a, regular
inc, CT wilfuily alsiaining from work or keep
ug their children ZION work, arc liable to lose
art or all Of their wages; AID Al certain tires.
'hen the less e iLeiF labor would he peculiarly
detrimental. tie magistrate can order additional
uuishment
Combinations % rotsrd CT obstruct the vork,
TO break their Engagements, can be punished.
n investigation, BY the magistrate
:. Sick lahorers are provided with medical
tendance at the cost Of the estate, under strict
that this provision sh,n not lie
6used. Summing sickness to get rid Of labor
treated as wilt. atsenoe f.om duty.
9 r srnaut women are allowed to work as
ri class laborers; but can Lot be called on to
,,-l. I'll after seven weeks subsequent to their
,op6remeut. Nursing women are allowed to lie
absent from work two hours daily. that time
being deducted from their days work aud their
daily pay reduced accordingly. Infant children
are cared for in some proper place and at the
expense Of the estate, while the mothers are at
work.
Omitting reference to sundry smaller details
providing for the rights, privileges and comforts
sf the parties, what hsye written will give the
readers Of the FREE PREss & fair knowledge Of
the chief provisions Of the Labor Act" 1t
Gomez not within my object at this time to ex-
press any opinion as to its merits. As to that,
an intelligent merchant and owner Of an estate
said to me-''there is q wide difference Of opin-
ion On the island in regard to that act, some
believe that without it the business Of the island
would 90 to ruin, others that it is great hin
drance to its prosperity" So far as have
heard remarks about it, think it is prevail
ent opinion here that the act was a necessary
one when it was enacted, and wise one for the
time but that the progress Of events has called
for.its modification yet that few are ready to
say hOte it should be altered, and all are rather
afraid to urge the Government to make changes
lest the change should prove for the worse.
This much believe all cOncede, that the gov
eminent, through its officers here, is very
watchful for the protection Of the lsbOrers
against harsh and unjust treatment by the en-
ployers or their agents, and that the laborers as
a class are very pesceable and well disposed.
The daily wages of the labOrers must seem to be
small indeed to all the people Of the Northern
part Of the United States. Considering the
slight expense which laborsrs need be at to be