Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1868-02-15

janna,y 25,h, 1868.
tClRCULAR No 81
The following Instructions relating TO contracts be-
tween employers and freedmen are published for the in
formation and guidance ii all concerned:
I. Laborers shall choose their employers, and it is
their privilege, as well as their duty, to Obtain the best
terms they can for their services.
All contracts for | Dor Should be made in ,riplica,e,
and should be approve by the Agent Of this Bureau,
for The Parish in which the parties reside one copy to
be retained by the employer, one to he refined in the
office OF the loca! Bureau Agent, and one to be torwar-
ded by him to these headquarters.
Contracts made otherwise than as TINS prescribed,
will! not be regarded as binding by the Bureau, nor as
meri.irg its interference to enforce the IN, unless icr the
protection Of the laborer.
IL. AS far as practicable, all the members CT the
same family should contract conformity for their labor,
so tina, the number Of useful hands and the number Of
indrm who have to be supported, may be regarded in
fixing the rate Of pay. The labor Of minor children TO
De contracted for by their parents or guardian, and, in
the absence # either, hy the Agent of this Bureau.
In. The monthly wages must be a just compensa-
ton for the labor required to be performed.
Nv. Twen,y-six days, Of ten hours each. in summer.
and nine hours in winter, between the hours of day
light and dal k, shall be considered a month.
V. Any work in excess Of this will be considered
as extra labor, aud six hours vii! be considered as an
equivalent. for a days work, and fractional parts Of the
six hours will be paid for at the same rate.
vi. Laborers working extra time will be allowed Il
half ration extra for each and every six hours labor
performed.
VII. In addition to the monthly wages Paid to la
bo,ers, good and wholesome rations, comfortable cloth.
ing and quarters, medical attendance and Just treat
ment, and the opportunity for instruction Of children
will BE furnished free Of charge: bnt the ra,ions, cloth
ing and quarters, fuel and all other privileges granted
by the employer are part of the consideration which he
pays for the services OF the laborer, and are as really
and fully wages as the money contracted to be paid
and are always taken into the account in fixing The
amount Of money wages to be paid.
VII. The SaLba'h Day being set apart for the
worship Of God, no !aborer will be required to perform
any work on that day, excep, works Of necessity or
mercy.
IN. The ration furnished to laborers shall be as
follows: One peck Of corn meal and five pounds Of
pork or bacon per week, and the money value of this
ration will be taken into the account in fix ng The rate
of wages to be paid.
X. The allowance Of clothing will be, two summer
and one winter suit for each laborer or member Of the
family, or clothing may be commuted at the rate Of three
dollars per month for first class hands, two and one. half
dollars per month for second and third class hands, and
one and one-half dollars per month for thiId,en-at the
option Of the laborer.
ri. Quarters shall be snch as to protect the laborer
and his family from the incl,mency of The weather, and
must contain accommodations for cooking, and, in adj.
dition, one-half acre Of land contiguous to the house
will be set apart for each family for garden purposes.
MI. Should the contracting parties prefer it, the
laborees can engage to furnish their own food and cloth
ing, their wages to be regulated accordingly. These
supplies may be purchased from the employer, who
must, If he undertakes to supply his hands, in all cases
keep a regular book account for each hand, and sell at
usual market rates, which accounts must be open at
NIL times to the inspection Of the Agents Of this Blu.
reau; this mode Of contract is recommended to the
freedmen, Should they desire to contract for a certain
portion Of the crop, they can do so, and the employer,
in all contracts Of This kind, will be required to comply
with Section XVII Of this circular. In all cases nrac-
ticabIe. freedmen will be advised to con,rac. for wages
instead Of shares-and each freedmen contracting to
labor should keep in his possession a memorandum
book, in which should be charged any article of subsis-
,ence or clo'hing furnished by the employer during The
period for which he contracted to labor.
XIII. One-half Of the monthly wages will Be paid
to the iaborer on the last day Of esch month, and the
remaining one-half will be retained BY the employer
until the contract is fulfilled, whom il will be paid over
10 the iaboser.
XIV. Should the laborcr refuse 10 do the work con.
stracted Tor, o. should he leave the plantation or place ON
which, Ct the employer for whom, he has engaged to
wo'k-for the purpcss Of avoiding labor, without just