The Labor enquirer., 1882-12-23
JUST LAWS.

and particularly in Arapahoe county
: much was said and printed concerning
the deficiencies of the laws which, di-
rectly affect the working people Of the
state, the most prominent being the
questions of liens and exemptions, The
various Candidates repeatedly assured
the people that If they were elected the
proper steps should be taken for their
protection in these particulars, and we
did not then and do not now question
their honesty Of intention. or purpose.
After the incoming legislators have met
and adjourned we will be better prepared
to say who were conscientious and who
were only batting the voters.
At present we desire to call attention
to the two laws mentioned above, citing
some Of their iniuStices and weaknesses
as they stand, and pointing out the
needed amendments as they appear to
us, and as proposed by senator elect of
Arapahoe county.
At present there is practically no eX-
emption aw in the state Of Colorado.
In the courts of justices Of the peace, in
which there is jurisdiction to the amount
of $500, not penny is exempt for either
married or single men, and as not one
execution in one thousand against man
who works for wages exceeds or at all
approaches that sum, all suits to recover
from them are brought III those courts.
In the courts of record there is an eX-
emption of $25 to Il man of family; but
as before stated. the laboriHgman is sell
dom or never hDnUrcd by those cunrts
In other states there are laws eXempting
the wages of a man of family, the amount
varying fromtone months to two months
wages some states putting it in round
figures at $50. With one or two ex-
ceptions there is a greater percentage
Of the population Of Colorado labOring-
men than any other state or territory on
the continent. They make the men that
make the laws, and aspirants for future
honors at the Hands of this people, who
meet at the capital in January. had best
look carefully into these matters and do
Justice to those who can make or unmake
them at the ballot box. We have been
kindly shown a bill prepared by Judge
Frank TilfQrd, senator elect from Arapa-
hoe county, which covers the case, and
for which he assures US he will earnestly
devote his efforts to see become a law.
The clause directly affecting the laboring
men, reads as follows:
SECrIoN1. The earnings of Judgment
debtor for personal services, rendered at
any time within sixty days next preced-
ing the issuance of writ Of attachment
or execution from any court in this state,
whether III The hands Of such debtor or
any other person, or due to said debtor,
shall be exempt from levy or seizure
under such writ, whenever it shall be
made to appear by the debtors affidavit
or otherwise that such earnings are nee
essary for the use of family supported
wholly or in part by his labor.
The lien law, as it stands on, the books
to-day, is a. farce and a lie. It provides
that atlabOrer can take lien on the work
of his hands for the wages due him. pro-
viding the amount due is not less than
$25, said amount to have been earned in
the week preceding the issuance of the
lien papers, which papers shall be issued
on the Saturday closing said week. To
make this law of any benefit to the labor
ingman the scale of wages in the state
would have to be advanced greatly, and
then labOrer would have to work every
day in the week. If he takes holiday
or loses a day.through sickness of him
self or members of his family he could
not have recourse to the present law,
even If he received 40 per cent, higher
wages than the majority of the labOring-
men in the state receive. Judge Tilford
tells us he will introduce bill repeating
the present misnomer and allowing a lien
for any amount due for work performed,
said lien to be taken within reasonable
time after the performance of work.
We sincerely hope that these bills,
and others looking to the amelioration of
the laboring classes, willreceive the sup
port they are entitled to and be made
laws this winter, and we shall closely
watch their introduction and handling,
thoroughly. acquainting ourselves with