The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-04-21
The Rights Of Servant;

No one has ever codified the provisions
and enactments that determine the legal
status of domestics, but Oliver f. Ly-
man has put into magazine article
some broad principles established in tho
courts which will make interesting
reading for both servant and mistress,
and which, if properly understood,
might make the relations Of both much
more tolerable. If a man calls doc
tor to attend a. servant who is ill, he
must foot the bill. The same is true of
a mistress provided she is a widow or
never had a husband; if married, the
law. makes it matter of doubt. As %
rule, the wife cannot bind her husband,
as he is not under obligation to furnish
medical relief for his servants. The
wife has no right to contract, but if she
has property Separate from her husband,
the case is different, and in some States
she can be held on her separate estate
by the servant. Though not bound to
furnish doctor, the employer must
supply food and support so long as the
servant remains in his employ. Again,
a domestic in good standing has a
right, to q recommon lation or Z" char-
acter" upon Leaving, and refusal to
feeling properly subjects the employer
to punishment under the law. If man
designedly gives a bad character not
deserved, the injured party can sue and
recover, as has in many cases been
! done. A voluntary communication,
particularly if unfavorable to the serv-
ant, is regarded with suspicion. To
speak i'll of servants has been seriously
looked upon by the courts when the
facts do not substantiate it, since
character means a servants only sup
port as rule. In Massachusetts a false
charge to a third party is held to be
| libelous. If the statement is made in
answer to a question, it must be to
person interested in the answer other
than rs matter of gossip. Again, do
mesties are entitled to their wages
whether any work is set before them to
! do or not, as long as they are on hand
and ready to work. Theright to wages
is not affected by damage done to prop
! erty in the ordinary course of her or his
| duties A master or mistress cannot
deduct from servants wages the
value of crockery or windows broken
without a special agreement. If such
reduction is made upon the day of pay
ment, the servant can sue for damages.
The party hiring, however, can bring a
cross-suit and then the question
whether the damage to property was
unnecessary can come up as fact to
be shown. Thus one suit might balance
the other, but to deduct wages in the
first instance is clearly overriding the
rights of servant-girls. A servant can
also sue for breach of contract if wrong
fully discharged before the specified
time. When no specified time is agreed
upon either party can terminate the re-
lations even without notice, although
custom regulates in manner that
matter. The earnings OF children be-
4 long to the father, and where he is dead,
to the Widow If, however, the widow
marries again. she loses her claim or
the wages Of the children. A parent
. can forfeit his claim 10 the wages o.
children by allowing il to go by anC
not attempting to COLLEGE. particularly j
he does not contribute to the child'i
support. In New York State the paren
must formally notify the employer tina
the wages belong to him. otherwise b,
can not collect. - SpriHQFetd CAGss.
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