Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-02-06

be believed, this opinion by no means
does justice to Missouri miuers. In
many of the budgets, notwithstanding
their low wages, such expense items
occur as ''$3 for charity. S. for books
and papers," etc., etc. Men who speud
money for books and charity can hard
ly be considered as rough and turbu-
lent as miners are sometimes said TO
be. Commissioner Meriwether says
that some of the miners visited by him
were men not only of education, but
men of much native force and ability
1t is not seldom. he says, that he found
works of political economy on their
les, and their conversation showed
that the books had not been left un-
read.
The principle suggestion made by
the Com missioner is that of passing a
law requiring weekly payment of
wages by all employers excepting
Railroads. Railroads are not includ-
ed because of the fact that their men
are SO scattered that it would be diff
ficult, if not impossible, matter to
reach all the men once a week. But
there is no snch objection in the case
of mine opqfAfprs and the suggestion
of Mr.. MerfWether seems worthy sof
considers ton. With their wages paid
weekly. iaborers could get the benefit
Of cash prices. Where they are pa id
but once month and then to within
only 20 or 30 days of pay day, they are
forced by their necessities to seek ad.
vances from their employers. And ex-
perience shows that the employers.
haying matters so completely in their
own hands, take advantage of the cit
uation to charge their men big prices
a
Meriwether does not propose that a
law shall be passed requiring in so
many words that wages shall be paid
weekly, as such law might be consid-
cred as interfering with the right of
contract. But he attains the same end
by proposing that all contracts for
la Dor shall be considered as on the
basis of weekly payment of wages un-
less there is written and recorded
contract specifying some other mode
Of payment. No employer would go
TO the trouble of recording a contract
every time he employed new hand
and so the prima facie evidence would
1e that the wages were to be paid
weekly. There is no doubt but that
such law would be constitutional.
Ever since the statute of frauds,
brought down from the time ofCharles
he second, the right of legislatures to
prescribe what kind of contracts must
re in writing has been recognized.
And this law if adopted, while practic-
lily having the effect of forcing en-
,loyers to pay their employees weekly,
would as far as the letter of the law is
merely add to the list of
which must be in writing
md recorded in order to have the sane
ion and backing of the state. The
condition of affairs as shown by the
Investigation of Commissioners Meri-
vether present many arguments Ia
avor of the justice of weekly payment
f wages; and the remedy proposed by
he Commissioner would doubtless
each the evil.
In the Appendix is given brief
ketch of the movement in England
gaipst the Truck or Company store
heck system, together with the laws
bat were finally passed abolishing
he system in Great Britain.
The reader interested in this subject
viii also find a synopsis of the legisia-
ion in the various states of this coun-
nd weekly and semi-monthly pay
lent of wages. In both Connecticut
nd Massachusetts employers are re-
aitcu W pay wages Wtohjy aHu aC-
,rding to the information presented
y the Labor Commissioner, the laws
ave been enforced, proving a success
! every respect and affording relief to
re laborer from the oppressive and
iious credit system.
Mr.. Meriwether had but five months
which to prepare his report but he
,ems to have covered the field pretty
loroughly. His report contains in
idition to the general points alluded
}, ten elaborate statistical tables
hich seem to show everything that
ny one might wish to know about
ther mines or miners.