The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-09
HELENA, MONT, APRIL 8. 1891
ONE YEARS LEGISLATION.

ONE YEARS LEGISLATION.
In a recent interview, Senator Ed
munds expresses his views OF the Farm
ers' alliance movement. 1t is with
ill-concealed apprehension that he re-
CARDS it. He cannot close his eyes to
the fact that, though its members pro-
coed on independent lines, its influence
in the next presidential campaign will
undoubtedly work for the interests of
the democratic party. Ii there is any
thing he breads more than that event,
it is the evolution of the movement into
a third party and its election of a presi-
dent and congress OF it's own. lie poses
as an oracle at the very suggestion, and
darkly prophesies the possibility OF all
manner of crude and i'll. digested lesisla-
ton. In the light of the senator's de-
liyerance, Mr.. William B. Shaw's article
in the current number of Economies on
the social and economic legislation of
the states in 1890, forms interesting
reading.
In the matter of family and domestic
relations, he is happy in having to
chronicle no striking addition to the
chaotic confusion that girds h subject
OF divorce in the different states.
Rather he sees matter for hope in the
appointment of a New York commission
on uniformity of legislation on the sub
iect. Power has been given the body to
confer with similar commissions from
other states and an exhaustive study of
the existing law has been made. The
promise of energetic assistance given by
most Of the eastern states induces the
belief that at no distant period OF time
the scandals and su~bterfuges, which
have disgraced this branch OF legal prac-
tice, will be put to an end.
With the advance of education and
humanity, the states are rising to a truer
conception of their duty towards the
unfortunate and the %depraved. New
York has revolutionized it's system of
the care of pauper insane. The former
method, under which the burden was
borne by the counties, had superinduced
many abuses, ana Ne transfer of the
inmates of the county insane asylums to
those of tho state he sets down as a
triumph OF intelligent, well-directed
effort to broaden and improve the adj
ministration of an important public
charity" The northwest does not lag
behind. Washington has done itself
honor by making careful provision fol-
the instruction of all blind, deaf-mute.
and predetermined youth between the
ages of six and twenty-one years. In
the south, Mississippi requires assessors
to report the names of blind children to
the supe ,intendent of the state blinc
institute. Prison management anc
discipline are becoming more humane
more rational. Iowa follows the example
of other states, and puts in force
scheme of time deduction from convicts
sentences, dependent on good behavior
Under certain conditions, Ohio makes
allowance for the parole of workhous'
prisoners. Virginia is caring for he
youthful criminal population. I'm
prisonment of young offenders too Otter
means a school for further graduation
in vice, and the general public vii
watch with eager interest the result Q
the scheme which transfers the crimi
nails Of youthful age to the custody c
the state prison association.
Labor legislation has been most activ
of all. South Dakota has created
bureau of labor statistics, the twent,
third in the list of similar institution
ohio requires her bureau to open fre
employment offices in every princip
city in the state, and correspondence b
tween them is arranged. New York
again to the front with the enactmel
of the "weekly payment" law. Thrl
amongst the working men of the cou
try is deserving OF all encouragement
and the new law marks a distinct al
vance in that direction. In certa
enumerated employments, the emplo.
must be paid his wages weekly to wit
in six days of date of payment. I'll
state factory inspector is empowered
enforce the law in the interest of labo
ing men. Massachusetts is already pr
vided with a similar enactment. Reli
or insurance purposes viii not, in Mar,
land and Ohio, permit any railroad col
pany to withhold a portion of it's Ell
ployes' wages.
The demand for IA general elght-ho
movement has met with little symp
thetic response from legislators, VIII
ilroad labor has received some sea
stice in the shape of better protecti
,r the men employed. Ohio trainm
and engineers are not to be kept on du
more than tWenty-four consecuti
hours. The mere statement of the Ii
itation should open the eyes of I
travelling public to the risks they {
compelled to run for the benefit of SO
railroad directors. In the same state
railroad man may, within ten days,
mand the reason of his discharge, q
any rule or contract, that may SUR,
der a claim to damages, is nall and W
Iowa insists on automatic safety CO
lers and brakes on all cars and engir
Massachusetts attends to the health
safety of the laboring population,
mercantile and manufacturing est
lishments must report accidents to Il
employees. The same state has adoI