Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-08-20
Semi-MOnthly Pay Days.
rom the Philadelphia Record,

From the Philadelphia Record.
There is much complaint that the law
OF Pennsylvania requiring semi-monthly
payments of the wages of employees on
the part Of persons or corporations en-
gagged in mining and manufacturing OPP
erations is in many instances disregard
ed. The law is very explicit. 1t re-
quires wages to be paid in lawful money,
the first payment to be made between
the first and fifteenth and the second
payment between the fifteenth and
thirtieth day of each month, the full net
amount of wages or earnings due en-
plOyes upon the first and fifteenth instant
of each and every month wherein such
payments are made"
Refusal to make payment, when de-
manded, upon the dates set forth is de-
clared to be misdemeanor, the penalty
for which, upon conviction, is a fine of
$500. Assignments of future wages OF
agreements to waive the requirements
OF the law are declared invalid. Finally,
the factory inspector and his deputies,
or, upon their failure, any citizen of the
commonwealth, is authorized to bring
action Ill the name of the common
wealth against any individual, firm, cor
poration or association violating the pro-
visions of the law, upon the request of
any citizen aggrieved.
A law which makes such efficient pro-
vision for its own enforcement can hard
ly be eyaded except with the tacit con-
sent of wage-earners. Workers in mines
and factories should see to it that the law
Is enforced. Its objects are most whole
some and salutary. There is no reason
why those who work for wages should be
compelled to have their pay doled out to
them at the company store.'
No objection has been seriously urged
against the law by employers, except
that 1t involves larger clerical expendi-
ture in making out frequent pay rolls,
additional labor in book keeping and add
ed pay days. This objection is trivial
when set against the benefit conferred
upon those whose daily wage is necessary
for daily bread.
The law should be rigidly enforced
until 1t shall obtain the sanction of GUS
tom.
The Rec0rdS remarks upon the semi
monthly pay laws will meet the approv-
al Of every mine employe and business
man in the anthracite coal regions, but
the fault of its non-enforcement is not
due entirely, as the Record intimates,
TO the workers themselves. The en-
ployes are well aware that demand
from them for semi-monthly payments
will be promptly complied with, and
they also know the discharge of every
workman who makes such demand will
follow Just as promptly, The factory
Inspector, or his deputies, Or any non
employe is powerless to act until re-
tusal to comply with the law has been
made, and as the miners dare not say
that it must be enforced, for fear
OF being discharged, the Record will see
that the law does not make efficient
provisions for its own enforcement"
The sem-monthly pay law was obey.
ed by the coal corporations for a short
time after it became law, in 1887, but
they soon learned there was no penalty
for its violation, and monthly payments
were resumed. In 1891, Senator Hines
introduced an amendment in the senate
and Representative Davis, of Schuvlkill
county, a similar one in the house, at
taching penalty Of 5000 for each VIC.
Iation of that law. The amendment
was passed by the legislature and ap
proved by Governor Pattison, but no at
tempt was made by Senator Hines
who prides himself upon his lega
knowledge, to amend that part of the
act which compels the demand for it
compliance to be made by the employe
This is one of the many bills which
the present congressman of this distric
claims credit in getting passed, and like
the others framed by him and intended
to benefit the workingmen, it is con
spicuous on account of the glaring loop
hole that is left for operators to avoid
obeying it. The corporations are nearly
all taking advantage of Mr.. Hines
obliging negligence by paying upon sucf
dates as suit them best.
The workingmen of Luzerne county
know who to hold responsible for be
traying them in the amending of the
semi-monthly pay law. With the elec
ton of Governor Singerly and Demo
cratic legislature next November it is
hoped that the act will be again amend
ed and give to every citizen the authori
ty to demand that the law be obeyed
1t is now a matter Of convenience tc
corporations whether or not they obey
that law, and no doubt they are thank.
full to Mr.. Hines for his deep regard Of
their interests.