Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-03-25
HOW LABOR IS FARING.
SOmE OF THE BILLS B=FOR= PENN
SYLVANlA'S LEGISLATURE.
Measures Introduced for The Benefit OF
Workers Are Progre 4sing SiowIy-Nin-
ing and Factory Legislation. Compan.
Stores, Semi Monthly Fay Laws, Etc.


Stores, semi-M"nthly Fay Laws, etc.
labor interests have thus far receive
but scant attention by the present icgi.
lature. The laboring classes so far have
got practically nothing. There are,
however, number Of bills OF more than
ordinary Importance to labor unions and
the men aud women who earn their liv.
ings in the mines aad factories now
pending which will probably be passed
in short time. In the senate the prin-
cipal champion of labor has been Sena
tor pcnrose. His bilfto protect motor
men on street passenger railway line
provides that all such companies shai
cause the front platform of every car pro
PEELED by electricity or cable, during th'
months of November, December, Janu-
airy, February and March, to be inclosed
or screened so as to fully protect from
storm any person stationed on the plat
form to operate the car. Any company
violating the law shall be liable to IA
penalty of $25 per day for every car 50
used.
Three bills have been introduced b,
Senator Pcnrose in the interest of tex
tile workers. One raises the limit of age
of infant labor from 13 to ID years. The
textile workers at first wanted the ag,.
fixed at 16 years, at a hearing before the
committee of the senate agreed on IA
years. Another bill provides for the
proper ventilation of work rooms and
factories, and regulating the heating
thereof. 1t also requires all textile
manufacturers to furnish a ''bill of par
ticulars," showing the actual amount OF
work on the looms and other details.
Both of these bills have been reported
from the committee and are likely to
pass.
A third bill, reducing the hours of
work for women and children from 60
hours week to 55 n week, is not SO sure
of passage. 1t is being opposed by the
country members, who say the law is
not wanted in the rural districts. The
women and children there have so little
to do that they are only too anxious to
get chance to work the full 60 hours
and earn more money.
portant measure for the laboring classes
in his bill regulating 'ssweat shops" and
providing for additional deputy factory
inspectors to inforce the law and to keep
a constant supervision of such places.
The bill has passed the senate and is now
in the house.
A bill introduced by Senator Keefer
is intended to solve the much-veXed
question Of the employment of convict
labor. 1t provides for commission
consisting of three members of the SEN
ate and three members of the house,
together with the president pro TEN of
the senate, the speaker of the house
and the superintendent of the Hunting
don reformatory, make inquiry and re-
port to the next legislature respecting
the subject of convict labor, including
an examination of the extent to which it
is now carried on in the institutions of
Pennsylvania and the degree to which it
interfercs with standard paid labor in
this state. Inquiry shall also be made
as to the best methods of utilizing such
convict labor, based upon the experience
of existing institutions here and else
where, without interference with legiti-
mate industries.
Among the labor bills in the house the
more important relate to the extensive
mining interests in the anthracite and
bituminous regions. Several bills have
been introduced to correct the long
standing evil of the company or pluck
me stores but tho one meeting with the
most favor has been introduced by Rep
resentatve Orme, of Schuylkill, which
proposes to treat them as the United
States did the circulation of the state
banks-taX them out of existence. The
bill, which is still in committee, provides
that all corporations or individuals run.
ming such stores must make sworn re-
turns of the amount of wages withheld
for the purpose of meeting bills in the
stores, and on that sum they are to bt
taxed 10 per cent.
Representative O'Malley, of Scranton
has introduced bill which, If it be
comes law, will have an important
bearing on the health of miners. Medi
cal authorities argue that the diseas,
known as miners asthma is due entirel,
to nhaling the smoke from the miners
lamps caused by the use of the cheap
low-grade oils. The O'Malley bill will
compel the companies to use good OF
and proper ventilating material. TIL,
large oil companies, which will be seri
ously affected, are vigorously opposing
the bill, but both miners and operators
are said to favor it.
Another bill of vital Importance t,
persons employed about mines is th
Wyatt bill, which requires that safet
automatic controllers must be applied t.
any engine hoisting from shafts EN-
poyes or other persons, and in whicl
men are necessarily hoisted in going +
or coming from work, or where life o
limb may be endangered from being Il