Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-08-26
LABOR BUREAU.
W, p. G. Adams, Labor Commits
sioner; william Blackman, Rail.
way, Mill and Factory Inspector;
R.H. Norton, Coal Mine Inspector.

II has already been said that in moth
ing perhaps did the Legislature excel in
good work more conspicuously than in
iegislating on behalf of the toiling masses.
but nothing in the measures adopted by
the Legislature and approved by the Gov
ernor contained a single provision inimical
to capital.
The duties OF the new bureau of labor
are largely administrative. They go be-
yond the work Of collecting and tabulat-
ing industrial statistics, and comprehend
the enforcement Of laws which have been
wisely enacted for the protection of those
whose capital, skill or labor Is employed
in industrial enterprises throughout the
state. The state has had labor laws pre-
vious to those enacted by the last Leg.
1slature, and some of them were possessed
OF merit, but none of them were enforced.
A law was enacted in 1890 requiring
stores. offices and other places where fe-
males were employed to be supplied with
suitable seats. 1t was complied with by
q few humane employers here and there,
but as a rule 1t remained imperative.
Meanwhile our girls and women were
compelled to remain on their feet day in
and day out destroying health and happi-
ness and making their otherwise agree
able employments insufferable burdens.
The new bureau has had little or no
difficulty in securing a ready and hearty
compliance with this and other laws for
the benefit of employees.
The statute requiring safeguards for
dangerous machinery has proved OF great
value. Under former administrations
owing to negligence in this respect, many
were injured or lost their lives. The in
epectors have had no trouble in bringing
these new laws into operation. Nearly all
employers have listened anxiously to sug-
gestions and we're prompt in adopting
whatever was found to be practicable in
49, ,fG
the most part, anxious to minimize dam
gers to their employees. and as
consequence Inspector William Black
man has, through their cooperation and
his own careful. we'll trained judgment
been able to accomplish a good work.
1t should be said here, to the credit Of
employers of labor throughout the state
that they have co-operated cordially with
the inspector and have made his labors
comparatively easy. AS q result the
walk-out, the lockout the boycott and
the blacklist have become almost entirely
things of the past in the State of Wash
irgton. The good work of the bureau has
brought about better feeling between
employees and employers than has ever be-
fore existed in the state That is what
the bureau was created for.
OF course the bureau has had q little
rough sailing here and there. and some
knotty questions have cropped up which
were difficult Of settlement, but IN most Of
these the hand OF the Governor has been
visible and the work has been successfully
accomplished without noise or buster or
undue agitation.
Administration of Mines.
The same may be said concerning the
new laws regulating coal mines and min
ing, which are OF most important char
acter. For years back very good mining
laws have been openly violated by mine
operators. until, although the mines of
the state are naturally safe. they had