The Topeka state journal., 1899-01-23
THE NEW LABOR LAW.
The Present Labor Commissioner
Points Out Some Good Features.

Points Out Some Good Features.
1t is said that the new State Society
of Labor and Industry is likely to elect
the present Labor Commissioner, Lee
Johnson, to his present office, but under
the regulations prescribed by the new
law passed at the special session. Mr.
Johnson explains the benefits arising
from the new law as follows:
In my opinion the effect of the new
law will be most beneficial from every
standpoint In the first place, the orig
inal law was loosely and crudely drawn,
and carried with it no positive provis-
ions as to the duties and powers of the
commissioner. In his work he was con-
tinually confronted by the fact that his
powers were limited and because of this
defect he often failed in gathering i'm
pOrtant statistics, or failed in having
adopted or compiled with his recon-
mendationS for the safety and protec-
tion of the employees Of many work
shops and factories An the state. The
present law clothes the commissioner
with specific and absolute power to per
form the duties prescribed and he can
now deal successfully with the danger
Gus and unsatisfactory conditions to
which many of the labOrerS Of the state
are subjected, and with the great cor
pOra1onS that are theoretically subject
to government Besides, the new law
makes it possible and probable to officer
the bureau with as good statistical and
administrative ability as are the great
business corporations of the country
with their freedom from the SpoilS Sys-
tenn in the selection of their employees.
The law also makes positive provisions
along the lines of factory inspection,
and makes it possible for the commits
sioner to enforce his recommendation
TO owners, proprietors or agents of
shops and factories, compelling them to
fully provide for the health, safety and
protection of their employees. A law of
this kind has long been needed in this
state, for, while Kansas is not distinc-
lively a manufacturing state, it is new
ertheless true that some thousands of
our citizens are engaged as wage-earn-
erS in various lines of employment that
necessitate state supervision for their
welfare The law also authorizes the
commissioner to cause to be enforced
all laws for the safety and protection
Of railway employees.
But one of the best features of the
law is the fact that the statistics here
after published by the Kansas bureau
will not be stamped as partisan While
it is true that in but few instances has
the work of labor bureaus been colored
by party bias, yet in many of the twen-
ty-nine states maintaining like depart
ments this accusation has been made
against them because of the fact that
they were Differed by men whose selec-
ton was governed by party politics.
The new law Will prove beyond Ques-
ton a great benefit in this respect, for
the provision that places upon the labor
associations and societies Of the state
the responsibility Of the selection of the
officers of the bureau will ct once in
IeG6SI the laDOI1nS classes anu Will tend
to promote organization among them.
and unite them in accomplishing the
best results under the possibilities of
this law. As an evidence that this is
true, this department is already flooded
with letters of commendatiOn of the
new law, and of inquiry as to how to
proceed under its provisions. These let
terS are from all classes of organized
labor. railway labor probably leading
Credentials of delegates already elected
to the State Society of Labor and In
dustry, which cOnvenes here the first
Monday in February next, are coming
in daily, and there will be without doubt
a large convention of representative
men. Some of the railroad brother
hoods are arranging to have their legis-
lative boards attend also. and labor leg
islation will be given an impetus that
will result in great good.
1T will necessarily follow that or
ganized 1abor-now nearly forty thous-
and strong in the state-win give ex-
preston of their views through the me-
dunn of the bureau in its published re-
ports, and also at the annual cOnven-
tiOns of the State Society of Labor and
Industry, in their discussion of public
questions affecting their interests and
welfare, and this at a time when the
law-making power of our state is in
session All this will tend to push to
the front the labor and industrial fea-
lures of our economic life, as the annual
meetings of the state society will be the
occasion of addresses by the best think
ers of the day on economic and indus
trial subjects, and labor ethics will be
better understood and appreciated. !
Remedial legislation along industrial
lines will be suggested and endorsed and
will in all probability be crystallized
into law