The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-26
NEED FOR NEW LABOR LAWS.
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION SUGGESTS
LEGISLATION.


the Hours of Labor. and Especially
with Regard to Lnborers Un-
der TNventy-one Years-Congrcss
should Deal with Railroad Labor.
Use of the characterization ana
Non-UniOn Labor.
Washington, May 25.-The Industrial
Commission in its report to Congress on
Labor Legislation, recommends improved
legislation TO the state Legislatures rath-
er than to Congress directly.
THE subject of greatest public interest
to-day" says the report, 'is perhaps that
of the regulation of the hours OF labor
permitted in Industrial occupations and es-
pecially in factories"
AS Congress has no power to leglslata
directly In this matter, the commission re-
commends that a simple statute be enact-
ed by all the states regulating the length
OF the working days for all persons be-
tween the ages of II to 21 years, who
work in factories. The report says in
brief:
THE employment OF children below the
age of II should be prohibited in factories.
The length of the working day In all pub
lie employment should be fixed at eight
hours The same time should be fixed for
workmen in underground mines except I'M
cases of emergency. Employment in mines
of children less than fourteen years OF
age and Of all women and girls should be
forbidden. Congress might well enact that
no person under eighteen should be em-
ployed as telegraph operator upon rail-
roads, and that all engineers and switch-
| afal,k, 20.
color blindness; also that 1t be made a
m sdemeanor for an engineer or SWITCH
man to be intoxicated while on duty
"A simple and liberal law regulating the
payment of labor should be adopted by all
the states, providing that ali laborers
shall be paid in cash orders without dis
count, not in goods or due bills, and that
no compulsion. direct or indirect, should
De used TO make them purchase goods at
particular stores Provisions for the fair
weighing of coal at mines before passing
over screen should be adopted and the
miners should have the privilege OF am
poying check weightman at their own
expense.
Use of the Injunction.
The question Of the enforcement of the
labor contract by Injunction or oontempt
IN equity process Is a very difficult one,
mainly made so by the abuses which
have arisen from injunctions carelesslv
issued 1t is suggested that It might be
wen to limit punishment for contempt TO
imprisonment for a brief period, but
equity courts must not be deprived of
the power to protect themselves and TO
make their DEGREES respected The pro-
cess OF awarding blanket injunctions
against all the world, or against un-
named defendants, as well as the prac-
tice of indirectly enforcing the contract
for personal service by enjoining en,-
ployes from quitting work. should be dis
couraged not only by popular sentiment,
but by intelligent judicial opinion
Congress should adopt a consistent
code of laws regulating all matters con-
corning railroad employment, such az
hours Of labor, limitation of continuous
runs by engineers, or continuous service
by telegraph operators or switchmen; the
enactment of consistent employers Ia
bility code; the liability of the employees
or corporation for defective appliances.
etc.
Union and Non-Unfon Labor.
"The statute already adopted in the
several states discriminating as between
union and non-union labor by making 10
q penal offense for an employer to ex-
clude union labor only, seem to the COM
mission to be unconstitutional being class
legislation The statute should apply 10
non-union as well union labor alike.
IL 1t Is 10 be enacted at all. The right
to be employed and protected without be-
longing to a union should be preserved3
but every facility should be given labor
90 organize II II desires, and the last yes-
tige of the notion that trade unions are
a criminal conspiracy should be swept
away. The use of private police detec-
tives or other hired bodies Of men to he
used In connection with labor troubles
has aroused considerable attention, and
Congress probably has the power to en-
act reasonable legislation to prevent
abuses in this direction"
In a general way the commission reports
that conciliatory laws have been effective,
but that strict arbitration machinery rare
ly works well. 1t is recommended that
labor bureaus or commissions be establIsh-
ed in all the states.
Commissioners II. A. Smyth and G. X.
Harris unite In a minority report in when
they express the opinion that il would be
both unjust and impracticable to attempt
any uniform laws regulat ting labor in all
the states, IL labor and capital are to have
their full development They say the
right Of private contract should be allow
ed to both laborer and employer and there
fore the limitation of hours of labor would
be fraught with danger.
Commissioner 0Senator) John W. Daniel
in a separate minority report, concurs in
the spirit of the views expressed by Com
missioners Smyth and Harris.