Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-09-16

returns. Those employing the larg
est number of hands are the lumber
wood pulp, brick and tile machin,
shops. There are 81 woolen mills, witt
about $4,000 operatives. and glass fac
| tories, match factories, rope walks
paper mills. canning factories and to
bacco factories, which employ two OF
three thousand men each.
Mining Is the only industry that
has not advanced in Norway during
the present generation. There is
very little ore or coal in that country
and it Is so situated that 1t does not
pay to work 1t. Sweden is much more
fortunate in this respect.
There are trades union everywhere
throughout Norway, and the working
mem have political organization
known as the labor party. 1t is com
paratively weak, casting only about
1880 votes. and has never been able
to elect a member of the storthing. al
though it has representatives in the
municipal councils of Christiania,
Bergen and several other of the
cities.
The labor agitators are now work
ing for a ten-hour day. There is no
limit at present. it depends entirely
upon the disposition of employers,
but eleven hours in the cities and
twelve hours in the country are usu-
ally considered working day.
There has been considerable legis-
lation for the protection of wage
earners. particularly those employed
in factories. The employment of
children under IA Is absolutely for
hidden in any of the factories or
trades, although you see them at work
old enough to walk. Children be
tween II ard 5 must not work lvng"I
than ten hours day; they cannot
be employed under ground. and must
not be trusted with the care
of boilers, engines and machinery.
Nor is it lawful for any women to en-
gage in manual labor except in her
own household for six weeks before
and after confinement. All labor is
forbidden on Sundays, religious fast
and feast days, and on Saturdays af-
ter 6 o'clock.
There is compulsory insurance
law similar to that of Austria against
accidents, which applies to all occu-
pations except domestic servants,
agriculture. fishing and shipping. 1t
is compulsory where steam and other
artificial power is used. 1t also in
cludes workmen in mines and quar-
ries, the ice trade on the docks, house
building, railways, road building,
canals. timber cutting and floating,
shipping merchandise, teaning and in
whatever the hands are employed ex-
cept in the trades l have mentioned.
The employers Of such persons are re-
luired to insure them against the
conquences of accidents sustained
when in the performance Of their
regular duties or acting under or
ders OF their authorized bosses of
superintendent. The amount of the
insurance is regulated by the wages
received; the premium must not be
received; the premium must not be
charged to the persons insured; the
rates are regulated by the govern
ilthl, companies Who
engage in such business are required
to accept them.
In each municipality the council
appoints inspectors whose duty 1t is to
look after the interests of the insurers
as well as the insured, and to notify
insurance companies of dangerous
conditions, reckless conduct and other
circumstances which is important for
them to know. The government thus
exercises general supervision over
the business and receives premiums
and pays damages through the post
Offices. When an employe of fac
tory has been injured in the perform
ance of his ordinary duty he is paid
an indemnity amounting to not more
than 25 per cent OF his wages upon
the certificate of a physician repre-
senting the municipal council. attested
by the government inspector. The
amount of relief is regulated by the
character of the injury. In case OF
death the funeral expenses are paid
and lump sum OF money to the de-
pendent heirs OF the deceased. II no
one was dependent upon him damages
need not be paid.