Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-10


Labor Commissioner ODonnell of
Minnesota has made study Of the la
Dor question and, unlike some of the
other state labor statlsticians of the
country, has pretty fair idea of the
kind Of information that will be OF
value In determining the status of the
worklngman and the practicable and
desirable changes In industrial condi-
tons that will lead to Improvement. At
the recent annual convention of labor
commissioners held in st. Louis Com
missioner O'Donnell made an address,
from which the following is quoted:
"In the Forthcoming biennial report
Of the Minnesota bureau we will try to
classify the employees of establish
ments and to give so far as possible the
number of hours of work performed
per day and week during the whole
year, Supposing an establishment had
carpenters, molders, machinsts, paint
ers, plumbers and other tradesmen en-
ployed, besides apprentices and helpers
Of all kinds, and that during a certain
period Of the year the plant was oper-
ated nine hours day with less num-
Der Of men than ut another time with
greater number of men at ten hours a
day, our aim is to get at the correct fig
ures SO far as possible. Our report,
furthermore, will show the relative per-
centage of apprentices to the journey
men In any of the particular factories
or trades that we may select for inves-
tigation.
From time to time our department
has urged upon the employers of labor
In our state to provide a suitable emer-
gency chest for their factories equipped
with bandages, gauze, liniments and all
necessary implements and medicines to
render first aid to the injured. And l
am able to state with great satisfaction
that our efforts have met with success
in this direction. One of the large es-
adjustments in our state employing be-
tween 700 and 800 men has extended
on our recommendation SO far that
they have provided two elaborate emer-
gency chests, with stretchers, beds, etc.
And the men employed have formed In
each department an ambulance corps,
and they have received a great deal of
instruction from the company's doctor
as to how to aid and take care of per-
sons injured until medical assistance
can be procured or they can be remov-
ed to their home or to the hospital. The
employers of labor in our state are re-
quired to report to the bureau of labor
all accidents that require the services
of surgeon, and they are classified as
to their nature, causes and also the in
dustries in which the injured were en-
gagged at the time of the accident
"The enforcing of laws regulating the
employment of children forms no small
part Of the departments work, and,
with the aid our department is receiv-
ing from the school authorities, which
In our state alone are authorized to
excuse children from school attend
ance, child labor has been reduced to
n minimum, and no employment per
mts are granted to any child under ii
years Of age without thorough in
vestigation by the school officials or
one of the employees of the bureau
as to the conditions and the needs of
the family or of the child making ap-
plication for such permit, and we
may confidently say that the employ
ment of children under II years prac-
tically does not exist in the state of
Minnesota. The factory inspectors re-
ports for the city of st. Paul up to
May 10 of this year show the following
figures: In $40 establishments they
found 1,346 persons employed, $3.50
men, 3,055 women, 81 boys and 81 girls
under the age of 16 years, but over IA
years, or, In other words, the number
Of children employed represents 1.16
per cent of the total number employed
"The phenomenal development of the
iron ore mining industry of our state
has added new work to our depart
ment, and our inspectors are at the
present time engaged in mine inspec-
tions. We expect to have this year Al
mines in operation, and 1t is anticipated
that the output for the year will reach
the 100000 ton mark. This industry
gives employment to thousands of men,
most of whom are foreign born.
FOR special investigation by the
staff of the bureau | have selected,
among others, the following subjects:
"First.-The continuation of investi-
cation of Sunday labor, which was or
dered by the legislature of 1890.
"Second.-Investigat as to the
number of hours worked by stationary
engineers and flremen and as to the
general conditions surrounding such
employment.
"Thlrd.-The eight hour workday
from the standpoint of the employers.
"Fourth.-Thc union label, its use in
Minnesota, the good it has accomplish
cd, if any, and the conditions allowing
It's adoption.
"Fifth.-The conditions surrounding
employees in the manufacture of cigars
lnd in woodworking establishments.
"Sixth.-The employment of females.
"The employment of females has at
talned such magnitude in all civilized
countries of the world that it has be-
ti.,t