Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-15

what nonplussed, but promised to give
the matter some attention. Two town
ships of Clay county this year voted to
go to the township system as the school
unit and abandoned the district schools.
Over in Dickinson county the system
has been put into successful operation
at Taral, where about 112 pupils are be-
ing transported in seven rigs to the
central school house. The plan meets
with high favor.
State Labor Commissioner Brigham
and his assistant Mr.. Holder, are pre-
pairing copies of the new laws relating
to their department to send out with
other information which it may be ne
cessary for the employers of labor to
know. Two very important laws We're
passed in regard to collection of labor
statistics and the regulation of en-
ployment. The other laws will have
to be taken note of by the commits
sioner and these are the compulsory
education law and the fire escape
law. The most important thing done
by the general assembly in relation to
the office of labor commissioner was
to provide that If the commissioners
shall become aware or learn of any
violation of or neglect to comply with
the laws in respect to the employment
of children, or in respect to fire escapes
or the safety of employees or precau-
tions for the health of employees, he
shall give notice to the offending en-
ployer in writing, and if the employer
does not comply with the law within
sixty days he shall notify the county
attorney who must Immediately COM
mence prosecution of the person COM
planned against, who may be heavily
fined for his offense. Under the pres
ent law there is no way these prose-
cutions can be carried on except that
the commissioner personally attend to
them. The law makes it the duty of
q county attorney to prosecute such
cases. The law also provides that the
expense of such prosecutions may be
paid out of the general fund and not
out OF the contingent fund of the
bureau. Provision is made that in adj
dition to the otehr things which it is
the duty of the commissioner to in
quire into where examinations are
made he shall investigate the means of
escape from factories and the protec-
tion to life and health in general way.
the employment of children, the num-
ber of hours of labor eXacted from
them and from women. Another law
greatly adds to the duties of the COM
missioner by requiring that he shall
Investigate as to the conditions of the
factories. They are required in the
first place to have suitable retiring
rooms and separate ones for women
and men If both are employed.
There shall be belt shifters for all pull
Jeys and so far as possible loose pull
leys. All saws, planes, cogs, gearing,
betting, shafting, set screws, ETC.. mus.
be properly guarded. No person under
16 years of age and no female under is
years of age shall be permitted to op-
crate or assist in operating dangerous
machinery. Emery wheels and tumb-
ling boxes for polishing must be ar
ranged with blowers to take away the
Injurious dust. A provision ofsthis bill
makes it the duty of the mayors of
cities and the chiefs of police as well
as the commissioner to enforce these
and similar regulations. This is an
important step for the commissioner.
He will thus be able to call to his as
sistance the municipal authorities In
making his Investigations and en-
forcing the laws. if that be necessary.
1t Is anticipated, however, that the
simple fact of the law will only be ne
cessary that they shall have full
knowledge of the law. To what ex-
tent the commissioner of labor will
have to do with enforcing the law for
school attendance, or rather that part
which forbids employment of children
who have not attended school, remains
to be seen.
1t is probable that when the grand
army boys meet in Des Moines this
year for the annual department. en-
campment they will see something that
will please them on the grounds of
the state capital. 1t is intended that
there shall be beautiful growing
floral emblem in the shape of grand
army badge. The capitol grounds
have come out very beautiful this
spring. There was a fine lot of fertil-
izing done last year and the grounds
will be very handsome all this year.
NO APPROPRIATION.