The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-04-23
The BLACKLIST BILL


What is hssr~n as th. blacklist
bill, Which ~as passed b. the Texas
legislature. IL 81 rtg5 general Inter
eat to railroad meu Of the state, IN.
asmaeh as IL prohibits corporations
from giving Information Ia regard TO
III. discharge ot employcs other thaa
that ~h.eh ls given Ia sagsieu lel
ter.
Under The present lasw a ayNtsfn
ul interchauging Information Ia re-
gard 30 employees records has grown
mp "a which the prospective employ
as had 10 give their consent Thie
systsn operated as blacklist,
though IL was not called by that
name.
when a person makes application
for position With railroad be Il
required To give "a list nf the roads on
which he .as employed. On some of
the lines prospective employees arc
required Ia sign q form letter ad-
dressed to their last employer. au-
thoriaing him to give all OF the In
formation asked for Usually This
letter contained some such clause as
the following:
Il hereby release your company
from any and all liability for dam
age. of what SO ever nature. on &c
count of furnishing the information
above requested. which is 10 be used
In determining my fitness for the
positfou mentioned
The bill is generally considered a
good one for the protection of the
employees. except that a clause was
tackled to II in the senate which uas
the same general effect as the clause
of the letter. In effect II provides eS-
emption for corporation II any
agent or officer gives false informa-
ton The employe about whom
misstatement was made would have
no recourse at law.
The bill az adopted Is as follows:
An act to define and prohibit dis
elimination against persons seeking
employment, and 10 prescribe penal
ties for the breach OF said act.
Section /. Either or any of the
following acts shall constitute "A dis
elimination against persons seek
ing employment:
a. Where any corporation or re-
ceiver of same, doing bushes in this
state. or any agent OF officer of any !
such corporation or receiver, shall |
blacklist, prevent, or attempt to pre- |
vent by word, writing, sign, list or |
other means, directly or indirectly, |
any discharged employe, or any en- /
ploye who may have voluntarily left !
said corporations service, from OBJ |
tanning employment with any other
person, company or corporation, ex-
cept by truthfully stating in writing
on request OF such former employe
the reason why such employe was
discharged or his relationship to
such company ceased.
I'D Where any corporation on re
ceiver of same. doing business in this
state, or any officer or agent OF such
corporation or receiver, shall by any
means directly or indirectly commu-
nicate to any other person or corpOr-
alton. any information in regard to
person who may seek employment
of such person or corporation, and
fails to give such person, in regard TO
whom the communication may be
made. within ten days after demand
therefor, a complete copy Of such
communication, if in writing, and
true statement of such communica-
ton if by sign or other means. and
the names and addresses of all per
sons or corporations. to whom said
communication shall have been
made.
60 Where any corporation, or
receiver OF same. doing business IN
! this state. or any agent or employe
J of such corporation, or receiver,
shall have discharged an employe,
! and such discharged employe, de-
| mauds q statement I'm writing ot the
cause of his discharge. and such cor
I poratiou. receiver. agent or employo
I thereof. fails 10 furnish true
statement OF same TAI such discharged
I cmpIuye within ton days after such
demand. provided that such demand
, los thc ,mp.oyy for said statement
shall bs Boa writing
I4I Who're any corporation cog rc.
,ritrr of same. doing husiuva. in
tbi4 state. uE uuv agent cog officer I'd
same. shall have received uuE re.
.uuUet. uofi.a or communication Dtth
t,r Iu aluuE ug uy sign. HuII. lmI
.ur otherwise. iiom uut person. COIN
Ipau u- corporation. prrttutuE u'