New-York tribune., 1907-07-29
NEW STATE LAB0RLAWS
Eristing Statutes Strengthened and
Clarified.


Albany. July 2s.-More than twenty-five new laws
in the interest Of the wage earners Of this state
and their children We're passed by the Legislature
and approved by Governor Hughes during the ses-
sion Of 1907. Some OF them strengthened and clart-
led existing statutes: one Of them effected sub
stantal reorganization of the State Department OF
Labor; most Of them mark steps in advance in the
states supervision Of the conditions Of labor, espe
cally IN factories and on railroads IN the quar-
terly bulletin OF the State Department Of Labor,
made public tonight by ?. TecUmseh Sherman.
State Labor Commissioner. It IS said that the
steadily growing recognition Of the need OF
reference TO protect the interests Of earners
IN industrial empoyments IS evidenced IN the large
body Of statutes relating 10 labor passed at the
recent legislative session. So numerous and i'm
portant are the measures signed by the Governor
that the general labor law IS almost recast. par
ucuaTy IN those parts relating 10 the administra-
ton or the law and the regulation OF the work OF
women and children in factories
The more Important Of the new acts
Strengthen the restrictions tho labor of
and children in factories. clarity the regulations
governing the issue Of employment certificates TO
children and intensity provisions OF the compulsory
Make It a misdemeanor tor any railroad more
than thirty miles IN length 10 employ for more
than sixteen hours Of any twenty-four any person
connected with the movement Of trains; establish
an eight-hour dav for all signal tower operators
and the ike; extend all cities Of the first and
classes the ren-aOur day for street and ele
vated RAILWAY er91ioyes; empower the PublIc Ser
vice commissions to enforce adequate protection
for employees Of public Service corporations; require
quarterly inspection Of all locomotive boilers and
Extend The Jurisdiction Of the Commissioner Of
Labor to the construction OF tunnels.
Require the providing of washrooms FOR person
and clothing In all foundrles, and the maintenance
Of proper ventilation In factories
Reduce the penalties for minor violations OF the
labor law. IN order 10 expedite prosecutions with
out the delays incident 20 Indictment by grand
Juries
Forbid the appointment deputy sheriff of any
person not entitled TO vote citizen in the
county where appointed. This is designed pre-
vent the appointment OF strike breakers" spe-
claI officers
Extend from one month to two the limit of time
for bringing suits for wages in the New York CITY
Establish the Russell Sage Foundation for the
Improvement OF social and living conditions.
The act reorganzing the State Department of
Labor Increases the powers and compensation OF
the Commissioner of Labor, and, as the bulletin
published tonight points out. ENDS the confusion
into which the thrown by the act Of
1S0l consolidating the bureau labor statistics.
office of factory inspector and board OF mediation
and arbitration The Legislature provided for four
teen additional employees Of the department.
Guiding assistant factory inspector. a medical
inspector Of factories. deputy factory inspec-
tors Of higher grade than any now serving, and
medatOrs, two special agents for the bureau OF
labor statistics and others II is stated that when
the new appointments are made on October ! the
personnel Of the department will number ninety
five, which is seven more than the total number
employed in the three bureaus prior to the CON
soldatiOn OF 1901.
Commissioner Sherman expects. the bulletin says.
that one Of the new employees Of the bureau of
( factory inspection will be inspector Of tunnels
which have now been placed under the Jurisdiction
. Of the deOartment. The uniergI IouDd cOnstruc-
ton work going forward in New York City has
become so extensive as TO overshadow the mining
industry in this state, and owing Inadequate
inspection and supervision, has been attended with
a high rate Of mortality from accidents caisson
disease" the bulletin adds
Referring TO the recent decision of the Court of
Appeals to the effect a statute forbidding the
. euplOyreut factories O'Clock
night Is not a regulation in the interest of the
public health and therefore constitutes an unwar-
ranted interference with the freedom OF contract
guaranteed by the constitution to as well
as men, editorial paragraph in the bulletin
argues that this decision nulied the statute only
/ in that particular, and the commissioner has in
structed his subordinates ITO continue enforce
that part the which limits the number of
hours OF work for females OF an ages to sixty
week. and, with certain exceptions, ten day.
well the clause forbdding both male and female
minors under the age Of eighteen years TO work in
factories after o'clock AT night and before s
O'Clock in the morning"
The entire subject OF hours OF labor in factories
will be governed after October by the new act
/ (Chapter 500 approved on June ID The bulletin
analyses the separating the protected classes
into four groups-women twenty-one years old
/ over, young women sixteen 10 twenty-one years
/ old Young men sixteen 10 eighteen years old, and
boys and girls fourteen sixteen years old, chill
dren under fourteen being excluded from factory
employment and men over eighteen being ex-
cepted from regulations 10 hours. The shortest
hours are those fixed for children. which are re-
duced from nine 10 eight day, 10 be performed
/ within the perIoo from a. ia. 10 p III inc
other three classes limited to sixty hours
week and with certain exceptions. TO ten hours
dav; but the period within which the work may be
performed varies from class 10 class. Young women
NAV not work after p. m, but young men may
work any time of the day or night outside of the
nerIod from midnight 10 a m, and women over
! tventy-one years of age in consequence of the
/ courts decision referred 10 above, are not re-
stricted any particular period The act also con-
talns a new provision 10 prevent the practice of
exchanging o. transferring employees, whereby the
hour Limitation has times been evaded. and
! the ten hour law TO make them enforceable.
In commenting upon the new acts regulating
| hours of labor in connection with railroads the
| bulletin points out that the benefits of the
| rlnnrter Day have been extended men, wei