The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-17
Bureau of Industry and Labor.

Mobile Register ,as a.S
 Legislative bill which promises ests Of khe State has been prepared for presentation by the Mobile dele [ gation. It is to establish bureau Of industrial and labor statistics. under pointed by the Governor and to be paid s1,S00; with a clerk at sI.zoO, and l. total expense of the department not to exceed s5,000 per annum.
 The commissioner of, industrial and labor statistics will collect and report upon information and statistics of ia- Dor in the State, especially In relation to the commercial, industrial, social, educational and sanitary conditions Of the working classes and the perma- nent prosperity of the productive in dustries of the state. As far as Is | practical he shall collect from each | county of the State information as to the condition of the mechanical and manufacturing interests thereih; also data concerning cities and towns offer | Ing natural advantages Tor the pront" able location and operation of indus tries, and shall promote the location of industrial plants by supplying said information wherever the same IS l sought, and is available. .. ~-.. | The commissioner shall inquire into the causes of disturbances of the re- | lations between employer and employe and when. called upon shall act in the ! capacity of arbitrator in an endeavor to settle disagreements.
 | A very important clause is this one that says that 'it shall be the duty deputy or clerk, to inspect and It | shall be lawful for them to enter from time to time any shop, factory or works, where life or health is to be l protected. to the end that laws regu- | lating employment therein may be en- forced" and the commissioner shall re- port to the Governor the result of these inspections and his recommenda7
 
 send for persons and papers and to | examine witnesses under oath, as pro vided by law in the Circuit. Courts of this State, Is conferred upon the com
 There is likely to be some opposi- ton to this bill on the ground that it adds two more offices to the already long list of state offices; but there is one especial reason which justifies this addition. We have law for the protection of children who are sought to be employed in the mills of the State. and yet no good way of enforc- ing, 1t. because there is n@ inspection provided The only way fo ascertain whether the law Is violated is to have the mills and see for himself whether children under the legal age are em- ployed therein. Tn bill now proposed will supplement and complete the leg and 1t, or something of like nature, Is needed in order that that Legislation may be effective .
 Another good feature of the bill is that clause requiring the collection ! and digestion of statistics of labor, to the end that we shall know what is the actual condition of our industrial population and what 1t will be proper present there is very little known oi this t subject and our statesmen. are not in position to tell what should be done, or how best, to bring about g | Ifattar state of affairs It Is well, al employed expert in industrial .condf- tions to be ready to act as arbiter 1T disputes between labor and capital Very many of such disputes arise Iron rnisnnderstand Of contracts, or of mo tiVes, and the services of a disinterest ed and patriotic official well informed as to existing conditions and there fore not easily deceived by appear ances. will prove of great value tC all parties in interest and also to th' State.