The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-02-26
LABOR CONTRACT LAW.
Pull Text Of the New Labor Law as Set
Forth by Mr.. Nash.

We print below the contract law just
passed by the Legislature, as set forth
in a communication from Representa-
tive J. w. Nash to the ~Spartanburg
Herald of Sunday. Representative
Nash, who is making an enviable repu-
tation for himself in the General AS
sembly, it must be borne in mind
though now a citizen Of Spartanburg is
in reality one of the strong young men
contributed by Laurens county to the
citizenship of the State:
Mr.. Nash's letter follows;
/ deem it of great Importance, es-
p~ecially to our farmers, that they i'm
mediately understand the contract law
under which they are to operate this
year: so / take the liberty Of request
ing you to publish at once this letter,
80 as to fully inform them what they
may depend on. The following bill was
adopted on q free conference committee
report on Thursday night, and as soon
as it is signed by the governor it will
be a law of this State. The governor
will probably sign it early this week.
A bill relating to contracts for per-
sonal service and advances Hereunder,
declaring certain offenses connected
Herewith misdemeanors, regulating
matters of evidence and procedure in
such cases, and prescribing punishment
therefor.
Be it enacted by the General Assem-
bly, of the State of South Carolina:
Section l. That any person who shall
hereafter contract with another to rem
der to him personal service Of any kind,
and shall thereafter fraudulently, or
with malicious intent to injure his en-
ployer, fail or refuse to render such
service as agreed upon shall be deemed
guilty Of a misdemeanor.
Sec. 2. That any person who shall
hereafter contract to receive from an
err personal service of any kind, and
compensate him therefor, and shall
hereafter fraudulently, or with mali
clous intent to injure his employe, fail
or refuse to receive such service or to
luthS compensation no oSiSSN upOll
shall be deemed guilty Of a INSIDE
a
Sec. 3. That the failure of either
party to such contract to perform the
obligation assumed by him Hereunder,
without sufficient u and to the in
jury of the other, shall be prima facie
evidence, in prosecutions under Sections
| and 2, that he violated such contract
lraudulently and with malicious intent
to injure the other party.
Sec. a. That any person who shall
hereafter contract with another to rem
der personal service of any kind to him,
and shall thereafter fraudulently, or
with malicious intent to %injure the en-
ployer, procure advances in money or
other thing of value from him, with in
tent not to render the service agreed
upon, and who shall thereafter with
like intent fail or refuse to perform the
service agreed upon, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor. Proof Of the
fact that the employee entered into the
contract, procured advances and failed
to complete the contract without suffl-
cient cause, to the injury of the en-
ployer, shall be prima facie evidence
of the offense herein described and de-
clared a misdemeanor.
Sec. 5. That any person who shall
hereafter contract with another to re-
ceive from him personal service of any
kind, to compensate him therefor and
to make advances to him, and shall
thereafter fraudulently, or with mali
cious intent to injure the employee, re-
ceive the benefit of such service in
whole or in part, and with like intent
fail or refuse to make the compensa-
ton or advances agreed upon, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Proof
of the fact that the employer entered
into the contract, received the benefit
of the employees services, in whole or
in part, and failed to make the compen-
sation or advances agreed upon without
sufficient cause, to the injury of the
employe, shall be prima facie evidence
Of the offense herein described and
declared a misdemeanor.
Sec. 6. The contract referred to in
this act may be either verbal or in writ
ing; if in writing, they must be exc
cuted with the formalities required by
Section 355, Criminal Code, A. D. 1902;
if verbal, they must be witnessed by at
least two disinterested witnesses, not
related by blood or marriage within the
sixth degree to either party; and the
term of service contracted for must be
for a definite time, not exceeding one
year. All such contracts shall be valid
only between the original parties there
to, and any attempted transfer or as
signment of any rights hereunder shall
be null and void.
Sec. Z. That if either party to any
written contract herein referred to de.
sires to avail himself of the benefits OF
this act against third parties he shall
cause the same to be indexed in the Of.
flee of the register Of mesne convey.
ances of the clerk of the court (where
the Office of the register of mesne con.
veyances does not EXIST Of the county
in which the said labor or service is tt
be performed, within ten days from
the date Of the contract; and such in
deXing shall constitute notice to al
third parties. Said in6ex shall chou