Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-02-24
SENATOR WESION'S BILL
Enlarging and Defining Commissioner
Watson's Department. An I'm
portant Measure Affecting the Mill
Interests.

NOleI NdlSOu , QePoI liuChI'
It is in brief as follows:
"That in addition to the duties al
ready prescribed for the department
If agriculture, commerce and imml-
grafton the following shall be pro-
vided for:
81. The commissioner shall collect,
assort Systematically and present in
a report to the governor on or before
The 10th day of January of each year,
who shall transmit to the general as
;embly statistical details relating to
all departments of labor in this State,
such as the hours of labor, cost of
living, amount of labor required, esti-
mated number of persons depending
On daily labor for their support.
These ..atistics are classified as
follows:
III. In agriculture.
"2. In manufacturing and mechan-
ical industries.
"3. In transportation.
"4. In clerical and all other skill
ed and unskilled labor not above
enumerated.
tt5. The amount Of capital invest
ed in lands, buildings, machinery,
material and means of production aad
distribution generally.
"6. The number, age, sex and con-
dition of persons employed; the
nature of their employment; the num-
Der of hours of labor per day and
the wages received in each of the
industries and employments enumerat-
ed.
"7. The sanitary conditions Of
factroies, foundries, machine shops,
mercantile establishments and all
other places where five or more peo-
pie are employed as laborers.
"S. The number, condition and ma
lure of employment of the inmates of
the state prison, county jails and re-
formatory institutions and to what
extent their employment comes in
competition with the laor of artizans
and laborers outside of these institu-
tions.
"9. All such other information in
relation to labor as may seem ad-
visable to further the object sought
to be obtained by this act"
The bill provides for an annual
submitting of a schedule to the man
ager or owner of every manufacturing
establishment in the State, embody-
ing inquiries as follows:
"1. Name of person, partnership
or corporation.
"2. Kind Of goods manufactured
or. business done.
"3. Number Of partners or stock
holders.
"a. Capital invested.
"5. Average number Of persons
employed, distinguishing as to sex,
adults and children.
H6. Total wages, not including sal.
aries Of managers, paid during the
year, Distinguishing as to sex, Adults
and children.''
The following eyactions upon the
commissioner are placed in The bill:
'sThe owner, operator or manager
Of every establishment which is en-
gagged in manufacturing shall answer
the inquiries thereon for the y
months. November / to October 81
preceding, and return said schedule
to the commissioner on or before the
9TH of December following receipt OF
said schedule.
"It shall be the duty of all State
and county officials, every employer
of labor, and every person engaged III
any industrial pursuit, to give to the
commissioner, or his agents, all neces-
sary information to enable him to per.
form the duties herein required OF
him.
"Every person or corporation who
shall wilfully impede or prevent the
commissioner, his agents or inspec.
tors, in the free and full performance
Of his duties, shall be guilty of e
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
of t,'e same, shall be fined not les,
than $40 nor more than $50, or b..
imprisoned not less than 10 nor more
than 80 days.
"The commissioner shall have pow.
er to send for persons or papers
whenever in his opinion it is neces
sary, and he may examine witnes.
under oath, being duly qualified te
administer the same in the perform
ance of his duty, and the testimony
so taken must be filed and preserved
in the Office of the commissioner. HI
and his agents and inspectors shall
have free access to all places where
five or more people are employed as
laborers.
emo use shall be made in the re
ports of the commissioner of tb,
names of individuals, firms or corpor
ations supplying the information call
ed for by this act, such information
b.ing deemed confidential and not fo,
the purpose of disclosing any per
sons affairs; and any agent, inspector
or employe of said commissions,
violating this provision shall b'
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof, shall be pun
ished by fine not to exceed $2OI
or Imprisonment in the county jai
not to exceed six months.
uSaid commissioner NAV emnlo,