The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-02-04
LABOR AND
EDVCATION
Recommendations of
Governor Hughes in
Message to Legisla-
ture - Vocational
Training.

Governor Hughes. in hi, last message
to the legislature. rcncws the recon-,
mendation made in his first message
that, in order to protect children against
dangerous cmploymcnts. there should
be more precise prohibition specify
ing the occupations to be selected with
Just discrimination, in which children
under sixteen years of age shall not be
employed. 1t is believed that this will
be an improvement upon the general
terms of the present law.
1t is also desirable in the interests of
justice, as well as to aid in the enforce
ment of the law, that where a minor
under sixteen suStainS an injury in the
course of an employment which the law
forbds, the employer should be liable
by reason of the violation of the law,
without regard to contributory nceli-
gencc or the employees assumption of
risk. He believes that it would be salu.
tary to go further, in accordance with
the principles which have been annomc.
ed in some other Jurisdictions, and in
the case of injuries sustained by adults :
by reason of conditions created or per-
mitted in violation of the labor Jaw to
preclude a defence upon the ground Of
I ha ih of ~ h,r ho
This would be an appropriate penalty
for an Infringement of the statute and
secure the protection which this stat
ute is designed to afford by requiring
suitable safeguards against the risks
that are incident to the cmployment
The statute should make this policy
clear in appropriate terms.
He also recommends that provision
be made for special and expert inquiry
into the questions relating to employ
cr's liability and compensation for work
mems injuries. The present methods arc
wasteful and result in injustice. Num-
bers of negligence cases are prosecuted
upon basis which gives the attorneys
a high percentage of rcoveries. Only
a small percentage of the premiums
paid for insurance against liability is
devoted to payment and employers pay
larger mounts that do not reach them
There are constitutional restrictions
which stand in the way of some of the
remedies which have been devised in
other countries. but the subject should
be thoroughly examined, to the end that
the present waste and injustice should
be mitieatcd to the fullest extent thai
may be found to be at once practic-
able and consistent with the provisions
of our fundamental law.
At the last session Il law was passed
providing for semi monthly payment Of
the railroad employees. While a penalty
for its violation is provided for by the
labor law it is not satisfactory, and
the Penal Code should be amended so
as to bring within its provisions the
violation of the amendment of last
year. There should be no question as
to the adequacy of the penalty. .
The lack of suitable vocational train
ing is Il matter of serious concern
Adequate opportunities for boys to be-
come skilled workmen do not exist
And none of the efforts to supply in
dustrial training have fully met the
difficulty. \ serious aspect of it is
that children who are not being trained
for some definite vocation are not be-
ing trained for anything. 1t is said that
the public elementary schools leave be-
fore completing the work of the schools
Obviously the curriculum of the ele-
mentary schools should make it to the
interest of the children to remain to
the end of the course. At least it
should be of a character to impel ra-
tional parents to see that it is clearly
to their ultimate interest to keep their
children in school to the end of the
elementary course and to Justify the
state in so doing in case parents are
remiss.
The state Federation Department Is
seeking to improve the situation by in
Producing system of public trade or
vocational schools which will take pupils
from the elementary schools and train
them in any definite vocation for which
thorn nrn n smfficinnt nnn,hnr of ,,r,;l-