Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-30

Continued from First Page)
spending award Of damages, has been in
corporated in the laws of Texas. Iowa and
Ohio and in a modified form in the Geor-
gia statute.
Within the purpose of this class of laws,
but proceeding on a different principle, is
a statute of Montana that provides for a
state cooperative insurance fund to be
maintained by coal mine operators and
their employees and administered by state
officials. Payments in case of death and
Of permanent disability are to be made
from this fund by award. no action at law
being necessary. In fact the commence
ment of a suit at law is made to forfeit
the right to benefits under the act, though
the law Of liability is in no wise affected
by the new pre- vision.
Laws ON WORKING Conditions.
More than fifty separate laws were
passed by the legislatures of various states
within the last two years regulating the
conditions Of employment in factories and
mercantile Embellishments and making
provision for inspection. Laws providing
for a higher standard Of ventilation in
workrooms, based on ratio of window area
to floor space and requiring artificial ven
tilation where necessary, were passed in
Illinois and Minnesota, New laws were
passed IN Oklahoma and South Carolina
providing for systems OF factory inspection.
Under the South Carolina law two in
spectors examine provisions for safety and
sanitation and make investigation as to
tho employment OF women and children. A
New York law adds to the department Of
labor a bureau of mercantile inspection for
the inspection of mercantile establishments
in cities OF the first class. A novel law
was enacted in Oklahoma prohibiting the
sending Of workmen into steam boilers,
fire boxes, etc., before the steam is ex-
hausted or the fire drawn.
CIeanli4Ss of BmDoyes.
Massachusetts, enacted a new law re-
quirlng the water used for humidlfying the
air In workroOms to be so pure as not to
give rise to impure or foul odors and to
be used in such manner as not to endanger
the health OF employees. Laws that are
doubtless the result of the active effort
to secure pure food are those that apply
to bakeries, candy factories and establish
ments generally where food products are
manufactured, stored or handled. Cleanli-
ness on the part OF employees, as well as
of the rooms, utensils and all surroundings;
prescribed sanitary arrangements, the nom
employment of workmen affected with in
fictitious or contagious diseases, and regu-
lations as to garments and sleeping rooms
are among the provisions Of this legisla-
ton, enacted in whole or in part in Cali
fornia, Indiana, Nebraska, New Jersey,
Tennessee and Missouri in the last two
years. In Connecticut similar provisions as
TO bakeries were extended so as to cover
other foodstuff factories and manufactures
Of tobacco and cigars.
safety Appliances in Mines.
The safety of employees in mines is the
subject of a number OF laws. The increas-
ing employment Of electricity for lighting
and other uses in mines received attention
In Idaho. Ohio and Oklahoma. where proper
insulation and other precautions are pre-
scribed. Safety lamps, explosives and
blasting, ventilation, Inspection and the ex-
clusion Of intoxicants and intoxicated per-
sons are features OF several laws relating
to mines. A number Of states require mine
employees TO secure certificates of Compel
ency before being. employed. The New
York legislature enacted a law, the first
OF its class Ia the United States. governing
the employment Of workmen in mines and
tunnels where compressed air is used; tho
hours Of labor per day are regulated ac-
cording to the degree OF air pressure, and
provision is made against too sudden
changes from the place to work to the
open air: medical examinations prior 70
employment or unemployment after an
absencs OF three or more days, as well as
after each three months continuous en-
%ployment, are prescribed.
Laws regulating railroad employment
were passed by several states, three prln-
cipal features being a determination Of the
number OF persons necessary to constitute
crews on trains, the provision Of adequate
headlights on locomotives and regulation Of
the size, construction and equipment OF
cabooses. Safety appliances. such as
brakes, couplers, drawbars OF a prescribed
height and self-dumping ashpans on loco
motives, are other provisions OF laws OF
this class.
BlnckIistins and Conspiracy.
-Four states Connecticut, Mississippi
North Carolina and Texas) passed laws
in the period under review prohibiting
blacklistins; while conspiracy. intimidation
and intereference with employment are sub
Jects OF other laws. In the class last named
is a law enacted by congress making II an
offense TO entice employees IN arsenals or
armor1es TO leave service during the term
OF their employment, or TO avoid or break
their contracts. Hiring, retaining or en-
ploying or harborin6 In any wise such
workmen during their term OF service Is
also forbidden.
The giving OF a commission or bonus to
domestic servants or others making pur-
chases for thelr employers is made an Of
fense In New Jersey and Washington. the