Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-03-31
Labor Legislation
Many Laws Passed On Employment
OF Women And s
Children.

f -
extended SO as to cover other food
stuff factories and manufactures of
tobaccu and cigars.
The safety of employees in mines
is the subject of number of laws.
The increasing employment of cleo
tricity for lighting and other uses
in mines received attention in Idaho,
Ohio, and Oklahoma, where proper
insulation and other precautions
were prescribed. Safety lamps, ex-
plosives and blasting, ventilation in
spection, and the, exclusion of in
toxicated persons and intoxicants are
features of several laws relating to
mines. A number of States require
mine employees to secure certificates
of competentency before being en-
ployed. The New York legislature
enacted a law. the first of its class in
the United States, governing the en-
ployment of workmen in mines and
tunnels where compressed air is used,
the hours of labor per day are reg
ulated according to the degree of air
pressure, and provision is made
the place of work to the open air;
medical examinations prior to en-
ployment or unemployment after an
absence of three or more days as we'll
as after each three months, continu-
GUS employment, are prescribed.
Laws regulating railroad employ
ment were passed by several States,
three principle features being de-
termination of the number of per-
sons. necessary to constitute a crew
on trains, the provision of adequate
headlights on locomotives, and the
regulation of the size. construction.
ard equipment of cabooses. Safety
appliances, as brakes, couplers, draw
bars of prescribed height, and self
dumping ash pans on locomotives,
are other provisions of laws of this
class. a.3
/ Four States Connecticut, Missis-
slppi, North Carolina, and Texas)
passed laws in the period under re-
view prohibiting blacklisting, while
conspiracy, intimidation, and inter-
ference with employment are subj
jects of other laws In the class
last named lis a law enacted by con-
gress making it an offense to entiee
employees in arsenals or armories
to 1eaves service during the term OF
their employment, or to avoid or
break their contracts. Hiring, re-
tanning, or employing or harborlng
in any wise such workmen during
their term Of service is also for
bidden. :'s
The giving of commission or bon
us to domestic servants or. others
making purchases for their employ
ers is made an offense in New Jersey
and Washington, the receiving OF
tips by walters in hotels and restau-
rants and the giving of such tips be-
ing / also forbidden in the datter
State.
Judged by the number Of laws en-
acted on the subject. the employ
ment of women and children IS the
question most in the legislative nina
in SO far as labor legislation Is con
cerned, thirty-two States having en-
acted fifty-four lays or amendments
thereon in the past two years. IN the
majority of cases these laws are
amendatory. Principal laws were en-
acted in ten States. four OF them
mississippi, North Dakota, Okla
homa.. and Washington being f1rst
enactments on the subjects covered
while in the other six cases Kansas
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Penn
svlvania. and Virginia) the statutes
supercede prior enactments. the
Ia ws relate to age limit, hours OF Ia
hor. prohibited employments, COM
Dnlsory school attendance. certinca-
ton. registry, and all the provisions
that have been found valuable IN the
matter of the regulation of the en-
nloyment of women and children
TIE employment of children Is tne
subject of the large majority OF tnese
acts. Extended and detained is.s
of employments prohibited TOT cnil.
dren appear in the legislation OF Ne"
York. North Dakota ohio, Oklahoma
and PENNSYLVANIA, and in numDel
Of states new laws are added pro,
hibiting night work. In seVeral
states the hours of labor OF Children
we've reduced to eight per day
In Massachusetts, and Rhode lslano
the hours of labor of women ano
children were reduced to ffty-six pei
week in manufacturing OF mechanics
establishments. -.
laws we're passed providing iol
bureaus of labod in Oklahoma an.
Texas. and changing an. existing OF,
flee in South Carolina SO as to give !
largely the character OF iaDol
bmrean. Other laws relate to tn'
negligence of employees. the report
| ing of accidents, the contFoi q Pr
waite employment agencies, tne paU
lection against discharge by enpios =
ers or exclusion by labor unions y
!, workmen who are or may Oseo ~
members Of the national guarG. s az
the protection of employees on Duiiu
1 ing construction.
tbkU NAA1N Crs. IrniIowing