The Yale expositor., 1910-08-12

Labor Law Violated In Smaller Towns.
The state labor bureau has received
complaints from Chelsea, where II Is
alleged that there are merchants vio-
lating the labor laws In regard TO
working girls under the age of 1S
beyond the 54-hour a week limit. That
the labor laws are violated in nearly
every village is evidenced by the fact
that the country merchant keeps open
as long as there is any trade in sight
and generally employees help of ten
der age.
The village merchant thinks moth
ing of opening his store at five o'clock
In the morning and keeping 1t open
until nine at night. The employees OF
his dry goods department of the gen.
eral store are generally girls who have
just got out Of the village school and
who are compelled to work somewhere
for livelihood.
In the grocery end of the general
store graduates from the same school
also have to hustle. The state law
relative to working males or females
under Is years of age over "a hours
mgoHlnrok, taoinhrdlurdlunu-
week is stringent, and neither male
nor female under this age is allowed
by law to work over ten hours In any
one day.
The state labor bureau is not cog
infant of all violations of the labor
laws as it cannot supervise the ac-
tions of al employers, especially in
the smaller towns. CSomplaints, how
yer, are always investigated by the
inspectors of the department.
Very few, If any complaints, have
been received from the small towns
In the state against merchants who
work their female employees all
ohurs of the day in violation of the
law, but many cases reported In cities
have been prosecuted and the employ
er dealt with according to the law.
Fines may be imposed of from $40 to
500 in each case or Imprisonment OF
from 10 to 80 days, the penalty being
optional with the court
Probably II the truth were known
nine-tenths of the merchants of the
smaller towns are violating the labor
laws In respect to the hours their
employees are compelled to work.
Should these cases, however, be
brought to the notice of the labor bu-
reau, investigations will be made and
II the merits of the case warrant 1t,
prosecutions will follow.
Make Bio Raises in Realty Value.
Michigan cities, with the exception
OF two, are given a stiff increase In
valuation by the state tax commission
after an investigation of assessed val
uations throughout the state.
1t is announced that the commission
has decided that Detroit should in
crease it's valuation $20,000,000, while
other cities must increase as follows:
Flint, 100000; Traverse City, 3d.
10000; Lansing, $1,200,000; Port
Huron, 100000; Bay City. 100000;
Adrian, 100000; Marquette, $780,
900; Muskegon, 100000; Pontiac, ST.
100000. The two fortunate cities are:
Alpena, with a decrease Of $4,000.
and Ishpeming, 100000.
These figures do not mean we have
held reviews in these cities and are
now ordering increases" explained
Secretary Lord, "but that we have
made investigations and ordered as
sessing officers to make raises. In
only few instances has formal re-
view been necessary. AS a result, an
increase Of over $50,000,000 in valua-
ton has been brought about in cities
of over 10000 population. The total
increase will come close to $4,000, 900
for the state"