Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-01

ipliiliiSsItiit'IS, Ni!ttNFI Nlb-dit'N ANY
provision Of this section shall be fined
forty dollars and costs for each ofiense:
tI" commissioners. however. HAY refuse
To issue Il license or licenses to such per-
son or persons as They deem unsuitable
Approved March -
Chapter 65.
IN Act to provide for Department of
Labor and Industry IL prescribe its
powers and duties. to regulate the en-
plovment of labor; To provide for fac
tory inspection ard To prescribe penal
ties for the violation of this act.
section /. The governor is hereby au-
thorized and directed II appoint within
thirty days after this act shall become
EtW and every third year thereafter by
and with thu consent of tho council, and
also within thirty days after the occur
F@nrc If ANY vacancy in the office, Il
Suitable person a. commissioner Of labor
.zld STATE factory inspector, who shall
hold his afiicc until lis successor bc APP
tthc"I shall hc commissioner OF labor and
Industry and state Factory inspector,
and the term of office III such commits
sooner shall be for a period of three years
ift"r such appointment. Such commits
StoErr shalt lave an office in the state
capitol building suitably furnished and
equipped for the work of said depart
mtnt of labor and industry. He snail
perform his duties as herein provided
and shall appoint n deputy who shall be
clerk If the department. and deputy
state factory inspector. Tho term of
'tflCe ri Such deputy shall continue dur-
ing TN" pleasure Of such commissioner.
section :. 1t shail be the duty of the
4 spartmeut tt collect. assert, arrange
and present IT. the governor on or before
the first day of January. nineteen hun
dr.d and thirteen and hienniallY there
after, statistical details relating To
all departments Of labor aud industrial
pursuits in the state. Ia trade unions
and other labor organizations aud their
effect upon labor and capital. To the num-
her and character of Industrial accidents
and their effect upon the injured. their
dependent relatives and upon the gen
oral public; To other matters relating to
the commercial. Industrial. social. edu-
catioual. moral and sanitary conditions
prevailing within the state, including the
names of firms, companies or corpora
tionS. where located. the kind of goods
produced or manufactured. the time
operated each year. tn" number OF en-
loyeeS classified according to age and
sex. ard the daily and average wages
raid each employee, and the exploitation
Of such other subjects as viii tend Ia
promote the permanent prosperity of tn"
respective Industries of tn" state. 1t
snail also be the duty of the commits
sioncr Of labor to cause to he enforced
all laws regulating the employment al
children. minors and women; all laws cS-
tlbliShcd for tie protection of health.
lives and limbs of operators i'll workshops
and factories. on railroads and other
places. all laws regulating the payment
OF wages, ana all laws enacted lpf tue
protection of the working classes now in
force or that may hereafter be enacted.
IN it's biennial report the department
snail also give an account OF all pro
ceedings which have been taken in ac-
cordance with the provisions of this act,
or any of the other laws herein referred
to, and in addition thereto such re-
marks. suggestions and recommended
tons as the commissioner may deem nee
cssary for the information of the legis-
lature.
Section 3. The commissioner is hereby
authorized to furnish and deliver a writ
ten or printed list of interrogatories for
the purpose of gathering facts and sta
tlstics such as are contemplated by TINS
act to any person, company or the proper
officer of any corporation operating with
in the state, and require full and COM
plete answers to be made thereto and re-
turned under oath; the commissioner
shall have a seal, and have power to
take and preserve testimony, to issue
SubpoenaS, and administer oaths, and
examine witnesses under oath in all mat
ters relating to the duties herein required
by said department of labor. such testi-
mony to be taken in some suitable place
in the vicinity to which the testimony is
applicable. Witnesses subpoened and
testifying before the commissioner of
said department shall be paid the same
fees as witnesses before a supreme Judi
cial court; such payment to be made
from any funds at the disposal of the de-
partment of labor. Any person duly sub
who shall wilfully neglect or refuse to
attend, or refuse to answer any question
propounded to him concerning the sub
ject of such examination as provided in
this act or if any person to whom a
written or printed list of interroga tories
has been furnished by said commissioner
shall neglect or refuse to answer and re-
turn the same under oath, such person
or persons shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon complaint of the
commissioner before court of compe-
tent jurisdiction, and upon conviction
thereof, such person or persons shall be
fined in n sum not less than twenty-five
dollars nor more than one hundred dol
lars, or by Imprisonment in the county
Jail not exceeding thirty days, or by both
such fine and imprisonment provided,
however, that no witness shall be COM
PEELED to go outside of the county in
which he resides to testify. In the report
of said department no use shall be made
of the names of individuals firms or cor
porations supplying the information
called for by this act unless by written
permission, such information being con-
fidential and not for the purpose of dis
closing personal affair."
Section 4. The commissioner as state
factory inspector and any authorized
agent of the labor department shall have
power to enter any factory or mill work.
shop private works or STATE institutions
which have shops or factories. when the
same are open or in operation, for the
purpose of gathering facts and statistics
such as are contemplated by this act, and