The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-08-11
Head Of the Department Files
Some Recommendations.
URGES CHANGES IN THE LAWS
Number of Fire Escapes Order
ed On Buildings; Anent Col
lection OF Wages.

st. Paul, August 9.-Nearly three
hundred factories in Minnesota have
been made safer for those employed
in them by the state bureau of labor,
according to a report given Cover
nor Eberhart yesterday by w. F.
HOuk He is the first of the ap-
pOintive officials TO give a report
of his stewardship.
Relative to the safeguarding of life
in the factories of the state, Mr..
Houk says:
Terrible holOcausts i'm eastern fac
tories recently have caused special
attention 10 be paid to fire prOtec-
ton. and the following suggestions:
Provide new or additional fire es-
capes; improve facilities for egress
from building by additional stars, re-
pairs TO windows, ladders to roof; re-
move distractions from fire escape
exits; repair and extend fire escapes;
designate fire escape exits; provide
fire extinguishers; recharge fire ex-
iluSulSHcIS, pTONluo Hicldi icCcpta-
cleS for waste paper.
Many Recommendation Made.
Many recommendations have been
made TO improve the conditions Of
health, comfort and morals in work
places.
The last legislature, taking cogniZ-
ance OF the large number of acct
dents caused by corn shredders on
Minnesota farms, passed law re-
Quiring these machines to be guard
ed. The guards were to be approved
by the labor commissioner. Two new
guards have been recommended.
Considerable time has been devot-
ed to enforcement of the child labor
and compulsory education laws.
Three orders were served on en-
ployers to comply with the child la
Dor law. A total of 1878 truancy
cases were. investigated and most of
the children were returned, to school.
Nine strikes and lockoats involv-
ing 1920 persons were investigated
by the department. The most impor
tant, the carpenters strike of the
twin cities, commenced May l and
lasted until July 20, and was settled
for st. Paul by an agreement.
Collection of Wages.
Frequent complaints are received
from employees unable to collect their
wages.
The following changes are recon-
mended in the laws covering wage
claims:
First That where a man is dis
charged suit can be brought imme-
atn1u 10
Second. That in the absence of
written contract the employe may
demand his wages upon quitting and
TO collect.
Third. That in written contract
the employer may withhold wages
until payday, but not longer than
thirty days.
Fourth. That where conditions of
a contract are not carried out and
the employe quits, suit may be
brought for immediate payment Of
wages upon it's being shown that the
conditions of contract were not car.
ried out.
Free Employment Bureaus.
The free employment bureaus at
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Duluth
did a fiourishing business during the
years, a total of 45,90O situations
having been secured.
More than 1000 factories and
mercantile establishments have been
visited by the department and 2,701
recommendations have been made to
safeguard workers from accidents by
exposed machinery. The department
has issued 1,746 orders compelling
employers of labor to place guards
about machinery. Various devices
have been ordered in, such as guards
to elevators and hoistways, hand
rails on stairways and platforms, and
signal gongs on elevators.