Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1911-01-05
Is, 600, 600
early
Labor Legislation and occupational
Diseases.


On December 1929 the American As
sociation for Labor Legislation holds
its fourth annual meeting at St Louis
in Planters Hotel Since its organiza
ton in 1906 as the American section
of the International Association fol
Labor Legislation, its record has been
one Of unremitting and Increasing
activity. It has taken a leading part
in education ana directing the demand
for labor legislation.
The Association regards the labor
problem. in one of its most important
phases, as being largely health
problem, and with this conception con.
Estantly before it. it lays emphasis up
on the means by which occupational
diseases may be eliminated. As a re-
suit of its activity, a Memorial was
recently submitted to President Taft
embodying facts and figures relating
to industrial diseases, showing that
there are upwards of $4,000, 900 cases
Of sickness each year among those en-,
gagged in industrial occupations; and it
has been conseryatively estimated that
this represents national loss Of ftlny
three-quarters of billion dollars an
nually.
{ Realizing these facts, the Associa-
ton has taken for its watchWord the
motto Conservation of Human Re
sources" and the forthcoming meet
ing at st. Louis will have for its main
work the problem of determining the
best means by which such conserva-
ton may be effected. The proceedings
will be watched by every thoughtful
citizen with interest, since the meet
ing will deal in a thoroughly scientific
manner with the fundamental condi-
tons of the nations material and
physical prosperity.
The opening session will be held
jointly with the American Sociological
Society and the American Statistical
Association. Prof. Henry W. Far
nam of Yaole University, opens with
an address ON practical Methods in
Labor Legislation. Prof. Franklin
H. Giddings of Columbia University,
follows with a papes on "The Rela-
ton of Social Theory ito Public Policy
and Frederick L. Hoffman of the Pru-
dental Insurance Company, closes the
first session with paper on Fifty
Years of Life Insurance Progress. "
Thus, in. the opening session both
theory and practice are presented, the
high regulations of the lecturers
standing as a guarantee that the As
sociation will have at its disposal the
latest and most authoritative conclu-
sions in these inseparable fields.
The third session includes a series
Of most important discussions, fittingly
opened with the subject of Industrial
Hygiene. Among the questions to be
raised on this head are: /. Should
the national government Investigate If
dustrial diseases? 2. How far can
occupational diseases be eliminated
through national legislation? 8: Should
medical practitioners be required to
report Industrial diseases to the State
Factor Inspector? 4. Do we need medi-
cal INSPECTION of factories Pan I'M
portant topic on which there can be
little disagreement but much uesful
and interesting information. 5. Do
we need special clinic, such as Italy
has established, for the study and pre-
vention of Industrial diseases? 6.
should employers and insurance COM
tpanies be required to keep records and
reports by causes and occupations all
cases Of industrial accidents2 Among
those who will lead the discussion are
Charles P. Neil, of Washington; Chas
R. Henderson, of Chicagos David
Edsall Of Philadelphia; Sidney Schwah
and Frederick N. Judson of st. Louis;
William W. Walcott, Of Boston, and
Leonard w. Hatch. Of Albany
The consideration Of Industrial
Hygiene is followed by a closely-aliied
subject, that Of ..The Limitation Of the
Working Hours of Women" a subject
lon which international legislation, EN-
bracing fourteen. European countries
| has already been secured. We are 81
together behind the times on this sub
IJect, and the Association Will there
IIore discuss the most effective methot
of securing cooperation between OF
CARNATIONS interested in erecting tn
Limitation of the working hours OF Wo
men. The Association has alread.
ldone most important work in thi'
fneId, approaching the subject iron
1.-THE standpoint that permanent indus
i \.