The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-04
NEW LABOR LAWS
 PROGRESS OF 1911
Forty States Furnish Re markable Grist of Pro-
 tective Measures

."As a result of the widespread movement for reform in dealing with industrial injuries, ten states have | this year passed laws providing ac- cident compensation for injured em- | ployes, and six states, for the first time in America, now require the re- | porting of several well-defined occu- l pational diseases and industrial poi soning,'' says the Review of Labor Legislation of 1911, just issued from l its New York headquarters by the American Association for Labor Leg islation. volume of 160 pages summarizes the activities of the 40 legislatures which have passed laws during the present year for the promotion of the health, comfort and safety of the millions who toll in factory, workshop and mine. WOrl2lnen's Compensation and Insur- ance.
 A convenient table prepared by Hon. P. Tecumseh Sherman, of New York, 1 and published in this Review gives at 1 a glance all the main provisions Of the ten new compensation laws. It shows that the scheme of elective compensation is adopted in California, Illinois, Kansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wisconsin; compulsory compensation modified by the rule Of comparative negligence, in Nevada; an elective insurance system in Massa- -chusetts and Ohio; and in Washington a state insurance system compulsory as to certain enumerated employments and elective as to all others. The em- ployer bears the cost in all states ex- cept Ohio, where the employe contrl- butes 10 percent of the insurance fund. In half of the states the laws apply to a specified list of dangerous em- ployments, but in California, Massa, chusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, (Where five or more are employed and Wis consin (except casuaD all employ ments are covered. The complete story of these laws as published in the La bor Legislation Review, is written by the we'll known authority, Prof. Ernest Freund of the University of Chicago.
 New commissions to study the sub- ect of compensation for accidents, are created this year in nine states, mak- ing total of twenty-one commissions on this job during the last three years, Many states are changing their ex- isting liability laws by taking away the defences of the employer, and making recovery of damages more easy for the workman. In Wisconsin no release signed by an injured em- ter suffering an accident can be used against him when seeking damages. More complete reports of accidents are required in thirtten states.
 Diseases of Occupation.
 "The recent campaign of the Asso- citation for Labor Legislation to pro- mote the study and prevention of dis eases due to occupation, has already bourne fruit Six states, California. Connecticut, Wisconsin, lliinols. Micn- igan and New York. for the first time in America, now require physicians to report cases of industrial diseases. These diseases include lead poisoning which endangers the lives of workmen in 13S trades; the loathsome "phossy Jaw'' which disfigures those who work with poisonous phosphorus in match factories; the hatters' shakes due to mereurial poisoning; the caisson workers "bends"; anthrax; and poi- soning from arsenic" Occupational diseases will be investigated in Ohio, and the evils of poor factory lighting, in Massachusetts. Special protection for employees engaged in peculiarly dangerous processes, involving the use of poisonous lead is provided for in Illinois
 Accident Prevention.
 The terrible loss of human life through factory fires has led many states to provide better protectiony against fire. Standards of safety are raised in many states and Pennsyl vania now provides for fire drills in all industrial establishments where women or girls are employed. The conditions under which manufactur- ing in lofts is carried on is now under investigation in New York.
 The Review notes marked tenden- cy to strengthen the laws relating to the sprotection of workingmen from dangerous machinery in factories and workshops, as we'll as in mines, by allowing the inspectors to close down any establishment Or to prohibit the use of any particular machine which is dangerous to employees.
 Mines.
 Because of frequent disasters, caus- ing great loss of life several states have established Mining boards, and the mining laws of number of states are completely revised. Several other states have greatly increased the protection for miners with spe- cial reference to ventilation and to the prevention of fires and explO- sions.
 Building Construction.
 Employees in building trades will watch with great interest the results of the laws of Nebraska, Indiana and Oregon, for the prevention of acci- dents in building construction. The latter is especially important since it is coupled with the liability law which takes away the chief defences of the employer in case of suit for damages.
 Workingmen who are employed in rooms Or manholes and on street cars or who operate corn husking Or shedding machines, also receive additional legal protection.
 Railroads.
 The Review mentions fifteen states which enacted new laws for the pro- lection of railroad employees against accident. These laws relate to the authority and duties of railroad com- missions, to adequate train crews to standards for caboose cars, to experi- ence or training for engineers, fire men. conductors, brakeman or signal men. to air brakes and to the safe- guarding of frogs and switches New concerning the height of | bridges, automatic bell ringers, and | signal lights on switches. sheds to pro- tect employees on repair work, are | also enacted. Railroad commissions in several states are given authority to l make and enforce whatever rules they | deem necessary to prevent acidents.
 Child Labor.
 "The year of 1911 has been one of progress in regulating child labor in the United States. No previous year has equalled this eith ar in the total number of acts passed relatin to child labor or in the aggre