The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-03
LABOR NOTES OF
VIDE INTEREST
State Federation Gets Reply From
Acknowledgement Regarding Al
legged Violation of Vermonts
Factory Laws.

Some time ago the Vermont state
branch OF the American Federation OF
Labor had under consideration the ques-
ton of enforcing the present child LABOR
law, insofar as it relates to the employ |
ment of children under sixteen years oil
age. who, it was reported, are running
swift planning and woodcutting machines
in the lumber mills of Burlington, W.
They also gave careful consideration to
the part of the act which declares that
all girls under eighteen years Of age en-
ployed in stores, factories, etc, must be
provided with chairs or othersuitable Ia
cilities for resting upon, when not othef-
wise employed in the course OF thelr
daily labors. The federation came 70
the conclusion that the best thing to 90
in the matter was to lay IT belore Lhe
governor of Vermont for an opinion. Inc
deputation who met the governor III
brief conference were informed thaI the
| best course was to write him a letter oi
complaint and he would see that the
whole matter was laid before the attot-
nev-general for investigation. Acting on
| this advice, the federation instructed lts
secretary to write the governor OF ger
tain violations known to them, ana fai
medately were informed that the matter
| had been turned over to the attorney
general. A few days later the attorney
general, through his secretary, informed
1.-THE secretary of the federation that II
thev would forward the names OF the
parties violating the statute, with WIZ
nesses of fact attached, he would see
that the states attorneys in their re-
| spective counties would be Immediately
| authorized to investigate and see that
the law was enforced. Now, TO make
| long story short, here is just where the
| hitch comes I'M The concerns VINO are
| violating the law are quite easily got AZ,
but for the state to expect employees OF
the concerns to act as witnesses OF TACT
| is really something that all far minded
citizens will object to. The federation
claims that as long as there are no rae
tory inspectors in Vermont, il falls 10
the attorney general, aided by his as
sistants. the county attorneys, TO visit
places to be named by the federation, To-
| the end that Justice will be done our
children in the enforcement OF this hu-
name law.
Organizer Hugh Frayne of TIE Amerl'
can Federation of Labor reports that art
err conference lasting six days between
| the representatives OF the different or
carnations employed in the paper max
| ing industry and the representatives o.
/ the international Paper company, JOINT
agreement was reached on May II Tor a
period of two years. The agreement
provides for an increase of wages APP
proximating $250,000 per year. All over
/ time is to be paid for at the rate OF
time and one half. A minimum wage IS
established for all of the mechanical
trades and an effective apprentice sys
tenn is incorporated. The agreement fur
Their provides for arbitration as a final
determination OF all grievances and dis
putes.
Heavy penalties for failure to provide
adequate life-saving apparatus on ocean.
going steamships are provided in bill
| introduced in the House by Representa-
| tive Webb OF North Carolina. Sufficient
! life-boat accommodations for all pas
sengers and crews of oeean-going vessels
of 5000 tons or more are made impera-
tive BY the measure, which provides a
| fine of $4,000 or ten years imprison-
ment as a penalty for each violation.
| What is known as the uniform child
labor law has been passed by both houses
of the Arizona state legislature, and has
been signed by the governor.
In Portland, Ore, a minimum wage
bill, which will permit no man over ~
| years OF age 10 work as clerk, me-
chanic, railroad man, bookkeePer or fac
tory hand for more than ten hours day
nor more than six days week, for
less than $3.50 has been prepared by
the State Federation of Labor and Will
be placed in the ballot in the coming
November election. IL is also proposed
that women are not to be employed a
greater period of time for minimum
wage OF $l.65 per day. Children under
10 are not to be permitted to labor for
less than Is cents per hour for not more
than six hours a day, and then only in
harvest time. Farm work is placed in
another class, with Sl.65 per day, with
board not to be charged in excess OF "a
per week.
II is reported that our local bakers are
meeting with some difficulties in the en-
forcing of the overtime clause in their
new agreement. | am reliably informed
that one OF the merchant bakers has re-
fused to pay the overtime rate and some
of his employees have left on that ac-
count. Let us hope that the difficulty
will be amicably adjusted between both
parties and the bill signed for the next
three years lived up to in spirit as well
as deed.
All suits brought against Organizer
Emmett T. Flood OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, on allegations growing
out of the button workers strike at
Museatine, Iowa, have been dismissed az
the request of the county attorney.
just word at this time to the moth
ers. sisters and sweethearts of the union
men OF Barre and vicinity; Some time
ago the retail clerks signed up a new
agreement and among the articles signed
was Il clause that all stores be closed on
Monday evenings at p. m. Now the
clerks employed in the dry goods bust
ness, when the store closes at o'clock
have all the goods to pack up and file
away, in fact done for the preservation
of certain fabrics, which takes them the