The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-03-15
LABOR LEGISLATION IN MINNESOTA

IMPORTANT MEASURES NOW BE-
FORE THE LEGISLATURE-DIs-
CusSED BY REV. }. A. RYAN,
D. D., BEFORE THE SOCIAL
SCIENCE CLUB OF WINoNA-
MINIMUM WAGE BILL MOST
IMPORTANT.
The most important measure pend
ing in the State of Minnesota today is
the Minimum Wage Bill, according to
the Rev. J. A. Ryan, D. D., of ST. Paul
Seminary, who lectured last week be-
fore the Social Science Club of Win
ona, MINI. Father Ryan went over,
in detail, the most important labor
legislation now under consideration,
and asserted that the policy of oppOs-
ing legislation for the benefit of work
ers is not wise one for the smaller
cities and rural communities for the
long day and other unpleasant condi-
tions of the work are not the least
of the forces that are driving so many
of the town and rural inhabitants to
the cities"
Like most states of America, Min
nesota is far behind the majority of
European countries in the matter of
legislation for the protection of the
working people, he said. "At pres
ent, however, widespread effort is
being made in this as we'll as in other
states to remove this reproach, and
to enact several much-needed pro-
posals into law.
THE most important measures for
the benefit of labor before our state
legislature this session relate to work
mems compensation; shorter work
day for women; minimum wage law
for women and minors; laws requir-
ing the uniform reporting of industri-
al accidents and industrial diseases;
the reorganization of the state labor
bureau; a series of amendments to
the existing law providing for safety
and sanitation in factories and work
places; semi-monthly payday for
employees of public service corpora
tions; and a law requiring that work
ers be given one day of rest in each
week.
Shorter Day For Women.
"All of these measures are neces-
sary. One or two of them have al
ready passed both houses of the legis-
lature The only ones against which
serious opposition has yet appeared
are those concerning the shorter work
day for women and the semi-monthly
pay day. AS first introduced, the
former bill provided for day of eight
hours Owing to opposition from
various sources, the limit was changed
to nine hours. Even in this form the
bill has met with serious and dis
couraging obstacles. 1t has beer
amended in committees so as to ex
cept from provisions hotels and mer
camille establishments, in Difference
to the wishes of the country members
The argument used is that the women
employees of hotels and stores in the
towns do not work as hard as theil
sisters of the cities in these occupa
tions, and do not, therefore, need the
shorter work day. 1t is urged, more
over, that a nine-hour day in stores
would prevent the farmers from doins
their shopping on Saturday night.
"As a matter of fact, it is very
doubtful whether work in a tow1
hotel or store is much lighter or les!
fatiguing than in the city hotel o.
store: and the amount Of shopping
70 Sot1 a
night is very little. l believe the
farmers would be willing to do with
out it in order to protect the healtl
and morals of the entire woman-wage
earning class of the state. AS regards
the hotel worker in the smaller cities
they would probably not be so anxi
Gus to flock to the cities if their work
day was only nine hours. The polio!
of opposing legislation for the benefi
of the workers is of doubtful wisdom
on the part of the smaller cities; fo
the long day and other unpleasant
conditions of work are not the leas
of the forces that are driving so man,
of the town and rural inhabitants int
the cities,
Fay TWICE MOnLn.
THE semi-monthly pay day bill is
am assured by competent person
who are not laborers, of much NOR
Importance than it is apt to appea
to the average non-wage Garner. TIL
hardship of being compelled to wal
a whole month for the next pay da,
is in many families very real AM
very great This bill has alread,
passed the house, but has encounteret
a great deal of opposition in the hear
ing given by the senate committee
on labor.
Workmen's Compensation.
"The workmen's compensation bill
as finally approved by employers ant
employees, will probably become ;
Law. It is by no means a sufficien
protection to the injured workingmal
and his family, but it is the best tha
can now be obtained. The fact tha
four years of constant and widespread
agitation have been required to secur'
even this partial remedy for a peculi
arly distressing evil, is most signi