Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-31
BILL WHICH WILL APPEAL TO
PREVALENT SENTIMENT IN.
TRoDUcEp.
PROBE INADEQUATE WAGES
AND UNSANITARY CONDITIONS
Measure Makes II illegal to Employ
Women or Minors in 'Unheaithful or
immoral Surroundinss-com
to Be Given Power to Determine
Question Of Inadequate Wage.
Special to Times-Republican.

! Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, March 31-An indus
! trial welfare commission" is the name
of the latest commission proposal. en-
bodied in a bill by Senat II Thomas,
which will prevail to the prevalent
! sentiment for regulation of The work.
ing conditions of women and Children.
/ The first paragraph states:
| The welfare of the state Of Iowa
demands that women and minors be
protected from conditions of labor
! which have a pernicious effect on their
| health and morals. The state # Iowa
therefore, exercising herein its police
and sovereign power declares that in
adequate wages and unsanitary cu'tdi-
lions of labor exert such pernicious eff
feet"
Continuing the bill says:
at shall be unlawful! 10 employ wom-
en- or minors in any Industry or occu-
patton within the state of iows under
conditions of labor detrimental to their
health or morals: and it shall be un-
lawful to employ women workers in
any industry within the state Of Iowa
at wages which are not adequate for
their maintenance.
There is hereby created i commits
sor 10 be known as me inGnstria! Wei
fare commission for the state of Iowa,
TO establish such standards of wages
and conditions of labor for women and
minors employed within the state If
! Iowa as shall be held hereunder TO be
! reasora bic and not detrimental 10
| health or morals. and wticl shall be
sufficient for the decent maintenance
| of women
The commission is TO he composed Of
| Eve persons. the commissioner of labor
! 10 be ex-officio a 'nerlhe' and four TO
| be appointed by the governor all with
| out pay for service on the commission,
hut allowed hotel aad travelling ex-
| penses, and authority to employ rec
relary. The commission shall proceed
! 10 investigate as 10 wages and hours OF
labor of women and minors and IS
t.oihet with authority 10 get the in
fern a tioM Every employer 81 women
/ ard minors shall keep register OF the
| names of all such employed and this
| shall be open 10 inspection. For tHe
i purposes of the act a nlino: is Gchned
| to be e person of either sex Under i 8
| .ears.
Control Of Wages.
! IF, after investigation, the c'rnlis-
! sen is of the opinion that in any occu-
! patton. trade or Industry, the wages
! paid to female employees are inadequate
I to supply the necessary cost OF i1FlnS
| and TO maintain the WORKERS in health,
| Or that the houts or conditions OF Ia
| Dor are prejudicial TO tbs heaitn OK
| morals of the workers, the commission
! is empowered 70 call conference COM
posed of an equa! number Of represent
! atiyes Of employers and employees IN
the occupation or industry in question,
| together with one or more disinteresteo
/ persons representing the pubic, out the
| representative of the pubic snail hol
/ exceed the number Of representatives
| If either Of the other parties, ano
| member of the commission shall be
| member of the conference and CHAIR
! man thereof. The commission shai'
make rules and regulations SoVern'he
| the selection of representatives ana ne
! mode IF procedure OF said conference
and shall exercise exclusive juTisdlctlon
over all questions arising as TO the 'a'-
! iaity OF the procedure and OF the rec
! or,neDda tons of said conference. IN
! request of the commission it shan De
! the duty Of the conference TO recon-
mend 70 the commission an estimate OF
| the minimum wage adequate IN the &C
| cunation or industry in question q
! sunnly the necessary cost Of living, anu
maintain workers in health to repoE'
on the number of hours OF work Per
! day consistent with the health OF inc
| workers. and to recommend STANDARDS
| of conditions or labor demanded by ths
| health and morals Of the employees. Inc
| findings and recommendations OF lhe
! conference shall be made mattsr VI
! -eco-d for the use Of the commission.
There is in the bill provision for re-
! v;eu of the findings and the issue OF an
! order and notice to employers anu io'
| rennering of the case in 1ormal "as ;
| for a special permit to woman phys
| ,ca,ly defective for right to receive d
| less wage than that fixed; for inquiry
| into conditions surrounding employ
ment of minors and determination u
| wages. for penalizing employer VIM
discriminates against an emplove pc
| cause of testimony given: for mes !oi
| violation of the orders Of the conaHis-
sion. for the right of an empioye 70
! cover in civil action the full amount VI
wages fixed as minimum II less mas
be.n received; and for annual rep'' -
"a be made by the commission.