The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-02-13
new LABOR LAWS
Big GriSt of Protective Measures
Passed In 1918.
A LONG STEP FORWARD.
Minimum Wage and Workmen's Com
pensation Legislation Enacted In
Several States-One Day of Rest In
Seven Movement Makes Advance.

Several States-One Day of Rest In
Seven Movement Makes Advance.
All of the labor laws passed by con-
gress and by state legislatures during
1913 are described in a comprehensive
and timely bulletin just issued from
it's New York headquarters by the
American Association For Labor Leg
islation. "Of special significance in
the labor legislation of this year." says
the secretary, DR.. John B. Andrews,
ARE laws in five states-California
Massachusetts, New York, Ohio and
misunderstanding the commits
sion form of factory law administra-
ton as adopted in Wisconsin two years
ago Eight states-California, Colo
RADIO. Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon,
Washington Wisconsin and Utah
have this year followed the example
of Massachusetts in passing minimum
wage laws. More stringent laws re-
curing the notification of industrial
accidents and diseases and the enact
ment Of workmen'S compensation
measures by seven additional states
Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebras-
ka, Oregon, Texas and West Virginia
are also of first importance. OF more
than ordinary significance, too, in state
legislation are laws providing for one
day of rest in seven and laws for the
prevention of lead poisoning and 9th
er occupational diseases. Federal la
Dor legislation is noticeably increas-
Ing in volume, and congress this year
remodeled the law for Cancellation in
railway disputes and also created the
department of labor" Several hun
dred labor bills were introduced this
year in congress alone, while the state
legislatures ground out their full share
of the annual grist.
During the year twelve states pass
ed new or strengthened old laws re-
quiring the reporting Of accidents on
railways and in mines and factories.
Four new states required physicians
to report the most common occupa-
tional diseases, and New York and
Connecticut extended their laws to in
clude brass and wood alcohol poison
ing. Laws requiring sanitation. dust
and fume removal and washing facili-
ties in factories were widely adopted,
and three great lead using states
Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania-en
acted scientific provisions for protec-
ton against trade diseases, particu-
larly lead poisoning. Safety require
ments for mines were made more
stringent in fifteen states. while TWEEN
tysix states demanded greater safety
for railroad employees.
Impressed by the successful opera
ton of the Wisconsin industrial com
mission established in 1911, Ohio.
Massachusetts, California. New York
and Pennsylvania this year reorganiz,
ed their labor departments more or
less upon that plan. the central idea
of which is that the legislature broadly
lays down the standards and the com
mission supplies the details through
administrative orders
Legislation directly affecting child
labor was enacted in thirty-one states
Shorter hours, higher minimum
age and prohibition of night work are
the main tendencies. Five states re-
quired the compulsory attendance at
continuation schools of all minors en-
ployed by virtue OF employment GER
titicates
Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, Ne
braska, Oregon. Texas and West Vir
ginia joined the fifteen states which
previously provided compensation for
injured wOrkmen. making twenty-five
states, or nearly half of those in the
Union. which have adopted this type
of legislation within three years BY
liberal Interpretation of their com
penSHtiou laws Massachusetts and
Michigan are nj present paying limit
ed benefits TO the victims OF Industrial
diseases also 4 bill to supersede the
present inadequate compensation law
for federal employees disabled by ac-
cident or disease was introduced in
congress ny Senator Kern. but has not
vet been acted ON
Ohio and Texas are this year added
to the twenty-tour states and the fed
eral government. which have limited
hours on public work to eight a day.
Declaring that longer work tends to
prevent the worker from acquiring the
intelligence necessary to make him a
useful citizen, Oregon limited factory
hours to ten a day. and several other
states restricted hours In peculiarly
hazardous callings Laws demanding
one days rest in seven for Industrial |
workers We're adopted in MasSachu- /
sets and New York
Three states provided for free EN-
ployment offices. while five states took /.
action toward remedying the abuses /.
frequently connected with private en-
ployment agencies. Illinois appoint /.
ed commission to study the subject /
The experimental Massachusetts /
minimum wage law of 1912, applying /
to women and children, was followed /
this year by similar action in eight |
more states In Colorado. Minnesota, |
Nebraska and Washington the mini |
mum wage commissions may fix also I
standards of working conditions. while /
in California Oregon and Wisconsin /