The labor world., 1914-12-26
RAPID PROGRESS IN
STATE 4 LABOR B On. |.|||| BUREAU | |:
Organized in 1887 With 5000
Appropriation Grows to 1884,,
$50 in 1914. ~
1854 REPORT IN HANDS
OF PRINTER REVEALS FACTS
Basis for Better Legislation Laid
Through Thorough Inves-
LEGATIONS. J.. ..

Through Thorough Inves-
LEGATIONS, 49,
The Minnesota Department of La
bor has just completed it's twenty
seventh years work. Organized ON
March 8, 1887, with a labor. commits
sioner and one clerk and an annual
appropriation of $4,000; it now has
80 officers and employees and its ap-
preparation is $64,6So. It is now one
| of the four largest labor departments
of the country. It is recognized
throughout the nation as a progress
| sive, efficient organization working
along sound lines for the improve
ment of labor conditions and the es-a
tablishment of an Industrial order
that will be an honor to the common
wealth and the nation.
The department has made rapid
| progress in efficiency during recent
years and the last, two years have
witnessed an especially rapid develop
ment. This has been due (11 10 the
reorganization Of the department by
the last legislature, which, organized
the department on a more scientific
basis (2) to the civil service exam
nations which have given a more ef-r
ficient group Of employees, (3) to the
greater earnestness and interest of
the employees In their work as re-
suit of their knowledge that their
tenure Of office depends upon their
efficiency and not upon changes in
the political complexion of the gen
eral state administration, (4) to the
more stringent labor legislation en-
acted by recent legislatures, and (5)
to the fact that the department now
has q considerable group Of expert
enced employees who have been at
the work for number OF years and
have developed high degree of skill
in their several positions.
Commissioners Report.
The 1854 report Of the depart
msnt, which is now in the hands of
the printer, contains an interesting
series Of Investigations and reports.
of the last two years work and the .
commissioners recommendations for
new legislation, He asks the legisla-
ture to complete the organization of
the factory inspection bureau by pro-
-
Inspector and believes that this chief
will be able to increase the eff
cheney Of the entire inspection force
at least rs per cent by planning and
supervising their work and, In addi-
ton. could accomplish as much for
safety and law enforcement, by visit
them in safety as several additional
$~~ - o1c @vr{An t1n< u
establishment of the office of super
intendent of employment, offices with J,
sufficient salary to enable the de-
partment to secure a man especially
trained for this work and capable of
developing the state offices in a
scientific and businesslike manner.
The commissioner further recon-
mends in connection with employ
ment offices that all private employ Y
ment agencies secure their licenses
from the labor department, that the
license be revoked by the department
upon the conviction of any agent for
violation of the alws governing en-
ployment offices, and that the fees
chargeable by these agencies be
limited :" =.
The comissioner's other recommen-
dations are (1) that the Legislature.
enact into law the bill prepared by
the American Association for Labor
Legislation for the prevention Of oc-
cupational diseases, which has al
ready been passed by Pennsylvania,
Ohio, New Jersey, and Missouri; (2)
that the hours OF labor law for wo-
men be extended to cover the whole
state. instead Of merely the three
large cities, (3): that street trades
should be so regulated as to prevent
the employment of small children II II!
that are known to be q
to their moral and physi-
cal health, and (4), that boarding
camps of all sorts should be covered
by legislation regulating ventilation. &
sanitation and lighting OF bunk
houses and kitchens, and providing
for state inspection Of these camps,
To Issue Bulletin 81 &
; The commtssfoner did not make
any Recommendations In the bi-aIi-
maui report for amendments to the
act. but will make such
An special bulletin
TO be issued during January. He has
called together conference commit
tee composed sof representatives of
the Minnesota State Federation Of
Labor, the Minnesota Employers Ar
the Mining Companies Of
Minnesota, ana of the labor depart
ment and 10 discs1lsing the whole act
with them. The purpo
81 these conferences sis TO learn what s.
Osnfl.se1 . sIaisIue, s s.s