Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-02

ten to twenty per cent.
The Labor Bureau has passed a Law
making it compulsory that laborers b.
paid Immediately upon the ending oi
employment in coin or paper negoti
able at bank without discount. To
Gay every employe in the State is pait
regularly the full amount of hi;
wages, and no employer dare shave
those wages under penalty of prose
cution by the State Labor Bureau.
Such a law no man can contend i:
but just and right, but no Legislature
until Johnson assumed office dareC
pass it.
Employment Agencies Regulated.
Another of the abuses by which tht
workingmen of the State were de
frauded of their wages was through
the operations of dishonest employ
ment agencies. These agencies made
habit of charging eXorbitant fees
of accepting money for fictitious jobs
and refusing payment of fees where
the jobs did not materialize. Another
little game was TO split profits with
the foremen of section gangs and
large companies of men for frequently
discharging many men tiat the en-
ployment agencies might earn fees in
furnishing new ones.
Today the employment agencies of
the State are licensed, the holding of
their permit being dependen. upon the
decent conduct of their places.
All fees must be returned if the
workers do not obtain the promised
jobs. Several successful prosecutions
have been conducted against employ
ment agencies having agreements with
construction foremen for the quick
discharge of workers, and this piracy
is at an end.
Cannery Men Protected.
The law compelling large employers
of seasonable laborers to pay off the
men in the presence of Deputy
Labor Commissioner if the workers
so demand has wiped out the whole
sale robbery of the employees of the
Alaskan canneries when discharged
at San Francisco Before 1911 these
men would be paid only one-half the
sums justly due them, and If not sat
isfied they could whistle for the rest
Their wages then for five or sis
months work averaged below $50
but now average above S10C.
Another abuse which the Labor
Bureau has corrected is the stranding
of road shows, leaving the girls OF
the company penniless in strange
towns. Managers doing this have
been prosecuted, and booking agencies
Rave beer notified they would also be
held Iesponsible.
Child Labor Eliminated.
Prior to 1910, the Child Labor laws
under the Statute Books were being
fiagrantly violated throughout Califor-
MIA. Children of tender years were
being worked long hours in mercan-
tile and industrial establishments
The laws were strengthened by sew
eral amendments in 1911, and all Of
them rigidly enforced.
The result was quickly appreciable
in the increased attendance in the
schools. During the year ending JUNE
80, 1912, the first year of the enforce
ment of these laws, the attendance ir
the primary and grammar grades Of
the State increased 22,290, as com.
pared With an increase of only 12,2 ,294
during the preceding year.
Another important work taken up
by the Labor Bureau is the enforce
ment of the law prohibiting the work.
ing Of miners and underground labor
ers more than eight hours day. Sew
eral prosecutions have been brought
on that ground, forcing the mine own
ers 70 obey the law, the violation Oh
which greatly increased the danger tc
the miners, owing to the strain and
the rnhealthfulness of working be.
Eeath the earth.
Done Economically, Too.
The old bureau which did nothing
but collect useless statistics and sigr
salary warrants had seven persons on
the salary roll, with total appropri-
alton annually of $4,000. Today
twenty-four persons are employed anC
tn appropriation is only $38,00O.
Such is part of the work Of "the
Poor Mans Court" Further space is
needed for other phases Of the work,
but every workingman and employer
of California should recognize tha
great good done in the prevention Of
Labor abuses.
Vote California Dry
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