Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-12-16
LABOR LEGISLATION MOMENTUM
OvERC0MES GENERAL REACTION

| New York, dec. 15.-That the mo-
mentum of modern legislation for the
protection OF labor is sufficiently we'll
established Throughout the country to
overcome a period of general reaction
such as obtained in. the present year
IS shown by the annual Review of La
oor Legislation issued from the New
York headquarters of the American
Association for Labor Legislation to-
lay. The Review, which enumerates
| the most important laws affecting the
welfare of labor passed by the legis-
latures of forty-four states and two
territories an dby Congress, shows
that some very significant advances
| were made.
Especially striking" writes DR..
John B. Andrews, Secretary of the AS
ISOLATION, sis the spread of the indus
rial commission plan for the joint ad-
ministration of factory inspection and
workmen's compensation. This plan
was adopted in New York, the leading
Industrial state OF the country, as
/ we'll as in Indiana. Colorado, Nevada
and Montana. The New York law
also establishes representative coun-
ell of employees and employers with
advisory powers only to work with
the commission in drafting safety reg
ulations and making appointments,
and requires the commission to pro-
tect employees against fraud and ex-
torti6n.''
Accident and Diseases.
Illinois this year made illegal the
use beneath the surface Of the ground
of processes generating poisonous
fumes or dusts and Delaware regulat-
ed the sanitation of cannertes, provfd-
ing that on q third conviction the
court may close the establishment.
Safety statutes for mines and Tor
railroads and street cars were extend
ed in over a dozen states each. and
Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania
passed measures for the better sani-
tation OF labor camps. Ten states
made up-to-date provisions for the re-
porting of Industrial accidents and
Rhode Island was added to those
which require the notification OF occd-
pational diseases.
Social Insurance.
Ten new states-Alaska, Colorado,
Hawaii, Indiana, Maine. Montana, OK
lahoma, Pennsylvania, Vermont ana
Wyoming-joined the ranks OF those
providing workmen's compensation
making thirty-three in all, or two
thirds of the country. Commissions to
study the subject were created in Ala
bama and Utah. Alaska and Arizona
established old age pensions. and Cali
fornia appointed commission to re-
port on the whole subject Of social IN
surance.
Hours.
( A general eigbt-hour day for all oc-
cupations was submitted to referen-
dunn in Alaska. North Carolina estab-
Hshed a sixty-hour week and an eleven
hour day. In q number Of city fire
denartments important provisions for
regular days of with full pay were
enacted
I Unemployment.
The stress OF unemployment during
the past winter led to provisions fol
investigation Of the subject in ten
| states, while California and Nevada
declared that the problem transcend
lea state lines and they called for 9
federal inquiry. Idaho officially re
lcoenized the fright to work" by pro
yidtng in future sixty days public EN-
| ployment a year for all citizens. sys
| TENS Of public employment exchanges
i were created or extended in ten states
and regulations for private bureaus
weer made more strict. idaho follow
ed washington in abolishing> private
employment offices operated for profitt
i Woman's Work. ri
i Arkansas and Kansas enacted mini
Il mum wage laws for women and chil
dren. making eleven states which nov
u have such legislation, and Idaho APP
, nointed 4 commission to investigate
the question. Arkansas, Maine AM
! Texas established for women a nine
, hour day and a fifty-hour week, Wye
: ming 1 ten-hour day and ffty-six hOu
: week, and Tennessee shortened its le
gal week from ffty-eight to fifty-seve.
Ibours Commissions in both OF tn
aInew minimum wage states were en-
ppvlEn 4 lsEVlasi las