The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-07-30
new LAWS FOR
WAGE FARMERS
Eight More States Pass Com
penSatiOn Measures.
MOVEMENT GROWS APACE.

Laborer Generally Recognized-Pro-
lection of Children and Shortening
Hours of Toll For Women Receive
Legislative Attention.
To the list of twenty two states tn
which workmen's compensation laws
already were in effect, eight more
states and the territory of Alaska have
this year been added by the action of
their legislatures during sessions which
recently came to close. This growth
Of the movement toward safeguarding
the welfare of the laborer and his de-
pendents is revealed in a summary of
this years legislative activities
The additional states to adopt work
mems compensation are Pennsylvania,
Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma. Colo
RADIO, Maine, Indiana and Vermont.
Favorable action toward the enaction
OF such measure also was taken by
the Legislature of Utah, which created
commission to investigate the ques-
ton and report bill for the eonsid-
erat1on of the next legislature. In
New Mexico n proposed workmen's $
compensation law passed the house,
but was defeated In the senate. In
Idaho the bill was vetoed by the gov
ernor. Several other states revised
their former laws in order to insure
more efficient operation.
Somewhat different standards as to
the way In which compensation should
be awarded and the law administered
are shown in the measures enacted this
year, but this lack of uniformity is
also feature of various laws previous
ly passed in other states
Pennsylvania provided for the pay
ment Of so per cent of wages, but not
more than $40 or less than $5, with
maximum total OF $4,000. The act is
elective and takes away from the en-
ployers the common law defenses, but
the people will vote In November on q
constitutional amendment permitting
the legislature to make 1t compulsory.
The act creates state insurance fund,
but employers are permitted to protect
themselves In any other form of insur-
ance or carry their own risks on APP
proyal of the bureau of workmen's
compensation. Domestics and agricul-
tural laborers are exempted.
Under the new Colorado statute in
jured workmen will receive 80 per cent
Of their wages during incapacity,
though not to exceed So a week. In
case Of total permanent disability the
compensation is payable through life.
The Maine law awards her injured
workmen payment by the employer of
not more than $40 week in case of
total disability, with maximum of
$1,000.
The Indiana law provides no state
insurance, but permits the employer to
seek it where he chooses or not at all
If he give proof of his financial ability
to pay the compensation. This is fixed
at 55 per cent of the average wage, not
to exceed 800 weeks.
Fifty per cent weekly wage, not to
exceed 500 weeks. Is the basis of the
Oklahoma law.
Iowa and Alabama are states which
prohibit child labor. Maine adopted
law under which women and boys un-
der sixteen employed in mills, factories
and laundries are not permitted to work
more than fifty hours a week.
Pennsylvania enacted a statute limit
ing the hours of labor of children be-
tween fourteen and sixteen years to
f1fty-one hours week feature of
the law Is that all such children en-
ployed must go to vocational school
at least eight hours week, which
must be computed in the flfty-one
hours, thus making the actual work
ing hours forty-three. 1t further pro-
vides that no messengers under TWEEN
ty-one years can be employed by tel
egraph, telephone or messenger COM
pany after o'clock at night and that
no child under twelve years can sell
newspapers. A statute along similar
lines was adopted by California.
Massachusetts enacted a bill prohib-
iting the employment of women and
children overtime for the purpose of
making up for time lost on legal holi-
day.
Alaska adopted an eight hour law
for placer miners and pensioned her
aged and INDECENT prospectors.
Other legislation affecting labor was
the abolition of the contract prison la
Dor system by Iowa, the enactment In
California Of bill for the employ
ment of conyicts for the building of
roads in mountain districts, a similar
bill In Idaho and a law in that state
compelling county commissioners to
provide emergency work for the unem-
ployed, the establishment of free la
Dor bureaus in New Jersey and law
In Utah requiring all mercantile estab-
hshments, except those handling food
and drugs, to close at 6 p. IN. except
the week before Christmas.
Hurt by Stand For Unions.
Professor James FL. Brewster OF the
law faculty of the University OF Colo
RADIO, who was not reappointed to his
position by the board Of regents, de-
clares that he was removed because
OF his sympathy with the Colorado un-
lon miners In their recent strike He
was one of fhe attorneys for the union
before the congressional committee
which investigated the strike In 1914.