Mohave County miner., 1916-09-09
NUMEROUS LABOR LAWS ENACTED IN.
 LEGISLATIVE YEAR


 the American Association for Labor survey which has been made public by Legislation. 'The most signifi- cant items in this legislation" says the secretary, Dr. John D. An drews, fare two national laws, one the shipment in interstate or foreign commerce of certain prod ucts in the preparation of which the labor of children has been employed, and the other providing a model scale of workmen's compensation for per sonal injuries among federal employees, of which there are now more than 48O, 1000.
 Several hundred labor bills were into congress this year, :" Dr. Andrews adds, ''while il state leg islatures in spite of the reaction ground out their full share of the an- nual grist."
 The associations summary of the more important items of labor legisla- tion in various sattes follows:
 "Three states, Maryland, Massachu- setts and South Carolina concerned themselves with the legal regulation of collective bargaining. In Maryland a state board. is authorized to pre- scribe rules of procedure for arbitra- tion of industrial disputes including power to conduct investigations and hold hearings, to summon witnesses and enforce their attendance, to re- quire the production of books, docu- ments and papers, and administer oaths, exercising those powers to the same extent that such powers are pos sessed by the civil courts of the state. South Carolina created board of three members to investigate and to promote agreements in strikes and lockouts at the rate of S10 per day each. Massachusetts amended her law regulating the procuring of strike breakers.
 During the year seven of the Il states holding regular legislative ses- sionsp assed new or strengthened old laws affecting child labor. Shorter hours, a higher minimum wage, pro- hibition of night work and exclusion from hazardous employments are the main tendencies. South Carolina raises the minimum work age from 12 to IA, while Massachusetts and New Jersey make special provision for pupils who study part time in vocational schools and may then work part time.
 'Impelled by recent accidents, New Jersey has joined the list of states re- quiring passenger elevators to have interlocking device automatically pre- venting movement of elevator car un- til shaft door is closed and securely fastened.
 "Following the limitation of work ing hours on public work to eight a day in the majority of the states, Mas sachusetts this year provides for her public employees the further limitation of the 48-hour week. In private em- ployment several states place addi- tional safeguards around the employ ment of women and children during the Christmas shopping season, and Massachusetts is to investigate the possibilities of one day of rest in seven for employees in hotels and restaurants.
 Legislation authorizing public em- ployment bureaus in Maryland, the regulation of private agencies in Vir- ginia, and the creation of a bureau of farm settlement for immigrants in New York, is supplemented by the California legislatures indorsement of the United States department of labor recommendation "that the public land tenure be so regulated as to insure to the settler the entire product of his labor.
 South Carolina and Virginia patched up their employers liability laws, while Kentucky enacted the most progressive worlmen's compensation law in any southern state. Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York strengthned their com pensation laws without, however, equaling the new national law for In- jured federal employees, which IS termed the most scientific and most liberal workmen's compensation law Tn the world Maryland enacted a moth CTS pension law and Massachusetts created a commission on social insur- ance to study sickness, unemployment and old age and to recommend insur- ance Legislation next January.
 "The reorganization and unifcation of the administration flabor laws continues, the most noteworthy changes this year being in Maryland and New Jersey, where steps were