The Washington times., 1917-04-05
CAMP LIFE CURSE OF
LABOR ON THE COAST
Buresn of Statistics Reports
Poor Laws and Evil
|. Practices.

A survey of labor laws and their
administration in the Pacific States,
outlining the evils Of labor camp life,
which Is common, recently issued by
the United States Bureau Of Labor
Statistics.
Irregular employment Is emphasized
in the report as the most striking
labor characteristic Of the Paclnc
States. Most of the important indus
tries, such as lumber, fruit growing
construction work, fruit and fish can
ming, are highly seasonal In the
winter months one-quarter at least OF
ALI the workers, and in some sections
a much larger proportion. are without
Jobs or the possibility OF getting
Jobs. In California alone there are
some 10000 "foaters," workers with
no fixed residence, constantly wander
ing from place to place
stntes Bave Done Little.
The demoralizing effect of these
conditions has only recently come To
be regarded as a matter Of possible
State concern, and as yet State ef-
forts at remedy have beer rather
limited. Washington, in 1915, abol-
ished all private employment a5en-
cies because OF the sins of many OF
|, them, but IL did not provide any sub
stitute system. Oregon has done lit
tie or nothing. The California legts-
lature, In 1915, made an important be-
ginning by the creation of a system
of free State employment offices. But
1t recognized that at best such offices
could do no more than bring together
the worker and the job, whereas the
major problem was the fact that at
recurrent periods there are vastly
more workers than there are jobs.
With this larger problem in mind, the
Legislature provided for extensive in
ivestigations and has now under seri-
Gus consideration such far-reaching
measures as social insurance and the
announcement of land colonization
through the breaking UP of the i'm
mense speculative land holdings now
so prominent in that State.
A by-product of the seasonal, shift
ing industry Of the Pacific Coast Is the
widespread use Of labor camps These
camps are almost universal in logging
operations and construction work. where
the rowing character Of the business
makes necessary the housing Of the
labor force in temporary quarters. They
are also not uncommon among lumber
mills, canneries, and many agricultural
employments, such as hop-pickng.
Probably as many as 10000 workers on
the Pacific Coast. including a number
Of women and children. live the greater
part Of the year in camps Of various
kinds. At times these camps are well
maintained, but the normal tendency is
for them to be of the fiimsiest construc-
ton, insanitary. and morally degrading.
California Is making serious effort to
improve the character OF its numerous
labor camps. Strict sanitary regula-
tions have been adopted and supervision
placed in the hands Of the immigration
and housing commission Washington
and Oregon have as yet done little in
this matter.
Many Are Not Paid.
The exploitation Of labor through nom
payment of wages Is in no way limited
to the Pacific Coast. but conditions there
are favorable to its existence-the
casual, seasonal character Of so much OF
the work. a large body OF immigrant
labor, ignorant Of their rights and often
fearful OF the law. the constant SHIFT
ing of workers from job to job, the To-
cation Of much. Of the work in Isolated
districts. That the evil Is widespread
is evident from the experience Of the
several State bureaus of labor in hand
ling wage complaints Thus. the Cali
fornia bureau, in a three-year period.
received over 1000 complaints from
workers and succeeded in making coll
lections in some 5000 cases, the total
amount collected being no less than
S17I, 900
In the attempt to protect the worker
against such wage losses, all three OF
] the States have enected laws requiring
prompt and honest payment Of wages.
That these have been only partially sue
cessful is due. in part, to defects in the
Jaws themselves, but still more to the
fact that the basic evil remains, namely
that a large body Of workers. unaided
land unadvised, is unable to avail itself
of the benefits OF such legislation With
very few exceptions, no special provision
was made for the enforcement OF the
wage laws. To the extent that active
enforcement has been undertaken it has
been by an assumption Of jurisdiction
on the part of the State bureaus OF
labor, none of which has any adequate
authority or equipment for this kind OF
work.