The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-11-09

mote the interests of the Nations In.
dustriaI Army-Attempts TO Suspend
Protective Standards During the War
Are Checked.
Protective standards for labor have
been successfully upheld against at
tempts to suspend them during the
war, and substantial gains have been
made, according to the summary of
labor laws enacted during 1917, just is
sued by the American Association For
Labor Legislation.
upon the entrance of the United
States into the great world war legal
protection for workers was threatened
by an ILL advised rush for results, says
the secretary, DR.. John B. Andrews,
''but the campaign to maintain ex-
Of maximum production and of human
conservation has resulted in notable
success. Efforts to set aside labor's
hard won standards on the mistaken
plea of war necessity have been al
most completely checked. The years
grist of labor legislation shows prog
ress and indicates that protective laws
for labor are regarded by legislators
not as a matter of sentiment, but of
sound economics. Women's hours have
been reduced in eight states, mems
hours In mines in two. One additional
state enacted minimum wage legisla-
ton, making twelve in all, and two
more have set Investigating commits
sions to work on the problem. Five
new states enacted workmen's compen-
sation laws. In eight states official
commissions are studying universal
health insurance, the next big step"
For women Nevada and Montana es-
tablished an eight hour day III many
occupations, and Ohio reduced daily
hours from ten to nine. New York ex-
tended its nine hour day and f1fty-four
hour week to restaurants. New Hamp-
shire cut one hour off the previous If
ty-fve hour maximum, while Nevada
set a fifty-six hour limit and Con-
necticut a flfty-eight hour maximum
In certain employments. Both Della
ware and Ohio restrict women's work
to six days a week. and the New York
statute to this effect now applies also
to restaurants.
Wyoming increased its weekly max
imum from fifty-six TO sixty hours
Under stress of war conditions, how
ever, New Hampshire excepted from
It's women hour law manufacturers
Of munitions or supplies for the Unit
ed States during wartimes, and Ore
gon and California excluded from their
eight hour laws women engaged in the
preparation Of fruit, vegetables and
fish. For men Kansas and Washing
ton set up an eight hour day in mines.
Mistaken zeal at the entrance of the
United States into the war led to the
introduction of bills in some legisla-
lures designed to break down labor
standards
Eleven states strengthened their child
labor laws. mainly by raising age linn
Its, extending existing restrictions TO
new employments or shortening hours.
Texas passed a new general statute
setting a fifteen year minimum age for
factories, and Vermont provided for
issuance Of regulations in conformity
with those of the federal child labor
act, which went into effect Sept. l.,
with an appropriation Of $150000 for
its enforcement Kansas and New
Hampshire legislated on factory safe
guards. Texas on fire escapes, New
Jersey on scaffolding. Montana on cleo
trical apparatus, Delaware on sanitary
equipment and West Virginia on mines.
New Jersey forbade the manufacture
of articles Of food or children's wear IN
tenements.
Workmen's compensation laws were
enacted in Delaware, Idaho, New Mex
leo, South Dakota and Utah. making
forty states and territories which now
have such laws, in addition to the fed
eral governments compensation law
for it's own half million civilian en-
ployees. In more than twenty states
existing acts were amended Insurance
for seamen in American vessels was
authorized under the federal bureau Of
war risk.
Wyoming for the first time establish
ed a commissioner to enforce its labor
laws, and Utah and Vermont joined
the states in which administration Of
all labor legislation including work
mems compensation, is centered in one
consolidated department In Utah and
Pennsylvania the Industrial commits
sions are given power TO issue regula-
lions having the force of law. Civil
service rules looking to greater eff
cheney and stability OF the facto@s in
spection force were inaugurated In
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Laws legalizing labor organizations
and limiting the issuance of injunctions
In labor disputes were adopted in Utah
and Minnesota. In more than a dozen
states laws were passed establishing
periodical pay days. regulating the is.
suance Of non-negotiable wage checks.
protecting wages on public work or
prohibiting interference by employers
IN the political rights of their work.
men. In its appropriation bills the
United States re-enacted the customary
prohibitions against using money for
prosecuting labor unions or for making
time studies Of employees.