Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-03
PROTECTIVE STANDARDS
FOR LABOR ARE UPHELD
Substantial Gains Also Made on New
Legislation to Safeguard In.
dustrial Army.
MATTER OF SOUND ECONOMICS
Efforts to Set Aside Hard-Won Re-
suits on Plea Of War Necessity AL.
most Completely Checked, Says
DR.. John b. Andrews.

MoSC completely checked, SayS
DR.. John B. Andrews.
NEW YORK, September 2.-Protec-
tive standards for labor have been sue
ccssfully upheld against attempts to
suspend them during the war. and sub
stantial gains have been made in new
legislation designed further to safe
guard the nations industrial army, ac-
cordinG to the summary, which. issued
here to-day by the American Associa-
ton for Labor Legislation. alludes to
the labor laws which have been en-
acted during 1917 in Congress and in
forty-four of the States.
When the United States entered the
war, legal protection for workers was
threatened by IAN ill-adviscd rush for
results" DIR. John B. Andrews, secre-
tary of the association. says in the
summary. but leading civic and labor
organizations co-opcratcd successfully
to maintain existing standards lin the
interest both of maximum production
and Of human conservation"
Efforts TO set aside labor's hard
won standards on the mistaken plea
Of war necessity have been almost COM
plctely checked" Mr.. Andrews asserts.
The years grist of labor legislation
shows progress. and indicates that pro-
tective laws for labor are regarded by
legislators not as a matter of senti-
ment. but of sound economies"
The summary shows that women's
hours have been reduced in Nevada.
Montana. Ohio, New York, New Hamp-
shire. Connecticut, Delaware and Ne
vada. Under stress of war conditions
however, New Hampshire excepted
from its womens hour law, manu-
facturers of munitions and supplies for
the government during the war, and
oregon and California excluded from
their eight-hour law those women en-
gagged in the preparation OF fruit, vege-
tables and fish. Wyoming was the
only State in which hours for women
were increased. the weekly maximum
being extended from fifty-six to sixty
hours.
MEMS HOURS REDUCED
IN KANSAS AND WASHINGTON
Mems hours were reduced In two
States-kansas and inGton-whcre
an eight-hour day was established in
The mines.
One additional State-Arizona-es-
tablishcd a minimum wage (S10 weekly
for women III stores and factories),
making twelve in all; and two States
Illinois and North Dakota-reated
commissions to investigate wages and
other conditions affecting women in
industry.
Workmen's compensation laws were
enacted in five new States-Delaware,
Idaho, New Mexico. South Dakota and
Utah-makinS forty States and Terri
tories which now havo such laws, in
addition to the governments legisla-
ton for its own 100000 employees. In
surance for seamen in American YES
sells was authorized under the Federal
Bureau of War Risk.
States which have strengthened their
| child labor laws mainly by raising
age limits. extending existing restric-
ions TO new employments. or shorten
ing hours" include Texas, Vermont,
Kansas. New Hampshire. New Jersey.
Montana. Delaware and West Virginia
Universal health insurance" is de-
scribed as the next big step In Amcrf-
can labor legislation. and the summary
says that in seven States official COM
missions arc studying this problem
massachusetts. California. Connecticut,
Illinois. Ohio Pennsylvania and Wis
conSin.
PROBLEM OF EMPLOYMENT
Is BEING DEALT WITH
Labor achieves benefits through new
labor laws enacted in Wyoming, Utah.
Vermont. Pennsylvania and New Jer.
sey. through creation of Industrial
commissions or civil service rules de-
signed to enforce the legislation The
problem Of unemployment is being at
tackled in South Dakota, New Hamp.
shire. Oregon. Minnesota, Arizona and
Nebraska. in some of these States with
Federal cooperation Legislation which
labor regards as more favorable in
connection with trade disputes has
been adopted in Utah. Minnesota. Idaho
and New Hampshire.
Mistaken zeal" when the United
States entered the war. the summary
says. led to some State legislation de
signed to break down labor standards"
In this connection 1t is pointed out
that:
Connecticut and New Hampshire
gave their Governors power to suspend
labor regulations on request Of the
Council of National Defense. Vermont
also authorized similar action by the
commissioner Of industries with the
chusetts established board of five
members to grant suspensions In In
div!dual cases" after n hearing.
IN CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE