Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-25
LABOR CONDITIONS AND
LABOR LEGISLATION
Industrial and Economic Prob.
lens Changing as Vermont
Becomes More a Manufactur.
ing State-Farmers Opposed
to Shorter Hours

Labor conditions and labor legislation
| in Vermont" was the subject of com
Iprehensive and interesting address by
| Senator Martin S. Villas before the Dis
cussion club at che College street Church
Sunday noon. Senator Villas had served
as senator during two sessions OF the
Vermont Legislature. having introduced
various measures dealing with labor
problems. and he brought intimate and
varied knowledge to bear on his subject
Senator Villas showed that whilc we are
accustomed to speak of Vermont as an
agricultural state. we are rapidly becom-
ing a manufacturing State. and our in
dustrial and economic problems arc
changing according. This is indicated by
our census returns. including workers, as
well as comparison Of the States mani
| fold products. concerning which figures
were quoted at length.
! According to the enumeration of 1910 the
only. towns to show an increase in popula-
| ton in Chittenden county were the in
dustral centers of Burlington. Colchester
and Richmond Other towns showed A
loss Towns showing an increase in Frank
lin county were St .\lbans and Richford .
in Lamoille county Morristown and Cam
bridge. Similar showing were made for
various other counties incidentally, II ap-
peared that the multiplication of in
dustries in Burlington was behind that of
other Vermont cities, proportionately.
It follows from this industrial develop
ment that increased attention must be
given to tho problems arising in connec-
ton with workers in our industries Pre-
vious TO 1915 Vermont had enacted practi-
cally no measures dealing with the labor
problems, so-caled. In the spring of 1915
our workmens compensation law went
into effect, and the results have been of
benefit TO both the wage-carncr and the
empoyer. Previous to that time tho court
dockets were filed with cases brought
hy injured employees or by the survivors
! of the killed Those who secured dam
ages realized only small part thereof
on account of court and legal expenses
while the employers were forced to under
go enormous expense for protection.
! At the present time, under the work.
mems compensation act and the system
of insurance operated in that connection.
workers injured are practically certain
of recompense. while the cost to the en-
rloyer is much less than before. Senator
Villas also showed now legislation in that
same connection operates to protect the
| Interests of those Of tender years and in
a tender condition The commissioner OF
industries sits in effect as 4 court, hav-
ing judicial powers. including the sum-
moninc OF witnesses Various features
LOT tie law We're illustrated.
| During the last two sessions Of the
| Legislature efforts were made to amend
labor legislation in various needed direc-
tons, but Senator Villas said that the
sentiment of the legislators had been
Overwhelmingly against the changes sug-
gested
| Organized labor had advocated larger
compensation for the injured as well as
an extension of the period Of benefit. It
asked for Legislation granting the same
pay to women as to men for various kinds
| of labor II sought to secure additional
factory inspection, including the appoint
mont of a woman inspector.
! The farmers of Vermont are against
Legislation shortening the hours of labor.
and since the Legislature is controlled by
our farmers it is not probable that radio al
changes will be made in labor legislation,
at least for considerable period to come.
As industries multiply and the liability
TO accident increases. it is manifest that
additional and reasonable security against
danger to health and life itself should
| be afforded workers. This is especially
true where noXious and poisonous gases
are developed and where conditions are
otherwise inimical 20 health or danger
Gus to life
| Senator Villas said that the organization
/ of labor had resulted in material benefits
| in a variety of directions. On the other
hand where the necessities of a majority
Of the people are involved. as in the case
Of coal, he thought that the strike should
be eliminated, and that in sense EN-
ploycs in such utilities would enlist in a
public service.
| Deputy Commissioner of Industries F. S
Pease was asked by Senator Villas to
supplement his rema rks, Mr.. Peasc sug-
gested that additional LEGISLATION was
needed 10 cover cases where compensation
was awarded a worker and he disappeared
after one or two payments were made
! He said that one had only 70 make a tour
| of the factories of the State TO see that
conditions were much better than some
times painted. He thought instead Of
having more factory inspectors there was
need of a larger appropriation to ensure
opportunity for the inspection already
made possible.