The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-02
LABOR LAWS
MAKE B|GGA|N
Steady Advance in Workmen's
Compensation and Settlement
OF Trade Disputes.

NEW YORK, AIN. 2.-The output
Of protective labor legislation in
1920, particularly in the field of So
cial insurance. shows continued ad-
vances, despite the small number of
States holding regular legislative
sessions during the year and scatter
ing setbacks due to "a wave OF re-
action" according TO a summary OF
the years labor laws by Congress
and eleven States issued by the
American Association for Labor Leg
islation.
ADOPTED IN A. STATES.
"With the adoption OF workmen's
compensation this year by Georgia,
says Secretary John II. Andrews.
there is now n total OF forty-two
States having compensation laws. in
addition TO Porto Rico. Alaska. and
Hawaii, as well as the Federal Gov
eminent with a model act for its half
million civilian employees. The six
States still remaining without this
form of social insurance are largely
n the non-industrial South. One moro
chapter was added to the shame OF
Missouri when that State In a refer
endum at the recent election over
turned the compensation law. This
adverse action is credited to the
activities OF MISUNDERSTANDING law
yers who succeeded in holding
down the vote in industrial centers
despite the joint efforts OF the or
ganized employees of the State and
the federation OF labor in support OF
the law.
..ur. 49,. .snu- ,bo S,,tna ba
continues, sis steadily toward more
liberal cash payments and adequate
medical care for injured workers
Rapid progress has been made by the
States in providing for the vocational
rehabilitation Of Industrial cripplcs
through Federal-State cooperation
under the law recently enacted by
Congress. The movement for old age
assistance laws in the states was
given an impetus through the enact
ment this year by Congress or law
for compulsory, contributory old age
and disability insurance for the Gov
ernment's 100000 employees in the
classified civil scrvice--a significant
extension Of social insurance legisia-
ton. New York came into line with
pension system covering old en-
ployes OF both city and State.
III INC utiu Oi tidht
Kansas, with an industrial court,
and Texas, with an extraordinary
emergency law to prohibit interfer-
ence with transportation, attempted
to control strikes by mandatory
legislation. Further recognition was
given by Congress to the need of
protection for the increasing army
OF women wage earncrs by the Gre
alton of women'S bureau in the
Department of Labor. In one State,
Massachusetts, advanced action was
taken looking to the early adoption
of law for maternity protection.
Twelve States and Congress amend
ell existing compensation laws, short
ening the waiting period extending
provisions for medical care, and
bringing private casualty companies
doing workmcn's compensation bust
ness under strcter control. New
York brought within the Compensa-
ton law limited number OF occu-
pational diseases, and legislated
against the evil of compensation
runners" Kentucky and Virginia
found it possible 20 reduce the tax
needed for administrative expenses
Louisiana made accident insurance
compulsory. North Carolina author
lied a commission to investigate the
desirability of workmen's compensa-
ton legislation. Congress extended
the principle of the Federal Employ
crs' Liability Act for railway en-
ploycs to cover actions by injured
seamen in admiralty.
Child labor restrictions were ex-
I 'nded in Massachusetts by a law for
bidding children under sixteen to
clean or repair freight elevators,
while Virginia granted children per-
mission to work in canneries when
the schools are not in session. Ore
gon enacted a safety code, Maryland
created a board of boiler rules and
Kentucky required mines, steel mills.
foundries and machine shops to pro-
vide Mushrooms. Maryland, Ken
lucky and New York authorized the
appointment of ssions--in the
former to revise the industrial laws
and in the two latter to revise child
welfare legislation.
Congress established womcn's
bureau in the Department of Labor
and increased the appropriation for
investigating the conditions Of wom-
en- in industry from $4,000 to $75,-
900. Rhode Island created the office
Of deputy factory inspector.