, 1922-10-19

governor from a list OF eilgibleS GER
titled to him bya board of examiners
comprising a regularly graduated
mining engineer, three practical min
ers and an ex-state mine inspector.
(4479-4484).
Gould anything be fairer or bet
ter calculated to safeguard the min
er?)
The miner, under Wyoming law, is
safe-guarded in his person by expert
inspection of mine and equipment
and by practically every appliance
and method known to science and to
on the one hand (4487-44S8) from
the greed OF his employer, as repre-
sented in company stores, and or the
other from dishonesty, in the matter
of weights and weighers. (4489-
4493).
The wages OF coal miners, by laws
of 1890-91 are made payable semi
monthly (4485), and if not SO paid
both the wage and the interest on
same (4486) become actionab1e.
: In the matter of the semi-monthly
pay day, the miner for years was
favored in this state above other in
dustrial workers, but in 1919 this
beneficent law was extended to in
clude an even larger army Of work
r Semi-monthly pay for workers
is now mandatory IN "every person,
firm or corporation engaged in the
operation of any railroad, mine, re-
finery and work incidental to pros
pecting for, or production of oil and
gas, or other factory, mill or work
shop within the state of Wyoming"
(4310).
AS with woman suffrage, so was
Republican Wyoming one of. The
first, II not THE first, among states
and territories to make an 8-hour
day the legal standard. In that part
of the state constitution headed,
Concerning Labor" article XIX,
Section 1, the 8-hour day is made the
standard for all employed on public
works.
The legislature of 1918 inserted
teeth into this constitutional pro-
vision by making 1t a misdemeanor
to cause to work more than 8 hours
a day any "laborer; workman or me
chanic employed upon any public
works of the state of Wyoming, or of
any county, city and town or any
other political subdivision thereof,
whether said work Is done by con-
tract or otherwise except in grave en-
ergencies or time of war. (43OS).
A Republican legislature of this
state was among the first. too,-
1915-to provide pensions for moth
ers and fatherless children. For a
time in fact the very existence of the
law was threatened by the failure of
other states to make similar provis-
ions for their dependents.
Where public work is done under
contract a bond is required of the
contractor, under the laws of 1919,
to protect labor in wages, etc.
(329). The redress Is in suit
against the sureties $500, and an
additional bond may be exacted
whenever the sureties are deemed in
solvent or insufficient. (331).
And ten years earlier than this
1919-"every ditch or canal CON-
pany had been required by law to
exact a bond (4S87) from contract
ors to safeguard the laborer, me-
chanic. ranchman, farmer, ETC., for
labor and supplies, the company it.
self to be liable in the event that no
bond was taken. (4SS9).
In the same ear bonds were re-
quired (489O) of contractors on
railroad work.
Laws nave DCen passed TOT the
protection OF and children in
industry and efforts made to elimin-
ate child labor.
The legislature of 1921-all Re-
publican with one exception - pro-
vided vocational training for persons
disabled in industry.
Nowhere has there been a more Sc
rious or conscientious effort made to
protect Labor against the loan
shark (4349 to 4352) and to ave
him from crushing debt.
1t is illegal claw 1880 for any
creditor to seek by an assignment of
debt or claim to evade the exemption
laws protecting labor in this state.
(4300).
1t was made unlawful as early as
1871 to contract for alien labor out
side of the state. Such contracts are
void and the alien, 1t is specifically
stipulated, may o for such
services Notwithstanding that others
may have paid for same. (43O4-
1900.
A law of 1S9O-91 makes 1t un-
lawful for any employer to require as
a condition of employment q release
from liability for injuries received by
reason Of the negligence of the en-
ployer or his agents. Such contracts
are void. (4306).
The record speaks for itself. It is
sQuaraly up to Labor to demonstrate
vhAthar 81 reco4nfeR thu e0ma1atAnf