Evening star., 1923-12-02

vote Of both houses finally passed the
labor blu erecting the bureau OF Ia
Dor statistics, the foundation stone
of the present important state de-
partment of labor. In the meantime
legislation had been promoted and
enacted guaranteeing apprentices hu-
mane treatment and proper instruc-
ton and lifting them out of the serv-
lie. underpaid and underfed condition
that the organization Of the state Ia
Dor body had found them in through
out the state. This legislation was
sthe beginning of the laws to regulate
child labor in New York state. A bill
creating an eight-hour workday for
employees of the state, counties and
cities was introduced and finally en-
acted, thus laying the foundation for
the eight-hour workday In private
employment.
Mechanics lien laws for unpaid
wages were secured In 1875. In 1881
the labor bill requiring that seats be
provided for women workers in their
places Of employment became law.
This was the beginning of the code of
laws recognizing that women work
tion. In the legislature of 1886, la
boris chief preferred measure to pro-
vide for inspection of factories in the
interest of the health and welfare of
factory workers, was enacted and
signed by the governor. This was the
beginning Of the actual work of en-
forcing the labor laws of the state.
At the same time state board of me-
diation and arbitration was erected
by law, and this brought into exist
interests of wage earnerS. all of
which were subsequently welded into
one organization as the state depart
ment Of labor.
Mine Inspections to Insure Safety.
Inspection Of mines and tunnels In
the interest OF the safety of workers
was secured in 1890. In 1885, the
sweatshep in industry was attacked
and the first victory gained by the
enactment of the Roosevelt law pro-
hibiting tenement house cigar max
ing. and in 1896 inspection of mer-
camille establishments by boards Of
health was authorized and women and
children prohibited from employment in
Easements under stores and the en-
ployment of children under fourteen
years of Rge in or about a store en-
tirely prohibited.
In 1899 a law prohibiting the en-
ployment Of minors under sixteen
years in connection with light and
power plants initiated the code of
prohibited hazardous occupations for
minors.
In 1890 a law gave women workers
In New York and Brooklyn pre-
ferred claim for wages In all occupa-
tions and the right to imprison judg-
ment-debtors for such unpaid wages,
and in 1895 the preference was ex-
tended to women workers throughout
the state.
The first regulation of the hours Of
labor of women and minors in fac
tories and the requiring of efficient
lighting of factories and inspection
of boilers therein was contained in
the labor bill enacted and signed in
1899. and by its companion law of
that year licensing and providing for
the inspection of tenement workshops
inaugurated to abolish the sweatshop
in this state.
Employees Given Time to Vote.
Labor secured the passage OF a law
In 1890 which compelled employers to
allow employees time to vote at gen.
eral elections and since then that law
has been extended to include primary
elections, and the constitution amend
ed and a law passed to rermit rail-
road and other workers unavoidably
absent on election day to vote by
mail.
BY a decision of the courts the
eight-hour and prevailing rate of
wages law for public work enacted
in 1903 was declared unconstitutional.
Labor presented an amendment to the
constitution which passed two leg
islatures, and in 1905 was ratified by
tho people after strenuous cam