The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-18
.P|LLORY VIOLATORS
!. ON news PAGE SAYS
WAGE DEP ARTMENT
Massachusetts Has Found Ex-
posure of 0verWorking
Employer Is Cure
FEW MASTERS DEFIANT
Court Proceedings Used IN But
Nine Cases, Annual Re-
port Discloses
FEW MASTERS DEFIANT

Publication in newspapers OF names
of offenders against the WomenS
eight hour law Is considered less
costly and nearly as effective REM
cdy as prosecution by the state, by the
minimum wage department OF the
North Dakota Workmen's Compensa-
ton bureau.
= In the biennial report Of the de-
partment, it is suggested that an
amendment be made of the present
law which would give to the minimum
wage department authority to publish
names of violatorS of this law.
Our observation has been that
Z most business establishments wish to
abide by the law In order to retain
the public good will We believe that
if publication of names we're used
in conjunction with prosecution or as
n preliminary step to such proSecu-
ton. it would prove to be particularly
effective in securing compliance with
< this protective legislation for women.
states Miss Alice Angus, secretary OF
the department.
Department Lacks Funds
y. The department contends that be-
e cause of this undesirable publicity
many violations would never happen
{ and, consequently, would lessen the
occasions for prosecution. while IN
some cases, publication OF the name
. of the offender would be sufficient
/. action. Such law is i'll operation
in Massachusetts and Is effective. ac-
cording to the report.
Due to the lack of funds. investi-
cations to ascertain the employment
conditions of women and minors were
confined to towns of 1900 population
> or over according to the report.
!, Investigations were made in %
towns and 272 establishments. Wage
records were secured for 2104 women
lin 229 establishments. In all cases
!. but those involving 326 women, COM
pliance with the law was noted. In
i creased wages or fewer hours were
the beneficial results derived by II
women when their employers were
notified that they were vlolatorS OF
the law. In 2l5 cases, representing
I u establishments, the states attorney
(
warrants against employers who took
q defiant attitude. In the cases of
80 women. adjustment was promised
within reasonable time. III one
case the woman was replaced by
man.
Requests Settled 80 Cases
During the biennium 1868, 1t Is
shown. ~ complaints covering IS cases
of violations of the law were reported
to the department. OF these IS cases,
- were from small towns where in
spcctions had not been made. In 80
cases the employers complied with the
requests Of the department upon noti-
fication In Is cases there was no
apparent ground for complaint. ADJ
.juStmentS in II cases are pending and
seven cases have been turned over to
enforcement officials. The depart
ment instituted court proceedings in
nine cases.
During the period which is covered
by the report there has been no
change in the five minimum wage
orders which were adopted in 1922
Minimum wage orders now exist for
the five following occupations: Public
housekeeping. manufacturing. mer-
camille, laundry and telephone oper-
atorS. Inspections show that there
is virtually no violation of minimum
wage orders.
Difficulty Is in Houscwcrk
Employers in the public housekeep-
ing occupation, however. experience
difficulty In arranging schedules So
as to allow one days rest in seven.
1t is reported that it is especially diff
ficult to find all extra girl who will
fill in as chambermaid one or two
days week and act as relief girl.
Some employers. it is stated try to
cut down on the number of hours
worked per day to average 40 per
week. No amount Of time Off" how
ever can make it lawful under the
present law to work every day in the
week, the report states.
Under the minimum wage law Ger
. tain employees have experienced
tangible benefit in the collection of
arrcar wages due them from employ
crs, according to the report. !, It is
brought out in the report, however,
that the department is not given the
power to act as collection agency,
but can only direct an employers
attention to the method in which
these back wages may be collected by
means Of a civil suit.