Year: 1872

Mr.. Corbett. OF Ballard county, has
reported bill in the Kentucky House
of Representatives, entitled, AN act to
prevent persons from interfering so as to
induce laborers or servants to abandon
their contracts, or to employ such without
the consent of their original employer
before the expiration of the contract


The provisions of this bill are of such
immediate interest to farmers who are
now preparing to contract for labor, and
is calculated to produce such warm dis
cussicn, among the people, we copy 1t
entire The irregular system of farm
labor in Kentucky eminently demands
some protection to employers, and to at
ford such protection is unquestionably
rhe purpose of Mr.. Corbetts bill but
there are those who subject it to an un
fortunate construction construction
that renders it unpopular with certain
class of working people. 1t Is argued
that a strict construction of its provis-
ions brings within its scope an innumera-
BE class of mechanics, clerks, etc, who
hire for wages, but who would never sub
nit to the arbitrary power in the hands
of employers here vested. If such con
struction is admissible, we see at once
that it would operate very unjustly upon
mechanics, clerks, and other classes who
hire their services, and to this extent
would prove odious and obnoxious. The
farm is more sensitive to the faithlessness
of labor than the shop or business house,
and have to deal with a class of labor
admittedly less reliable, and therefore
need more protection. If Mr.. Corbett
would 30 shape his bill as to apply
alone to this unreliable class of farm
's - -,-..-.-ss'. 1a,,.1ss ass .laa
passage:


s l. Be Il euactcd By tie General As,
senlbiy of the Communicable of Ken
/ fucky, That it shall not be lawful for any
/ person to interfere with, employ, or en-.
! tice away, or Induce to leave the service
of another, any laborer or servant who
shall have stipulated or contracted, in
writing, to serve for any given number
of days, weeks, or months, or for one
year, so long as the said contract shall
be and remain in force and binding upon
the parties thereto, without the cousenI
OF the party employing, or to whom said
service is due and owing, in writing, or il
. h. oF -.
person and any person who shall know
ingly interfere with, hire, employ, or en-


tiee away, or induce to leave the service
aforesaid, without jusdfable excuse
! therefor, before the expiration OF said
/ term of service so contracted aud stipu


lated as aforesaid shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and. on conviction thereof
shall be fined in such sum, not less than
/ fifty nor more than FIVE hundred dollars,
as the jury in the same may assess; and
/ in no case less than double the amount OF
the injury sustained by the party from
whom such laborer or servant was induced
to leave, one half to go to the party in
jured, and the other to the common
school fund.


s 2 Be It further enacted, That the
party injured shall be competent wit
ness in. all prosecutions under this act,
notwithstanding his interest in the fine
to Re assessed.


S 3. And be 1t further enacted, That
when any laborer or servant, having con
tracted as provided in the first section Of
this act, shall afterward be found, before
the termination of said contract in the
service or employment Of another, that
fact shall be prinaa .facie evidence that
such person is guilty of a violation of
this contract if he fail and refuse to
forthwith discharge the said laborer or
servant after being notified and informed
Of such former contract and employment


S 1. This act TO take effect from and
after its passage.