Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1904 — MANY LABOR LAWS [ARTICLE]

MANY LABOR LAWS

Placed on Statute Books by Repub* ( Mean General, Assemblies. SOME VERf IMPORTANT MEASURES Which Contribute to the Betterment of the Condition of Those Who Toll —Nearly AH the Modern Labor Legislation Now on the Statute Books of j. Indiana Placed There Since 1895. During the past decade of Republican control In the General Assembly nearly all the modern labor legislation now on the statute books of Indiana has been enacted. During the General Assembly of 1895, when for the first .time In many years the Republican party assumed responsibility for legislation in Indiana, the law compelling streetcar companies to equip their cars with vestibules for the protection of employes was enacted. This was only a starter. In 1897 the factory inspection and child labor laws, with its companion, the one creating the Labor Commission, received the signature of Gover- - nor James A. Mount. These two measures have almost revolutionized conditions in factories, the former looking after the health, comfort and bodily welfare of employes, the banishment of children under fourteen from factories and mercantile establishments, shortening the hours of labor for them, preventing the working of women at night, and in numerous other ways looking after their welfare. The labor commissioners, who might be styled a “let us get together and talk it over committee,” have accomplished a great deal, much more than the general public gives them credit for. The first of these measures was introduced at the request of the Indiana Federation of Labor. The other, as soon as it 3 provisions were understood, received Its hearty support.,. Ip 1899 the legislature amended and strengthened both the factory inspection and labor commission law's; doubled the force of the former and made the latter more serviceable; increased the salary of both commissioners and the chief inspector; passed a weekly .wage law, the fire-escape law, and one concerning pleadings and proof in action for damages, which removed the burden of proof from the plaintiff and placed it on the defendant These Measures met the hearty approval of Abe Indiana Federation of Labor and Were considered their measures. In 1901 there were passed a law concerning a minimum rate of wages on public works of state, counties, cities and towns; an act regulating the handling of explosives in mines; one concerning the issuance of checks, tickets, tokens or other devices given in payment for the assignment or transfer of .wages, making them payable on demand; the bake-shop law; one protecting laborers who work on public streets, alleys, sewers and other public Improvements, by compelling the contractor to give bond for the payment of wages; and one compelling convict made goods to be plainly labeled "Convict Made.” This same year the railroad men had an act passed compelling railroads to maintain lights at street and railroad crossings. In tow r ns, and one providing for signal lights on switches. Both of these were for the better protection of trainmen and were supported by their committee. At this session of the legislature'the forces of both the mine Inspector and factory inspector jrere again Increased and the mine inspector's salary increased to fl,Boo per Annum. In 1903 there were passed the holler Inspection law, the temporary floor law, and one compelling the Inspection of naphtha and gasoline launches on Inland lakes and rivers, by a component mechanic. All of these laws were •ot Introduced at the request of the Vederatlon of Labor, but many of them Were; however, they all received their hearty support and were recognized as Jbelng to the Interest of the workmen, lit this session the railroad men received a law which forbade their employment for more than sixteen hours consecutively, thus giving them eight hours’ rest out of They •Iso secured the passage of an aot eompellinf a]J railroads within the to equip their cars with automatic couplers, continuous brakes and ♦*•* —«nn-noias. f Here are eighteen distinct acts pained at the request of organised lal>or and the amending and strengthenIng of some of them at each session of j the legislature. Not only has the Republican party (teased these laws, but In the appoint- j ment to positions created by them they have invariably gone to the ranks of organized labor for persons to fill them. When the factory Inspector and labor commissioner were to be appointed, Governor Mount gave them to men who had long been identified with organised labor, Mr. McCormack and Sir. McAbee, either of whom had had twenty-five years* experience In the Mtlve ranks of organised labor, and Governor Durbin only a short time MO r*appolnted these gentlemen. Mr. fcfoAbee, in the appointment of his depotiee. followed the precedent established by Governor Mount by taking them from the ranks of practical meohanlcs, and all of them with one exception were members of organized labor. The exception was when he need•i • Van whose trade, that of boiler Made* baa never been organised. (GCfear fn-itory Inspector's force has tnm two tosetan per

•one, and there Is no doubt that when the needs of the department require a larger force that a Republican legislature will grant it, as they have that of the mine Inspector. The facts are that never have the requests of organized labor been heeded to the same extent as they have been by the last four or five Republican general assemblies. Not every measure baaked by the Federation of Labor has become a law, but If they did not it was because of an honeat difference of opinion as to the value to workmen and the general public.