IV. Unemployment.

By a decree dated September 9, 1905 (E.B., I., p. 14), in France, the basis of the State subventions to unemployment societies was fixed. The present situation is consequently as follows:

(1) A right to a State subsidy is granted to any society which has been in existence for at least six months, and which, either by providing relief on the spot, or by travelling or migration grants is combating the evil results of involuntary unemployment brought about by lack of work,whose statutes comply with definite conditions set out in the decree, which takes upon itself to provide the facilities of a free employment agency for persons out of work, which submits its system of accounts and administration to State supervision, and which either contains at least 100 members exercising the same or allied occupations, or, being a local society, contains at least 50 members exercising the same or allied occupations, provided that it is subsidised by the local authority; or, in communes with less than 20,000 inhabitants, contains at least 50 members engaged in various trades, provided that it is subsidised by the local authority; or, finally, is organised by associated unions with the object of providing travelling grants and supported by the contributions of the various unions, provided that the normal resources of these unions consist of the contributions of their members.

(2) The amount of the unemployed relief, which must not be paid to any member until the conclusion of a period of six months from the time of his joining, cannot, as a basis for the calculation of the subvention, exceed 2 frs. a day nor can the relief be paid on more than 60 days in twelve months. The rate of the State subvention is fixed every year by the Minister of Commerce, but may not exceed 16 per cent. of the amount of relief paid out by the society; this rate may, however, be increased for societies which are organised in at least three departments, and which contain at least 1,000 members. The rate for the year 1905 was fixed by a decree dated February 28, 1906, at the maximum named in the present Order. (E.B., I., p. 17.)

(3) A standing Unemployment Committee of eleven members is appointed, on which Parliament, the public Departments, and the Unemployment societies are represented, and the members of which are. nominated yearly by the Minister of Commerce. The first nominations were effected by decree of the Minister of Commerce, dated November 10, 1905. The duties of the Committee are determined in ministerial decree.

detail by

Labour Laws in the United States in 1904*

I. Laws of General Application

1. Hygiene in Workplaces.

(a) General provisions relating to cleanliness and sanitary conditions. New York in home industries, Chapter 550, 1904 (X, 715); New Jersey: 1904 (X, 1012).

(b) Lavatories, dressing-rooms and water closets. New Jersey: Chapter 64, 1904 (X, 1012).

(c) Exhaust fans and ventilation New York : Chapter 291, 1904 (X, 712); New Jersey: Chapter 64, 1904 (X, 1012).

(d) Air-space per head of persons employed. New Jersey: 250 cubic feet by day, 400 by night; C, 64, 1904.

2. Prevention of Accidents.

(a) Hoists, cogs, belts. Inspection and Guards. New York: C. 291, 1904 (X, 713); New Jersey: C. 64, 1904 (X, 1012).

(b) Danger of Fire. Explosives. Emergency Exits. New Jersey: C. 64, 1904, (X, 1012).

(c) Artificial light. New York: C. 291, 1904 (X, 712); New Jersey: C. 64, 1904 (X, 1012)

3. Contract of Work.

4.

Breach of Contract. New Jersey: C. 64, 1904, (X, 1012).

Home Work.

Rooms in tenement houses shall not be used for out-work in making clothing, paper articles, cigars, etc., unless a license has been obtained. Inspection and sanitary conditions. The owner is liable as well as the employer. New Jersey C. 64, 1904 (X, 1012); New York: requiring also registration of out-workers, C. 550, 1904, (X, 715).

5. Employment Offices.

Licenses for private employment agencies. New York: C. 432, 1904, (X,713).

6. Hours of Work.

Holidays. Mississippi: Labour Day (1st Monday in Sept.) shall be a legal holiday. C. 88, 1904, (X, 712).

7. Payment of wages, assignment of wages, protection of wages, etc.

(a) Payment of wages. Maryland: Wages to be paid semi-monthly at the places of employment. C. 93, 1904, (X, 704).

*See G.B. II., p. C ; IV., p. XVII.-The numbers in brackets refer to the volume and page of the Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, Washington, in which the laws are to be found.

(b) Assignment of wages. Exemption of wages from attachment of garnishment. Louisiana: Wages earned and payable out of the State and where the cause of action arises out of the State. Act No. 165, 1904, (X, 704) ; New York: Creditors shall not attach wages while in the possession of the employer, unless they file with the employer an authenticated copy of the workman's agreement within three days of its execution. C. 77, 1904, (X, 712).

8. Trade Unions.

C. 335,

Massachusetts: Protection of badges of labor organisations. 1904, (X, 710); New York: Protection of trade marks of Trade Unions. C. 523, 1904, (X, 715).

9. Immigration and Emigration.

ΙΟ.

Exclusion of Chinese laborers. United States: C. 1630, 1904, (X, 719).

Public Works and Contracts. (a) Wages. Massachusetts: tractors. C. 349, 1904 (X, 711).

Security for payment of wages by con

(b) Workmen. Massachusetts: Preference of citizens of the State for employment, and after them, citizens of the United States. C. 311, 1904, (X, 708).

II. Franchise. Time to vote to be allowed by employers. Massachusetts: C. 334, 1904 (X, 710).

II. Protection of Women and Children

I. Hours of Work.

(A) EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN.

Without age limit. Massachusetts: In mercantile establishments, not more than 58 hours a week. C. 397, 1904, (X, 711).

2. Hygiene.

Seats for female employees. Maryland: In shops and commercial establishments. C. 287, 1904, (X, 707).

(B) EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS AND CHILDREN. 1. Employment Forbidden.

(a) Up to the age of 14. New Jersey: In factories, workshops, or any places where the manufacture of goods of any kind is carried on. C. 64, 1904,

(X, 1012).

(b) Up to the age of 16. New Jersey: In factories, etc., unless a register is kept giving names, places of residence, time of employment of children under the age of 16 employed, and unless certificates of age and physical fitness are procured. Absolute prohibition of employment in dangerous occupations (cleaning machinery while in motion, etc.). C. 64, 1904. (X, 1012). 2. Hours of Work.

(a) Up to the age of 16. New Jersey: 10 hours per day, 55 hours per week, in factories, workshops, etc. C. 64, 1904. (X, 1012).

(b) Up to the age of 18. Massachusetts: In mercantile establishments, not more than 58 hours a week. C. 397, 1904. (X, 711).

3. Wages.

Parents who are able to work and do not work, but live upon the wages of minor children, shall be punished as vagrants. Mississippi: C. 144, 1904. (X, 712).

III. Laws applying to Particular Trades

1. Mining Industry.

Payment of wages. Maryland: Semi-monthly payment of wages in Garrett County, i.e., wages earned before the 15th of the month, to be paid, at latest, by the 25th; those earned between the 16th and the end of the month to be paid, at latest, by the 10th of the following month. If pay-day falls on a Sunday or holiday, wages to be paid on the following day. C. 37, 1904. (X, 704).

2. Textile Industry.

Massachusetts: Prevention of accidents; looms to be equipped with guards. C. 347, 1904. (X, 711).

3. Hairdressing Trade.

Barbers. Examinations and licenses for barbers. Maryland: C. 226, 1904. (X, 705).

4. Trade and Commerce.

Louisiana In towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants, clerks in retail business shall be allowed at least one hour's break between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Act No. 195, 1904. (X, 704); Maryland: Seats for saleswomen. C. 287, 1904. (X, 707). Massachusetts: Hours of work for children under 18; and women not to exceed 58 hours a week. C. 397, 1904. (X, 711).

5. Carrying Trade.

Street railways. Inclosed platforms. Louisiana: Act No. 81, 1904. (X, 703.)

Navigation. United States. Unlawful to receive payment for furnishing employment for seamen. C. 1603, 1904. (X, 719.)

IV. Labour Department

I. Collection of Labor Statistics.

Hawaii The United States Commissioner of Labor shall institute inquiries and report on labor statistics, conditions, etc., in Hawaii. Acts of United States Congress, C. 948, 1904. (X, 703). United States: Bureau of Labor in the Department of Commerce and Labor, instead of Department of Labor. C. 716, 1904. (X, 719).

2. Inspection.

Conditions of nomination and appointment of inspectors. Powers of inspectors. New Jersey: C. 64, 1904. (X, 1012).

3. Arbitration and Conciliation Boards.

Maryland C. 671, 1904. (X, 708.) Massachusetts: (X, 708).

V. Employers' Liability and Insurance

C. 313, 1904.

New Jersey Notification of accidents. C. 64, 1904. (X, 1012.)

International Labour Legislation

zu

Bekanntmachung (des deutschen Bundesrates), betr. die Ausserkraftsetzung von Bestimmungen des Gewerbe-und des Bau-Unfallversicherungsgesetzes Gunsten von Angehörigen des Königreichs Belgien.

Notification (of the German Federal Council) respecting the repeal of provisions of the Industrial Accidents Insurance Act and the Buildings Accident Insurance Act in favour of subjects of the Kingdom of Belgium.

The Federal Council, at its sitting on February 22, 1906, resolved as follows:

(1) The regulations in §94 (2) of the Industrial Accidents Insurance Act and in §37 (1) of the Building Accidents Insurance Act, respecting payment of compensation to foreigners who are not habitually domiciled in the country, shall not apply to subjects of the Kingdom of Belgium, even when those entitled to compensation do not habitually reside in the districts of the Kingdom of Belgium described as "adjoining districts" for the purposes of the Act, according to the resolution of the Federal Council of October 13, 1900. See notification of Oct. 16, 1900, Centralblatt, p. 540.)

The right of drawing compensation shall depend on the person entitled to compensation obeying the regulations, present or future, passed by the State nsurance Office in accordance with §94 (3) of the Industrial Accidents Insurance Act, so long as such person is not domiciled in the country or in one of the foreign districts described for purposes of these regulations as an adjoining district by resolution of the Federal Council. For persons entitled to compensation, the day appointed for the regulations of the State Insurance Office of July 5, 1901, to come into force shall be the day on which this resolution comes into force.

(2) The provisions of §21 of the Industrial Accidents Insurance Act, and of 89 of the Building Accidents Insurance Act, as to the exclusion of claim to compensation by dependants, shall not apply to subjects of the Kingdom of Belgium, even if, at the time of accident, they do not have their usual domicile in the districts of the Kingdom of Belgium accepted by the resolution of the Federal Council of October 13, 1900, as "adjoining districts."

(3) The present provisions shall date back from July 1, 1905, in so far as the claim has not already been legally settled at the time this resolution comes into force.

(4) This resolution shall come into force on March 1, 1906.