Forms of labor legislation. A typical factory act. dustry. "The fundamental purpose of labor legislation is the conservation of the human resources of the nation" is a familiar motto of the American Association for Labor Legislation. . . Labor legislation in the states of the United States relates to a variety of different subjects, such as the establishment of departments of factory inspection, limitation of the hours of labor, prohibition of night work or of Sunday labor, the exclusion of certain classes of wage earners from certain kinds of employment, provisions for the frequent payment of wages, prohibition of truck payment, guards for dangerous machinery, regulations as to the sanitary conditions within factories and workshops, regulations as to cleaning or oiling machinery, apprenticeship, discrimination against union men either in hiring or discharging workers, and many other matters touching upon the health, safety, and well-being of wage earners. In addition many regulations have been passed relating specifically to mines and mine workers. Every state and territory and the Federal government have passed legislation relating to labor. The Illinois factory law, which went into effect in January, 1910, is an excellent example of a factory act. The chief points in this particular piece of labor legislation may be summarized as follows: (a) All machinery must be carefully protected. (b) Set screws and other dangerous projections must be countersunk or otherwise guarded, if possible. (c) Means must be provided for quickly stopping machinery. (d) Machinery must not be placed closely together; adequate passageways must be provided. (e) All elevators and openings in the floor must be enclosed. (f) Premises must be sanitary. Equal temperatures must be maintained; and suitable seats must be provided for female workers. (g) Adequate and sanitary toilet facilities must be provided for workers of both sexes. (h) Food must not be eaten in any room where white lead, arsenic, or other poisonous gases are present. (i) Sufficient means of escape in case of fire must be provided and kept free from obstruction. (j) Noxious fumes and gases must be removed as far as is practicable. (k) No employee shall be allowed to operate a machine with which he is not familiar. (1) The employer is required to report all accidents to the state factory inspector, which result in death.. ... do not dom from poverty. Some reformers begin their discussion of the problem of pov- High wages erty by condemning the payment of low wages to certain groups necessarily of employees, and end their discussion by suggesting or demanding mean freethat the wages of these groups be increased. It is of course true that an essential part of any sound program of industrial reform is concerned with economical methods of raising the wages of the poorly paid groups. But high wages do not necessarily mean freedom from poverty, for it may be that the individuals receiving a substantial increase in wages are unable to utilize their income economically. Indeed, poverty can never be eradicated until the individual is rendered able and willing to spend his income wisely. Some of the essential principles of thrift are pointed out in the following selection by Professor Benjamin R. Andrews: thrift. Thrift is a means to the best life for individual and family as it Nature of insures that considered use of resources which will promote wellbeing. There is a current idea that the thrifty man is stingy and penurious, but rightly understood thrift means intelligence, forethought and plan in the use of resources, so as to promote personal well-being. In practice thrift calls for effective functioning on the part of the individual in the following economic relations: I. As one who earns, by increasing skill or output so as to enlarge money income or its equivalent. The problem of thrift has 2. As one who spends, by studying one's present needs so as to five angles. secure goods and services bringing the greatest possible satisfaction at the least possible cost. 3. As one who saves, by examining one's future needs so as to set aside funds liberally for all its contingencies. 4. As one who invests, by considering the placing of savings so that they will grow by interest or by increase of value so that principal and interest will be secure against loss. 5. As one who conserves whatever he has, by considering its wisest use so as to secure the greatest possible satisfaction from it, by avoiding waste, and by treating what is bought with money as 1 From the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Annals. Vol. LXXXVII. Philadelphia, January, 1920; pp. 11-15. Suggestions for effi ciency in spending: The written budget. The intelligent direction of spending. Thrift in food expenditure. Clothing costs. though it had money's value. Thus there arises a fivefold thrift problem of the individual and family as regards earning, spending, saving, investing, and conserving.. Written Budget Plans. . . . Engel stated certain economic laws of consumption, the more important of which are that the smaller the income the larger the proportion of it which must go for food, and that as income increases food expenditure relatively decreases and the allowance for miscellaneous culture wants increases. A widely quoted American standard for middle class incomes is "the ideal budget" of the late Ellen H. Richards which allows one-fourth of the income for food, one-fifth for rent, one-seventh for clothing, and one-fourth for culture wants or the "higher life." Written accounts of expenditure, at least during periods of readjustment, are desirable. Needs for expenditure should have critical examination. The classical division of wants into necessities, comforts and luxuries gives a starting point. This Intelligent direction of spending will increase its efficiency. naturally centers in the housewife, but often certain responsibilities may be wisely assigned to others. . . . In a matter like the purchase of food, clothing, shelter and other goods in the market with which every individual has life-long contacts, it is astonishing that the general level of intelligence is not higher. . . . ... In food expenditure, thrift requires that the purposes of nutrition be adequately met, including the growth and maintenance of the body and the production of energy, and that this be done at a reasonable cost. It asks such questions as: Are necessary mineral constituents and growth-promoting vitamens provided? Is variety of diet guaranteed by including food from all five groups, grain products, fruits and vegetables, meats, sugars and fats?. . . Do finicky food habits add to cost? Is food cost reasonable? Is quantity buying followed where practicable? Are stores selected for economy as well as convenience? In clothing costs, thrift promotes economy by such queries as these: Is clothing chosen so as to promote health and secure length of service as well as "for looks"? Does fashion increase clothing costs beyond reason? . . In housing, thrift stands for adequate provision as to space, light, household air, arrangement of rooms for ease in house-work as well as to meet Thrift in housing the personal and social needs of the family group. It raises such questions as: Is there any better investment than owning one's own home? Are we spending unnecessarily for display in the house? In household operating expenses, thrift demands adequate heating, and in lighting, water-supply and housekeeping supplies. It justifies hired. operating service where the housewife has other useful employment or is unable expenses. to do all the work. It raises such questions as: Can supplies be bought cheaper in quantity? Is the heating and lighting system efficient and economical? Is the telephone justified, and if so, is postage a cheaper substitute for many toll calls? Do the members of the household coöperate fully in reducing the burden of daily household tasks which come upon the housewife or her hired substitute? culture wants. In culture wants, thrift emphasizes their importance as compared Thrift in with material wants and asks full provision for education, for personal development and for health, and reasonable provision for physical and mental recreation, for necessary expenses for personal care and for incidental needs. But thrift asks: Are large personal indulgence expenditures justifiable? Do they not give special treatment for one or more members of the family as compared with others? Is special musical or art instruction to an ungifted person wise? Should recreation expenditures exceed cultural expenditures of the sort which, for lack of a better term, are called educational and ethical? ... Questions on the foregoing Readings 1. Into what two parts does Professor Carver divide his outline of the democratic program of industrial reform? 2. Outline the essential features of the first part of this program. 5. By what three means might unearned wealth be redistributed? 7. What is the relation of this tendency to income tax legislation? 9. What is his opinion of the single tax? 10. Why might the application of the principle of justice to industrial problems fail to improve the condition of all of the poor? II. What is the importance of vocational guidance in the attack upon low wages? 12. What occupations are covered by the term vocational"? 13. What are the aims of vocational guidance? 14. What principles should govern the choice of a vocation? 15. What, according to Mr. John B. Andrews, is the condition of the labor market at the present time? 16. What remedy does he suggest for this condition? 17. Outline the functions of the central office, as embodied in the plan for a national system of employment bureaus. 18. What would be the functions of the proposed local labor exchanges? 19. Why is labor legislation a necessary function of government? 20. What is the legal basis for labor legislation? 21. Outline some forms of labor legislation. 22. Explain why high wages do not necessarily mean freedom from poverty. 23. What are the five phases of the problem of thrift? 24. Outline Professor Andrews' suggestions with reference to written budget plans and written accounts of expenditure. 25. Illustrate the principles of thrift with reference to food expenditure, clothing costs, expenditure for house-room, household operating expenses, and culture wants. |