PERSONS OF SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION OF THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, 1910-1914. [Source: Annual Reports of the Chief of the Division of Information, Washington, 1910 to 1914.]

The fourth and final table shows the distribution, by States, of the persons distributed during the period 1910-1915 (five years and 10 months). According to this table the largest number of persons applying for positions have been distributed in New York (11,001); the States next in order have been New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, and Texas.

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES OF PERSONS SECURING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION OF THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, 1910 TO 1915. [Source: Annual Reports of the Chief of the Division of Information, Washington, 1910, 1914.]

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES OF PERSONS LECURING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION OF THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, 1910 TO 1915Concluded.

LABOR LEGISLATION OF 1915.

Year by year labor legislation more and more occupies the time of the various legislative bodies of the United States. During the current year, including Congress and the legislatures of the island possessions, 49 legislative bodies have met, some of them in more than a single session. Although the material is not at hand for a complete account of the labor laws passed, it is possible to enumerate the principal new laws which have been enacted.

The present survey is not intended to take the place of the annual review with accompanying text of labor laws. Also, it does not take note of the amendments unless of prime importance, the purpose being rather to indicate the extensions or recognitions in new fields of the various forms of labor legislation. The subject is taken up by States in alphabetical order rather than by topics, since the material is not available to summarize fully the operations for the year in any field, and for most of the States but part of the facts are known. Eight States and the Territories of Alaska and Hawaii have been added to the list of those having workmen's compensation laws, while in other States important amendments have been made. The result of the year's additions is that 31 States, besides Alaska, the Philippine Islands, and Hawaii, now have such laws, all enacted since 1909. The subject of employment agencies, also, has received an unusual amount of attention during the present year.

The Alabama Legislature enacted a more effective law relating to child labor, covering all occupations, including street trades. Fourteen years is fixed as the minimum age for industrial employments after 1916, and the provisions for enforcement of the law are strengthened.

The Alaska compensation law already referred to is elective in form and applies only to mining and related operations. Another law of this Territory prescribes an 8-hour day for placer miners, thus putting them on the same basis as already provided for other miners.

An Arkansas statute regulates the employment of women, establishing a 9-hour day and a 54-hour week, forbidding nightwork below the age of 18, and fixing a minimum wage of $1 per day for learners and $1.25 for those of six months' experience.

Free public employment offices under the State labor commissioner are provided for the larger cities of California, and the sum of $2,000

1 The only States whose legislatures did not meet during the present year were Kentucky, Maryland, and Mississippi.

is appropriated to investigate the subject of unemployment. An enactment relating to child labor fixes 10 years as the minimum age for street trades, other amending acts relating to the subjects of minimum wages and workmen's compensation.

The compensation law of Colorado, elective as to private employers but compulsory as to the State and its municipalities, provides for benefits on a basis of 50 per cent of the wages, $8 weekly maximum, for not more than 6 years, the total benefits not to exceed $2,500.

The workmen's compensation law of Connecticut is amended so as to exclude farm labor and employers of not more than 5 workmen. The bureau of labor statistics and the office of the State factory inspector in this State are merged into a State department of labor and factory inspection.

The Delaware Legislature established an unpaid labor commission to have charge of the appointment of the woman-and-child-labor inspectors.

The Florida Legislature enacted a compulsory education law, operative when adopted locally, strengthened the child-labor law of the State and provided for a commission on the subject of mothers' pensions.

The Hawaii Legislature enacted a compulsory compensation law for that Territory of general application to industrial employment and public service, with a maximum benefit of $5,000.

The law of Illinois providing for free public employment offices was amended, and a commission to investigate unemployment was provided for. Benefits under the workmen's compensation act were increased.

A workmen's compensation law was enacted in Indiana, elective in form, and to be administered by an industrial board. Benefits are to be 55 per cent of the weekly wages for not more than 300 weeks, with a maximum of $5,000.

Free public employment offices are provided for in the Iowa bureau of statistics and information; another law authorizes the commissioner of labor to inspect all mills and factories instead of only those employing 5 or more persons. A new child-labor law for this State limits the hours of labor of children under 16 to 8 per day and regulates street trades, messenger service, etc. Railroad companies in this State must henceforth pay their workmen twice a month.

Contractors on public works in the State of Maine are required by a law of that State to pay their employees semimonthly. The legislature also enacted an elective compensation law, benefits being 50 per cent of the wages for 500 weeks in cases of total disability, the maximum amount being $3,000. New laws relating to the hours of labor of women and children and the employment of children generally were also passed. The provision as to hours of labor applies to

children under 16 and all females, and fixes a 9-hour day and 54-hour week, canneries being excepted.

The labor legislation of Massachusetts was chiefly amendatory, no law of prime importance being enacted in this field. Two acts provide for the examination and licensing of electricians and of engineers and firemen, respectively, while another provides a new mechanics' lien law for cases in which real property is affected. A resolve of this legislature directs the State forester to give employment to worthy needy persons, preferably citizens of Massachusetts. Considerable amendments to the workmen's compensation law of the State were made by the Michigan Legislature. Another act makes provision for the mediation of labor disputes.

The Minnesota Legislature requires public utility corporations to pay wages twice a month. It also passed a law prescribing penalties in cases of the nonpayment by contractors of the wages due their workmen out of current installments paid by owners for improvements on real estate, such withholding being punishable as for larceny. Domestic products and materials are to be preferred for use in the construction of public buildings in this State. The compensation law of this State was amended in a number of respects, among others by exempting railroads from the application of the law, and enacting a liability law for railroad employees of practically the same effect as the Federal statute on this subject.

The only action of the Missouri Legislature of which account has been received is the appointment of a commission by the senate to draft a code of laws relating to children. The third commission of this State on workmen's compensation presented drafts of bills for compensation legislation and an industrial commission, but they failed of passage.

The Legislature of Montana enacted an elective compensation law, compulsory as to public employees and public contractors, providing for payment of 50 per cent of weekly wages for disability of 400 weeks, and a flat rate of $5 weekly thereafter if disability continues.

The Nebraska Legislature enacted a new and more workable mothers' pension law, provided that the 9-hour law for women should not be applicable except in cities of 5,000 or more, and provided for the licensing and general regulation of private employment offices

Free public employment offices are established under the department of labor by an act of the New Jersey Legislature; another act merges the bureau of industrial statistics with this department. Street and water commissioners in cities of the first class are authorized to establish contributory pension systems for employees in their departments. The common councils and boards of cities in which there is a committee for the relief of unemployment are authorized to employ needy persons as unskilled laborers without full compliance with civil-service requirements.