Cornell University Library 
 HD4918.M591913 
 
 Laws of the various states relating to a 
 
 3 1924 001 687 635 
 
THE 
 
 MARTIN P. CATHERWOOD 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL 
 
 OF 
 
 INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR 
 
 RELATIONS 
 
 AT 
 
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 

 MICHIGAN 
 
 STATE LIBRARY 
 
 LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE 
 
 DEPARTMENT 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 5 NOV. 1913 
 
 LAWS, OF THE VARIOUS STATES 
 RELATING TO A MINIMUM WAGE 
 FOR WOMEN AND MINORS 
 
 LANSING, MICHIGAN 
 WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS 
 
 1913 
 
^^0. ^ , i.A.VWe 9e^e..o^e ■l;.^.'^A--. 
 
 (1^53 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 November 1st, 1913. 
 
 Eight states have at this date provided by law for the creation of 
 minimum wage commissions, one state, Utah, has by statute prescribed 
 a minimum wage for women and minor worl^ers and investigating com- 
 missions are working upon the subject in Michigan, New York and 
 Connecticut. In Ohio all employers of women are required to report 
 upon wages and conditions of labor to the Industrial Commission and 
 a special commission has been appointed in Indiana to investigate the 
 hours and conditions of labor of women and minors in that state. 
 
 The provisions of the acts creating the commissions are very similar 
 and the mode of determination of the wage is, in most cases, the same, 
 consisting of a preliminary investigation by the commission and if upon 
 such investigation it i.s found that wages inadequate for the proper 
 support of the workers obtains in any occupation, an advisory board 
 or conference consisting of representatives of the employers, the em- 
 ployes and the public, is appointed. This board or conference then 
 makes a thorough investigation and, upon the result thereof, a minimum 
 wage is fixed for the occupation so investigated. 
 
 In seven states a violation is constituted a misdemeanor, with fine or 
 imprisonment prescribed, while in two states, Massachusetts and 
 Nebraska, the mode of enforcement is different. In these states the 
 commission is empowered, after the determination of a minimum wage, 
 to publish in the newspapers of the state the names of all employers 
 failing or refusing to pay such wage, depending upon public opinion 
 to accomplish the desired result. 
 
 All commissions have power to subpoena mtnesses, administer oaths, 
 compel production of books, papers, pay-rolls, etc., and to prescribe 
 rules of practice and procedure. In all cases where no compensation is 
 allowed the commissioners, provision is made for the payment of nec- 
 essary expenses incurred. 
 
 The right of appeal from orders of the commission is granted in 
 all states. Discrimination against an employe for testifying before the 
 commission is prohibited and in the states of California, Colorado, 
 Minnesota, Oregon and Washington an employe who has worked for 
 less than the prescribed rate is given the right to recover in a civil 
 action the amount of difference bet^\een the established rate and the 
 amount received. 
 
 In view of the excellent bibliography upon the subject of minimum 
 wages prepared -by the New York City Public BfilpQinty, tflbpies of which 
 are on file in the Department, itMAffTINfP.be^ff^i^jiy^^^eceg^x^to 
 incorporate the same in this bulletin, unuvfi--^ ----(,«„-,„. ^^^ 
 
 INUJlSTfilAL il?^^!?3f iJiiMS'^- 
 
 Cornell University 
 
The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924001687635 
 
DIRECTORY OF MINIMUM WAGE COMMISSIONS. 
 
 CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Mr. Prank J. Muijasky, Chairman, San Francisco. 
 
 Mr. A. Bonnheim, Sacramento; Mr. A. B. C. Dohrmann, San Fran- 
 cisco; Mrs. Katherine Philips Edson, Los Angeles; Mr. Walter G. Mat- 
 thewson, San Jose. 
 
 Mr. A. B. C. Dohrmann, Secretary, Geary and Stockton Streets, San 
 Francisco. 
 
 COLORADO. 
 
 Not appointed at this date. 
 
 MASSACHUSETrS. 
 
 Mr. H. LaRue Brown, Chairman, Boston. 
 
 Prof. Arthur N. Holcombe, Cambridge. Miss Mabel Gillispie, Boston. 
 
 Miss Amy Hewes, Secretary, Room 721, No. 1 Beacon St., Boston. 
 
 MINNESOTA. 
 
 Mr. W. F. Hank, Commissioner of Labor, St. Paul. 
 
 Mr. A. H. Lindeke, St. Paul; Miss Eliza P. Evans, St. Paul. 
 
 Miss Eliza P. Evans, Sec, State Capitol, St. Paul. 
 
 NEBRASKA. 
 
 Not appointed at this date. 
 
 OREGON. 
 
 Mr. E. V. O'Hara, Portland. 
 
 Miss Bertha Moores, Portland; Mr. Amedee M. Smith, Portland. 
 
 Miss Caroline J. Gleason, Secretary; 610 Commercial 
 
 Block, Portland. 
 
 UTAH. 
 
 Mr. H. T. Haines, Commissioner of Immigration, Labor and Statistics, 
 509-510 Felt Building, Salt Lake City. 
 
 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Mr. Edward W. Olson, Chairman, Olympia. 
 Dr. Theresa McMahon, Seattle; Mrs. Jackson Silbaugh, Seattle; Mrs. 
 Florence Swanson, Raymond; One member yet to be appointed. 
 Mr. Stuart A. Rice, Secretary, Olympia. 
 
 WISCONSIN. 
 
 Mr. C. H. Crownhart, Chairman. 
 
 Mr. J. D. Beck; Mr. Fred M. Wilcox. 
 
 Mr. Paul J. Watrous, Secretary, State Capitol, Madison. 
 
CALIFOENIA. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 324. 
 
 An act regulating the employment of women and minors and estailish- 
 ing am industrial welfare commission to investigate and deal with 
 such employment, including a mmimum wage; providing for an a/p- 
 ■propriation therefor and fixing a penalty for violations of this act. 
 
 The people of the State of California do enact as follows: 
 
 Section 1. There is hereby established a commission to be known 
 as the industrial welfare commission, hereinafter called the commission. 
 Said commission shall be composed of five persons, at least one of whom 
 shall be a woman, and all of whom shall be appointed by the governor 
 as follows : two for the term of one year, one for the term of two years, 
 one for the term of three years, and one for the term of four years; 
 Provided, however, That at the expiration of their respective terms, 
 their successors shall be appointed to serve a full term of four years. 
 Any vacancies shall be similarly filled for the unexpired portion of the 
 term in which the vacancy shall occur. Three members of the commis- 
 sion shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy on the commission shall 
 not impair the right of the remaining members to perform all the duties 
 and exercise all the powers and authority of the commission. 
 
 Sec. 2. The members of said commission shall draw no salaries but 
 all of said members shall be allowed ten dollars per diem while engaged 
 in the performance of their official duties. The commission may employ 
 a secretary, and such expert, clerical and other assistants as may be 
 necessary to carry out ti\& purposes of this act, and shall fix the com- 
 pensation of such employees, and may, also, to carry out such purposes, 
 incur reasonable and necessary office and other expenses, including the 
 necessary traveling expenses of the members of the commission, of its 
 secretary, of its experts, and of its clerks and other assistants and em- 
 ployees. All employes of the commission shall hold office at the pleas- 
 ure of the commission. 
 
 Sec. 3. (a) It shall be the duty of the commission to ascertain the 
 wages paid, the hours and conditions of labor and employment in the 
 various occupations, trades, and industries in which women and minors 
 are employed in the State of California, and to make investigations 
 into the comfort, health, safety and welfare of such women and minors. 
 
 (6) It shall be the duty of every person, firm or corporation employ- 
 ing labor in this state: 
 
 1. To furnish to the commission, at its request, any and all reports 
 or information which the commission may require to carry out the 
 purposes of this act, such reports and information to be verified by the 
 by the oath of the person, or a member of the firm, or the president. 
 
secretary, or manager of the corporation furnishing the same, if and 
 when so requested hv the commission or any member thereof. 
 
 2. To allow any 'member of the commission, or its secretary, or any 
 of its dulv authorized experts or employees, free access to the place of 
 business or employment of such person, firm, or corporation, for tile 
 purpose of making' any investigation authorized by this act, or to make 
 inspection of, or excerpts from, all books, reports, contracts, pay rolls, 
 documents, or papers of such person, firm or corporation relating to 
 the employment of labor and payment therefor by such person, firm or 
 corporation. 
 
 3. To keep a register of the names, ages, and residence addresses of 
 all women and minors employed. 
 
 (c) For the purposes of this act, a minor is defined to be a person 
 of either sex under the age of eighteen years. 
 
 Sec. 4. The commission may specify times to hold public hearings, 
 at which times, employers, employees, or other interested persons, may 
 appear and give testimony as to the matter under consideration. The 
 commission or any member thereof shall have power to subpoena wit- 
 nesses and to administer oaths. All witnesses subpoenaed by the com- 
 mission shall be paid the fees and mileage fixed by law in civil cases. In 
 case of failure on the part of any person to comply with any order of 
 the commission or any member thereof, or any subpoena, or upon the 
 refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which he may 
 lawfully be interrogated before any wage board or the commission, it 
 shall be the duty of the superior court or the judge thereof, on the appli- 
 cation of a member of the commission, to compel obedience in the same 
 manner, by contempt proceedings or otherwise, that such obedience 
 would be compelled in' a proceeding pending before said court. The com- 
 mission shall have power to make and enforce reasonable and proper 
 rules of practice and procedure and shall not be bound by the technical 
 rules of evidence. 
 
 Sec. 5. If, after investigation, the commission is of the opinion that, 
 in any occupation, trade, or industry, the wages paid to women and 
 minors are inadequate to supply the cost of proper living, or the hours 
 or conditions of labor are prejudicial to the health, morals or welfare 
 of the workers, the commission may call a conference, hereinafter called 
 "wage board," composed of an equal number of representatives of em- 
 ployers and employees in the occupation, trade or industry in question, 
 and a representative of the commission to be designated by it, who 
 shall act as the chairman of the wage board. The members of such wage 
 board shall be allowed five dollars per diem and necessary traveling ex- 
 penses while engaged in such conferences. The commission shall make 
 rules and regulations governing the number and selection of the members 
 and the mode of procedure of such wage board, and shall exercise ex- 
 clusive jurisdiction over all questions arising as to the validity of the 
 procedure and of the recommendations of such wage board. The pro- 
 ceedings and deliberations of such wage board shall be made a matter of 
 record for the use of the commission, and shall be admissible as evidence 
 in any proceedings before the commission. On request of the commis- 
 sion, it shall be the duty of such wage board to report to the commis- 
 sion its findings, including therein: 
 
9 
 
 1. An estimate of the minimum wage adequate to supply to women 
 and minors engaged In the occupation, trade or Industry In question, 
 the necessary cost of proper living and to maintain the health and wel- 
 fare of such women and minors. 
 
 2. The number of hours of work per day in the occupation, trade 
 or industry in question, consistent with the health and welfare of such 
 women and minors. 
 
 3. The standard conditions of labor in the occupation, trade or in- 
 dustry in question, demanded by the health and welfare of such women 
 and minors. 
 
 Sec. 6. (a) The commission shall have further power after a public 
 hearing had upon its own motion or upon petition, to fix : 
 
 1. A minimum wage to be paid to women and minors engaged in any 
 occupation, trade or industry In this state, which shall not be less than 
 a wage adequate to supply to such women and minors the necessary 
 cost of proper living and to maintain the health and welfare of 
 such women and minors. 
 
 2. The maximum hours of work consistent with the health and wel- 
 fare of women and minors engaged in any occupation, trade or Industry 
 In this state: Provided, That the hours so fixed shall not be more than 
 the maximum now or hereafter fixed by law. 
 
 3. The standard conditions of labor demanded by the health and wel- 
 fare of the women and minors engaged in any occupation, trade or 
 industry In this state. 
 
 (6) Upon the fixing of a time and place for the holding of a hearing 
 for the purpose of considering and acting upon any matters referred 
 to in subsection (a) hereof, the commission shall give public notice by 
 advertisement in at least one newspaper published in each of the cities 
 of Los Angeles and Sacramento and in the city and county of San Fran- 
 cisco, and by mailing a copy of said notice to the county recorder of each 
 county in the state, of such hearing and purpose thereof, which notice 
 shall state the time and place fixed for such hearing, which shall not 
 be earlier than fourteen days from the date of publication and mailing 
 of such notices. 
 
 (c) After such public hearing, the commission may, in its discretion, 
 make a mandatory order to be effective in sixty days from the making 
 of such order, specifying the minimum wage for women or minors in the 
 occupation in question, the maximum hours: Provided, That the hours 
 specified shall not be more than the maximum for women or minors In 
 California, and the standard conditions of labor for said women or 
 minors: Provided, however, That no such order shall become effective 
 until after April 1, 1914. Such order shall be published in at least one 
 newspaper in each of the cities of Los Angeles and Sacramento and In 
 the city and county of San Francisco, and a copy thereof be mailed 
 to the county recorder of each county in the state, and such copy shall 
 be recorded without charge, and to the labor commissioner who shall 
 send by mall, so far as practicable, to each employer in the occupation 
 in question, a copy of the order, and each employer shall be required to 
 post a copy of such order in the building in which women or minors 
 affected by the order are employed. Failure to mall notice to the em- 
 ployer shall not relieve the employer from the duty to comply with such 
 
10 
 
 order. Finding by the commission that there has been such publication 
 and mailing to county recorders shall be conclusive as to service. 
 
 Sec. 7. Whenever wages, or hours, or conditions of labor have been 
 so made mandatory in any occupation, trade, or industry, the commis- 
 sion may at any time in its discretion, upon its own motion or upon 
 petition of either employers or employees, after a public hearing held 
 upon the notice prescribed for an original hearing, rescind, alter or 
 amend any prior order. Any order rescinding a prior order shall have 
 the same effect as herein provided for in an original order. 
 
 Sec. 8. For any occupation in which a minimum wage has been estab- 
 lished, the commission may issue to a woman physically defective by 
 age or otherwise, a special license authorizing the employment of such 
 licensee, for a period of six months, for a wage less than such legal mini- 
 milm wage; and the commission shall fix a special minimum wage for 
 such person. Any such license may be renewed for like periods of 
 six months. 
 
 Sec. 9. Upon the request of the commission, the labor commissioner 
 shall cause such statistics and other data and information to be gathered, 
 and investigations made, as the commission may require. The cost there- 
 of shall be paid out of the appropriations made for the expenses of the 
 commission. 
 
 Sec. 10. Any employer who discharges, or threatens to discharge, or 
 in any other manner discriminates against any employee because such 
 employee has testified or is about to testify, or because such employer 
 believes that said employee may testify in any investigation, or proceed- 
 ings relative to the enforcement of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a 
 misdemeanor. 
 
 Sec. 11. The minimum wage for women and minors fixed by said 
 commission as in this act provided, shall be the minimum wage to be 
 paid to such employees, and the payment to such employees of a less 
 wage than the minimum so fixed shall be unlawful, and every employer 
 or other person who, either individually or as an ofScer, agent, or em- 
 ployee of a corporation or other person, pays or causes to be paid to 
 any such employee a wage less than such minimum, shall be guilty of 
 a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a 
 fine of not less than fifty dollars, or by imprisonment for not less than 
 thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 
 
 Sec. 12. In every prosecution for the violation of any provision of 
 this act, the minimum wage established by {he commission as herein 
 provided shall be prima facie presumed to be reasonable and lawful, and 
 to be the living wage required herein to be paid to women and minors. 
 The findings of fact made by the commission acting within its powers 
 shall, in the absence of fraud, be conclusive ; and the determination made 
 by the commission shall be subject to review only in a manner and 
 upon the grounds following: within twenty days from the date of the 
 determination, any party aggrieved thereby may commence in the super- 
 ior court in and for the city and county oif San Francisco, or in and for 
 the counties of Los Angeles or Sacramento, an action against the com- 
 mission for review of such determination. In such action a complaint, 
 which shall state the grounds upon which a review is sought, shall be 
 served with the summons. Service upon the secretary of the commis- 
 
11 
 
 sion, or any member of the commission, shall be deemed a complete 
 service. The commission shall serve its answer within twenty days 
 after the service of the complaint. With its answer, the commission 
 shall make a return to the court of all documents and papers on file 
 in the matter, and of all testimony and evidence which may have been 
 taken before it, and of its findings and the determination. The action 
 may thereupon be brought on for hearing before the court upon such 
 record by either party on ten days' notice of the other. Upon such 
 hearing, the court may confirm or set aside such determination; but 
 the same shall be set aside only upon the following grounds: 
 
 (1) That the commission acted without or in excess of its powers. 
 
 (2) That the determination was procured by fraud. 
 
 Upon the setting aside of any determination the court may recom- 
 mit -the controversy and remand the record in the case to the commis- 
 sion for further proceedings. The commsision, or any party aggrieved, 
 by a decree entered upon the review of a determination, may appeal 
 therefrom within the time and in the manner provided for an appeal 
 from the orders of the said superior court. 
 
 Sec. 13. Any employee receiving less than the legal minimum wage 
 applicable to such employee shall be entitled to recover in a civil action 
 the unpaid balance of the full amount of such minimum wage, together 
 with costs of suit, notwithstanding any agreement to work for such 
 lesser wage. 
 
 Sec. 14. Any person may register with the commission a complaint 
 that the wages paid to an employee for whom a living rate has been 
 established, are less than that rate, and the commission shall investigate 
 the matter and take all proceedings necessary to enforce the payment 
 of a wage not less than the living wage. 
 
 Sec. 15. The commission shall biennially make a report to the gover- 
 nor and the state legislature of its investigations and proceedings. 
 
 Sec. 16. There is hereby appropriated annually out of the moneys 
 of the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of fifteen 
 thousand dollars, to be used by the commission in carrying out the 
 provisions of this act, and the controller is hereby directed from time 
 to time to draw his warrants on the general fund in favor of the com- 
 mission for the amounts expended under its direction, and the treas- 
 urer is hereby authorized and directed to pay the same. 
 
 Sec. 17. The commission shall not act as a board of arbitration dur- 
 ing a strike or lock-out. 
 
 Sec. 18. (a) Whenever this act, or any part or section thereof, is 
 interpreted by a court, it shall be liberally construed by such court. 
 
 (&) If any section, subsection, or subdivision of this act is for any 
 reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not aflfect the 
 validity of the remaining proportions of this act. The legislature hereby 
 declares that it would have passed this act, and each section, subsec- 
 tion, subdivision, sentence, clause and phrase thereof, irrespective of the 
 fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, 
 clauses or phrases is declared unconstitutional. 
 
 Sec. 19. The provisions of this act shall apply to and include women 
 and minors employed in any occupation, trade or industry, and whose 
 compensation for labor is measured by time, piece or otherwise. 
 
12 
 
 COLORADO. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 110. 
 
 An act proiiding for the detrrmi nation of niininuiin w<igrs for icomen 
 
 and minors. 
 
 Be it enacted hy the General AssemUy of Colorado: 
 
 Section 1. There is hereby created a state wage board to be composed 
 of three members; at least one of whom shall be a representative of 
 labor, at least one of whom shall be a woman and one of whom shall 
 be an employer of labor. The members of said board shall be appointed 
 by the governor, immediately upon the taking effect of this act and the 
 term of existence of said board shall be for two years. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the wage board to inquire into the 
 wages paid to female employes above the age of eighteen years and 
 minor employes under eighteen years of age in any mercantile, manu- 
 facturing, laundry, hotel, restaurant, telephone or telegraph business 
 in this State, if the board or any member of it may have reason to be- 
 lieve the wages paid to such employes are inadequate to supply the nec- 
 essary cost of living, maintain them in health, and supply the necessary 
 comforts of life. The wage board shall also inquire into the cost of liv- 
 ing in the locality or localities in which the business is carried on and 
 shall take into consideration the financial condition of the business 
 and the probable effect thereon of any increase of the minimum wage 
 paid in different localities, which inquiry and investigation shall be 
 held in the locality affected. After such investigation it shall be the 
 duty of the wage board to fix the minimum wage, whether by time rate 
 or piece rate, suitable for the female employes over eighteen years of 
 age in such business or in any or all branches thereof and also a suit- 
 able minimum wage for minors under eighteen years of age employed 
 in said business. When two or more members of the wage board shall 
 agree upon a minimum wage determination, the board shall give public 
 notice, by advertisement published once in a newspaper of general cir- 
 culation in the county or counties in which any such business so affected 
 is located, declaring such minimum wage determination or determina- 
 tions and giving notice of a public hearing thereon to be heard in the 
 town or city nearest the place wherein the inadequate wage is found 
 to exist ; said hearing to be held not earlier than thirty days from such 
 date of publication. A copy of such notice shall also'be mailed to the 
 person, association or corporation engaged in the business affected. 
 After such public hearing or after the expiration of the thirty days, 
 provided no public hearing is demanded, the wage board shall issue 
 an obligatory order to be effective in sixty days from the date of said 
 order, specifying the minimum wages for women and minors or both in 
 the occupation affected, or any branch thereof, and after such order is 
 effective, it shall be unlawful for any employer in said occupation to 
 
13 
 
 employ a female over eighteen years of age or a minor under eighteen 
 years of age for less than the rate of wages specified for such female or 
 minor. The order shall be published once in a newspaper of general 
 circulation in the county or counties in which any such business affected 
 is located and a copy of the order shall be sent by mail to the person, 
 association or corporation engaged in said business; and each such em- 
 ployer shall be required to post a copy of said order in a conspicuous 
 place in each building in which women or minors, affected by the order, 
 are employed. 
 
 Sec. 3. The board shall, for the purposes of this act, have the power 
 to subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance, to administer oaths, 
 and examine witnesses under oath, and to compel the production of 
 papers, books, accounts, documents and records. If any person shall 
 fail to attend as a witness when subpoenaed by the board or shall refuse 
 to testify when ordered so to do, the board may apply to the district 
 court or county court to compel obedience on the part of such person 
 and such district or county court shall thereupon compel obedience 
 by proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of any order 
 of said court. 
 
 Sec. 4. Each witness who shall appear before the board, by order 
 of the board, shall receive for his attendance the fees, and mileage now 
 provided for witnesses in civil cases in the district courts of the state. 
 
 Sec. 5. A full and complete record shall be kept of all testimony 
 taken by, and of all proceedings had before the board. 
 
 Sec. 6. Any employer, employee or other person directly affected by 
 any order of the board fixing and determining a minimum wage in any 
 occupation or industry, shall have the right of appeal from such order 
 to the district court of the state on the ground that such order is un- 
 lawful or unreasonable. The evidence considered upon such appeal shall 
 be confined to the evidence presented to the board in the case from the 
 decision in which the appeal is taken, and the order of the board shall 
 remain in full force and effect until such order is reversed or set aside 
 by the district court. In all proceedings in the district court the 
 district attorney shall appea-r for the board. In all proceedings in the 
 supreme court the attorney general shall appear for the board. 
 
 Sec. 7. Any person or partnership or corporation employing any 
 female person above the age of eighteen years at less than the minimum 
 wage fixed for such persons by this board, and any person, partner- 
 ship or corporation employing any person of either sex under the age 
 of eighteen years at less than the minimum wage fixed for such persons 
 by this board, or violating any other provision of this act, shall be deem- 
 ed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be pun- 
 ished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars for each offense, 
 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than three months 
 or by both such fine and imprisonment. 
 
 Sec. 8. Any employer who discharges or in any other manner dis- 
 criminates against any employee because such employee has testified, or 
 is about to testify, or because such employer believes that said employee 
 may testify, in any investigation or proceeding relative to the enforce- 
 ment of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon 
 
14 
 
 conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of twenty-five dollars 
 for each such misdemeanor. 
 
 Sec. 9. Justices of the peace shall have, according to law, jurisdic- 
 tion within their respective counties of all offenses arising under the 
 provisions of this act. 
 
 Sec. 10. If any employee shall receive less than the minimum wage 
 fixed by this board for employees in the occupation in which said per- 
 son is employed, he or she shall be entitled to recover in a civil action, 
 the full amount which would have been due said employee if the mini- 
 mum wage fixed by the board had been paid, together with costs and 
 attorney fees to be fixed by the court, notwithstanding any agreement 
 to work for such lower wage. In such action, however, the employer 
 shall be credited with any wages which have been paid said employee. 
 
 Sec. 11. For any occupation in which a minimum time rate only 
 has been established, the wage board may issue to any female over the 
 age of eighteen, physically defective, a special license authorizing the 
 employment of such licensee for a wage less than the legal minimum 
 wage: Provided, It is not less than the special minimum wage fixed 
 for said person. 
 
 Sec. 12. The wage board shall, by and with the consent of the gover- 
 nor, appoint a secretarj' who may, or may not be a member of the 
 board, and who shall give his entire time to the duties of the oflSce, 
 whose salary shall be twelve hundred dollars per annum, payable 
 monthly. The members of said wage board and the secretary thereof 
 shall be paid all necessary traveling and incidental expenses actually 
 incurred in the perfoi-mance of their oflScial duties, not to exceed thir- 
 teen hundred dollars per annum. The board of capitol managers shall 
 provide a suitable room for the use of said wage board and its secretary. 
 There is hereby appropriated for the payment of the aforesaid salary 
 and expenses, out of any moneys in the state treasury not otherwise 
 appropriated for other ordinary expenses of the departments of the 
 state, the sum of five thousand dollars; and the auditor of the state 
 is hereby authorized and directed to draw his warrants on said fund up- 
 on certified vouchers of the chairman of .said board attested by its 
 secretary. 
 
 Sec. 13. The board shall, within thirty days after the convening of 
 the twentieth general assembly, make a report to the governor and 
 to the general assembly, of its investigations and proceedings during 
 the period of its existence, up to and including Nov. 30, 1914. 
 
 Sec. 14. All acts or parts of acts in conflict with any of the pro- 
 visions of this act are hereby repealed. 
 
15 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 Laws 1912. Chapter 706. 
 
 (As amended bv Chapters 673 and 330, Laws 1913.) 
 
 All art to estahlish the iiiiiiiiiiuiii wage cntnnvission and to provide for 
 the detenu iimtion of minimum wuges for women and minors. 
 
 Be it enacted, etc., as follows: 
 
 Section 1. There is hereby established a commission to be known 
 as the minimum wage commission. It shall consist of thi-ee persons, one 
 of whom may be a woman, to be appointed by the governor, with the 
 advice and consent of the council. One of the commissioners shall be 
 designated by the governor as chairman. The first appointments shall 
 be made within ninety days after the passage of this act, one for a 
 term ending October first, nineteen hundred and thirteen, one for a 
 term ending October first, nineteen hundred and fourteen, and one for 
 a term ending October first, nineteen hundred and fifteen; and begin- 
 ning with the year nineteen hundred and thirteen, one member shall be 
 appointed annually for the term of three years from the first day of 
 October and until his successor is qualified. Any vacancy that may 
 occur shall be filled in like manner for the unexpired part of the term. 
 
 Sec. 2. Each commissioner shall be paid ten dollars for each day's 
 service, in addition to the traveling and other expenses incurred in 
 the performance of his oflScial duties. The commission may appoint 
 a secretary, who shall be the executive officer of the board and to whose 
 appointment the rules of the civil , service commission shall not apply. 
 It shall determine his salary, subject to the approval of the governor 
 and council. The commission may incur other necessary expenses not 
 exceeding the annual appropriation therefor, and shall be provided with 
 an office in the state house or in some other suitable building in the 
 city of Boston. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the commission to inquire into the 
 wages paid to the female employees in any occupation in the common- 
 wealth, if the commission ias reason to believe that the wages paid 
 to a substantial number of such employees are inadequate to supply the 
 necessary cost of living and to maintain the worker in health. 
 
 Sec. 4. If after such investigation the commission is of the opinion 
 that in the occupation in question the wages paid to a substantial num- 
 ber of female employees are inadequate to supply the necessary cost of 
 living and to maintain the worker in health, the commission shall estab- 
 lish a wage board consisting of not less than six representatives of em- 
 ployers in the occupation in question and of an equal number of persons 
 to represent the female employees in said occupation, and of one or 
 more disinterested persons appointed by the commission to represent 
 the public, but the representatives of the public shall not exceed one- 
 
16 
 
 half of the number of representatives of either of the other parties. 
 The eomniission shall designate the chairman from among the repre- 
 sentatives of the public, and shall make rules and regulations governing 
 the selection of members and the modes of procedure of the boards, 
 and shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over all questions arising with 
 reference to the validity of the procedure and of the determinations of 
 the boards. The members of wage boards shall be compensated at the 
 same rate as jurors ; they shall be allowed the necessary traveling and 
 clerical expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, these pay- 
 ments to be made from the appropriation for the expenses of the com- 
 mission. 
 
 Sec. 5. The commission may transmit to each wage board all perti- 
 nent information in its possession relative to the wages paid in the 
 occupation in question. Each wage board shall take into consideration 
 the needs of the employees, the financial condition of the occupation 
 and the probable effect thereon of any increase in the minimum wages 
 paid, and shall endeavor to determine the minimun wage, whether by 
 time rate or piece rate, suitable for a female employee of ordinary abil- 
 ity in the occupation in question, or for any or all of the branches there- 
 of, and also suitable minimum wages for learners and apprentices and 
 for minors below the age of eighteen years. When a majority of the 
 members of a wage board shall agree upon minimum wage determina- 
 tions, they shall report such determinations to the commission, together 
 with the reasons therefor and the facts relating thereto. 
 
 Sec. 6. Upon receipt of a report from a wage board, the commission 
 shall review the same, and may approve any or all of the determinations 
 recommended, or may disapprove any or all of them, or may recommit 
 the subject to the same or to a new wage board. If the commission ap- 
 proves any or all of the determinations of the wage board it shall, after 
 not less than fourteen days' notice to employers paying a wage less than 
 the minimum wage approved, give a public hearing to such employers, 
 and if, after such public hearing, the commission finally approves the 
 determination, it shall enter a decree of its findings and note thereon 
 the names of employers, so far as they may be known to the commission, 
 who fail or refuse to accept such minimum wage and to agree to abide 
 by it. The commission shall thereafter publish in at least one news- 
 paper in each county of the commonwealth a summary of its findings 
 and of its recommendations. It shall also at such times and in such 
 manner as it shall deem advisable publish the facts, as it may find them 
 to be, as to the acceptance of its recommendations by the employers 
 engaged in tlie industry to which any of its recommendations relate, 
 and may publish the names of employers whom it finds to be following 
 or refusing to follow such recommendations. An. employer who files 
 a declaration under oath in the supreme judicial court or the superior 
 court to the effect that compliance with the recommendation of the 
 commission would render it impossible for him to conduct his business 
 at a reasonable profit shall be entitled to a review of said recommenda- 
 tion by the court under the rules of equity procedure. The burden 
 of proving the averments of said declaration shall be upon the complain- 
 ant. If, after such review, the court shall find the averments of the 
 declaration to be sustained, it may issue an order restraining the com- 
 
17 
 
 mission from publishing the name of the complainant as one who refuses 
 to comply with the recommendations of the commission. But such re- 
 view, or any order issued by the court thereupon, shall not be an 
 adjudication affecting the commission as to any employer other than 
 the complainant, and shall in no way affect the right of the commission 
 to publish the names of those employers who do comply with its recom- 
 mendations. The type in which the employers' names shall be printed 
 shall not be smaller than that in which the news matter of the paper is 
 printed. The publication shall be attested by the signature of at least a 
 majority of the commission. 
 
 Sec. 7. In case a wage board shall make a recommendation of a wage 
 determination in which a majority but less than two-thirds of the mem- 
 bers concur, the commission, in its discretion, may report such recom- 
 mendation and the pertinent facts relating thereto to the general court. 
 
 Sec. 8. Whenever a minimum wage rate has been established in any 
 occupation, the commission may, upon petition of either employers or 
 employees, reconvene the wage board or establish a new wage board, 
 and any recommendation made by such board shall be dealt with in the 
 same manner as the original recommendation of a wage board. 
 
 Sec. 9. For any occupation in which a minimum time rate only has 
 been established, the commission may issue to any woman physically de- 
 fective a special license authorizing the employment of tbe licensee for 
 a wage less than the legal minimum wage: Provided, That it is not 
 less than the special minimum wage fixed for that person. 
 
 Sec. 10. The commission may at any time inquire into the wages 
 paid to minors in any occupation in which the majority of employees 
 are minors, and may, after giving public hearings, determine minimum 
 wages suitable for such minors. When the commission has made such 
 a determination, it may proceed in the same manner as if the determina- 
 tion had been recommended to the commission by a wage board. 
 
 Sec. 11. Every employer of women and minors shall keep a register 
 of the names, addresses and occupations of all women and minors em- 
 ployed by him and shall, on request of the commission or of the director 
 of the bureau of statistics, permit the commission or any of its members 
 or agents, or the director of the bureau of statistics or any duly ac- 
 credited agent of said bureau, to inspect the said register and to examine 
 such parts of the books and records of employers as relate to the wages 
 paid to women and minors. The commission shall also have power to 
 subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and take testimony. Such wit- 
 nesses shall be summoned in the same manner and be paid from the 
 treasury of the commonwealth the same fees as witnesses before the 
 superior court. 
 
 Sec. 12. Upon request of the commission, the director of the bureau 
 of statistics shall cause such statistics and other data to be gathered as 
 the commission may require, and the cost thereof shall be paid out of 
 the appropriation made for the expenses of the commission. 
 
 Sec. 13. Any employer who discharges or in any other manner dis- 
 criminates against any employee because such employee has testified, 
 or is about to testify, or because the employer believes that the em- 
 ployee may testify, in any investigation or proceeding relative to the 
 enforcement of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and 
 
18 
 
 upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a flue of not less than two 
 hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars for each 
 offence. 
 
 Sec. 14. The commission shall from time to time determine whether 
 employers in each occupation investigated are obeying its decrees, and 
 shall publish in the manner provided in section six, the name of any 
 employer whom it finds to be violating any such decree. 
 
 Sec. 15. Any newspaper refusing or neglecting to publish the find- 
 ings, decrees or notices of the commission at its regular rates for the 
 space taken shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not 
 less than one hundred dollars for each offence. 
 
 Sec. 16. No member of the commission and no newspaper publisher, 
 proprietor, editor or employee thereof, shall be liable to an action for 
 damages for publishing the name of any employer in accordance with 
 the provisions of this act, unless such publication contains some wilful 
 misrepresentation. 
 
 Sec. 17. The commission shall, annually, on or .before the first 
 Wednesday in January, make a report to the general court of its in- 
 vestigations and proceedings during the preceding year. 
 
 Sec. 18. This act shall take effect on the first day of July in the 
 year nineteen hundred and thirteen. 
 
 MINNESOTA. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 547. 
 
 An act to establish a minimum wage commission, and to provide for 
 the determination and establishment of minimum wages for women 
 and minors. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota: 
 
 Section 1. There is hereby established a commission to be known as 
 the minimum wage commission. It shall consist of three persons, one 
 of whom shall be the commissioner of labor who shall be the chairman 
 of the commission, the governor shall .appoint two others, one of whom 
 shall be an employer of women, and the third shall be a woman, who 
 shall act as secretary of the commission. The first appointments shall 
 be made within sixty days after the passage of this act for a term end- 
 ing January 1, 1915. Beginning with the year 1915 the appointments 
 shall be for two years from the first day of January and until their 
 successors qualify. Any vacancy that may occur shall be filled in like 
 manner for the unexpired portion of the term. 
 
 Sec. 2. The commission mar at its discretion investigate the wages 
 paid to women and minors in any occupation in the state. At the re- 
 quest of not less than one hundred persons engaged in any occupation 
 in which women and minors are employed, the commission shall forth- 
 with make such investigation as herein ])rovided. 
 
19 
 
 Sec. 3. Every employer of women and minors shall keep a register 
 of the names and addresses of, and wages paid to all women and minors 
 employed by him, together with number of hours that they are employed 
 per day or per week; and every such employer shall on request permit 
 the commission or any of its members or agents to inspect such register. 
 
 Sec. 4. The commission shall specify times to hold public hearings 
 at which employers, employees, or other interested persons may appear 
 and give testimony as to wages, profits and other pertinent conditions 
 of the occupation or industry. The commission or any member thereof 
 shall have power to subpoena witnesses, to administer oaths, and to 
 compel the production of books, papers, and other evidence. Witnesses 
 subpoenaed by the commission may be allowed such compensation for 
 travel and attendance as the commission may deem reasonable, to an 
 amount not exceeding the usual mileage and per diem allowed by our 
 courts in civil cases. 
 
 Sec. 5. If after investigation of any occupation the commission is 
 of the opinion that the wages paid to one-sixth or more of the women 
 or minors employed therein are less than living wages, the commission 
 shall forthwith proceed to establish legal minimum rates of wages 
 for said occupation, as hereinafter described and provided. 
 
 Sec. 6. The commission shall determine the minimum wages suflB- 
 cient for living wages for women and minors of ordinary ability, and 
 ^Iso the minimum wages suflftcient for living wages for learners and 
 apprentices. The commission shall then issue an order, to be effective 
 thirty days thereafter, making the wages thus determined the minimum 
 wages in said occupation throughout the state, or within any area 
 of the state if differences in the cost of living warrant this restriction. 
 A copy of said order shall be mailed, so far as practicable, to each 
 employer affected; and each such, employer shall be required to post 
 such a reasonable number of copies as the commission may determine 
 in each building or other work-place in which affected workers are em- 
 ployed. The original order shall be filed with the commissioner of 
 labor. 
 
 Sec. 7. The commission may at its discretion establish in any occupa- 
 tion an advisory board which shall serve without pay, consisting of not 
 less than three nor more than ten persons representing employers, and 
 an equal number of persons representing the workei's in said occupa- 
 tion, and of one or more disinterested persons appointed by the commis- 
 sion to represent the public; but the number of representatives of the 
 public shall not exceed the number of representatives of either of the 
 other parties. At least one-fifth of the membership of any advisory 
 board shall be composed of women, and at least one of the representa- 
 tives of the public shall be a woman. The commission shall make rules 
 and regulations governing the selection of members and the modes of 
 procedure of the advisory boards, and shall exercise exclusive juris- 
 diction over all questions arising with reference to the validity of the 
 procedure and determination of said boards: Provided, That the selec- 
 tion of members representing employers and employees shall be, so far 
 as practicable, through election by employers and employees respectively. 
 
 Sec. 8. Each advisory board shall have the same power as the com- 
 mission to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the produc- 
 
20 
 
 tion of books, papers and other evidence. Witnesses subpoenaed by 
 an advisory board shall be allowed the same compensation as when 
 subpoenaed by the commission. Each advisory board shall recommend 
 to the commission an estimate of the minimum wages, whether by time 
 rate or by price rate, sufficient for living wages for women and minors 
 of ordinary ability, and an estimate of the minimum wages sufficient 
 for living wages for learners and apprentices. A majority of the entire 
 membership of an advisory board shall be necessary and sufficient to 
 recommend wage estimates to the commission. 
 
 Sec. 9. Upon receipt of such estimates of wages from an advisory 
 board, the commission shall review the same, and if it approves them 
 shall make them the minimum wages in said occupation, as provided 
 in section 6. Such wages shall be regarded as determined by the com- 
 mission itself and the order of the commission putting them into effect 
 shall !have the same force and authority as though the wages were de- 
 termined without the assistance of an advisory board. 
 
 Sec. 10. All rates of wages ordered by the commission shall remain 
 in force until new rates are determined and establislied by the com- 
 mission. At the request of approximately one-fourth of the employers 
 or employees in an occupation, the commission must reconsider the 
 rates already established therein and may, if it sees fit, order new rates 
 of minimum wages for said occupation. The commission may likewise 
 reconsider old rates and order new minimum rates on its own initiative- 
 
 Sec. 11. For any occupation in which a minimum time rate of wages 
 only has been ordered the commission may issue to a woman physically 
 defective a special license authorizing her employment at a wage less 
 than the general minimum ordered in said occupation; and the commis- 
 sion may fix a special wage for such person: Provided, That the num- 
 ber of such persons shall not exceed one-tenth of the whole number of 
 workers in any establishment. 
 
 Sec. 12. Every employer in any occupation is hereby prohibited from 
 employing any worker at less than the living wage or minimum wage as 
 defined in this act and determined in an order of tlie commission, and 
 it shall be unlawful for any employer to employ any worker at less 
 than said living or minimum wage. 
 
 . Sec. 13. It shall likewise be unlawful for any employer to discharge 
 or in any manner discriminate against any employee because such em- 
 ployee has testified, or is about to testify, or because such employer 
 believes that said employee is about to testify, in any investigation or 
 proceeding relative to the enforcement of this act. 
 
 Sec. 14. Any worker who receives less than the minimum wage order- 
 ed by the commission shall be entitled to recover in civil action the full 
 amount due as measured by said order of the commission, together with 
 costs and attorney fees to be fixed by the court, notwithstanding any 
 agreement to work for a lesser wage. 
 
 Sec. 15. The commission shall enforce the provisions of this act, and 
 determine all questions arising thereunder, except as otherwise herein 
 provided. 
 
 Sec. 16. The commission shall biennially make a report of its work 
 to the governor and the state legislature, and such reports shall be 
 printed and distributed as in the case of other executive documents. 
 
21 
 
 Sec. 17. The members of the commission shall be reimbursed for 
 traveling and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of 
 their duties on the commission. The woman member shall receive a 
 salary of eighteen hundred dollars annually for her work as secretary. 
 All claims of the commission for expenses necessarily incurred in the 
 adnjinistration of this act, but not exceeding the annual appropriation 
 hereinafter provided, shall be presented to the state auditor for payment 
 by warrant upon the state treasurer. 
 
 Sec. 18. There is hereby appropriated .out of any money in the state 
 treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year ending July 31st, 
 1914, the sum of five thousand ($5,000) dollars, and for the fiscal year 
 ending July 31st, 1915, the sum of five thousand (|5,000) dollars.' 
 
 Sec. 19. Any employer violating any of the provisions of this act 
 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof 
 shall be punished for each ofliense by a fine of not less than ten nor more 
 than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more 
 than sixty days. 
 
 Sec. 20. Throughout this act the following words and phrases, as 
 used herein, shall be considered to have the following meanings respec- 
 tively, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning in the 
 connection used: 
 
 (1) The terms "living wage" or "living wages" shall mean wages 
 sufficient to maintain the worker in health and supply him with the 
 necessary' comforts and conditions of reasonable life; and where the 
 words "minimum wage" or "minimum wages" are used in this act, the 
 same shall be deemed to have the same meaning as "living wage" or 
 "living wages." 
 
 (2) The terms "rate" or "rates" shall mean rate or rates of wages. 
 
 (3) The term "commission" shall mean the minimum wage commis- 
 sion. 
 
 (4) The term "woman" shall mean a person of the female sex eight- 
 een years of age or over. 
 
 (5) The term "minor" shall mean a male person under the age of 
 twenty-one years, or a female person under the age of eighteen years. 
 
 (6) The terms "learner" and "apprentice" may mean either a woman 
 or a minor. 
 
 (7) The terms "worker" or "employee" may mean a woman, a minor, 
 a learner, or an apprentice, who is employed for wages. 
 
 (8) The term "occupation" shall mean any business, industry, trade, 
 or branch of a trade, in which women or minors are employed. 
 
 Sec. 20. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its 
 passage. 
 
22 
 
 NEBRASKA. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 211. 
 
 An act to establish a mimtnum wage commission amd to provide for the 
 determination of minimum wages for toomen and minors. 
 
 Be it enacted hy the People of the State of Nebraska: 
 
 Section 1. There is hereby established a commission to be known as 
 the Nebraska minimum wage commission. The governor is hereby made 
 a member of said commission. Within thirty days from the passage 
 and approval of this act he shall appoint the following additional mem- 
 bers : deputy commissioner of labor, a member of the political science 
 department of the University of Nebraska, one other member who shall 
 be a citizen of the state. At least one member of said commission shall 
 be a woman. Each of the above appointments shall be for a period of 
 two years and may be renewed thereafter. Any vacancy occurring 
 in the commission shall be filled by the governor. Within ten days 
 after such appointment the commission shall meet and organize by the 
 election of a chairman and secretary. 
 
 Sec. 2. Each commissioner shall be paid all traveling and other ex- 
 penses incurred in the performance of his or her official duties. The 
 commission may incur other necessary expenses not exceeding the 
 biennial appropriation therefor and shall be provided with an office 
 in the state house or at the state university. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the commission to inquire into the 
 wages paid to the female employes in any occupation in the common- 
 wealth, if the commission has reason to believe that the wages paid 
 to a substantial number of such employees are inadequate to supply 
 the necessary- cost of living and to maintain the worker in health. 
 
 Sec. 4. If after such investigation the commission is of the opinion 
 that in the occupation in question the wages paid to a substantial num- 
 ber of female employees are inadequate to supply the necessary cost 
 of living and to maintain the work in health, the commission shall 
 establish a wage board consisting of not less than three representatives 
 of employers in the occupation in question and of an equal number 
 of persons to represent the female employees in said occupation, and 
 in addition thereto the three appointed members of the commission to 
 represent the public. The chairman of the commission shall be chair- 
 man of the wage board and shall make rules and regulations governing 
 the procedure of the board and exercise jurisdiction over all questions 
 arising with reference to the validity of the procedure and the deter- 
 minations of the board. The secretary of the commission shall be sec- 
 retary of the wage board and keep such record of hearings and argu- 
 ments as the wage board shall direct. The members of wage boards 
 shall be compensated at the same rate as jurors in district court; they 
 shall be allowed necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in 
 
23 
 
 the performance of their duties, these payments to be made from the 
 appropriation for the expenses of the commission. 
 
 Sec. 5. The commission may transmit to each wage board all per- 
 tinent information in its possession relative to the wages paid in the 
 occupation in question. Each wage board. shall take into consideration 
 the needs of the employees, the financial condition of the occupation 
 and the probable effect thereon of any increase in the minimum wages 
 paid, and shall endeavor to determine the minimum wage, whether by 
 time rate or piece rate, suitable for a female employe of ordinary abil- 
 ity in the occupation in question, or for any or all of the branches 
 thereof, and also suitable wages for learners and apprentices and for 
 minors below the age of eighteen years. When two-thirds the mem- 
 bers of the wage board shall agree upon minimum wage determinations, 
 they shall report such determinations to the commission, together with 
 the reasons therefor and the facts relating thereto, and also the names 
 so far as they can be ascertained by the board, of the employers who 
 pay less than the minimum wage so determined. 
 
 Sec. 6. Upon a receipt of a report from the wage board, the com- 
 mission shall review the same, and report its review to the governor. If 
 the commission approves any or all of the determinations of the wage 
 board it shall, after not less than thirty days notice to employers pay- 
 ing a wage less than the minimum wage approved, give a public hear- 
 ing to such employers, and if, after such public hearing, the coniinis- 
 sion finally approves the determination, it shall enter a decree of its 
 findings and note thereon the names of employers, so far as they may be 
 known to the commission, who fail to accept such minimum wage and to 
 agree to abide by it. The commission shall within thirty days there- 
 after, publish the names of such employers in at least one newspaper 
 in each county in the commonwealth, together with the material part 
 of its findings, and a statement of the minimum wage paid by every such 
 employer. Any employer by filing a declaration under oath in the- dis- 
 trict court to the effect that compliance with such decree would endanger 
 the prosperity of the business to which the same is made applicable, 
 shall be entitled to a stay of execution of such decree, and a review 
 thereof with reference to the question involved in such declaration. 
 Such review shall be made by the court under the rules of equity pro- 
 cedure, and if it shall be found by the court that compliance with 
 such decree is likely to endanger the prosperity of the business to which 
 the same is applicable, then an order shall issue from the court revok- 
 ing the same. The type in which 'the employers names shall be printed 
 shall not be smaller than that in which the news matter is printed. 
 The publication shall be attested by the signature of at least a majority 
 of the commission. 
 
 Sec. 7. In case a wage board shall make a recommendation of a 
 wage determination in which a majority but less than two-thirds of 
 the members concur, the commission, in its discretion, may report such 
 recommendation and pertinent facts relating thereto to the legislature. 
 
 Sec. 8. Whenever a minimum wage rate has been established in any 
 occupation, the commission may, upon petition of either employers or 
 employees, reconvene the wage board or establish a new wage board, 
 and any recommendation made by such board shall be dealt with in the 
 same manner as the original recommendation of a wage board. 
 
Sec 9 For any occupation for which a minimum time rate on y 
 has been established, the commission may issue to any woman physically 
 defectTve a special license authorizing the employment of the licensee 
 for a wage l^ss than the legal minimum ^age : Pro.;.cZed That it is 
 not leslthan the special minimum wage fixed for that person. 
 
 Sec 10 The commission may at any time inquire into the wages 
 paid to minors in any occupation in which the majority of the employees 
 are minors, and may, after giving public hearing, determine minimum 
 wages suitable for such minors. When the commission has made^. such 
 a determination, it may proceed in the same manner as if the determi- 
 nation had been recommended to the commission by the wage board. 
 
 Sec 11 Every employer of women and minors shall keep a register 
 of all names and addresses of all the women and minors employed by 
 him and shall on request permit the commission or any of its members 
 or agents to inspect the register. The commission shall also have power 
 to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and take testimony, and to ex- 
 amine such parts of the books and records of employers as relate to 
 the wages paid to women and minors. Such witnesses shall be sum- 
 moned in the same manner and be paid from the treasury of the com- 
 monwealth the same fees as witnesses before the district court. 
 
 Sec. 12. The commission may cause such statistics and other data 
 to be gathered as it may deem desirable, and the cost thereof shall 
 be paid out of the appropriation made for the expenses of the commis- 
 
 sion 
 
 jii. 
 
 Sec. 13. Any employer who discharges or in any other manner 
 discriminates against any employe because such employe has testified, 
 or is about to testify, or because the employer believes that the employe 
 may testify, in any investigation or proceeding relative to the en- 
 forcement of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and 
 upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a flue of twenty-five dol- 
 lars for each offense. 
 
 Sec. 14. The commission shall from time to time determine whether 
 employers in each occupation investigated are obeying its decrees, and 
 shall publish in the manner provided in section six, the name of anv 
 employer who it finds to be violating any such decree. 
 
 Sec. 15. Any newspaper publisher or publishers refusing or neglect 
 ing to publish the findings, decrees or notices of the commission at 
 its regular rates for the space taken shall, upon conviction thereof, 
 be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars for each 
 offense. 
 
 Sec. 16. No member of the commission and no newspaper publisher, 
 proprietor, editor or employe thereof, shall be liable to an action for 
 damages for publishing the name of any employer in accordance with 
 the provisions of this act, unless such publication contains some wilful 
 misrepresentation. 
 
 Sec. 17. The commission shall make a report to the governor on or 
 before the 1st day of November, 1914, and biennially thereafter, cover- 
 ing the results secured and data gathered in its work. It may also 
 make such additional reports in the form of bulletins from time to time 
 as in its judgment shall best serve the public interest. 
 
25 
 
 OEEGON. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 62. 
 
 An act to protect the lives and health and morals of women and minor 
 workers, and to establish an industrial welfare commission and de- 
 fine its poic^rs and duties, and to provide for the fixing of minimum 
 mages and maximum hours and standard conditions of labor for such 
 workers, and to provide penalties for violation of this act. 
 
 Wheeeas, The welfare of the State of Oregon requires that women and 
 minors should be protected from conditions of labor which have a 
 pernicious effect on their health and morals, and inadequate wages 
 and unduly long hours and unsanitary conditions of labor have such a 
 pernicious effect; therefore 
 
 Be it enacted hy the People of the State of Oregon: 
 
 Section 1. It shall be unlawful to employ women or minors in any 
 occupation within the State of Oregon for unreasonably long hours; 
 and it shall be unlawful to employ w;omen or minors in any occupation 
 within the State of Oregon under such surroundings or conditions — 
 sanitary or otherwise — as may be detrimental to their health or morals ; 
 and it shall be unlawful to employ women in any occupation within 
 the State of Oregon for wages which are inadequate to supply the 
 necessary cost of living and to maintain them in health; and it shall 
 be unlawful to employ minors in any occupation within the State of 
 Oregon for unreasonably low wages. 
 
 Sec. 2. There is hereby created a commission composed of three com- 
 missioners, which shall be known as the "industrial welfare commis- 
 sion;" and the word "commission" as hereinafter used refers to and 
 missioners, which shall be known as the "industrial welfare commis- 
 sion;" and the word "commission" as hereinafter used refers to any 
 means said industrial welfare commission; and the word "commis- 
 sioner" as hereinafter used refers to and means a member of the in- 
 dustrial welfare commission. Said commissioners shall be appointed by 
 the governor. The governor shall make his first appointments hereunder 
 within thirty days after this bill becomes a law; and of the three com- 
 missioners first appointed, one shall hold oflBce until January 1, 1914, 
 and another shall hold ofBce until January 1, 1915, and the third shall 
 hold office until January 1, 1916; and the governor shall designate 
 the terms of each of said three first appointees. On or before the first 
 day of January of each year, beginning with the year 1914, the gover- 
 nor shall appoint a commissioner to succeed the commissioner whose 
 term expires on said first day of Januarj'; and such new appointee 
 shall hold office for the term of three years from said first day of 
 January. Each commissioner shall hold office until his successor is ap- 
 pointed and has qualified; and any vacancy that may occur in the 
 membership of said commission shall be filled by appointment by the 
 
26 
 
 governor for the unexpired portion of the term in which such vacancy 
 occurs. A majority of said commissioners shall constitute a quorum 
 to transact business, and the act or decision of such a majority shall 
 be deemed the act or decision of said commission ; and no vacancy shall 
 impair the right of the remaining commissioners to exercise all the 
 powers of said commission. The governor shall, so far as practicable, 
 so select and appoint said commissioners— both the original appoint- 
 ments and all subsequent appointments — that at all times one of said 
 commissioners shall represent the interests of the employing class and 
 one of said commissioners shall represent the interest of the employed 
 class and the third of said commissioners shall be one who will be 
 fair and impartial between employers and employees and work for the 
 best interests of the public as a whole. 
 
 Sec. 3. The first commissioners appointed under this act shall, within 
 twenty days after their appointment, meet and organize said commis- 
 sion by electing one of their number as chairman thereof and by choos- 
 ing a secretary of said commission; and by and before the tenth day 
 of January of each year, beginning with the year 1914, said commis- 
 sioners shall elect a chairman and choose a secretary for the ensuing 
 year. Each such chairman and each such secretary shall hold his or 
 her position until his or her successor is elected or chosen; but said 
 commission may at any time remove any secretary chosen hereunder. 
 Said secretary shall not be a commissioner; and said secretary shall 
 perform such duties as may be prescribed and receive such salary as 
 may be fixed by said commission. None of said commissioners shall 
 receive any salary as such. All authorized and necessary expenses 
 of said commission and all. authorized and necessary expenditures in- 
 curred by said, commission shall be audited and paid as other state 
 expenses and expenditures are audited and paid. 
 
 Sec. 4. Said commission is hereby authorized and empowered to as- 
 certain and declare, in the manner hereinafter provided, the following 
 things: (a) Standards of hours of employment for women or for 
 minors and what are unreasonably long hours for women or for minors 
 in any occupation within the State of Oregon ; (b) Standards of condi- 
 tions of labor for women or for minors in any occupation within the 
 State of Oregon and what surroundings or conditions — sanitary or other- 
 wise — are detrimental to the health or morals of women or of minors 
 in any such occupation; (c) Standards of minimum wages for women 
 in any occupation within the State of Oregon and what wages are in- 
 adequate to supply the necessary cost of living to any such women 
 workers and to maintain them in good health; and (d) Standards of 
 minimum wages for minors in any occupation within the State of 
 Oregon and what wages are unreasonably low for any such minor 
 workers. 
 
 Sec. 5. Said commission shall have full power and authority to 
 investigate and ascertain the wages and the hours of labor and the 
 conditions of labor of women and minors in the different occupations 
 in which they are employed in the State of Oregon; and said commis- 
 sion shall have full power and authority, either through any author- 
 ized representative or any commissioner to inspect and examine any 
 and all books and pay rolls and other records of any employer of women 
 
27 
 
 or minors that in any way appertain to or have a bearing upon the 
 question of wages or hours of labor or conditions of labor of any such 
 women workers or minor workers in any of said occupations and to re- 
 quire from any such employer full and true statements of the wages 
 paid to, and the hours of labor of, and the conditions of labor of all 
 women and minors in his employment. 
 
 Sec. 6. Every employer of women or minors shall keep a register of 
 the names of all women and all minors employed by him, and shall, on 
 request, permit any commissioner or any authorized representative of 
 said commission to inspect and examine such register. The word 
 "minor" as used in this act, refers to and means any person of either 
 sex under the age of 18 years; and the word "women," as used in 
 this act, refers to and means a female person of, or over, the age of 
 18 years. 
 
 Sec. 7. Said commission may hold meetings for the transaction of 
 any of its business at such times and places as it may prescribe; and 
 said commission may hold public hearings at such times and places as 
 it deems fit and proper for the purpose of investigating any of the 
 matters it is authorized to investigate by this act. At any such public 
 hearing any person interested in the matter being investigated may 
 appear and testify. Said commission shall have power to subpoena 
 and compel the attendance of any witness at any such public hearing or 
 at any session of any conference called and held as hereinafter provided ; 
 and any commissioner shall have power to administer an oath to any 
 witness whO' testifies at any such public hearing or at any such session of 
 any conference. All witnesses subpoenaed by said commission shall 
 be paid the same mileage and per diem as are allowed by law to wit- 
 nesses in civil cases before the circuit court of Multnomah county. 
 
 Sec. 8. If, after investigation, said commission is of opinion that 
 any substantial number of women workers in any occupation are work- 
 ing for unreasonably long hours or are working under surroundings or 
 conditions detrimental to their health or morals or are receiving wages 
 inadequate to supply them with the necessary cost of living and main- 
 tain them in health, said commission may call and convene a conference 
 for the purpose and with the powers of considering and inquiring into 
 and reporting on the subject investigated by said commission and sub- 
 mitted by it to such conference. Such conference shall be composed of 
 not more than three representatives of the employers in said occupation 
 and of an equal number of the representatives of the employees in said 
 occupation and of not more than -three disinterested persons repre- 
 senting the public and of one or more commissioners. Said commission 
 shall name and appoint all the members of such conference and desig- 
 nate the chairman thereof. Said commission shall present to such con- 
 ference all information and evidence in the possession or under the con- 
 trol of said commission which relates to the subject of the inquiry by 
 such conference; and said commission shall cause to be brought be- 
 fore such conference any witnesses whose testimony said commission 
 deems material to the subject of the inquiry by such conference. After 
 completing its consideration of, and inquiry into the subject submit- 
 ted to it by said commission, such conference shall make and transmit 
 to said commission a report containing the findings and recommenda- 
 
28 
 
 tions of such conference on said subject. Accordingly as the subject 
 submitted to it may require, such conference shall, in its report, make 
 recommendations on any or all of the following questions concerning 
 the particular occupation under inquiry, to-wit: (a) Standards of 
 hours of employment for ^voman workers a,nd what are unreasonably 
 long hours of employment for women workers; (b) Standards of condi- 
 tions of labor for women workers and what surroundings or condi- 
 tions — sanitary or otherwise — are detrimental to the health or morals 
 of women workers; (c) Standards of minimum wages for women work- 
 ers and what wages are inadequate to supply the necessary cost of 
 living to women workers and maintain them in healtli. In its recom- 
 mendations on a question of wages such conference shall, where it ap- 
 pears that any substantial number of women workers in the occupation 
 under inquiry are being paid by piece rates as distinguished from time 
 rate, recommend minimum piece rates as well as a minimum time rate 
 and recommend such minimum piece rates as will, in its judgment, be 
 adequate to supply the necessary cost of living to women workers of 
 average ordinary ability and maintain them in health; and in its recom- 
 mendations on a question of wages such conference shall, when it ap- 
 pears proper or necessary, recommend suitable minimum wages for 
 learners and apprentices and the maximum length of time any woman 
 worker may be kept at such wages as a learner or apprentice, which said 
 wages shall be less than the regular minimum wages recommended for 
 the regular women workers in the occupation under inquiry. Two- 
 thirds of the members of any such conference shall constitute a 
 quorum; and the decision or recommendation or report of such a two- 
 thirds on any subject submitted shall be deemed the decision or recom- 
 mendations or report of such conference. 
 
 Sec. 9. Upon receipt of any report from any conference, said commission 
 shall consider and review the recommendations contained in said report; 
 and said commission may approve any or all of said recommendations or 
 disapprove any or all «f said recommendations; and said commission 
 may re-submit to the same conference, or a new conference, any sub- 
 ject covered by any rectSnmendations so disapproved. If said commis- 
 sion approves any recommendations contained in any report from any 
 conference, said commission shall publish notice, not less than once a 
 week for four successive weeks in not less than two newspapers of gen- 
 eral circulation published in Multnomah county, that it will on a date 
 and at a place named in said notice, hold a public meeting at which all 
 persons in favor of or opposed to said recommendations will be given 
 a hearing; and, after said publication of said notice and said meeting, 
 said commission mar, in its discretion, make and render such an order 
 as may be proper or necessary to adopt such recommendations and 
 carry the same into effect, and require all employers in the occupation 
 affected thereby to observe and comply with such recommendations and 
 said order. Said order shall become effective in sixty days after it is 
 made and rendered and shall be in full force and effect on and after the 
 60th day following its making and rendition. After said order becomes 
 effective and while it is effective, it shall be unlawful for any employer 
 to violate or disregard any of the terms or provisions of said order or 
 to employ any woman worker in any occupation covered by said order 
 
29 
 
 for longer hours or under different surroundings or conditions or at 
 lower wages than are authorized or permitted by said order. Said com- 
 mission shall, as far as it is practicable, mail a copy of any such order 
 to every employer affected thereby; and every employer affected by any 
 such order shall keep a copy thereof posted in a conspicuous place in each 
 room in his establishment in which women workers work. No such 
 order of said commission shall authorize or permit the employment 
 of any woman for more hours per day or per week than the maximum 
 now fixed by law. 
 
 Sec. 10. For any occupation in which only a minimum time rate 
 wage has been established, said commission may issue to a woman 
 physically defective or crippled by age or otherwise, a special license 
 authorizing her employment at such wage less than said minimum time 
 rate wage as shall be fixed by said commission and stated in said license. 
 
 Sec. 11. Said commission may at any time inquire into wages or 
 hours or conditions of labor of minors employed in any occupation in 
 this state and determine suitable wages and hours and conditions of 
 labor for such minors. When said commission has made such determina- 
 tion, it may issue an obligatory order in the manner provided for in 
 section 9 of this act, and, after such order is effective, it shall be un- 
 lawful for any employer in said occupation to employ a minor at less 
 wages or for more hours or under different conditions of labor than 
 are specified or required in or by said order; but no such order of 
 said commission shall authorize or permit the employment of any minor 
 for more hours per day or per week than the maximum now fixed by law 
 or. at any times or under any conditions now prohibited by law. 
 
 Sec. 12. The word "occupation" as used in this act shall be so con- 
 strued as to include any and every vocation and pursuit and trade and 
 industry. Any conference may make a separate inquiry into and report 
 on any branch of any occupation; and said commission may make a 
 separate order affecting any branch of any occupation. Any confer- 
 ence may make different recommendations and said commission may 
 make different orders for the same occupation in different localities in 
 the state when, in the judgment of such conference or said commis- 
 sion, different conditions in different localities justify such different 
 recommendations or different orders. 
 
 Sec. 13. Said commission shall, from time to time, investigate and 
 ascertain whether or not employers in the State of Oregon are ob- 
 serving and complying with its orders and take such steps as may be 
 necessary to have prosecuted such employers as are not observing or 
 complying with its orders. 
 
 Sec. 14. The "commissioner of labor statistics and inspector of 
 factories and work shops" and the several officers of the "board of in- 
 spection of child labor" shall, at any and all times, give to said commis- 
 sion any information or statistics in their respective ofSces that would 
 assist said commission in carrying out this act and render such assist- 
 ance to said commission as may not be inconsistent with the perform- 
 ance of their respective official duties. 
 
 Sec. 15. Said commission is hereby authorized and empowered to pre- 
 pare and adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the carrying 
 into effect of the foregoing provisions of this act, including rules and 
 
30 
 
 regulations for the selection of members and the mode of procedure of 
 conferences. 
 
 Sec. 16. All questions of fact arising under the foregoing provisions 
 of this act shall, except as otherwise herein provided, be determined 
 by said commission, and there shall be no appeal from the decision of 
 said commission on any such question of fact; but there shall be 
 a right of appeal from said commission to the circuit court of the State 
 of Oregon for Multnomah county from any ruling or holding on a ques- 
 tion of law included in or embodied in any decision or order of said com- 
 mission, and, on the same question of law, from said circuit court to 
 the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon. In all such appeals the 
 attorney general shall appear for and represent said commissioif. 
 
 Sec. 17. Any person who violates any of the foregoing provisions of 
 this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction 
 thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five (|25) 
 dollars nor more than one hundred ($100) dollars, or by imprisonment 
 in the county jail for not less than ten days nor more than three months, 
 or by both such flue and imprisonment in the discretion of the court 
 
 Sec. 18. Any employer who discharges or in any other manner dis- 
 criminates against any employe because such employe has testified, or 
 is about to testify, or because such employer believes that said employe 
 may testify, in any investigation or proceedings under or relative to 
 this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon convic- 
 tion thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five 
 (|25) dollars nor more than one hundred (|100) dollars. 
 
 Sec. 19. If any woman worker shall be paid by her employer less 
 than the minimum wage to which, she is entitled under or by virtue 
 of an order of said commission, she may recover in a civil action the 
 full amount of her said minimum wage less any amount actually paid 
 to her by said employer, together with such attorneys fees as may be 
 allowed by the court; and any agreement for her to work for less than 
 such minimum wage shall be no defense to such action. 
 
 Sec. 20. Said commission shall, on or before the 1st day of January 
 of the year 1915 and of each second year thereafter, make a succinct 
 report to the governor and legislature of its work and the proceedings 
 under this act during the preceding two years. 
 
 Sec. 21. There is hereby appropriated out of the general fund of 
 the State of Oregon the sum of thirty-five hundred ($3,500) dollars 
 per annum, or so much thereof as may be necessary per annum, to 
 carry into effect the provisions of this act and to pay the expenses 
 and expenditures authorized by or incurred under this act. 
 
31 
 
 UTAH. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 63. 
 
 An act to establish a mimmum wage for female workers, providing 
 a penalty for violation of the provisions of this act and providing 
 for its enforcement. 
 
 Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Utah: 
 
 Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any regular employer of female 
 workers in the State of Utah to pay any female less than the wage in 
 this section specified, to-wit: 
 
 For minors, under the age of eighteen years, not less than seventy- 
 flve cents per day; for adult learners and apprentices not less than 90 
 cents per day: Provided, That the learning period or apprenticeship 
 shall not extend for more than one year ; for adults who are experienced 
 in the work they are employed to perform, not less than one dollar 
 and twenty-five cents per day. 
 
 Sec. 2. All regular employers of female workers shall give a certi- 
 ficate of apprenticeship for time served to all apprentices. 
 
 Sec. 3. Any regular employer of female workers who shall pay to 
 any female less than the wage specified in section 1 of this act shall be 
 guilty of a misdemeanor. 
 
 Sec. 4. The commissioner of immigration, labor and statistics shall 
 have general charge of the enforcement of this act, but violations of 
 the same shall be prosecuted by all the city, state and county prose- 
 cuting officers in the same manner as in other cases of misdemeanor. 
 
 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 174. 
 
 An act to protect the lives, health, morals of women and minors, work- 
 ers, establishing an industrial welfare commission for w<men and 
 minors, prescribing ils poicers and duties, amd providing for the fix- 
 ing of minimum wages and the standard condition of labor for suoh 
 u-orhers, and providing penalties for violation of the same, and mak- 
 ing an appropriation therefor. 
 
 Be it enacted iy the Legislature of the State of Washington: 
 
 Section 1. The welfare of the State of Washington demands that 
 women and minors be protected from conditions of labor which have .n 
 pernicious effect on their health and morals. The State of Washington, 
 therefore, exercising herein its police and sovereign power declares 
 
32 
 
 that inadequate wages and unsanitary conditions of labor exert such 
 pernicious effect. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful to employ women or minors in anj 
 industry or occupation within the State of Washington under condi- 
 tions of labor detrimental to their health or morals; and it shall be 
 unlawful to employ women workers in any industry within the State of 
 AVashington at wages which are not adequate for their maintenance. 
 
 Sec. 3. There is hereby created a commission to be known as the 
 "industrial welfare commission" for the State of Washington, to estab- 
 lish such standards of wages and conditions of labor for women and 
 minors employed within the State of Washington, as shall be held here- 
 under to be reasonable and not detrimental to health and morals, and 
 which shall be sufficient for the decent maintenance of women. 
 
 Sec. 4. Said commission shall be composed of five persons, four of 
 whom shall be appointed by the governor, as follows: The first appoint- 
 ments shall be made within thirty (30) days after this act takes effect; 
 one for the term ending January 1st, 1914; one for the term ending 
 January 1st, 1915; one for the term ending January 1st, 1916, and 
 one for the term ending January 1st, 1917: Provided, however, That 
 at the expiration of their respective terms, their successors shall be 
 appointed by the governor to ser\'e a full term of four years. No per- 
 son shall be eligible to appointment as a commissioner hereunder who 
 is, or shall have been at any time within five years prior to the date 
 of such appointment, a member of any manufacturers or employers 
 association or of any labor union. The governor shall have the power 
 of removal for cause. Any vacancies shall be filled by the governor 
 for the unexpired portion of the term in which the vacancy shall occur. 
 The commissioner of labor of the State of Washington shall he ex- 
 offlcio member of the commission. Three members of the commission 
 shall constitute a quorum at all regular meetings and public hearings. 
 
 Sec. 5. The members of said commission shall draw no salaries. 
 The commission may employ a secretary, whose salary shall be paid 
 out of the moneys hereinafter appropriated. All claims for expenses 
 incurred by the commission shall, after approval by the commission, 
 be passed to the state auditor for audit and payment. 
 
 Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the commission to ascertain the wages 
 and conditions of labor of women and minors in the various occupa- 
 tions, trades and industries in which said women and minors are em- 
 ployed in the State of Washington. To this end, said commission shall 
 have full power and authority to call for statements and to examine, 
 either through its members or other authorized representatives, all 
 books, pay rolls or other records of all persons, firms and corporationis 
 employing females or minors as to any matters that would have a 
 bearing upon the question of wages of labor or conditions of labor 
 of said employees. 
 
 Sec. 7. Every employer of women and minors shall keep a record 
 of the names of all women and minors employed by him, and shall on 
 request permit the commission or authorized representatives to inspect 
 such record. 
 
 Sec. 8. For the purposes of this act a minor is defined to be a person 
 of either sex under the age of eighteen (18) years. 
 
33 
 
 Sec. 9. The commission shall specify times to hold public hearings, 
 at which times employers, employees or other interested persons may 
 appear and give testimony as to the matter under consideration. The 
 commission shall have power to subpoena witnesses and to administer 
 oaths. All witnesses subpoenaed by the commission shall be paid the 
 same mileage and per diem allowed by law for witnesses before the 
 superior court in civil cases. 
 
 Sec. 10. If, after investigation, the commission shall find that in 
 any occupation, trade or industry, the wages paid to female employees 
 are inadequate to supply them necessary cost of living and to maintain 
 the workers in health, or that the conditions of labor are prejudicial to 
 the health or morals of the workers, the commission is empowered to 
 call a conference composed of an equal number of representatives of 
 employers and employees in the occupation or industry- in question, 
 together with one or more disinterested persons representing the pub- 
 lic; but the representatives of the public shall not exceed the number 
 of representatives of either of the parties ; and a member of the commis- 
 sion shall be a member of such conference and chairman thereof. The 
 commission shall make rules and regulations governing the selection 
 of representatives and the mode of procedure of said conference, and 
 shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over all questions arising as to 
 the validity of the procedure and of the recommendations of said con- 
 ference. On the request of the commission, it shall be the duty of 
 the conference to recommend to the commission an estimate of the 
 minimum wage adequate in the occupation or industry in question to 
 supply the necessary cost of living, and maintain the workers in health, 
 and to recommend standards of conditions of labor demanded for the 
 health and morals of the employees. The findings and recommenda- 
 tions of the conference shall be a matter of record for the use of the 
 commission. 
 
 Sec. 11. Upon the receipt of such recommendations from a con- 
 ference, the commission shall review the same and may approve any 
 or all of such recommendations, or it may disapprove any or all of them 
 and re-commit the subject or the recommendations disapproved of, to 
 the same or a new conference. After such approval of the recommenda- 
 tions of a conference the commission shall issue an obligatory order to 
 be effective in sixty (60) days from the date of said order, or if the com- 
 mission shall find that unusual conditions necessitate a longer period, 
 then it shall fix a later date, specifying the minimum wage for women 
 in the occupation affected, and the standard conditions of labor for 
 said women; and after such order is effective, it shall be unlawful for 
 any employer in said occupation to employ women over eighteen (18) 
 years of age for less than the rate of wages, or under conditions of 
 labor prohibited for women in the said occupation. The commission 
 shall send by mail, so far as practicable, to each employer in the occu- 
 pation in question a copy of the order, and each employer shall be 
 required to post a copy of said order in each room in which women 
 affected by the order are employed. When such commission shall 
 specify a minimum wage hereunder the same shall not be changed for 
 one year from the date when such minimum wage is so fixed. 
 
 Sec. 12. Whenever wages or standard conditions of labor have been 
 
34 
 
 made mandatory in any occupation, upon petition of either employers 
 or employees, the commission may at its discretion re-open the question 
 and re-convene the former conference or call a new one, and any recom- 
 mendations made by such conference shall be dealt with in the same man- 
 ner as the original recommendations of a conference. 
 
 Sec. 13. For any occupation in which a minimum rate has been es- 
 tablished, the commission through its secretary may issue to a woman 
 physically defective or crippled by age or otherwise, or to an appren- 
 tice in such class of employment or occupation as usually requires to 
 be learned by apprentices, a special license authorizing the employ- 
 ment of such licensee for a wage less than the legal minimum wage ; and 
 the commission shall fix the minimum wage for said person, such 
 special license to be issued only in such cases as the commission may 
 decide the same is applied for in good faith and that such license for 
 apprentices shall be in force for such length of time as the said com- 
 mission shall decide and determine is proper. 
 
 Sec. 14. The commission may at any time inquire into wages, and 
 conditions of labor of minors, employed in any occupation in the state 
 and may determine wages and conditions of labor suitable for such 
 minors. When the commission has made such determination in the 
 cases of minors it may proceed to issue an obligatory order in the man- 
 ner provided for in section 11 of this act, and after such order is 
 eflfective it shall be unlawful for any employer in said occupation to 
 employ a minor for less wages than is specified for minors in said occu- 
 pation, or under conditions of labor prohibited by the commission for 
 said minors in its order. 
 
 Sec. 15. Upon the request of the commission the commissioner of 
 labor of the State of Washington shall furnish to the commission such 
 statistics as the commission may require. 
 
 Sec. 16. Any employer who discharges, or in any other manner 
 discriminates against any employe because such employe has testified 
 or is about to testify, or because such employer believes that said em- 
 ploye may testify in any investigation or proceedings relative to the en- 
 forcement of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and 
 upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of from twenty- 
 five ($25) dollars to one hundred (flOO) dollars for each such misde- 
 meanor. 
 
 Sec. 17. Any person employing a woman or minor for whom a mini- 
 mum wage or standard conditions of labor have been specified, at less 
 than said minimum wage, or under conditions of labor prohibited by 
 the order of the commission ; or violating any other of the provisions of 
 this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon con- 
 viction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than twenty -five (|25) 
 dollars nor more than one hundred (flOO) dollars. 
 
 Sec. 171/^. Any worker or the parent or guardian of any minor to 
 whom this act applies may complain to the commission that the wages 
 paid to the workers are less than the minimum rate and the commis- 
 sion shall investigate the same and proceed under this act in behalf of 
 the worker. 
 
 Sec. 18. If any employee shall receive less than the legal minimum 
 wage, except as hereinbefore provided in section 13, said employe shall 
 
35 
 
 be entitled to recover in a civil action the full amount of the legal 
 minimum wage as herein provided for, together with costs and attor- 
 ney's fees to be fixed by the court, notwithstanding any agreement to 
 work for such lesser wage. In such action, however, the employer shall 
 be credited with any wages which have been paid upon account. 
 
 Sec. 19. All questions of fact arising under this act shall be de- 
 termined by the commission and there shall be no appeal from its de- 
 cision upon said question of fact. Either employer or employee shall 
 have the right of appeal to the superior court on questions of law. 
 
 Sec. 20. The commission shall biennially make a report to the gover- 
 nor and state legislature of its investigations and proceedings. 
 
 Sec. 21. There is hereby appropriated annually out of any moneys 
 of the state treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of five thou- 
 sand (|o,000) dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary to meet 
 the expenses of the commission. 
 
 WISCONSIN. 
 
 Laws 1913. Chapter 712. 
 
 An act to create sections t'129s—l to 1729s— 12, inclusive, of the statutes, 
 relating to the estahlishment of a living-wage for icomen and minors, 
 and making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. 
 
 The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and As- 
 sembly, do enact as follows: 
 Section 1729s — 1. The following terms as used in sections 1729s — 1 
 
 to 1729s — 12, inclusive, shall be construed as follows: 
 
 (1) The term "employer" shall mean and include every person, firm 
 or corporation, agent, manager, representative, contractor, subcontrac- 
 tor or principal, or other person having control or direction of any 
 person employed at any labor or responsible directly or indirectly for 
 the wages of another. 
 
 (2) The term "employe" shall mean and include every person who is 
 in receipt of or is entitled to any compensation for labor performed for 
 any employer. 
 
 (3) The term "wage" and the term "wages" shall each mean any 
 compensation for labor measured by time, piece or otherwise. 
 
 (4) The term "welfare" shall mean and include reasonable comfort, 
 reasonable physical well-being, decency, and moral well-being. 
 
 (5) The term "living-wage" shall mean compensation for labor 
 paid, whether by time, piece-work or otherwise, suflScient to enable the 
 employe receiving it to maintain himself or herself under conditions 
 consistent with his or her welfare. 
 
 Sec. 1729's^ — 2. Every wage paid or agreed to be paid by any employer 
 to any female or minor employe, except as otherwise provided in sec- 
 tion 1729s — 7, shall be not less than a living-wage. 
 
 Sec. 1729s — 3. Any employer paying, offering to pay, or agreeing 
 to pay to any female or minor employe a wage lower or less in value 
 
state. 
 
 Act creating. 
 
 Title. 
 
 Membership and 
 term of office. 
 
 Qualifications, 
 
 Powers and duties. 
 
 Compensation of 
 members. 
 
 Executive and 
 clerical force. 
 
 Compensation. ! Appropriation. 
 
 1 
 
 Mode of determining niinimum wage. 
 
 Calif. 
 
 Oh. 324, 
 Laws, 1913. 
 
 Industrial Welfare 
 Commission. 
 
 Five, 4 years. One 
 appointed annual- 
 ly except in years 
 when two appoint- 
 ments expire. 
 
 One shall be a woman. 
 
 To investigate, determine and fix minimum 
 wage, hours and standard conditions of 
 labor in all occupations and industries. 
 
 $10 per diem while 
 engaged in official 
 duties. 
 
 Secretary, expert and 
 clerical, as deter- 
 mined by board. 
 
 Determined by $1.5,000 annually, 
 board . 
 
 i 
 I 
 
 Preliminary investigation by commissionL 
 followed by thorough Investigation by 
 wage board. Upon findings of "wag^ 
 board" commission determines and fixe? 
 minimum wage. 
 
 Colo. 
 
 Ch. 110, 
 Laws, 1913. 
 
 State Wage Board. 
 
 Three. 2 years.' 
 
 One representative of labor, one employer 
 and one a woman. 
 
 To investigate, determine and fix minimum 
 wages for women and minors employed 
 in mercantile, manufacturing, laundry, 
 hotel, restaurant, telephone or telegraph 
 business. 
 
 None. 
 
 .Secretary. 
 
 $1,200 per annum. j $.5,000. 
 
 Investigation by board only. 
 
 Mass. 
 
 Ch. 706, 
 Laws, 1912, as amen- 
 ded by Chaps. 330 
 and 673, Laws 
 1913. 
 
 Minimum Wage 
 Commission. 
 
 Three. 3 years, one 
 appointed annu- 
 
 One may be a woman. 
 
 To investigate, determine anfl fix minimum 
 wages to be paid female employees in 
 any occupation. 
 
 $10 per diem for 
 each day's service. 
 
 Secret:sry. 
 
 Determined b.v com- 
 mission. = 
 
 $7,000 for fiscal year 
 1912-13. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Minn. 
 
 Ch. 547, 
 Laws, 1913. 
 
 Minimum Wage 
 Commission. 
 
 Three. Two years.' 
 
 One an employer of women, one a woman, 
 and the third the Commissioner of Labor. 
 
 To investigate, determine and fix niiiiimuni 
 wa^es for women and minors in all occu- 
 pations. 
 
 None (except woman 
 member). 
 
 Woman member to 
 be the secretary. 
 
 $1,800 per annum. 
 
 $.5,000 for each of 
 fiscal years. 1913- 
 14, 1914-1.5. 
 
 Investigation by commission or advlsor.r 
 board. lOstablishment of advisory board 
 is optional with the commission. 
 
 Neb. 
 
 Ch. 211, 
 Laws, 1913. 
 
 Minimum Wage 
 Commission. 
 
 Four. 2 years. 
 
 Governor, deputy commissioner of labor, a 
 member of the political science depart- 
 ment of the University and one citizen. 
 (One must be a woman.) 
 
 Same as Mass. 
 
 None. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Determined by com- 
 mission. 
 
 None. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Oregon. 
 
 Ch. 62, 
 Laws, 1913. 
 
 Industrial Welfare 
 Commission. 
 
 Three. 3 years, one 
 appointed annu- 
 ally. 
 
 One representative of employers, one rep- 
 resentative of labor interests, one rep- 
 resentative of the public. 
 
 Same as Calif. 
 
 None. 
 
 Secretary (not a 
 member of the 
 commission.) 
 
 Determined by com- 
 ml.sslon. 
 
 $3,500 annually. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Utah. 
 
 Ch. 63. 
 Laws, 191.3. 
 
 Commissioner of Im- 
 migration, Labor 
 and Statistics. 
 
 One. Two years. 
 
 
 To enforce provisions of minimum wage 
 law. 
 
 $1,800 per annum. 
 
 Chief clerk $1,400 
 per annum, de- 
 puty $800 per an- 
 num. 
 
 
 
 Prescribed by statute; Minors, not less 
 than 7.5c per day; apprenlires, not le^ 
 than flOc per da.v; women, iiol less than 
 $1.25 per day. 
 
 Wash. 
 
 Ch. 174, 
 Laws, 1913. 
 
 Industrial Welfare 
 Commission 
 
 Five. 4 years, one 
 appointed annu- 
 ally. 
 
 No person eligible who shall have been, at 
 any time within ,5 years prior to their ap- 
 pointment, a member of any manufac- 
 turers or employers' association or of any 
 labor union. The commissioner of labor 
 is, ex-offlcio, a member of the commis- 
 sion. 
 
 Same as Cahf. 
 
 None. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Determined by com- 
 mission. 
 
 $5,000 aiiiuially. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Wis. 
 
 Ch. 712, 
 Laws, 1913. 
 
 Industrial 
 Commission.* 
 
 Three. 6 years, one 
 appointed bien- 
 nially. 
 
 
 Same as Mass. 
 
 $5,000 each per an- 
 num. 
 
 Secretary, expert ex- 
 aminers, and cleri- 
 cal assistance. 
 
 Determined by com- 
 mission. 
 
 $75,000 annually. 5 
 
 Same as California, 
 
 'The term of existence of the board is limited to two years. 
 
 =The appropriation act for the commission (Ch. 69, Laws, 1913). provides 
 
 'The terms of the first appointees all expire on .Ian. 1st, 1915. 
 
 'Created by Ch. 485, Laws, 1911 (Sees, 2304-41 to 2394-70 of the statutes.) 
 
 for salary of secretary, $2,000." 
 
 Supersedes industrial accident board, commissioner of labor, and bureau of labor statistics. 
 
 5Sec. 2994-71 of the Statutes. 
 "Sec. 2394-70 of the Statutes. 
 'Sec. 4065, C. L. 1907. 
 "Sec. 3, Ch. 113, Laws 1911. 
 
Membership and 
 term of office. 
 
 Five, 4 years. One 
 appointed annual- 
 ly except in years 
 when two appoint- 
 ments expire. 
 
 Three. 2 years.' 
 
 Three. 3 years, one 
 appointed annu- 
 
 appo 
 ally. 
 
 Three. Two years.' 
 
 Four. 2 years. 
 
 Three. 3 years, one 
 appointed annu- 
 ally. 
 
 One. Two years. 
 
 Five. 4 years, one 
 appointed annu- 
 ally. 
 
 Three. 6 years, one 
 appointed bien- 
 nially. 
 
 Qualifications. 
 
 One shall be a woman. 
 
 One representative of labor, one employer 
 and one a woman. 
 
 One may be a woman. 
 
 One an employer of women, one a woman, 
 and the third the Commissioner of Labor. 
 
 Governor, deputy commissioner of labor, a 
 member of the political science depart- 
 ment of the University and one citizen. 
 (One must be a woman.) 
 
 One representative of employers, one rep- 
 resentative of labor interests, one rep- 
 resentative of the public. 
 
 No person eligible who shall have been, at 
 any time within .5 years prior to their ap- 
 pointment, a member of any manufac- 
 turers or employers' association or of any 
 labor union. The commissioner of labor 
 is, ex-officio, a member of the commis- 
 sion. 
 
 Powers and duties. 
 
 To investigate, determine and fix minimum 
 wage, hours and standard conditions of 
 labor in all occupations and industries. 
 
 To investigate, determine and fix minimum 
 wages for women and minors employed 
 in mercantile, manufacturing, laundry, 
 hotel, restaurant, telephone or telegraph 
 business. 
 
 To investigate, determine and fix minimum 
 wages to be paid female employees in 
 any occupation. 
 
 To investigate, determine and fix minimum 
 wa^es for women and minors in all occu- 
 pations. 
 
 Same as Mass. 
 
 Same as Calif. 
 
 To enforce provisions of minimum wage 
 law. 
 
 Same as Calif. 
 
 Same as Mass. 
 
 Compensation of 
 members. 
 
 $10 per diem while 
 engaged in official 
 duties. 
 
 None. 
 
 SIO per diem for 
 each day's service. 
 
 None (except woman 
 member). 
 
 None. 
 
 None. 
 
 81,800 per annum. 
 
 None. 
 
 $5,000 each per an- 
 num. 
 
 Executive and 
 clerical force. 
 
 Secretary, expert and 
 clerical, as deter- 
 mined by board. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Woman member to 
 be the secretary. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Secretary (not a 
 member of the 
 commission.) 
 
 Chief clerk S1.400 
 per annum, de- 
 puty .4800 per an- 
 num. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Secretary, expert ex- 
 aminers, and cleri- 
 cal assistance. 
 
 Compensation. \ Appropriation 
 
 Determined by «1.'),000 annually, 
 
 board . 
 
 Sl,200 per annum. $.5,000. 
 
 Determined by com- I $7,000 tor fiscal year 
 mission.2 1912-13. 
 
 $1,800 per annum. 
 
 Determined by com- 
 mission. 
 
 Determined by com- 
 mission. 
 
 $.'5,000 for each of 
 fiscal years. 1913- 
 14, 1914-1.';. 
 
 None. 
 
 $3,500 annually. 
 
 Mode of determining minimum wage. 
 
 Mode of enforcement and penalty. 
 
 Preliminary investigation by commission, 
 followed by thorough investigation by 
 wage board. Upon findings of "wage 
 board" commission determines and fixes 
 minimum wage. 
 
 Investigation by board only. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Investigation by commission or advisorr 
 board. Establishment of advisory board 
 is optional with the commission. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Determined by com- $5,000 annually, 
 mission. 
 
 Determined by com- 
 mission. 
 
 $75,000 annually. 5 
 
 Prescribed by statute: Minors, not less 
 than 75c per day; apprentices, not less 
 than 90c per da.v: women, not less than 
 $1.25 per day. 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Violation constituted a misdemeanor. Fine 
 not less than $50 (no maximum) imprison- 
 ment, not less than 30 days (no maxi- 
 mum.) 
 
 Violation constituted a misdemeanor; fine, 
 not more than $100 (no minimum); im- 
 prisonment, not more than 3 months 
 (no minimum.) 
 
 Publication in newspapers of names of em- 
 ployers failing or refusing to pay wage 
 established by the commission for the 
 occupation in question. 
 
 Violation constituted a misdemeanor: fine, 
 ■ not less than $10 nor more than $.50: im- 
 prisonment, not less than 10 nor more 
 than 60 days. 
 
 Same as Mass. 
 
 Violation constituted a misdemeanor; fine, 
 not less than $25 nor more than $100; 
 imprisonment, not less than 10 days nor 
 more than 3 months. 
 
 Violation constituted a misdemeanor; fine, 
 not more than $300; imprisonment, not 
 more than 6 months; if a corporation, 
 fine not to exceed $1,000.' 
 
 Reports required. 
 
 Biennial to governor and 
 legislature. 
 
 To governor and 20th 
 general assembly with- 
 in 30 days after con- 
 vening thereof. 
 
 Annual, to general court, 
 on or before 1st Wed- 
 nesday in January. 
 
 Biennial, to governor and 
 legislature. 
 
 Biennial, to governor, on 
 or before Nov 1st in 
 even numbered years. 
 
 Biennial to governor and 
 legislature, on or be- 
 fore Jan. Ist, of odd 
 numbered years. 
 
 Annual to governor.* 
 
 Same as California. 
 
 Violation constituted a misdemeanor; fine, 
 not less than $25 nor more than $100. 
 (No imprisonment provided.) 
 
 Violator shall forfeit not less than $10 nor 
 more than $100 for each offense." 
 
 State. 
 
 Calif. 
 
 Colo. 
 
 Mass. 
 
 Minn. 
 
 Neb. 
 
 Oregon . 
 
 Utah. 
 
 Biennial to governor and 
 legislature. 
 
 Wash. 
 
 Wis. 
 
 /s, 1913). provides "for salary of secretary, $2,000." 
 
 4-70^6f the statutes.) Supersedes industrial accident board, commissioner of labor, and bureau of labor statistica. 
 
 5Sec. 2994-71 of the Statutes. 
 «Sec. 2394-70 of the Statutes. 
 'Sec. 4065, C. L. 1907. 
 sSec. 3, Ch. 113, Laws 1911. 
 
Cornell University Library 
 HD4918.M591913 
 
 Laws of the various states relating to a 
 
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