The Comissioner of Labor has been provided quarters in the Capitol building, from where the business of the Department will be conducted in the future. FEEE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU. This is an important feature in connection with the Department. One that concerns the employe and employer of the State and brings in touch the person seeking employment and the person or firm wanting help. The bureau is bound to grow in popularity just. in proportion as its work and methods are known to the general public. In the matter of advertising it would be a great advantage if our appropriation would permit of a standing advertisement in two of the leading papers, one in the northern and one in the southern end of the State, also the use of display cards posted in street cars, ferry boats and in rural post offices. Our experience is to the effect that in addition to the above, one of the best means used to make known our work, to wit: The care we take in nnding out the record of applicants for work as to character and ability to perform the work they are in quest of, is the confidential circular we mail to former employers. This circular shows that we take nothing for granted and that only after investigation do we introduce employe to employer. This method of doing business strengthens the confidence of the people who come to the Bureau to employ help. When parties employed at this Bureau fail to keep their agreements they are told that they cannot use the Bureau again to place their labor on the market. This we find necessary in order to enforce discipline and line up with business methods. So far very few employes have failed to keep their contracts. On the contrary as a rule, they have given general satisfaction to their employers. OLD PEOPLE NOT WANTED. The problem of how to place willing workers who are advanced in years remains practically unsolved. Employers of labor will not as a rule, employ anyone except a young person. The stooped shoulder or the grey head discounts very materially a person's chance to find employment. It is not by any means an easy matter to solve this problem so far as we are concerned. We make every effort to have the aged people employed. Many of them, we are satisfied are competent and if, perhaps a little slow in the manner in which they perform their work, in the long run they will accomplish as much as younger people. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Many employers are beginning a system of pensioning their aged employes who are, in a measure, past the prime of life. This is the means to a much-desired end as such pensions are not in the nature of a charity but rather in payment of dividends earned by honest toil. As a rule the great railroad companies have agreed that pensions will hereafter be paid to "All employes not appointed by the board of directors to executive positions and who have been in the employ of the company thirty years." The railroad companies in many instances have established a rule that no person will be taken into service of the company who is over thirty-five years of age except with the approval of the board of directors. Outside of railroad industries some of our large corporations have also introduced this system of pensioning. The International Typographical Union pays a substantial pension to their aged members. I am of the opinion that the near future will see the condition of the aged and honest worker far better than it has been in the world's history. The great captains of industry in our country are in many instances making an honest effort to understand and appreciate their employes. It is evident that we have to keep in time with progress of the age if we are to hold our own in the world's battle for supremacy. It can only be accomplished by being not only the best skilled mechanic in the world but the best paid mechanic also. To be the commercial master of the world we must have industrial peace at home. That this great truth has taken hold of our people cannot be denied. It was to give force and character to the great principle and idea of industrial peace that the Civic Federation was called into existence. Public opinion is now and always will be a great factor in shaping the future in line with the general welfare of the one who toils. CHILD LABQR. The question of child labor is one of most vital importance and has received the greatest consideration at the hands of the legislative bodies within the last few years. The National Child Labor Committee has been actively engaged in the work of placing before the various legislatures throughout the United States laws for the protection of those who are to compose the future citizenship of the nation. After a thorough consideration of this important question we are brought to the realization that a sin against the child is a sin against the Republic, and that child labor is one of the most prolific causes of poverty, ignorance, industrial inefficiency and adult unemployment. The West Virginia law governing child labor is a complicated one and is being construed in various ways. As a matter of suggestion along the line of the enactment of a better child labor law for West Virginia I quote from the law of the State of Ohio, specifying certain requirements and exemptions: "Age Limit. 14 years, for commonly specified gainful occupations, 14 years, for acrobatic, mendicant, etc., occupations, 16 years, for dangerous occupations, "Street Trades. 10 years for boys, 16 years for girls, in street trades, as bootblacks, and selling newspapers, etc. 18 years, for messengers, between 9 P. M. and 6 A. M. "Hours. 8 hours a day, 48 hours a week, for boys under 16, girls under 18, in commonly specified, gainful occupations; and not before 7 A. M. nor after 6 P. M., 30 minutes mealtime not included. In street trades, not before 6 A. M., or after 8 P. M. In messenger service, not before 6 A. M., nor after 9 P. M. for minors under 18. "Education and Health Provisions. School attendance compulsory to 14 years, entire school year. Must attend school for full previous school year-not less than 32 weeks and pass satisfactory fifth grade test. Applies also to children from outside the State working in Ohio. Inspector may require certificate of health and physical fitness for occupation desired, signed by medical officer of Board of Health, and by child. "Exemptions. Prohibition of employment does not apply to children taking part without pay in church, school, etc., entertainment. To streets trades' ordinance-election day, and occasions of great demand for extra newspaper editions. Prohibited employments do not include agriculture and domestic service. "Certificates for Employment. By school authorities. Require attendance for full previous school year, and satisfactory fifth grade test; documentary proof of age. "Issued only for specific occupations, and on written pledge of employer to employ child legally, and to return certificate to issuing office when child quits job. "Establishment must keep name, birthplace, date of birth, and residence of all boys between 14 and 16, and of girls between 14 and 18. "Children from outside State subject to same restrictions. ORGANIZED LABOR. With a view of giving organized labor rightful recognition and disseminating some knowledge about such bodies, an earnest effort was made to secure and publish in this report a complete directory of the unions of the several trades and pursuits in the state. I do believe that such a list would be helpful not only to the unions but would be much appreciated by the general public, which could not fail to be impressed with the seriousness of the causes which prompted! or demanded such organizations. But the data obtainable through the ordinary channels at command were very meagre so therefore this department found it a very tedious task, but by delving into the matter the way we did I firmly believe we have sown the seed that will make this report easier in the future. This Department is willing to plan and work for the welfare of all classes, but its limitations are so great that it cannot even make an attempt to accomplish what is so obviously impossible without the aid of those who should be most interested. CAPITAL AND LABOR. A reading of the comments made by some of the industries reporting conveys the idea of improved and more peaceful relations between employer and employe. An increased friendliness of disposition is apparent. Strikes and lockouts have occurred less frequently and while the principles of the Golden Rule did not hold universal sway there was a greater tendency toward just and right action by every one of the elements concerned. The idea of mutuality of interest is taking hold of all classes with the result that conflicts seldom occur when there is exhibited even ordinary adherence to conduct associated with a square deal. Nevertheless the millennium is still in the remote future and the temptation to violate the laws and usages of humanity remain. It is only by the exercise of discreet conduct and reasonable forbearance, with a determined purpose to avoid doing evil when evil conditions are to be corrected, that a still better state of affairs can be recorded in the future. MEDIATION, CONCILIATION OR ARBITRATION. But since men, whether employer or employe are not yet removed from the influence of greed or the exercise of angry passions, in the stress of great provocation, there should exist some impartial official agency to which both could turn in their distress for relief, through mediatory effort. And if, after proper investigation and consideration, conciliatory efforts should prove to be unavailing, then recourse should be had by arbitration. The primary considerations should ever be prevention and speedy settlement. The contentions of past years, like most former experiences of that nature, stand as impressive warnings against protracted strife. The ultimate result is almost invariably the same; ill will, demoralization and money loss, with scarcely. ever any compensatory benefit. While no board is authorized, the need for and the utility of such a body have in a number of cases heretofore been demonstrated. We should, at least, be progressive enough to enact some laws upon this matter and actually test their efficiency for speedily ending labor disputes before condemning the plan as unreasonable. CONCLUSION. Lest anything in this report should be misunderstood, I assert that it is farthest from my mind to imply any criticism of the past in what has been said. On the contrary, I have discussed policies only with an eye to the future, intending to indicate in outline what a new commissioner hopes to achieve. In conclusion I desire to express my sincere thanks to His Excellency, Governor H. D. Hatfield, for kind consideration given, and for his great interest in matters concerning the welfare of labor. All of which is most respectfully submitted, J. H. NIGHTINGALE, Commissioner of Labor. |