as foremen or trusties, and others who work outside of the walls of the penitentiary are allowed ten days additional "good time" per month while engaged in such labor. (C. 53. In effect, September 6, 1912).

New York.-Convict labor may be employed by the conservation commission in propagating trees and in field planting. (C. 444, sec. 62. In effect, April 16, 1912).

Virginia.-A "convict lime board" is formed to put convicts to work in quarrying and grinding limestone and oyster shells. The board may acquire suitable lands, machinery, etc., and may dispose of the ground limestone and shells and of the by-products, the former at cost, including the maintenance and care of the prisoners, interest on the investment and depreciation of the machinery, and the latter for "a fair price". Cash must be paid; no sale may be made to any person except for his own use; and not more than one carload of ground limestone and shells may be sold to a single purchaser in any one year if there are other applicants. Appropriation, $30,000. (C. 295. In effect, June 13, 1912).

TRADE UNIONS AND TRADE DISPUTES

The fight of the United States post-office employees for the right to organize without being in danger of demotion or dismissal from the service resulted in a half victory by which organization is permitted but affiliation with the American Federation of Labor or any other central trade union is practically forbidden. "Blacklisting" is forbidden in Arizona and in New Mexico.

Arizona. Soliciting, giving out, or taking part in the exchanging of a labor "black list" is prohibited. The term "black list" is carefully defined and is made to include any name or list of names, not only written or printed but even spoken, provided it is given in pursuance of an agreement that the receiver shall discharge or refuse to employ the persons designated. Penalty, liability in punitive damages to the person injured, and a fine of from $50 to $250, or imprisonment for from ten to sixty days, or both. (C. 61. In effect, May 17, 1912).

Massachusetts.-Under a former law an employer was obliged, during the continuance of a strike, lockout, or other labor trouble in his establishment, to state in all advertisements for employees to fill the places of strikers that such labor disturbance existed. Under the new law these provisions cease to be operative after the state board of conciliation and arbitration has determined that the business of the employer is being carried on in the normal and usual manner and to the normal and usual extent. The board, on application of the employer, must determine this question as soon as possible. (C. 545. In effect, April 27, 1912).

Mississippi.—It is resolved by a concurrent resolution to appoint a committee to investigate the strike and look into the advisability of keeping the state militia at McComb City and Water Valley. (C. 443. Passed the Senate, January 9, and the House, January 10, 1912). The leaders of both sides in the strike at McComb City and Water Valley are memorialized by a concurrent resolution to settle their difficulties by arbitration. (C. 435. Passed the House, January 23, and the Senate, February 15, 1912). Another concurrent resolution expresses sympathy for the striking employees of the Illinois Central Railroad so long as they obey the law and commit no acts of violence, and expresses the hope that organized capital may be compelled by public opinion to recognize organized

labor. (C. 436. Passed the House, February 8, and the Senate, February 12, 1912).

New Mexico.-Employers are forbidden, after having discharged an employee, "to prevent or attempt to prevent by word, sign or writing of any kind" the discharged employee from obtaining other employment. Employers, however, may give the true reasons, either in writing or otherwise, for the discharge of an employee. Penalty, from $100 to $1,000, liability in damages to the party injured, and liability for a reasonable attorney's fee. (C. 33. effect, September 6, 1912).

In

United States. The post-office appropriation act provides that membership in an organization of postal employees having for its object improvements in the condition of labor of its members, including hours, wages, and leave of absence, shall not be a cause for reduction in rank or removal from the postal service; provided the organization is "not affiliated with any outside organization imposing an obligation or duty upon them to engage in any strike, or proposing to assist them in any strike, against the United States". It is also provided that postal employees may not be penalized for presenting their grievances to members of Congress, and that the right "of persons employed in the civil service of the United States", to petition Congress or any member of Congress or to furnish information to Congress "shall not be denied or interfered with". This act also provides that the periodical publications of trades' unions may be admitted to the mails as second-class matter. (C. 389. In effect, August 24, 1912).

UNEMPLOYMENT

Laws relating to private employment agencies were enacted or amended in Mississippi and New York, and South Carolina passed a law requiring employers to give their employees advance notice of shutdowns.

Mississippi.-Emigrant or employment agents who solicit laborers to go beyond the limits of the state must pay an annual license of $500. Penalty for doing business without such a license, from $500 to $5,000, or imprisonment for from one to six months. (C. 94. In effect, March 11, 1912).

New York. The law in regard to the licensing of employment agencies is amended to provide that, when a license has been revoked, the mayor or commissioner of licenses may issue another license to the same person after the expiration of three years. Formerly a person whose license had been revoked could never obtain another. (C. 261. In effect, April 11, 1912).

South Carolina.-Employers who require notice of quitting work must, in turn, notify their employees of shutdowns by posting in every room a printed notice stating the date of beginning the shutdown and its approximate length. These notices must be posted at least two weeks before the shutdown, or for the same time that is required of employees before quitting. Shutdowns caused by some unforeseen accident to machinery, "or by some act of God or of the public enemy", are excepted. Maximum penalty, $5,000. In addition to the penalty, employers are liable to each one of their employees for damages suffered by the failure to give notice. (No. 424. In effect, February 23, 1912).

WAGES

The New Jersey act reducing the amount of court fees in suits for wages when the amount demanded is less than $20 was one of the important laws enacted during the year. The assignment of wages was regulated in Kentucky; and mechanics' lien laws were amended in that state, in Mississippi, and in New Jersey. The latter state also appointed a commission to revise the mechanics' lien laws. Payments in lawful money were required once a month in Mississippi and twice a month in most employments in Virginia. In Arizona companies and corporations were required to pay bimonthly, and obtaining labor under false pretenses was forbidden. In a number of states the wages of public employees were increased.1 A. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Arizona.-Wages paid laborers, workmen, and mechanics employed by the state or any of its political subdivisions, or employed by contractors or subcontractors on work for the state, may not be less than the current rate of per diem wages in the locality where the work is performed. But the act does not apply to existing contracts. Penalty, from $50 to $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. (C. 78. In effect, May 18, 1912). All departments and institutions of the state, county and municipal corporations, and all contractors working for the state, or any of its divisions, must designate regular pay days not more than sixteen days apart, and must post notices of such pay days in at least two conspicuous places where they can be seen by employees as they go to and from their work. Payments must be made in lawful money or negotiable bank checks payable on demand, and must be in full, except that wages for not more than five days' labor may be withheld. Penalty, from $50 to $500 for each offense. (Special Session, C. 10. In effect, June 8, 1912).

B. PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT.

Arizona.-Companies and corporations doing business in the state must designate regular pay days not more than sixteen days apart, instead of monthly as before, and must post notices of such pay

'Mere increases in the wages of groups of public employees are not here given.