Institute of Architects, one from a bank clearing house in this State, one from the Board of Trade of New Orleans, one from the Association of Commerce in New Orleans, one from the Contractors and Dealers Exchange in New Orleans, one from the Board of State Engineers, one from the Carpenters Union in New Orleans, one from the members of the Louisiana Bar Association in New Orleans and one from the officers of any Homestead Association in New Orleans. Be It Further Resolved, That this commission shall first meet in New Orleans at a place to be designated by the Governor at a time named by the Governor and shall then meet at other times as decided by a majority of the commission. The commission shall elect a chairman and a secretary and shall adopt rules for the conduct of its business in carrying out the purposes of this resolution. Be It Further Resolved, That the commission shall formulate a report to the Governor and the Governor is hereby authorized to direct the public printer to print a sufficient number of copies of such report to send one to every member of the General Assembly, one to every official of each municipality having more than 20,000 inhabitants and one to the president of every trade organizations or exchange in such municipalities. Be It Further Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the commission to recommend a definite plan for the promotion of the building of homes in the cities of Louisiana, to recommend such changes in the laws and constitution of the State as will bring about better and more adequate housing of the wage earners and in general report on all matters affecting or pertaining thereto. TITLE HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION; Pay of postal employees. Act 7 of 1920 Whereas, the Congress of the United States has, about 14 months ago, appointed a Postal Wage Commission composed of United States Senators and Representatives to adjust wages paid the employees of the postal service, and in doing so has conceded that the salaries existing are inadequate to meet the demands of the high cost of living; and, Whereas, the said Wage Commission has heard unvarying stories in every city that it visited-employees leaving the service on account of low wages and incompetent and inexeperienced men coming into their places-and up to the present time no report has been rendered, to the utter demoralization of the postal service and growing discontent of its loyal employees; Therefore, Be It Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Louisiana, the House of Representatives concurring, that, pending the report of the Wage Commission, our Senators and Representatives in Congress be urged to immediate action in securing for the postal employees an adequate living salary commensurate with living conditions in the positions they occupy, thereby alleviating the present discontent and discouragement of the employees, and saving the postal system from ruin and disruption to the detriment of the public in general. TITLE HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION; REGARDING UNEMPLOYMENT Act 15 of 1922, P. 15 Regarding Unemployment. Whereas, the unemployment of millions of people in this country is one of the gravest questions now confronting the nation; it being estimated by good authorities that the nation has sustained a loss of six billion five hundred thousand dollars in the past year on account of the unemployment of these people; and Whereas, this condition has become so alarming that the United States Government has called a conference of representative people to consider ways and means of providing employment for the unemployed; and also to prevent further unemployment, loss and suffering which have resulted from such condition; and Whereas, the conference has recommended that the several states and municipalities proceed at the earliest date possible to engage in all contemplated public work and improvement which will furnish employment to the people of the State and city, thereby relieving the unem ployed and preventing further loss and suffering; and Whereas, the conference has also recommended that private indus tries working on full time, should work their regular force part of the time so as to arrange for the employment of those unemployed also for a part of the time, in order to relieve the above recited condition due to lack of employment; therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana, the Senate concurring, that in view of the conditions of unemployment now prevailing, that the State of Louisiana proceed at the earliest possible date with all contemplated public work and improve ments. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS OF 1921 CONVICT LABOR REGULATED, ETC. Convict Labor Regulated, etc. Section 3, Article 3, p. 56 The Legislature may authorize the employment under State supervision and the proper officers and employees of the State, of convicts on public roads or other public works, or convict farms, or in manufacturies owned or controlled by the State, under such provisions and restrictions as may be imposed by law, and shall enact laws necessary to carry these provisions into effect; and no convict sentenced to the State penitentiary shall ever be leased or hired to any person or persons, or corporation, private or public, or quasi-public, or board, save as herein authorized. NOTE. Prison Labor Contracts, construed as "net rental," see State vs. James, 47 La. Ann. 173, 16 So. 751, and 6 La. Dig. Prisons and Convicts, p. 217. Price of Manual Labor Prohibited; Minimum Wage for Women, etc. No law shall be passed fixing the price of manual labor, but the Legislature, through a commission or otherwise, may establish minimum wages for and regulate the hours and working conditions of women and girls, except those engaged in agricultural pursuits or domestic service. NOTE.--Laws fixing price of labor. This provision against laws fixing the price of manual labor, applies exclusively to voluntary contract labor, and not to convict labor or involuntary work in lieu of a fine. Monroe vs. Meuer, 35 La. Ann. 1192. The liberty of contract relating to labor includes both parties to it; the one has as much right to purchase as the other to sell labor, and this liberty of contract is protected by the Federal Constitution to the extent that states have no right to interfere with it, except in cases involving the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the public. State vs. Barba, 132 La. 768, 61 So. 784, 45 L. R. A. (N. S.) 546, Ann. Cas. 1914 D, 1261. Street and road laborers. A statute purporting to protect laborers on streets does not include laborers on roads. State vs. Jackson, 137 La, 741, 69 So. 158. Labor laws affecting women. The Act 301 of 1908, regulating the employment of children and women, was held valid in constitutional exercise of legislative power. State vs. Rose, 125 La. 462, 51 So. 496, 26 L. R. A. (N. S.) 821. "Labor" or "work." The word "work" has a much more comprehensive meaning than the term "labor.' "Work" has been defined thus: "To exert oneself for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to be engaged in the performance of a task, duty or the like."-Webster The term as thus defined covers all forms of physical or mental exertions, or both combined, for the attainment of some object other than recreation or amusement. This includes acting or performing on the stage. State vs. Rose, 125 La. 462, 51 So. 496, 26 L. R. A. (N. S.) 821. The word laborer does not include the mechanic, when used in reference to the building trade. New Orleans vs. O'Neil, 43 La. Ann. 1182, 10 So. 245. REVISED STATUTES, SECTION 902, CONSTITUTION OF 1921 Laborers not to be Discharged for Political Opinions, etc. (R. S., Section 902.) Any planter, manager, overseer, or other em- ́ ployer of laborers in this State, who shall, previous to the expiration of the term of service of any laborer in their employ, or under their control, discharge from their employ any laborer or laborers on account of their political opinions, or who shall attempt to control the suffrage or votes of such laborers by any contract or agreement whatsoever, entered into at any time with such laborers, shall pay a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, to be recovered before any court of competent jurisdiction, and it shall be the duty of the District Attorney protempore of the parish in which such offender resides, to institute such suit in the name of the parish of the offender's residence, and that he shall be entitled to twenty-five per cent of the amount of all fines he may recover as his fees in the case, and the balance shall be paid to the treasurer of the common school fund of such parish for the use of common schools in such parish, and upon conviction for any such offense such offender shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year. |