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1 Minimum Wage Legislation as of January 1, 1940 1 (1940)

handle is hein.scsl/muwgls0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 

Serial No. R. 1106
  [From the MONTILY LABOR REVIEw (April 1940) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
                   United States Department of Labor]
MINIMUM-WAGE LEGISLATION AS OF JANUARY 1,
                              1940
MINIMUM-WAGE laws applicable to private employments have
been enacted in 26 States, the District of Columbia, and the Territories
of Alaska and Puerto Rico. Most of these laws were adopted during
the past 6 years and affect chiefly women and minors.
                    Scope of State Legislation
  Following the decision of the United States Supreme Court in 1923
in the case of Adkins v. Children's Hospital (261 U. S. 525), which
declared the minimum-wage law of the District of Columbia uncon-
stitutional, came a period of inaction in this field of labor legislation.
At the beginning of 1933 minimum-wage laws were on the statute
books of only nine States,' and in some of those the laws were ineffec-
tive and inoperative. During the legislative year of 1933, however,
seven States 2 enacted minimum-wage laws. Of these, all but Utah
based their laws on a standard bill sponsored by the National Con-
sumers' League which had been drawn in such a way as to overcome
the objection raised in the Adkins decision. The standard bill does
not attempt to regulate wages generally. It provides that, when-
ever a substantial number of women and minors are receiving less
than a subsistence wage, an investigation shall be made to deter-
mine whether the wages are fairly and reasonably commensurate
with the value of the service or class of service rendered. An un-
reasonable wage is defined as less than the fair and reasonable value
of the services rendered and less than sufficient to meet the minimum
cost of living necessary for health. A similar law was passed by
Massachusetts in 1934, and by Rhode Island in 1936.
  In the Utah law, the State industrial commission is empowered to
ascertain the wages paid, the hours, and conditions of labor in the
various occupations. Upon investigation, if it is determined that the
wages paid are inadequate to supply the cost of proper living, the
law provides that the commission shall call a wage board into con-
ference. After a public hearing, the commission is empowered to fix
a minimum-wage, a maximum number of hours, and the standard
conditions of labor demanded by the health and welfare of the
women and minors engaged in any occupation. A mandatory order
may be subsequently issued setting forth the minimum-wage and the
maximum hours. The constitutionality of this law was recently
upheld by the State supreme court in the case of McGrew v. Industrial
Commission (85 Pac. (2d) 608).
  California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington,
and Wisconsin.
Connecticut. Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey. New York, Ohio. and Utah.
    230991-40---1              (1)

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