156 MONTANA 19U 



appointive offices. The Department of Labor and Industry in Montana was 

 created March 4th, 1913. by an act of the Tliirteenth Leg-islative Assembly, 

 convened in this State. 



Since February 17th. 1893. a ])ureau of labor has been maintained in 

 conjunction with another department of the State government. As origin- 

 ally created, it was a part of the Bureau of Agriculture, Labor and Indus- 

 try, and was so conducted with many gratifying results until the spring 

 of 1913. 



For many years the old bureau was overburdened with an excess of 

 work, and as a consequence the labor branch of the department suffered, 

 the scope of its usefulness being confined to a very limited sphere. 



With the growth, activity and industrial development in the State, the 

 need of a separate department devoted to labor interests has been apparent 

 and anticipated for many years. It was not, however, until the present 

 governor had been installed in office that the matter submitted to the 

 joint assembly, and a recommendation made for the segregation of the two 

 departments which had hitherto been classed as one. 



While the governor and legislature contemplated and required many 



new, important and varied duties for this department, it is probably of 

 interest to the public to know that scarcely any additional expense has 

 been incurred to the State, under the new order and existing 

 The Inter- regime. AV^hile the law governing labor bureaus in other states 

 ests of Labordiffers somewhat from the one under which the department 

 Are the was established here, the difference is not material, the duties 



First Con- being similar and practically the same. Some have a wider 

 sideration. scope of usefulness than others, with broadened duties depend- 

 ing on the diversity of industries, and the character and sur- 

 rounding conditions under which they operate. 



Briefly stated, the Department of Lal)or and Industry was established 

 for the benefit of the \\^rking classes and the general public. It has for its 

 purpose the collecting and compiling of statistics with relation to various 

 establishments in the State which are employing labor, the enforcement of 

 all labor laws, especially those relating to the employment of minors, 

 women and children, and for the protection of people working in mines, 

 mills, smelters and factories in the State. Another important duty is to 

 collect, assort, systematize, arrange and present in an annual report to the 

 governor, statistical details relatino- to the moral, social, educational and 

 sanitary conditions of the laborino- classes, together with suggestions and 

 recomiUiendations to the governor and legislature. 



The value of the industrial statistics is beinp- recofrnized more and more 

 each succeeding year. The gathering and compiling of statistics of the kind 



and character above mentioned is one of the important features 

 Facts That of all labor bureaus throughout the United States. Their 

 Will Be chief value is for comparative purposes, and the knowledge 



of Value, thus acquired can frequently be used in safeguarding the 



public in the preparation and enactment of such laws and 



— The good farmer raises a tew hogs in Montana. 



