For some time past, and especially in the southern provinces of Austria, agents have been recommending intending emigrants to take out an insurance against rejection by the American Immigration Boards at the same time as they book their passage, and for this purpose to pay them, besides their passage money, an additional sum as insurance premium. Emigrants are for several reasons warned against entering into such agreements. In the first place, there is the risk of American Immigration Boards regarding the contraction of an insurance policy against refusal of admission into the country as an inducement to immigration such as is forbidden by the Immigration Laws, and of their rejecting an immigrant solely on the ground that he has insured against rejection. Further, it must be borne in mind that in Austria neither a native nor a foreign insurance company is legally entitled to prosecute such business. The proceedings of such agents are therefore unauthorised and punishable at law. The emigrant does not safeguard himself in the slightest degree by taking out an insurance policy. In many cases the whole business is a swindle from beginning to end, and the only object of the agent is to extort a further sum from the emigrant in addition to the price of his passage.

2.

Erlass des Ministeriums des Innern vom 16 Januar 1908, Z. 1045, betr. die Auswanderung nach den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika. An allen politischen Landesstellen. (Verordnungsblatt des k.k. Ministeriums des Innern, Nr. 2 ex 1908; und Soz. Rundschau, ix., 167.)

Circular of the Ministry of the Interior, dated 16th January, 1908, relating to emigration to the United States of America. (Addressed to all Provincial Authorities.)

Information has been circulated throughout the country, that all the factories in the United States of America which, owing to the present depression of trade, are lying idle, will in a few months be in full activity, and that,' in consequence, there will shortly arise in that country an urgent demand for foreign workmen. At the present time there is no reason to suppose that such information is correct; to all appearances it is only being circulated by the shipping companies and their agents in order to swell the diminished volume of emigration to the United States of America. In reality, conditions in that country remain such, that workmen must still be urgently recommended not to emigrate.

3. Erlass des Ministeriums des Innern vom 30 Januar 1908, Z. 37,968 ex 1907, betr. die Erhebungen über die Kinderarbeit. (Soz. Rundschau IX., 231.)

Circular of the Ministry of the Interior concerning the inquiry into the employment of children. (Dated 30th January, 1908.)

4. Verordnung des Handelministers im Einvernehmen mit dem Minister des Innern, womit die durch die Ministerialverordnungen vom 2 April, 1897, R.G.Bl. Nr. 88, vom 4 März 1898, R.G.Bl. Nr. 44 vom 16 Oktober, 1903, R.G.Bl. Nr. 210, und vom 9 Januar 1905, R.G.Bl. Nr. 7, abgeänderte bezw. ergänzte Ministerialverordnung vom 27 Mai 1885, R.G.Bl. Nr. 82, betr. besondre Bestimmungen bezüglich der Arbeitspausen bei einzelnen Kategorien von Gewerben, weiter ergänzt und in einem Punkte abgeändert wird. Vom 21 Februar 1908. (Reichsgesetzbl, XXI., Stück, Nr. 48, Soz. Rundschau, IX., 234.)

Order of the Minister of Commerce, in agreement with the Minister of the Interior, to further supplement and to amend in one particular, the Ministerial Order of 27th May, 1885, establishing special provisions with respect to periods of rest in certain classes of industrial occupations, previously amended by the Ministerial Orders of 2nd April, 1897; 4th March, 1898; 16th October, 1903; and 9th January, 1905. (Dated 21st February, 1908.)

In pursuance of §74a of the Act of 8th March, 1885, the Ministerial Order of 27th May, 1885, previously amended and supplemented by the Ministerial Orders of 2nd April, 1897, 4th March, 1898, 16th October, 1903, and 9th January, 1905, in which special provisions with respect to periods of rest in certain classes of industrial occupations were established, is hereby further amended and supplemented as follows:

(1) In §1, Sub-section 10, of the Order of 27th May, 1885, the words "and the slice dryer" shall be inserted after the word "diffusors."

After Sub-section 23, inserted by the Order of 9th January, 1905, there shall be

added as follows:

24. Independent electrical works and electrical establishments which are only part of, and subsidiary to an industrial establishment.

The staff employed in working motors and generators and at switch boards may be allowed the midday break in rotation, if it is impracticable to interrupt the work for one hour in order to allow the break in question. Further, fixed morning and afternoon breaks may be dispensed with. If there is no alternative staff, fixed hours for breaks may be entirely dispensed with, and breaks may be allowed at whatever hour shall happen to be free in the course of the work.

25. Mechanical stone-saws.

The rule requiring an invariable period of rest at a definite hour previously determined may be departed from with respect to workmen employed at the saw-frames, and the breaks may be allowed at whatever hours shall happen to be free in the course of the work.

(3). This Order shall come into operation on the day of its notification. Verordnung des Ministers des Innern im Einvernehmen mit den übrigen beteiligten Ministern vom 22 Februar 1908, betr. die Vollszugvorschrift zum Gesetze, vom 16 Dezember 1906, Reichsgesetzbl. Nr 1 ex 1907, über die Pensionversicherung der in privaten Diensten und einiger in öffentlichen Diensten Angestellten. (Reischsgesetzbl. vom 27 Februar 1908, XVII., Stück, Nr. 42.)

Order of the Minister of the Interior in agreement with the other Ministers concerned relating to the regulations for the administration of the Act of 16th December, 1906, to regulate the pension insurance of employees in private service and of certain employees in public service. (Dated 27th February, 1908.)

6. Verordnung des Ministers des Innern vom 1 April 1908, mit welcher eine Mustergeschäftsordnung für die Landesstellen der " Allgemeinen Pensionanstalt für Angestellte" veröffentlicht wird. (Reichsgesetzbl. vom 4 April 1908, XXXI. Stück, Nr. 63.)

Order of the Minister of the Interior issuing model regulations for the provincial offices of the "General Pension Institution for Employees.' (Dated 1st April, 1908.)

7. Verordnung des Ministers des Innern vom 1 April 1908, mit welcher das erste Statut für die nach, §39 des Gesetzes vom 16 Dezember 1906, Reichsgestezbl. Nr. 1 ex 1907, über die Pensionversicherung der in privaten Diensten und einiger in öffentlichen Diensten Angestellten zu errichtende " Allgemeine Pensionsanstalt für Angestellte" erlassen wird. (Reichsgetzbl. vom 4 April 1908, XXX. Stück, Nr. 62.)

Order of the Minister of the Interior issuing the first rules for the "General Pension Institution to be created in pursuance of §39 of the Act of 16th December, 1906, relating to the pension insurance of employees in private service and of certain employees in public service. (Dated 1st April, 1908.)

8. Verordnung des Handelsministers im Einvernehmen mit dem Minister des Innern vom 15 April 1908, womit Vorschriften zum Schutze des Lebens und der Gesundheit der mit gewerblichen Anstreicher- Lackierer- und Malerarbeiten beschäftigen Personon erlassen werden (Reichsgesetzbl. vom 30 April, 1908, XLI. Stück, Nr. 81; Soz. Rundschau 1908, S. 351.)

Order of the Minister of Commerce in agreement with the Minister of the Interior, issuing regulations for the protection of persons employed in painting, varnishing and decorating, carried on by way of trade. (Dated 1st April, 1908.)

I. In any industrial establishment, all rooms where painting, varnishing or decorating processes are to be carried on with the use of white lead or lead compounds shall, in the case of new premises, satisfy the requirements of the Ministerial Order of 23rd November, 1905 (Reichsgesetzbl. Nr. 176).* Industrial premises already in existence must be sufficiently roomy, well ventilated and heated. In all cases the floors and walls of the said workrooms shall be covered with a washable surface, which must be without cracks. These workrooms must be kept in a cleanly state, and shall be washed with water every day after work hours.

2. It shall be the duty of owners of industrial undertakings who employ. more than 20 workmen in painting, varnishing, and decorating in premises contemplated in §1 of this Order, to provide for such workmen on the premises, suitable heated lavatories and cloakrooms containing accommodation in which they can keep their clothing. They shall also provide mess-rooms, and see that all the said rooms are kept in a cleanly state.

II. Special Working Regulations.

3. In painting, varnishing, and decorating industries, and in all industries in which painting, varnishing, and decorating are carried on by way of trade, paints, colours, and cement containing lead shall only be kept and used in vessels and cases on which the nature of their contents is clearly indicated.

4. No white lead or paints, colours, and cement containing lead shall be used by way of trade for interior work.

Within the meaning of this Order, paints, etc., for interior work are those which are intended for use, permanently or principally, in places where they will not be directly exposed to the open air.

The prohibition contained in paragraph I shall not apply to the laying on of the first coating in cases where a pure white coating is to be superimposed on an old coating of similar white paint containing lead, nor to the painting of rooms in which the paint is often exposed to the effects of steam or other vapours.

A special exception may be allowed by the industrial authority, sanctioning the use of the said preparations for interior paints in the case of operations which would otherwise be done abroad. In such case, the said authority shall prescribe such precautionary measures as are otherwise advisable.

5. Women and young persons shall not be employed in the execution of painting, varnishing, or decorating work in which the use of white lead or lead compounds is permissible or has been sanctioned in pursuance of §4.

*Title E.B. I., p. 11.

In the case of young persons, this prohibition shall also apply in respect of the cleaning of the rooms specified in §1, and of the special clothing worn during work in pursuance of §8. Such clothing shall always be cleaned by a wet process.

An exception shall apply in the case of young apprentices who have completed the 14th year of their age, in so far as their employment in the processes contemplated in the first paragraph of this Section is necessary for the purpose of teaching them the trade. Notwithstanding, no such person shall be so employed for more than six weeks altogether.

6. Workmen whom the employer knows to be suffering from lead poisoning shall not be again employed in processes in which white lead or lead compounds are used, until they have been certified by a medical practitioner to be cured and fit for industrial employment. The same rule shall apply to the cleaning of the workrooms specified in §1, and of the special clothing worn during work specified in §8.

7. The crushing or grinding up of lead or lead compounds, and the kneading of such substances with oil or varnish shall be done by mechanical apparatus, and not by hand, and under such conditions that, in the said processes, as also in the loading and unloading of materials containing lead, the workmen shall be adequately protected against the generation of dust, and that no dust shall enter the workrooms. Notwithstanding, when necessary, each workman may grind by hand in any week not more than 3kg. of red lead, and not more than 5kg. of other lead colour excepting white lead.

The grinding or pumication of any colour or cement containing lead shall only be done after such materials have first been damped. The ground mass and the refuse arising in the process of grinding shall be removed while still damp.

In building operations, the processes specified in §4, paragraphs 3 and 4, shall, unless they are carried on in the open air, be carried on in separate rooms in which it must be plainly notified that white lead or lead compounds are used therein.

8. The employer shall see that workmen who work with lead or lead compounds wear the special clothing and head coverings during work, which must be properly cleaned. In industrial undertakings where more than 20 persons are employed, the employer shall provide the necessary clothing and head coverings, and shall cause them to be periodically cleaned.

In addition, the employer shall provide, for the use of such workmen as are employed in processes with lead or lead compounds, a sufficient supply of suitable water (for drinking and washing), washing basins, brushes, soap and towels.

Similarly, the employer shall provide respirators for workmen employed in processes with lead or lead compounds in which a great quantity of dust is generated.

9. No white lead or lead compounds shall be kept or manipulated in the living rooms or bedrooms provided for the workmen.

IO. It shall be the duty of all workmen employed in processes in which lead or lead compounds are used to wear the clothing and head-coverings provided for use during work, and also the respirators provided for processes in which a great quantity of dust is generated.

The said workmen shall thoroughly wash their faces, mouths and hands before their meal times and on leaving work.

In addition, such workmen shall abstain from drinking spirituous liquor, and from the use of tobacco (cigars, cigarettes, pipes, snuff and chewing tobacco), and shall not partake of food or drink except during the regular breaks for meals, nor, where separate rooms are provided for the purpose, elsewhere than in the said rooms. No person shall in any circumstances keep any food or drink in the workrooms.

III.-Special Administrative Regulations.

II. In every workroom in which processes which involve the use of lead or lead compounds are carried on, a copy of these regulations, maintained in a legible condition, shall be affixed in a place which is easily accessible.

Every workman employed in a process involving the use of lead or lead compounds shall, on entering such employment, be given, free of charge, a copy of the notice printed as an appendix to this Order; and the said workmen shall be entered in a special register.

The employer shall see that the workmen specified in the foregoing paragraph shall, on showing the first symptoms of lead poisoning be referred, without delay, to the medical officer of the sick club.

In undertakings where more than 20 persons are employed, the employer shall see that such persons as are engaged in processes which involve the use of lead or lead compounds shall be examined at least once every three months by a medical practitioner to see whether they show any signs of lead poisoning. The medical practitioner shall enter in the register kept in pursuance of paragraph 2 of this Section a note of every medical examination and the result thereof.

The said registers shall be produced on the demand of the State authorities entrusted with the inspection of such undertakings.

IV.-Penalties.

12. Any contravention of this Order which is not punishable under the general penal laws shall, in accordance with the Ministerial Order of 30th September, 1857 (Reichsgesetzbl. Nr. 198) be dealt with by the penal authorities.

V.-Commencement of the Act.

13. This Act shall come into operation on the Ist day of April, 1909.

IV. Bulgaria

1. Act relating to invalidity and sick benefit for State workmen. (Ratified on 19th February, 1906, and published in the Official Gazette No. 52 on 7th March, 1906.)

PART I.-Qualification for Benefit.

1. Every workman employed by the State in the execution of any work whatever shall enjoy the rights and advantages granted under this Act, and shall be considered to be a State workman within the meaning of the Act, irrespective of whether he is paid by the day or the hour or at piece rate.

PART II.-Invalidity Pensions.

2. Invalidity pensions shall only be paid to such State employees as are, otherwise than through their own act and default, at the time of their employment or in the course thereof, permanently incapacitated for such work.