Teachers' and policemen's funds are not noted here. As the laws are not industrial, only illustrative summaries are given. Em In California a contributory system may be adopted for county employees by a four-fifths vote of the county supervisors. ployees may be retired after 35 years of service regardless of age, if for the good of the service, or at 60 years of age after 10 years of service, or for permanent disability. Separation from the service is automatic at the age of 70 years unless an extension is secured. Contributions are $4 monthly from employees for not more than 25 years, the county contributing an equal amount. The annuity is determined by the amount of these contributions, plus interest, according to tables adopted by the board of retirement. A rather elaborate system is provided for Minnesota, applicable to cities of 50,000 population or above not under a home-rule charter. The system is contributory, and the age of retirement is from 60 to 65 years for men and 58 to 63 years for women. The maximum allowance is paid after 30 years of service, and 20 years service is necessary to secure retirement. Amounts range from 40 to 60 per cent of the average salary for the 10 years preceding, not over $600 in any case, or $500 in the labor class. Provision is made for disability retirement and individual accounts are kept. Deductions range from 3 to 8 per cent of the salary according to the age at entrance upon the service. The United States retirement system applies to Federal employees in the classified civil service. The system is contributory, the employees giving 22 per cent of their salary. Age of retirement is 70 years after not less than 15 years of service, though mechanics, city and rural letter carriers, and post-office clerks are eligible at 65 years, and railway postal clerks at 62 years, all after 15 years' service. The maximum annuity is $720, payable after 30 years of service, and varying with the salary received. Following is a list of the laws, their scope, and whether contributory or noncontributory: California.-Acts of 1919, ch. 373 (am. 1921, ch. 819). County employees; contributory. Connecticut.-Acts of 1923, ch. 119 (am. 1923, ch. 217). State employees; noncontributory. Hinois.-R. S., ch. 24, secs. 741-750; ch. 34, secs. 157-167 (am. 1921, p. 388); Acts of 1921, p. 203 (am. 1923, p. 204). Employees of municipalities of over 100.000 population; of counties of over 150,000 population; of cities of over 200,000 population; all contributory. Indiana.-Acts of 1923, ch. 10. Employees of public utilities in cities of second class of over 50,000 inhabitants; contributory. Maine. Acts of 1919, ch. 38 (am. 1923, ch. 199). State employees; noncontributory. Massachusetts.-G. L., ch. 32 (am. 1921, chs. 439, 487; 1923, chs. 190, 205, 426, 458; 1924, ch. 264). Employees of State, of counties, and of cities and towns; contributory. Minnesota.-Acts of 1919, ch. 522. Employees of cities of 50,000 or over; Contributory. New Jersey.-Acts of 1915, ch. 234 (am. 1917, ch. 91). Acts of 1921, ch. 109 (am. 1923, chs. 103. 139; 1924, chs. 170, 261). Employees of counties, citics, towns, boroughs, villages, and of the State; contributory. New York.-Acts of 1920, eh. 427; ch. 741 (am. 1921, chs. 207, 365; 1924, chs. 618, 619, 620). Employees of the city of Greater New York; civil service employees of the State; contributory. Acts of 1922, ch. 591 (am. 1923, ch. 708; 1924, ch. 48). Employees of counties, cities, towns, and villages; contributory. Pennsylvania.-Statutes, secs. 3142-3153; 3920-3931; Acts of 1923, No. 331. Employees of cities of the first class; of cities of the second class; and of the State; contributory. Philippine Islands.-Acts of 1916, No. 2589. Civil service employees; noncontributory. Porto Rico.-Acts of Spec. Sess, 1923, No. 22. Civil service employees; contributory. Rhode Island.-Acts of 1923, ch. 2374. Employees of the City of Providence; contributory. United States.-C. S., 1916, 1923 Supp., secs. 32871⁄2-32871⁄2vv. Employees in the classified civil service; contributory. COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS Many States have special laws providing for the formation of cooperative associations for profit. So far as productive associations are concerned, the intention of these laws is to provide for the formation of industrial undertakings by groups of persons associated to manage a business in corporate form, the labor of which shall be furnished largely or exclusively by the members themselves. The laws of the various States vary considerably in detail, but the essential features are so similar that no summary or digest is necessary. There has been a great increase in later years in the number of cooperative associations created for the purpose of marketing and distributing farm produce and general merchandise. However, as these associations, though formed for profit, do not bring up the relation of employer and employee in such a sense as do the industrial cooperative associations, they have been omitted from this compilation. As fairly representative of the industrial class of laws, the characteristic provisions of the law of Illinois are reproduced below: ILLINOIS-REVISED STATUTES CHAPTER 32.—Cooperative associations SECTION 103. Mode of incorporation.-Whenever any number of persons not less than three nor more than seven, may desire to become incorporated as a cooperative association for the purpose of prosecuting any branch of industry, they shall make a statement to that effect under their hands and seals, duly acknowledged before some officer in the manner provided for the acknowledgment of deeds, setting forth the name of the proposed corporation, its capital stock, its location, and duration of the association, and the particular branch of industry which they intend to prosecute, which statement shall be filed in the office of the secretary of State. The secretary of state shall thereupon issue to such persons a license as commissioners to open books for subscription to the capital stock of such association, at such time and place as they may determine. No license shall be issued to two associations of the same name. The name of the city, village or town in which the association may be located shall form no part of the name. SEC. 104. But one share of stock to be held.-No person shall be permitted to subscribe more nor less than one share to the capital stock of such association, nor shall any person be permitted in any manner to own or control more or less than one share in such association. SEC. 105. Organization.-As soon as ten shares or more of the capital stock shall be subscribed, the commissioners shall convene a meeting of the subscribers for the purpose of electing directors, adopting by-laws and transacting such other business as shall properly come before them. * * * SEC. 107. Powers.-Associations formed under this act shall be bodies corporate and politic for the period for which they are organized, may sue and be sued, may have a common seal, which they may alter or renew at pleasure; may own, possess and enjoy so much real and personal estate as shall be neces sary for the transaction of their business, and may sell and dispose of the same when, in the opinion of the shareholders, it is not required for the uses of the association. They may borrow money at legal rates of interest, and pledge their property, both real and personal, to secure payment thereof, and may have and exercise all powers necessary and requisite to carry into effect the objects for which they may be formed. SEC. 108. Board of directors.-The corporate powers shall be exercised by a board of directors, the number of which shall be fixed by the by-laws of the association, but the number may be increased or diminished by a majority of the shareholders at any properly called meeting. The officers of the association shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, to be elected by the shareholders at their annual meeting as may be provided for in the by-laws of the association; who shall be elected at some regular meeting of the shareholders as may be by by-laws provided. All by-laws of the association shall be adopted by the shareholders of the association. SEC. 110. Value of shares.-The shares of stock shall not be less than $50 nor more than $2,000 per share, and subscriptions therefor shall be made payable to the association, and in installments, and at such time or times as shall be determined by the shareholders, and an action may be maintained in the name of the association to recover any installment which shall remain due and unpaid for the period of thirty days after personal demand therefor; Whenever a share of stock shall be forfeited, such share shall then become the property of the association and may be reissued to any person not already holding a share. But any proceeds received from such reissue over and above the amount due on said share by the association shall be paid to the delinquent shareholder. SEC. 111. Assignments, liability, etc.-Every assignment or transfer of stock on which there remains any portion unpaid shall be recorded in the books of the association, and each shareholder shall be liable jointly with the association as well as severally for the debts of the association to the extent of the amount that may be unpaid upon the share held by him. No assignor of a share shall be released from any such indebtedness by reason of any assignment of his share, but shall remain liable therefor jointly with the assignee and the association, or severally, until the stock is fully paid up. Every as signee of a share shall be liable for the amount unpaid thereon, the same as if he had been an original shareholder. No assignment shall be made to any person who already holds a share. No assignee or transferee of stock shall have any equitable or legal title in the same, or have the right to vote at any shareholders' meeting until such assignment or transfer shall be recorded as above provided for. On no question shall any shareholder have more than one vote. SEC. 112. Division of profits.-All dividends of profits made by any association incorporated under this act shall be made in proportion to the amount of work performed, or product produced by each shareholder, and the association shall decide by by-law whether each shareholder's work or product shall be measured by the piece, or by the day or hour, or may classify the work, and measure some by the piece, some by the day, and some by the hour, as the exigencies of the case may demand. The association shall also provide by by-law how different kinds of piecework shall be rated, and how piecework shall be rated with day or hour work; shall provide how and by whom all kinds of work shall be received as properly executed from the shareholders for the association; shall provide the manner of giving out material to the different shareholders with which to work, and as to what position or location shall be assigned to each shareholder and by whom. Should any shareholder be dissatisfied with the decision upon his work, or with the material given him, or the position or location assigned him, he may appeal to the association at some regular meeting of the shareholders, whose decision shall be final. The association may provide by by-law how such appeal may be conducted. If in any kind of industry it should be impossible to assign all shareholders to equally advantageous positions or locations in work, the association may provide that shareholders shall periodically change places, or provide any other method of equalizing such matters in accordance with justice and equity. SEC. 113. Employment of labor. It shall be unlawful for the association to hire any person to engage in the principal business for which the association was organized to prosecute, it being the intent of this act that such labor shall be performed by the shareholders of the association to preserve the cooperative feature. It shall be lawful for any shareholder, in case he shall be detained from work by sickness of self or family, or very urgent business, to employ 105446°-257 and furnish a competent substitute to perform such labor as would be assigned to the absent shareholder; and in such case the dividends shall be made to such shareholder the same as if he was present performing his labor himself. The association shall not be liable in any manner for the pay of such substitute. SEC. 114. Death of shareholder.-Whenever any shareholder may die, his share shall become a personal asset of his estate, and may be sold by his legal representative to any person, or may be awarded as a dividend of the estate to any person competent to work the share, or to any devisee or legatee competent to work the share, not already a shareholder, and the same may be assigned or transferred in the same manner, and subject to the same regulations prescribed in section 9 [111] of this act. * SEC. 123. Meeting of directors.-The board of directors shall hold stated meetings not less frequent than once each month, as may be provided by the by-laws, and when such officers shall be present at any meeting, however called or notified, or shall sign a written consent on the record of such meeting, the acts of such meeting shall be as valid as if legally called and notified. All directors' meetings must be held within the limits of this State. SEC. 124. Meetings of shareholders.—The shareholders of every association shall hold regular meetings not less frequently than once each month as may be provided by the by-laws, * * SEC. 125. By-laws, voting, etc.-No by-law shall be adopted, amended, or repealed, except by an affirmative vote of a majority of all the shareholders entitled to vote. * * The following States have laws of this class: Alabama.-Code, secs. 7046-7061. Arkansas-Acts of 1921, ch. 632. California. Civ. C., secs. 653a-6531 (am. 1921, ch. 170). Colorado.-C. L., secs. 2413-2417. Connecticut.-G. S., secs. 3600-3607 (am. 1921, ch. 115; 1923, ch. 110). Florida.-R. G. S., secs. 4421-4426. Illinois.-R. S., ch. 32, secs. 103-127. Indiana.-A. S., secs. 4359a-4359e. Iowa. Supp. 1915, secs. 1641-r1-1641-r20 (am. 1921, ch. 251). Kansas.-G. S., secs. 2299-2302 (am. 1917, ch. 126). Kentucky.-Aets of 1918, ch. 159. Massachusetts.-R. L., ch. 157, secs. 1, 2. Michigan.-Acts of 1917, No. 239. Minnesota.--Acts of 1919, ch. 382 (am. 1923, ch. 326). Montana.-R. C., secs. 6375-6396. Nebraska.-C. S., secs. 642–670. New Jersey.-C. S., pp. 1580-1584. New York.-Acts of 1913, ch. 454 (am. 1920, ch. 591; 1921, ch. 359). Oklahoma. Acts of 1919, ch. 147 (am. 1923, ch. 167). Oregon.-Laws, secs. 6954-6981 (am. 1923, ch. 25). Pennsylvania.-Statutes, secs. 5520-5542. Porto Rico.-Aets of 1920, No. 3. South Carolina.-Acts of 1915, ch. 152. South Dakota.-R. C., secs. 8837-8853 (am. 1919, ch. 140; 1921, ch. 153; 1923, ehs. 126, 127, 131). Vermont.-G. L., sec. 4897. Virginia.-Code, sec. 3855 (am. 1920, ch. 382). Washington.-Acts of 1913, ch. 19. Wisconsin.-Statutes, secs. 185.01-185.23. Wyoming.-Const., art. 10, sec. 10; acts of 1915, ch. 145. CREDIT UNIONS Voluntary associations exist in considerable numbers providing for a loan fund for the benefit of members, the fund being maintained by their own contributions. The law of New Jersey (ch. 48, acts of 1924) provides for the incorporation and regulation of such unions, the membership to be "composed exclusively of employees having a common employer and whose place of employment is located within a county of this State." However, the law can not be classed as a labor law, as it contemplates no interchange of responsibility or interest between the employer and the employees entering into the organization. Supervision is in the hands of the commissioner of banking and insurance of the State, the organization being a financial corporation of restricted membership and prescribed capacities. A Mississippi statute on the same subject approximates the idea as to membership by prescribing that such organizations shall be formed "only within groups which have a common bond of occupation, association, or residence within a well defined neighborhood, small community, or rural district." (Ch. 177, acts of 1924.) A like law of Louisiana contains a similar limitation. (No. 40, acts of 1924.) The laws of the other States lack even so much of a labor aspect. STATE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS Laws authorizing the States to engage in lines of business ordinarily left to private enterprise are not labor laws in the sense of affecting the relation or status of employers and employees; however, they have a direct industrial aspect and the few existing laws in this field are therefore noted. No decision as to their constitutionality is at hand, and it is not at all certain that decisions as to the authority of the municipalities to engage in business are in point, as such political subdivisions lack the sovereign power that inheres in the States. However, it may be noted that ordinances looking toward the maintenance of a municipal ice plant in Kansas City, Mo., which would also sell to private consumers; of the city of Waycross, Ga., authorizing the city to engage in the plumbing business and furnish supplies for the operation of a municipal waterworks system; of a city in Virgina proposing to operate a stone quarry in connection with the construction and maintenance of its streets; and of cities in Massachusetts and Michigan looking toward the establishment of municipal fuel plants, have all been declared unconstitutional, the ground being that municipal corporations may not engage in private business or use public money in business ventures in fields of customarily private undertakings. In the Missouri case it was said that even though the city charter might have permitted the action, both the common law and the constitution of the State forbade the levying and collection of taxes by a city for any private purpose or business. (State v. Orear, 277 Mo. 303, 210 S. W. 392; Keen v. Mayor of Waycross, 101 Ga. 588, 29 S. E. 42; Bradford v. Clark, 113 Va. 199, 73 S. E. 571; In re Municipal Fuel Plants, 182 Mass. 605, 66 N. E. 25; Baker v. Grand Rapids, 142 Mich. 687, 106 N. W. 208.) On the other hand the Supreme Court of Maine upheld a law authorizing the operation of fuel yards by cities and towns (Laughlin . City of Portland, 111 Me. 486, 90 Atl. 318); while the Supreme Court of Georgia upheld the establishment of an ice factory to be operated in connection with a going municipal lighting plant (Holton v. City of Camilla, 134 Ga. 560, 68 S. E. 472). |