Chapter 406, Acts of 1916, created a Commission known as the State
Board of Labor and Statistics. The Board consists of three Commis-
sioners appointed by the Governor for a term of two years. The Gov-
ernor designates one of the Commissioners as Chairman, the other two
Commissioners to be known as Advisory Members.

The Board is authorized and empowered to appoint and employ such
deputies, inspectors, assistants and employees as may be necessary for
the performances of the duties imposed upon it, provided such appoint-
ments and employments and compensation to be allowed shall be subject
to the approval of the Governor.

It shall be the duty of said Board (1st) to collect statistics con-
cerning and examine into the condition of labor in the State, with
especial reference to wages, and the causes of strikes and disagreements
between employees and employers;

(2) To collect information in regard to the agricultural conditions
and products of the State, the acreage under cultivation and planted in
the various crops, the character and price of land, the live stock, etc.,
and all other matters pertaining to agricultural pursuits, which may be
of general interest and calculated to attract immigration to the State.

(3) To collect information in regard to the mineral products of the
State, the output of mines, quarries and 80 forth, and the manufacturing
industries.

(4) To collect information in regard to railroads and other trans-
portation companies, shipping and commerce.

(5) To keep a bureau of general information and to this end all
offices and institutions of the State, ineluding offices of the General As-
sembly, are directed to transmit to the State Board of Labor and Statis-
tics, all reports as soon as possible.

(6) To classify and arrange the information and data so obtained,
and as soon as practicable after entering upon the duties of its office,
publish the same in substantial book form and annually thereafter revise
and republish same.

It shall be the duty of the Board to organize, establish and conduct
free employment agencies in such parts of the State as the said Board
may deem advisable for the free use of citizens of the State for the pur-
pose of securing employment for the unemployed and for the purpose
of securing help or labor for persons applying for such.

To arbitrate all disputes between employer and employee. To en-
force the hours of labor for females; to enforce the Factory Inspection
and Child Labor Laws; the Steam Boiler Inspection and the State Mine
Inspection Laws.

The Child Labor Law applies to all children between the ages of
fourteen and sixteen years, who must pass an educational test and also a
physical examination made by the physicians connected with the Bureau,
before receiving employment certificates.