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136, and determined a fair minimum wage for that particular trade, and after the decision of the board was made and published it became unlawful to pay wages below the rate fixed by the board for the trade in question. This decision of a quasi-public board at once had the force of law and was upheld by the courts. On the whole, the boards have met with a very fair degree of success. One of the most surprising facts in connection with the operation of the law is that in a number of cases boards have been asked for by employers as a protection against sweat-shop competition.

While the boards are far from affording a complete solution for all economic ills, they, nevertheless, have resulted in raising the standard of life and wages in many of the lowest standard trades, and in providing for workmen a minimum standard of economic decency in the form of a minimum wage.