An Act to Punish a Laborer, Renter or Sharecropper
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Newspaper reprinting of a 1900 Mississippi law regarding laborers, renters, or sharecroppers.
Excerpts
An act to punish a laborer, renter or sharecropper who has made one contract in writing and makes a second contract without giving notice of the first.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of Mississippi, That any laborer, renter or sharecropper who has contracted with another person for a specified time in writing, not exceeding one year, who shall leave his employer or the leased premises before the expiration of his contract without the consent of the employer or landlord and makes a second contract without giving notice of the first to said second party, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars.
Sec 2. That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved March 12, 1900.
Questions:
Who is being punished, according to the text?
Why are they being punished?
Under what circumstances (if any) would it be acceptable not to complete the farm labor contract?
Is it fair to punish someone for failing to complete a contract? Is the fined amount fair? Why or why not?
What other questions do you have?