The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-03-31
laws Of RbuSc, 1s.an0.
state Of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations


IN GeaeFda d'ss'n'iy, jan. Session, 1858
An Act to limit the number of hours q
labor and to regulate the employment
or children in factories.
~ IS enacted by the General .4sseu5lv n
.folio,os: e"
Section |. From ard after the frs,
dag OF July next, labor performed in any
manufacturing establishment and ali
mechanical labor, during tn, period OF
ten hours, in any one day, shall be con.
sidorei a legal days work, unless other.
wise agreed by the parties; and no
MINOR, under the age of twelve years
shall be employed in Or about any man
utacturIng process or for any labor in
cIient TO manufacturing process.
Sec. 2. Ifany owner of, or emplover
~, any manufacturing establishment or
his or her agent, shall knowingly and
wllfully employ any minor under the
age of twelve years as aforesaid the
person so offending, shall pay penalty
OF twenty dollars for every such offincc
one half thereof shall enure to the com,
. plalnant and the other half thereof to and
Tor the use OF the District School in the
District in which such, manufacturin,,
establishment is situated
Sec. 3, Hereafter, no minor who has
attained the age,of twelve Years and is
under the age of fifteen years, shall be
employed In any Manufacturing estab.
llshment more than eleven hours in anv
one day Any owner of or employer in
any manufacturing establishment as
aforesaid, offending against the provisions
of this section, shall be liable to pen.
atty of twenty dollars for every such
offence, and one-halt thereof shall enure
to the complainant, and one-half thereof
to the use of the town for the education
of the children in the school in the dis
trict iu which such manufacturing estab
lishment is situated.
Sec. 4. From and after the first dav
OF July next, if any parent or guardian
shall permit or consent to the employ
ment of his or her child or ward, over
the age Of twelve years and under the
age Of fifteen, for longer time than
eleven hours in any one day, the person
so offending shall for cit AMI pay the
sum of twenty dollars for every such
offence, to be appropriated as provided
in the second section of this act.
Sec. 5. If any parent or guardian
shall permit or consent to the employ
ment in any manufacturing establish
ment OF his or her child or ward, under
the age of fifteen years, before five
O'Clock in the morning, or of his or her
child or ward under the are of fifteen
years, after seven and half o'clock in
the evening, such parent or guardian
and the owner Of, or employer in such
establishment, or his or her agent, who
shall knowingly and wilfully furnish
employment to such minors, shall be
liable to penalty of twenty dollars for
every such offence-to be appropriated
as provided in the third section OF this
act,
Sec. 6. The penalties imposed bv
this act, shall be recovered on complaint
aud warrant, before any Justice Of the
feace in the town where the child en-
p'oyed in violation of its prov sions shall
reside or where the establishment in
winch employment is so furnished shall
DC located; and every such complaint
sra'l be commenced within thirty DAYS
s''er % the offence complained of shall
have been committed.
pee. a In the trial of all actions and
ec'uPli'nts arising under the provisions
OF TINS act. the defendant shall have the
same right Of appeal to the Court Of
IS%moa o.Sa , flea' as is provided. by law in
True copy--aitest:
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