The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-10-18
A Law Of Master and Apprentice,

OF importance second only TO the public
schools in Texas is udicious law Of appren-
tceship. We do not think the South any
where has such law, nothing of real utility
governing an equitable contract Of master
and apprentice. SO far as we are acquainted
with the rules that govern that relation in
Southern cities there are no safe guards against
abuses which prevent both boys and parents
from having recourse to trades with nothing
to rely on but the justice Of the master or
owner In Charleston, in New Orleans or
Mobile, If parents want to place boy to
learn a trade whatever conditions are estab-
lshed in the shop by the master have TO be
accepted. The plan usually is to take the
boy under an agreement, the first stipulation
Of which is that his support, or subsistence,
is not to cucumber the master. Next, that
the master shall do everything he pleases, and
the boy nothing he might choose to do ex-
cepting by express leave. In other words, that
the will Of the master is to be the whole law
Of the contract. In the Northern States the
rule is to substitute the relations of the
master for that Of the parent, the boy being
bound to obedience on the one hand and en-
titled to support or maintenance on the
other. We are not aware that these relations
anywhere exist in the South. 1t is here
usually stipulated that the master is to pay
nothing for the boys work during say the
first three months, and that he shall pay
something afterward, to be increased as the
boy advances in capacity for work. So too,
there is but one stipulation as to the treat
ment Of the boy, which is that he is to observe
the law Of the shop, which is simply the will
Of the foreman or overseer in charge. The
master and apprentice are hence uneveny
matched. The natural operation of this rule,
against which there is no relief in the absence
OF legislation, is in the majority OF cases to
take the labor OF the poor apprentice to feed
the rich owner. When delivered he is turned
over to the overseer and put to work. If he
is so fortunate as to please this supposable
despot who, in his situation will be naturally
exactng and capricious, he may stay there
during, at least, the initial three months.
Whether the latter will be easily pleased
or otherwise, would naturally depend upon
whether boys are plenty or not. The owner,
or his agent, will exercise his unqualified
right to put the boy out Of doors without cere-
mony, or accountability to any one, If not
pleased. In that case all the boy gets for the
work he has done, and maintaining himself,
is the privilege Of carrying away what he has
learned at the trade. This seems on its face
equitable, and is perhaps only not so because
the interest and will of the owner exclusively
governing, the boy has probably been quail
fed only to do such work as would make him
profitable as a means Of saving the high wages
Of journeymen, and not the work regular or
proper to be done in acquiring the trade.
And this is yet measurably so in any case.
lie is taught those branches which make him
most remunerative to the master; and after
working for years for some nominal sum Of
wages he is yet not proficient, or competent
as master mechanic to set up business for
himself. Thus, in establishments where
there are apprentices, large sums will
be paid by customers for work rendered
nearly all profit by the fact that it is wholly
done by such boys under nominal pay, as, for
instance, carriage sold for $500. This, in
deed, is what must naturally be the result of
permitting owners, through lack Of legislation,
to have clean sweep OF the whole community
OF boys who are to be put to trade. Human
nature is the same in all relations and no other
consequence is TO be expected. Hence, those
having the direction Of children have only TO
accept it till rescued by proper laws.
1t IS important that legislation should estab-
lish right relations and a perfect equality Of
rights between master and apprentices. 1t
should provide and make easy OF enforcement
efficient remedies for wrongs. We do not pro-
pose to consider what these provisions ought
to be, which will become the office of future
legislation.