The Portland daily press., 1886-12-23
LABOR LEGISLATION.

A few of the results attained by the inyes-
tigation just completed by the Connecticut
Bureau of Statistics are published in anoth-
er column. Inquiries conducted among TO-
600 laborers of that State have shown it to
be general fact that long hours of labor,
the toll of children and monthly payments
are found together. This striking fact is at
tyibuted, not to accidental difference in bust
ness methods, but to the character of the
communities where these conditions prevail
The sad spectacle of children of tender years
toiling in factories is, as is well known, more
often due to the avarice or poverty of pa
rents than to the greed of their employers;
the tendency of the hours of labor to shorten
as the workman becomes more skillful and
enlightened is proved. by comparison of
the hours and products of the work Of men
Of different nations; and monthly payments
mean generally system of store credits
which makes the financial independence of
the laborer impossible. Thus the inference
seems justified that the character of commu-
mites, not the accident of business methods
Is the one condition most Influential in de-
termining the number of hours of labor, the
modes of payments and the age at which
children shall begin work
1t will be the duty of the Maine Legisla-
tors at its session this winter to consider
thsse questions of payments, hours of laber,
and child labor; and the conclusions of the
Connecticut Commissioner will be of I'M
doubted interest to them He unhesitating-
ly says that legislation is justifiable to rem
edy the evils, if legislation can be made eff
fapfiVQ Ruf IN cd hat ha ofc
show the needs of such legislation also show
the extreme difficulty of remedying this state
Of things by mere legislation. In communi-
ties where young children are put to work,
where the laborers are dependent on the
credit Of stores, there is not sufficient public
sentiment TO enforce laws that might be
passed Experience has shown in Connecti-
cut that even the law prohibiting the en-
ployment of children under thirteen years of
age would be a dead letter were it not that
It's enforcement is secured by system of
inspection. The opposition to the law comes
from those very people whom it is intended
toibeneft; from parents who want the wages
OF their children, or from local authorities
who fear that some family will become
public burden if its children do no. work in
the mill. The hostility of capital as well as
the Indifference of labor is another factor to
be considered in estimating the effectiveness
of legislation; and in meeting this the Labor
Commissioner conceives that labor organiza-
tions may be made to serve most useful
purpose. Fears Of discharge, of the black
list, or Of more petty persecution might de-
ter the injured laborer from demanding JUS
tice. But body of laborers would feel
much more confidence. Therefore the
knights Of Labor and Trades Union are adj
vised to become Incorporated under the laws
Of the State; in order that as Incorporated,
legal bodies they may have more weight in
securing the enforcement of remedial laws.
This, however, would not ensure the enforce
ment of laws which the public sentiment of
some communities of laborers might not APP
prove.