Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-21
TEUTON TOILERS.
Something About German
Apprentices.
MUTUAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES.
Work and Wages-Rights OF Ap-
prantices-Industrial Schools
Female Operatives.


Female Operatives.
According to the report of the factory
inspectors of the German Empire, busi-
ness during the year 1887 was good, and
a general improvement manifested itself,
especially during the last six months OF
the year. Activity prevailed in many
works which in 1886 had with difficulty
been able to keep their men employed,
and the shortening of the hours OF labor,
which had been of frequent occurrence
on account of falling off of orders, came
generally to a stop, and an increased en-
ployment of labor succeeded thereto.
The general improvement on business
which thus began in 1887 continued
throughout 1888 to an increased extent,
which is said by one Of the leading jour
malls Of the Empire to have been the most
active year since 1901.
The biennial report of 1886 shows that
there were employed in the factories
that year 81 ,053 children from II to IA
years of age and 134 ,529 young persons
from IA to 16 years old. The regulations
of the State governing children are often
violated, but nearly as often enforced
There is but slight disposition among
manufacturers to provide themselves
with skilled laborers by training up ap-
prentices. The most frequent objection,
however, lie that the apprentices do not
want to serve their time fully out, and
when they have acquired trade leave
those of whom they have learned 1t to
90 to some one else.
There is less running away by ap-
prentices than a few years ago, even
when there is no written contract. This
is said to be because labor in general has
become more stable, and because ap'
prentices are paid better wages towards
the close of their apprenticeship than
formerly.
Here are some special regulations oi
the German Empire controlling the en-
ployment of apprentices: The master
must give the apprentice thorough in
struction in the trade he undertakes to
teach them, either personally or by a
Trustworthy substitute. He must furnish
the apprentice opportunity to attend
divine worship on Sundays and church
days, and teach him industry and
morality.
The apprentice is subject to the master
as to a father, and is required to pay full
obedience to those placed over him. The
apprenticeship, if no longer period is
provided for in the indenture, can be
terminated at any time during the first
four years by either party, but the time
of trial cannot be made to last longer
than three months. After the expira-
ton of this time it can be ended by the
master Cd when it is learned that the
apprentice or those acting for him pre-
sented false testimonials or deceived the
master as to the apprentices obligations
to work elsewhere (2) when it turns out
that the apprentice is given to stealing or
to shameful life; 90 when he quits v work
without permission, or emphatlcally re-
fuses to perform the conditions in toe
contract; (4) when he carelessly goes
about with fire or light, contrary to the
command of his master; (5) when he is
guilty of gross misconduct towards his
master or those over him; co. when he
willfully damages the property OF his
master or fellow -workmen; % when he
leads members of the family of his
master or fellow-workmen to commit i'm
moral or criminal acts and (S) when the
apprentice proves to be incapable OF
doing the work of the apprenticeship or
k6b6 bOlu0 NcIy Dhu olECdEC, bub III lllC
cases of to the dismissal must occur
within one week after the circumstances
are learned of by the master.
On the part of the apprentices it can be
dissolved after the four weeks or three
able to work; ~ when the master or
those acting for him, or their families,
lead their employers, or the families of
khA 30 oat two, tr
law or good morals; (3) when the master
will not pay his workmen their just
wages ; (4) when the continuation of the
apprenticeship would endanger the health
or life of the apprentice, and (5) when
the master neglects his legal obligations
to the apprentice in respect to health
morals or instruction, or grossly misuses
his authority over him, or becomes in
capable of fulfilling the obligations under
taken by him in the contract.
On the conclusion of the apprentice
ship the master has to give the appren-
tice certificate showing the trade, the
length of the apprenticeship, the pro-
gress made and the general conduct Of
the apprentice, which certificate local
officials authenticate.
The employment of young persons and
children in the factories is governed by
the following regulations, which are also
understood to be applicable to young
apprentices: Children under u years of
age are not to be employed, and those
under IA are not to labor more
than six hours a day. Children
who have not been to school the
required length of time can be
used in factories only when three
hours day of school instruction are
guaranteed them. Young persons from
IA to 16 years old are not to labor more
than ten hours day. They cannot be-
gin work before 80 a. M, nor continue
it later than s 80 p. M, and must be
given regular resting pauses; this to be,
for children half an hour, for young per-
sons IL to IA one hour at midday, as we'll
as at least half an hour in the forenoon
and half an hour in the afternoon. No
work is to be undertaken during the
pauses. They must be allowed Sundays
and holidays.
Besides the instruction which appren-
tices get in the factories themselves,
there are particular schools and institu.
tions for imparting to them general
knowledge or fitting them for the special
vocstions they are pursuing, such as
night schools, trade and art schools,
museums, libraries, and workingmen's g
clubs, for general or special improve
mani