The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-05
THELABOR BILL LAW.
Signed by Governor Mckinney After
Much Deliberation.

MutN DfllpfANfi'hs
The bin of Mr.. Thomas Davis. Of Chester
field county, % regulate the hours Of Tabor
I'm factories where females and children
under fourteen years Of age are employed as
operatives. which passed both houses oi
the General Assembly last saturday,
was signed by the Governor yester-
day evening. The biz has been
I'm ,he nos-essi0n of tie Governor
for several days and he had delayed in Civ
ing IL his approval In order 10 hear the
statements OF the various corporations aud
individuals over the state who had notified
him of their opposition 10 the measure. and
who asked 10 be- heard in their appeal 10 pre-
vent the bin becoming Jaw.
The following is the fun text OF the bill;
1. Re 10 enacted by the General Assembly
Of Virginia. That no female and no child
under fourteen years of age SHAH work - am
operative I'm any factory or manufacturing
establishment in this = tate MOTE than ten
hours in any ono day u twenfy-iOur hours.
a n contracts made OF 10 De made Tor inc
employment 81 any female or OF any enid
under fourteen years OF age. as an operative
Inn any factory or manufacturing establish
meut 10 work more than ten hours I'm any
one day Of twenty-four hours, are and shall
bc void.
.. Anv person having authority 10 contract
for the employment of persons as operatives
i'm any factory or manufacturing or ablish-
mcut who shall engage or contract with any
female OF any child under ffurteen wears of
age 60 work as an operative in hucn inctoiy
OF manufacturing establishment during more
Than ten hours in amy one dav Of twenty
four hours. shall be guilty Of q misdemeanor
and be fined not less than five nor more than
twenty dollars.
This act shall be in force from its passage.
As soon as 10 had been announced that
D.. 4 L.. IU
and communications were received Dy The
Governor from several of the cities and
towns In the state urging that the Bill Do
vetoed. Delegations from Petersburg and
Lynchburg. representing the factories ano
manufacturing Establishments Of those
cities. would call upon him in person. and
stated that III The measure became laN
their mills and factories would neces.
sarily suspend; that I'm order 90 compete
with other cities they would boz compelled
90 continue 90 work their employees, which
consisted largely of women and children
twelve hours per day.
Yesterday morning committee OF gen.
ticmcn representing the manufacturing in
terest of Danyille, called 40 the governor
mansion and entered their protest 10 ih'
bin. They stated chat In North CarOlin.
these operatives were worked from twelve
90 fourteen hOuI, per day, and in order o
compete with that state they were com
PEELED 90 work their employees twelve hours
and in some cases longer.
The Governor was also called upon no hi'
Office I'm the Capitol yesterday by Mai0
Lewis Ginter who employs perhaps NOR
women and girls than any other man
ufacturor in tlo State. Tie heartily en-
d0rsod the bill and stated that be would b'
perfectly satisfied If only eight hours wer'
allowed instead of ten.
Mr. Norman Randolph, of the Richmond
Paper Box Company, who also employs
large number of girls expresses bis isyo
of tho bin and said that its provisions woul.
not iu the least affect his business as he con
,ldered ten hour. per day long enough d
work girl operatives.
The Governor very patiently heard th
protests of the opponents of the measure
and carefully examined their reasons fo
0bieoting 90 b.. and after hearing their zap
peal gave The bin Dbl, hearty approval yes
iorlay evening by signing it.
II is now q law, and goes into effect %
once.