Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-24
APPLYING THE LAW.
Glass Manufacturers Get Into Court
for Alleged Misdemeanor, in
VIOLATING THE CHILD LABOR ACT.
Change In the Directory of the Columbia
Iron and Steel Company.
PAINTERS VOTE ON SHORTER HOURS

The grand jury yesterday returned true
bills against Isaac and Joshua Wormser,
the glass manufacturers at Laughlin sta
ton, for misdem eanor, under the act of May
20, 1889. relating to the employment of chill
dren. ---a-
Inspector Baker was here some months
ago and made tour of the factories, shops
and stores, and inquired into the manner in
which the law in these various establish
ments is observed. As a result OF his tour
Of inspection, an information was made be-
fore Alderman Warner, against the Worm
sers, and it is said lie has evidence against
one or two other firms, which he will con-
slider after this case is disposed Of
This lis the first prosecution under the
present act, and its termination will be
watched for with considerable interest. The
following is the law on the subject:
No child under II years ot age shall be en-
ployed in any factory. manufacturing or mer-
camille establishment within this State. 1t
shall be the duty of every person SO employing
| children to keep register, in which shall be
recorded the name birthplace, age and place
of residence Of every person SO employed by
him under the age of Is years.
AN AFFIDAVIT OF BIRTH NECESSARY.
1t shall be unlawful fof any factory, manu-
| featuring or mercantile establishment to hire
or employ any child under the age of 16 years.
without there is first provided and placed on
| file an affidavit made by the parent or guar
dian, stating the age, date and place of birth
| of said child. If said child have no parent or
guardian, then such affidavit shall be made by
the child. which affidavit shall be kept on file
| by the employer, and which said register and
| affidavit shall be produced for inspection on
| demand by the inspector or any of the deputies
| appointed under this act. Every person. firm or
| corporation employing women children or
either in any factory, manufacturing or mer-
| camille establishment, shall post and keep
| posted in conspicuous place in every room
| where such help is employed, a printed notice
stating the number of hours per day for each
| day of the week required of such persons, and
| in every room where children under IL years of
| age employed q list of their names with
| their age.
The act fixes the following penalty for all
violations of its provisions:
Any person who violates any of the provs-
| ions of this act, or who suffers or permits any
| child or females to be employed in violation of
| its provisions, shall be deemed guilty of mis-
demeanor, and on conviction shall be punished
| by fine of not more than 5000.
THE LAW OFTEN DIsREGARDED.
1t is claimed by labor officials that in
manv cases children are employed promiscu-
ously, without any regard whatever for the
| law.
| Master Workman Evans OF District As
sembly 8, X. of L., said last night that he
had a personal knowledge of over 200 young
girls being employed in laundries and other
such places.
"And I am glad" said he. "to see the
matter taken up. know nothing of the
merits of the present case. but know cases
where the grand jury would have no
difficulty in finding true bills"
Agent Dean, of the Anti-Cruelty Society,
said: 81 have had no end OF trouble with
people who persist in employing children
in open defiance, apparently. to the
law. have been successful, how
ever, in stopping a great many yio-
| lations. The factory owners are the
fbardest people, to deal with. Wherever
have found irregularities in stores 1 have
spoken quietly to the proprietors about the
law and they almost invariably remedied
the matter. In many cases 1 found them
law and they were glad to comply with il. I"
THE CHILDREN NEED PROTECTION.
H. f. Dempsey, Worthy Foreman OF D.
A. 3, X. of L., said: This matter has not
been taken up any too soon. The future
welfare of the rising generation depends
very largely upon this question. There is
many young life crippled by confinement
in the shops and factories to hard work.
Bows and girls are permitted to work fire.
quently simply because they prefer not to go
to school Sometimes they are compelled
to work by greedy parents and sometimes
forced to do so to support widowed mother
or helpless father. I have no objection to
them working in the latter case, but other
wise education and the care of the child's
health should be first attended to-
Others spoke in about the same strain.
and all seemed to be very well pleased that
Inspector Baker has undertaken to have the
law observed here. They also say that he
can find more work to do BY making tour
among the stores where cashboys are EN-
ployed and the various telegraph Offices.