The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-11
ONE PHASE OF LEGIsLATIoN.


mi PHASE OF LEGIsLATI0N.
Amongst the legislative enactments
referred to by Mr.. William b. Shaw in
his interesting summary in the current
issue Of Economics. those relating to
women and children occupy a prominent
place. We would willingly believe that
this installment OF strict justice, SO far
as it goes, is due to an increasing sense
Of humanity among the sterner sex N
to a truer and therefore nobler concep-
ton of the rights Of women But truth
compels us to admit that much, II not
most, of the result is due to the praise
worthy energy and persistent hard work
Of women themselves. Wherever a
sphere Of work has been thrown open to
them, suitable to their special powers
and aptitudes, they have reaped an
amount of success hat is gratifying
| alike to the workers themselves and to
those who have advocated their cause
through many years of neglect and dis
daiu. But to stop with that statement
would be to stop short Of the truth. In
spite of the relaxing efforts of heredity,
and generations of enforced idleness in
nearly every form of mental develop
ment, women have been found able to
enter into competition with man in his
favorite and accustomed pursuits, and
to prove themselves his equals and ON
occasion his su%periors. Nothing has
done or can do these ONE greater
honor than the interest they have al
ways manifested in the amelioration OF
the surroundings of their less fortunate
sisters, and with the latter the legisla-
ton Of 1890 largely deals.
Virginia has declared that ten hours
shall hereafter constitute a days labor
for women, and for children under four
teen years Of age. New York had sim
liar limitation, affecting women under
q, and all persons under eighteen. To
this has been added a further prohibit
ton, forbidding the employment of such
employees between the hours of 8 p. m.
and 6 a. m. After July of this year
Massachusetts altogether vetoes the en-
ployment of women of any age, or of
minors, from 10 p. m. to 6 a. IN.
In the higher spheres Of labor, New
York state has recognized the ability OF
sweet girl graduates in medicine by a
provision for the appointment of at
least one physician in each state
insane hospital, where their services
among those of their own sex cannot
fail to be especially valuable. In the
Empire state, the inspector has been
given power to appoint eight women as
additional deputy inspectors to see to
the enforcement Of factory legislation.
The female inspectors are now on Il
numerical ev ] with the males, and the
useful work already done by the smaller
number Of female appointees is a cheer
full omen for the condition of women
wage-workers in the state.
The regulation of the hours of chill
dren's labor suggests the compulsory
education enactments now in force in
several of the states. New York is again
to the front in her ~praiseworthy encour-
agement of night schools, and other
educational facilities for young workers.
Public funds are supporting evening
lecture courses in the cities OF Brooklyn
and New York. The property of asso-
Citations chartered for the maintenance
of free night schools, libraries, and lee
ture courses, is entirely exempt from
state taxation. In all districts in which
schools are open for thirty weeks in the
year, Massachusetts makes that measure
of attendance compulsory. Where such
advantages are not available, the old
term of twenty weeks still holds good.
The regulation applies to all children
between the ages of eight and fourteen.
"Schooling certiticates' must be sur
rendered by employers, when children
leave their employment. Ohio declares
that all youths under sixteen, mot reg
ularly employed" shall attend school for
a full term, fixed at twenty weeks dur
ing each year. This, too, is apart from
the regular full attendance of each and
every child from eight to fourteen, as in
Massachusetts. New Jersey has passed
a free text book law, Iowa has empow-
cred school boards to purchase books
and supply them to pupils at cost price,
and books for INDECENT scholars in Ohio
are provided free of charge. For a sin
gle years class legislation, the summary
we have given makes a very creditable
showing, and, while it still falls short OF
all that may or ought to be, it encour
ages the hope that for our women anC
our children a better time is coming.