Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-17
CHILDREN IN FaoroBfEs.
The Question Discussed Mt the Britisl
Trades-Union Congress-.


NEWCASTLE, Sept. 10.-Among the
subjects brought before the Trades
Unions Congress this morning was that
Of the age at which children should be
allowed to work In factories. The great
majority Of the delegates were in favor
OF raising the limit of age. The ma
1ority based their arguments upon
humane and moral principles; the
minority claimed that raising the limit
would be the means of taking a certain
portion of the daily bread out of the
mouths of many poor families who
could not afford such loss.
The delegates were reminded that
many boys and girls were, in cases of
sickness, the support of their parents
and younger brothers and sisters. These
arguments, however, had little weight
against the views expressed by those
who set forth the evils attendant upon
allowing children of tender years to
labor in unhealthy factories, while ex-
posed to hearing and seeing much that
they should neither hear nor see.
Finally motion to raise the age limit
TO ID years was passed by vote of 1856
1853.
To-day one Of the political features of
the work before the congress was de-
veloped. 1t arose when the question of
paying members of parliament came up
for discussion. As well known, mem
beers OF the British parliament receive no
pay, and consequently it is very diff
cult matter for poor man TO get into
parliament, and still more difficult
matter for him to stay there if he sue
rppna hainn alontaI fTt,..n , ., Al
tile Irish members of parliament have,
as rule, not being men of wealth, been
assisted by allowances from funds sub
scrlhed by the wishers for lreland's pros
perity, and in the same way several of
the few English members of parliament
elected from the working classes and by
the working classes have had to rely
upon their friends for pecuniary assist
ance in order to enable them to give up
their usual daily work to attend to the
affairs of their constituents.
1t was announced in the congress to-
day that this question as well as its
kindred questions, those of the pay
ment of members of county councils
and school boards, would come up
prominently at the next session of Par.
Lament, and that the willingness of n
candidate for parliament at the coming
general election to vote for these paw
ments would be made one of the tests
upon which the trades unionists will
decide whether or not to support such n
candidate. 1t will thus be seen that the
labor party seems inclined to ignore the
old political parties on the whole and to
support those who will support measure
advocated by the Trades Union Con
gress.
During the course of the business
transacted by the congress to-day, the
delegates passed resolutions condemning
the sub-letting of government contracts
and holding that public bodies ought
not to enter into contracts with firms
refusing to conform with the customs,
hours and wages decreed as being Just
by the trades-unions. Later in the day
MIR. Charles Fenwick, NJ. p, was re-
elected parliamentary secretary, or sec
rotary to the parliamentary committee
of the Trades. Union Congress, which
committee carries out the work laid out
for i each year at the sessions of this
parliament.
The principle of cooperation, so far
as cooperative stores, workshops, fac
tories. &c, are concerned, was APP
proved by the delegates.