Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-17

Among the many interesting topics discussed
in the annual report of Mr.. A b. Howard. CHIEF
Of the MARYLAND bureau Of industrial statistics,
none deserves more consideration than that OF
child labor. Perhaps in no other state are the
children who must work better cared for than
in MARYLAND, and yet their condition is not
what il ought to be- Mr.. Howard says that IN
the factories visited there was evident on all
sides disposition on the part of the employer
to secure as much bodily comfort and safety as
was consistent with the character Of the en-
pioyment in which the children were engaged
There we're none of the narrowing sights COM
mon in the factories of many cities with which
Baltimore completes. One firm has established
boarding house for its female employees house
in which are provided many comforts within
the reach Of individual factory hands. And
vet it is not a pleasant thing to know that SO
many little ones must work ten hours a day, and
Mr. Howard is right when he regards as some
thing of gravity the mere fact that there are a
number of little ones, who, through their own
necessities or the necessities of those dependent,
either wholly or in part upon them. are COM
paIIed to premature age. The law of Maryland
forbids the employment of boys or girls who
are less than sixteen years of age for more than
two hours each day, and the law seems to be re-
spected, but the inspecting officer seems to have
some difficulty in finding out the ages
OF those in whose behalf he keeps his
eyes Open But he has a reasonable
idea secured through census statistics.
The school pop uiation of Baltimore is l2s, ls2.
During the year 1890 there were 65,7 55 pupils
in the public schools and these with those at
tending private schools made up little less
than fifty-three per cent Of those Of school age
who we're receiving needed instruction. The
results in 1891 were about the same and when
analvzed show although there were 5,ss7 in
school between the ages Of eleven and twelve
there are but 1929 remaining between fifteen
and sixteen years. 1t is evident that the
Youngsters begin to leave school at about the
age of twelve and from that time on are either
| at work or may be found on the streets. The
absence of school-training is, says MIR. Howard
4 painfully apparent in conversation with The
children in the factories. for though ''nearly al
| can read and write yet the latter very usefu
! accomplishment is a very laborious process fo
many OF them. Illiteracy prevails to a consid
| cradle extent, a number admitting that the.
have never read a book of any description.
That such description of affairs should exis
is one of the humiliations which the civilization
of today has to suffer. A compulsory educa
ton law, rigidly enforced. will amend it AM
must in the end be for the best. but when tn
earnings of the children are necessary for thel
support and the support Of others the com
pellIng Of attendance on school must caus
some suffering. The problem is a serious on
and its most reasonable solution is that whicl
insists upon the widest possible spread of al
educational influences. Maryland needs a com
pulsory education law.