New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-01

&c DIRECTIONS RAISED TO THE MEASURE
HEARING BEFORE THE REINHARD
COMMITTEE.
-. Reinha-d Assembly Committee. appointed 10
"s,isate the condition of girls and boys working
.r.s and factories held another session yester-
- IN the Adermens Chamber in the City Hall.
90 hearing devoted to the consideration OF the
tossed Mercantile bill" otherwise known as the
Ellsworth bill. which would extend the scope OF the
@c,ory laws to drygoods stores and other places
ne-e child labor is employed.
Mrs Charles Russell Lowell president OF the Gov
,ng BOARD of the Consumers League read long
.ssress in favor of the bill. I'VE trust. gentle
IN" said Mrs Lowell. that you will recommend
=. vour report that ore seat shall be provided for
.rv three women employed in retail stores"
Mrs Lowell went 10 say that the bill was In
rsed to grant 20 boys less than eighteen years
"a employed in drygoods stores, the same protec-
a., ;hat ia extended by the statutes OF the state
New York 10 girls and boys working in factories.
s,s also SPOKE OF the need of providing suitable
,s.cheon rooms and toilet rooms for employees. She
.,n that ore argument against the biz used by
many city merchants was that the visits or In
snectors would be exceedingly inconvenient and
that OF the inspectors might fry to levy black
mail hu, she did not believe that this would hap
non. Ms Lowell closed with appeal TO the com
,,tee TO report favorably the bill and asserted
nat Il would do injury 10 the employer; that
substantially the same laws were in force IN other
titles and that it reflection upon the hu-
,,snitv and civilization of New-York that such an
act was not enforced here.
Ms Edward Lautcrbach on behalf Of the Con-
sinners League said she had nothing to add to
what was said by Mrs. Lowell. Il heartily In
so-sa The Mercantile bill" said she, 'and hope he
committee viii report favorably on IT,"
Miss Woodbridge secretary of the Working
W0man's Society. also Endorsed the BILL she SAID
see knew firm in New-York that had instructed
mo- \ after
January mex. al salary greater than SO week
James T. Reynolds. % the University Settlement
Nc a6 Delancey-st.. cordially approved the BILL as
did Catherine McIain. Of Grammar School NO. A.
charles J. Rosebault. Of The Drygoods Chroh-
c'e said he had made an investigation some time
sgo and found that employers as p general rule did
not want child labor in drygoods stores. Il found
said he that the drvgoods employers are opposed
a. being made objects Of special legislation as con-
,ern.ated by the Mercantile bill; they are also OPP
posed 20 having the authority taken out of the hands
o. the people best abe to H. SUCH as the Boards
o. Health and Education and placing it in the hands
o. neople who have special aptitude FOR the work
.aink that the merchants are ready to acqulesce
r. any reasonable proposition to improve the condi-
tin Of children working in stores but they are op-
p.sel 10 special legislation
VIEWS OF \ DRYGOODS MERCHANT.
W Bloomingdale of BloominGda.e Brothers.
next addressed the committee, and complimen'ed il
swea;shops In reference 10 the Ainsworih Pill,
si!d NJ Rloomingdale Il say that many OF the
JrygoOds employers in New-York and Brooklyn are
~ favor Of many Of the provisions OF the bill They
iorse the provision for proper seats in drygoods
houses fer the women employed. the requirements
.nat children ,ess than fourteen years old shall not
b. employed, and that there shall be proper SAM
tary arrangements in every building. believe thai
these provisions should be grated into the existing
laws .iving the Board of Health power over those
features OF all establishments in New-York.
The main thing mat We object TO is factory in
spection We object to that because do not think
Il proper. and do think that there is any
reason why inspectors should be sent into a mer-
camille establishment vN-h the very wide and very
arbitrary powers that they are clothed with by the
Answorth bill"
Mr. Boomngdale said that personally he was de-
cidedly against the employment OF children less
than fourteen years old. Il think" said he. that
the proper kind of age certificate for child would
be issued by the Board Of Education or by the
authorities of private parochial schools" He in
be be- ak Tor luncheon time.
The Rev Thomas Macmillan. Of the Church of the
Paulist Fathers was the next speaker. He spoke
Of the girls who work in during the holidays
ana said that personally he had known of cases Of
worked too hard in The h0aay S SEASON Father Mac
The Rev C. X Capron. Of the Church Assoca-
lion for Advancing the Interests OF Labor Endorsed
cry II the stores are opened four hours additional
on Saturday night in order 70 accommodate the
off from the other days OF the week The spirit
Mr. Bloomlngiale indorses many OF its provisions
long HOURS IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Mrs Iauterbach here said she would like sug-
gest that the provisions of the bill in regard TO
girls working late in the holiday season be made
more stringent we ali know said She that
these poor women who work until u or l o'clock
during the holiday season are completely ex-
Mr B.oom.nsdale here asked If any testimony
mad been adduced showing that the girls worked
We can bring lots of testimony" said Mrs.
Lauterbach who stood UP and faced MT Boom1
H sloek 10 prove 'Ha' s'''' "O'N'u D''''' d " =
DID you bring that testimony. asked Mr..
Bloomingdale. before the comm. ttee? This is the
proper place for II. and YOU have had the oppoT-
Bioom.ngdae. that there is not one single store in
Thrd-ave where the girls don't work more than
Pardon me- replied Mr.. Blooningdale. with a
e mere sore IS one thai asked Mrs Lauerbach
our store loomin gdale IS"
1T must be quite recently. them rejoned Mrs
The rule has been in force for eight years" an
II can tell You Of several girls" said Mrs. Lau-
.erbach truYnphantly who have worked more
man sixty hours; and Of one gir who worked ore
Snndav morning after the holiday season. putting
away stock DO you want the names, Mr. Bloom
no" replied Mr.. Bloomingdale, who added; 1T
S. not fair argue general proposi'onsd irI bn
s'opped up one night until o'clock to disrobe her
argue from this that she worked until O'Clock
NJ Penhard announced that the supporters and
,--n,ents Of the AnswOrth bill would be entitled
10 submit briefs until December An adJou ,
was here taken Ken S the Committee Of the
Factory Inspectors
pianos.