New-York tribune., 1895-12-08
CHILDREN IN FACTORIES.
TESTIMONY ABOUT THE LAWS FOR THEIR
BENEFIT
~-,rrNENTs by MR. GERRY. INSPECTOR FRANEY
AND oTHERs-AGE CERTIFICATES AND PER
,r-py-TUE QUESTION OF Sr-PERy,s

x7ArEMENrs by MR. GERRY. INSPECTOR rRANEy
AND oTHERs-AGE CERTIFICATES AND PER
JrRY-THE QUESTION OF sUPERvls-
ING MERCANTILE STORES
The Reinhard Assembly Committee appointed to
,,vestlgate the condition of boys and girls working
N stores and factories. met again yesterday in
Room Is. City Hall.
rbridge T Gerry. president OF the Society for the
Yrsvention of Cruelty 10 Children. read long
.a,enent giving the history of the factory legisa-
.,on which had been proposed since 1883. and the
,orts made by his society TO secure such leglsla-
.,,r He said that he had some suggestions TO
oks 10 the committee, the first Of which was, that
nsrents should be held 10 strict Accountability foi
.r,n,oving their children in factories for in many
csses the parents were more to blame than the
factory people
ON the second pace" said Mr.. Gerry II am OF
che opinion that the certificate of birth is simply
. farce Our society has knowledge OF children who
were only ten. eleven and twelve years old. sworn
~ as fourteen years old and older. suggest that
the factory inspectors should have Office. and
that the birth certificate should be issued there after
an examination. and in pace else. Then the re-
sponsbllity could be fixed
Another great evi" continued Mr. Gerry. ''s that
The compulsory education law is not properly en-
forced"
What is your opinion Of law fixing the age o.
children who work in drygoods stores was asked
undesirable. and that there is necessity for IT,
We have not many complaints about very young
children working in mercantile stores"
John Franey Assistant Chief Inspector OF Fac
tories. was called next and was asked: DO youi
inspectors find as many violations by notaries OF
rhe age law formerly The reply Yes
sir lust many ever
Mi Franey said that the factory inspectors should
have the power OF prosecuting parents OF employed
'that the age certificates should be issued by the
Factory Department. ! may say that, defective as
the law is have reduced the number OF
children employed in factories from 1l2 in loo TO ?.
81 100"
three women factory inspectors and one bakeshoI
INSPECTOR. There 24.0D factories in New York.
h added. and IL is mpossibiity for us 10 visit
them Il. once a year. do not want to alarm the
inspectors thoroughly TO enforce the factory law In
ths city alone
When asked II he had any suggestions TO make
10 the comm 'ttee. Mr. Franey answered: We'll,
Ylovment OF children in mercantile stores / think
THAI there should be some supervision over Iner-
camille establishments and that children less than
fourteen years old should be kept out of the
stores and sent 10 school"
Several deputy factory inspectors testified about
t.eir work and the need OF more inspectors 10
cover the districts properly.
Nr. Franey was recalled and said that the
eweAtshop system was the hardest part OF the in
spectors work; Il don't think" said he. "the
swea,shop evil. 1t will require a higher law to
eradicate it
james Connolly. chief factory inspector of the
State of New-York. explained about the sub
cha rge, and the method OF conducting it.
Committeeman Seth Wilkes announced that the
fna public hearing would be held Saturday
next IN the same place.