Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-12-24
TO STOP CHILD LABOR.
Commissioner Erickson Makes Rec
concentrations i'm His An
nual Report.

Madison, Wis. Dec. 17.-[Special.] J.
Commissioner Halford Erickson of the
bureau of labor industrial and census
statistics in his report to the governor
will make some important recommended
tions in regard to the laws concerning
child and female labor in Wisconsin.
a special study by this department and
Mr.. Erickson is convinced that more
stringent laws are needed to effectually
prevent the employment of children in
the mills and factories. The law now in
force provides that when child under
mill or factory his discharge may be
ordered by the factory inspectors who
work under the direction of this bureau.
The discharge must take place within
thirty days of the order. When the or
der is complied with and the child dis
missed the power of the bureau ends.
Where the Law is Weak.
This is one of the weak points of the
law, and many employers evade it by dis
the inspector has left. then accomplishing
the person. If the subterfuge is discov-
cred it is necessary to again serve notice
on the employer to discharge the child.
an so on ad infinitum. Commissioners
Erickson has plan to obviate this diff
the statute so as to make it a criminal
offense for any employer to have in his
employ children under the forbidden age,
and giving the labor bureau through it's
factory inspectors power to prosecute in
the name of the state employers guilty of
violating the law.
The present law protects only children
employed in mills and factories and does
not prevent the employment of children
under IA years of age in any mercantile
establishment. Mr.. Erickson wants the
statute made sufficiently sweeping to pre-
vent the employment of young children
in any business and also to protect wom-
on from being compelled to work more
than ten hours a day in any sphere, with
the possible exception of some OF the
lighter occupations, and in these requir-
ing the employer to give extra pay for
overtime.
Women and Children Helpless.
This provision is considered especially
necessary from the fact that women and
children are practically helpless in OPP
posing the demands of their employers.
Commissioner Erickson gives his views
on this point as follows:
The causes. of the growth of child labor
are easily discovered The minute subd-
yS9 of th dna M has
as that of adults although the former will
invariably accept lower wages. Children
ana women are especially helpless and have
shown that they are incapable of effective
organization to protect themselves The
present friction between employees and their
employers has largely aided the growth of
child labor. as the employers have frequent
ly found 1T of great assistance in resisting
the demands of labor organizations These
causes have operated to introduce the en-
poyment of women and children largely.
and will continue to do so unless effective
legislation is secured to prevent it.
Owing to the activity of the factory in
nj t1n x,I,tJ Ia
labor in Wisconsin. The laws now in force
have been passed at different times and for
different purposes. and as a natural result
are somewhat confused Commissioner
Erickson urges complete revision of the
laws on this subject at the coming session
of the legislature.
Will Take Census of Child Labor.
The plans of the department for the COM
ing year embrace a compete census of the
woman and child labor of the state. to he
taken by the factory inspectors working
under its supervision, who would devote
the greater part of their time to this work,
ment. wages received, number of hours en-
poyed Il day. and number of days and
months in Il year, as well as Il large amount
of other Information covering the industrial.
financial and economic condition of the
woman and child employees in the state
This information, compiled and tabuiated
would furnish valuable fund of informa-
ton for the study of this question and pre-
pare the ground for future legislation hav
ing for its object the improvement of their
condition.