Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-10
State Inspector Under New
Law in Town.
REQUIREMENTS NOW GENERAL
No Child Under IL Permitted
to be EmPloyed.
Other Provisions and Safe
guards in Force.

uty factory inspector of the state. il
in Rock Island. He comes here
under the provisions of the new act
adopted BY the last legislature and
which became operative July 1. reg.
ulating the employment of children
and also the using of safeguards for
the protection of employees in fac
tories, workshops, etc., in the way OF
blowers for friction wheels, fire
escapes and governing the manufac-
ture OF wearing apparel, cigars, etc.
Under the recent enactment there is
established department of factory
inspector the exactions under which
are amendatory to the old law which
pertained entirely to the government
of factories and the matter of en-
ployment of minors. The chief OBJ
ject of the legislation is to prohibit
child labor, at least under the more
tender years, and it extends now to
stores, offices and all forms OF bus
mess pursuit. The law under which
Inspector Elm is working provides
that mo child under the age OF IA
years shall be employed, permitted
or suffered to work for wages at any
gainful occupation hereinafter men
toned" Not only this, but further.
at shall be the duty of every per-
son, firm or corporation, agent or
manager OF any firm or corporation
employing minors in any mercantile
store, Office. laundry,
manufacturing establishment, fac
tory, or workshop within this state,
to keep register, in which said
minors shall be employed, or per-
mitted or suffered to work, in which
register shall be recorded the name,
age, and place Of residence of every
child employed or permitted or sui-
fered to work therein under the age
OF 16 years; and it shall be unlawful
to hire or employ. or to permit or to
suffer to work, any child under the
age Of 16 years and over the age Of
IA years. unless there is first pro-
vided and placed on file an affidavit
made by the parent or guardian.
stating the name, date, and place Of
birth of such child"
This register or affidavit is to be
produced on demand of the inspector,
and there must also be kept posted in
the factory or other place of employ
msnt list containing the name,
age, residence, etc. of those under
l6 years Of age. The hours of en-
ployment for such children are not
to exceed 6U hours q week or 10
hours q day. and employment where
life and limb are in jeopardy is
forbidden, as far as children
under 16 is concerned. Tho inspec-
tors are given power to inspect all
places Of employment at reasonable
times. Penalties for violation, in
GLIDING fines of from $40 to 800. are
provided for. The inspector has q
right to inquire into the ply steal
fitness of all children under i6 years
of age and demand certificate from
. reputable physician, where it may
appear that q child is unable to per-
form the labor imposed upon it.
The compulsory education clause
also comes under the amended act.
General Safeguard.
The provision for blowers for fric.
ton wheels insures . safeguard for
human life and limb, while within
three months all buildings which are
four or more stories high. excepting
such as are used for private resi-
dences exclusively, but including
fats and apartment buildings, are to
be provided with one or more metal
lie ladder or stair fire escapes at
tached to the outer walls, and pro-
vided platforms Of such form and
dimensions, and such proximity to
one or more windows of each story
above the first, - to render access
to such ladder or stairs from each
story easy and safe, and shall also
be provided with automatic metallic
fire escapes. or other proper device,
to be attached to the inside of build
ings. 20 ss to afford q means of es-
cape to all who are unable to use
ladders or stairs; the number. looa-
ton. msterial and construction of
such escapes to be subject to the sp-
proval of the inspector of factories.
provided, however. that all build
ings more than two stories in height
used for manufacturing purposes. or
for hotels, dormitories, schools,
seminaries. hospitals. or ssylums,
shall have at least one such ladder
dre escape for every 80 persons, and
one such automatic metallic escape,
or other device. for every rs per-
sons. for which working. sleeping or
living accommodation are provided
above the second stories; and that
ill public halls. which provide seat
ing room above the frst CT ground
story. shall be provided with the
number Of ladders and other fre
escapes the inspector may designate. :"
The same cot prohibits the man
ufsoture, in whole or part, Of cloth.
ing, purses. feathers, artificial
flowers or cigars. in living rooms
except by members Of the family
living therein. There are require
ments - to the keeping of workshops
cleanly. extending the control Of the
state board Of health over them, and