The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-23
PROTECT TRADES UNIONS
FACTORY INSPECTOR NrABEE's Sue
GESTION TO LEGISLATURE.
Retail Clerks Need the Assistance of
the State in Regulating
work Hours.

State Factory Inspector McAbee has COM
peted his last trip over the State and re-
ports a great Improvement in the factories
in all parts of the State. His report is be-
ing prepared for the Legislature and will
be ready about the first of the year. The
chief recommendation he will present for
consideration will be for the passage of
law to prevent owners of factories from
discriminating against certain classes of
workmen who may apply to them for work.
This is in reality a measure for
the protection of members of trades
unions, who in some places are de-
barred from applying for employment
by the announced antipathy of the
owners to all trades unions. While the fac
tory inspector does not mean the law to be
one compelling any company or owner of
factory to employ any man who is objec-
tionable to them for any reason it is de-
signed to prevent the posting of notices to
the effect that members of this or that
union need not apply for work.
In addition to this, the inspector will rec
ommend that the retail clerks of the State
be brought under his jurisdiction in so far
as relates to their hours of employment
This is designed as measure against the
stores which keep open nearly every night
in the week and on Sundays, and if adopted
the law will result in the establishment of a
legal work day of not more than ten hours
and provide penalty for any violation of
it on the part of the proprietors of any
store. 1t is expected that the law will be
framed so that it will cover any so-called
agreement" between the employer and the
employee, which is in reality a demand on
the part of the store owner that the en-
Moves either agree tn work overtime or give
up their positions. Under the proposed law
coercion of any sort will be impossible, and
employees will be prevented by law from
making any such agreement.
The inspector also believes that the age
limit for the employment of girls should be
raised from fourteen to sixteen years, and
that boys between the ages of fourteen and
sixteen be either kept at work or in school.
The reason for this is that the inspector
finds that many boys of this age do not at
tend school and will not work, and, as
consequence, become tramps in time. A law
of this sort, he believes, would tend TO re-
strict the production of new tramps to
great extent. Mr.. McAbee will also REG
ened instead of abullshed, and favors the
establishment of home for incorrigfh1e
boys where they can be placed under the
tutelage of experts and thus kept from con-
sionable age.
! Regarding accidents, the inspector finds
that the proprietors of factories are gener-
ally putting in appliances to guard against
them, although in some cases it has been
found almost impossible to either argue or
force employers into doing so. As an addi-
tional safeguard against accidents, the In
spector recommends that law be enacted
prohibiting the employment or any but eX-
perienced men in shops where intricate ma
chinery is liable to cripple either a, careless
or inexperienced man. lie VIII also ask
all fire escapes, except those on private res
licences.