The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-25
LIFE IN THE FACTORIES
INSPECTOR M'ABEE's ANNUAL RE
PORT SPEAKS OF CONDITIONS.
Employees Paid in Due Bills in One
Observation-Disclosures Against
Umion Men.

Although the funds for the expenses of
the state factory inspector were not avail
able until late last fall one-half of the fac
tories of Indiana have been visited by In
spector d. H. McAbee and an interesting
account of the work up to Dec.-)31, 1897, is
contained in the first report, just now being
mailed to the manufacturers of the State.
The years work began May IA and up to
the close of the year S26 inspections were
made, including 2i6 in Indianapolis. with
rare exceptions the orders of the inspector
relative to sanitary conditions and precau-
tionary measures for the safety of en-
ployes have been complied with. 1t is the
duty of the inspector not only to see that
conditions are favorable to the health and
life of employees, but also to enforce all
general laws on the question of labor One
law requires. wages in manufactures to be
paid at least every fortnight. The report
mentions cases where, payment was not
made oftener than once o. month or nve
weeks There is. a provision prohibiting the
payment of employees in due bills or any
thing other than lawful money. The report
says: =. - iH
I'm one locality it was found that where
payments were made monthly one-pau OF 1t
was in lawful money, the other half IN due
bills, redeemable in sixty days; but that by
submitting toIa discount of 10 per cent. the
employees were receiving cash Tor the que
changed and the labofer is now getting the
full earnings. ~
Another law prohibits employers from dis
eliminating against men belonging to labor
unions. On this subject the report says;
''At the ENTRANCE, to two extensive manu- 1So
factories signs We're found erected 70 the
effect that no members or labor unions
would be permitted to work, winch Is con-
trary to. the statute ct Feb. 20, 1893, rage
lac. One signs reads Ihls is an moe
such, and no union axInaker VIII De EN-
ployed.' The president .cfathis factory, after
an interview with the Inspector, Or, consednir n
and the inscription now Is: This is an IN
dependent factory and will be operated as
an independent factory Win the ob press sas
success attended CIR efforts to secure the
removal of the odIous barrier to union me-
chanieS." .yr s'RsaS
1.-TWO cases were developed where dollar
per month was being taken from the earn
ings of each married person ana % cents
from all unmarried employees to establish
fund for the annuaf services or Factory
physician and surgeon to render professional
services to the work people ana tne Ell lam 1ama
wrongs having reached this office. measures
were taken and the custom abolished"
CHILD LABOR.
One thing the factory inspection law
sought to regulate was child>labor. In this
respect the law is defective, as it applies
only to, factories. Assistant Inspector Rob
inson, discussing this subject yesterday
said: The law wa" Intended to prohibit
child labor, but it applies only to factories
The inspector has found eases where boys
and. girls eight to ten years old are working
long hours in the stores but he cannot stop
this evil, as the91A@ does not cover this
class. There are stores where millinery
goods are manufactured In. some cases
children that weresatI0HOrk have been taken
out and sent to school, as the branch OF
work in which they were employed was con-
meaning of the law sifrhere should be an
amendment giving jurisdiction over children
employed in all BRANCHES OF work as we'll
as the factories -
Taken as a whole, the report of the in
speetor shows that tHe, operation of the law
has been successful, c0lr this point 1T Is said:
ut has Been Our earnest effort from
with the large number of employers and
employees of the State5whom the limited PEE
Fiod of service has permitted us to visit to
so shape the enforcement of the law as
will best carry out its'Teal intent and inure
to the most gratifying results for the two
all-important factorSvtcaptal and labor
and we 'conscfentiousl1 feel that success has
resulted from the undertaking.
This week Mr. McAbee is inspecting the
factories of Evansvfile: In month or two
the first canvass or the State will have been
made, and a second one will commence at
once. New Factories will be visited as well
as the old ones.