The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-06
A CHILD-LABOR SCRAMBLE.
1000 CERTIFICA TIES MADE ADJOINING
CHILDREN TO WORK.

CHILDREN TO WORK.
More Girls Than Boys Are Applying to the
Health Board for Chance to He
"Junior Helpers"-PRrenta and Guar
dams Give Doctors nm Interesting Time.
The Criminal Court building was full again
yesterday Of boys and girls anxious to get GER
tfcates from the Health Board so that they
might work in factories and stores in the school
vacation. On Monday the employment bureau
issued 700 and more certificates. Yesterday
the number was more than 900. There are
more children seeking employment than ever
before in the history OF the bureau More girls
have applied than boys Yesterday there we're
twice as many girls as boys. In most cases the
applicants said that they intended to apply for
work as Junior helpers" Under this head
are classed cash boys and minor salesboys
and minor salesgrls." To work in factory
the child must be II years old to work in n
store II years. To obtain certificate It is
necessary for at least one parent OF the child to
sign the application and make affidavit that
the child is in good health and Of the age re-
Iulred. Tho child must be without physical
intrmity and he able to read and write English.
Most OF the children Yesterday were from the
lower east side. The" mothers usually come
with them. Black haired Je>yesses and blue
eyed Irish Americans were in line with flaxen
haired Germans. The line extended from the
top floor Of the Criminal Court building down
two flights OF stairs. Four policemen prevent
ell tho children from punching each other to
get choice places in the line The Health Board
doctors were kept in hot water by parents and
guardians. A big German. who had accompa-
MED very small boy. told one OF the doctors
that tho boy was his son. When asked to swear
TO this statement. the German said:
II don't mean dat mcbbe he Is my own boy
from myself which | am his ladder. but my
sisters boy he Is which she is der mudder from
him. or course. am his ladder so long as his
muddcr is not here. When | feel like it can
lick him 40 much as please. When somebody
can DO ike dot den he Is more as der ladder
We'll" said the Health Board doctor. when
we ASK You questions we want you to answer
" You ttink I'm liar yes; no :" said the Ger;
m NEE carry money Money on der bank und deg didn't
said noting dot | stole cent. But When
somebody tSls me Tn ah den let him said I'D
have blue eye tomorrow
e Well you won't punch me-" said the doc
Il would. only dot my boy a int a working pa
pei, got yet When he had der paper den
The man was put ont in the hall by big police.
man, but certificate was issued TO the boy.
a small girl who could talk no English
over siix years old. What Is the date Of the
II don't, remind when he was born" said the
woman, but he Is older as his sister, and she
is putty near seven. His name is Louisa. He
can go TO work when he 3 over seven. aint it ~
No said the doctor. she cant go TO work
Dots a funny law. replied the woman. but
make Louisa work on huttonholes anyhow in
m. house und nobody can say something about
Louisa was dragged away weeping and the
crowd Of girls in the line made fun OF her and
TAKE her home and feed her on bread and
milk. shouted one Of the girls
why didn't you bring her down In the baby
Then the crowd ,jeered at the Weeping girl,
and her mother and ] ousa's mother shook her
ny "B 5! Rihdsiopt 10 Hats Mani, dn frccher
Ha -ha -ha- ha -ha /" yelled the crowd. Rub;
Der. rubber; rubber Rats, rats Heine
TSsT Eapt up SSoa 1ous.
Then as Louisa and her mother passed down
the foqss 81 eadsE 70 The
| room OF the General Sessions where Judge
| Newburger was on the bench; causing the
THAT sounds like cot hesllne fight over in
| Commissioner Kc:enan's district
moppcd the pcrspiration from their 6rows after
escorting Louisas mother to the sidewalk and
| building they found a Jewish woman quarrel
| ling with an Irish woman over the ages OF their
l"'Decd an lis a shame they ALLOW the likes
| Of that to be employed in IA factory" said the
| Irish woman polnthgt To the Icwlsh woman $
You only wish dot your boy gets work for
mixed ale money dots all. replied the Jewish
| woman.
! The policemen interfcred and put them. on
different floors in the building whore they
| could not get at each other. When the Irish
woman finally reached the examination room
| she signed a statement to the effect that she
| was tho mother of the boy. In r"uly 10 one OF
| tn" questions put 10 her by the doctor, she
said that the hoy was a poor orphan and that II
| would he a sham" to- prevent him from earn
| ing few dollars to buy shoes for himself.
| Then she told how the boys father and mother
| had died many years ago, and added that ever
| since she had taken care OF the boy. although
| she was only his aunt. When finally told that
/ II was necessary To- have an affidavit from the
boys mother. sh" made affidavit that she was
| the mother After obtaining he certificate for
| the boy she turned upon tho doctors and
| shouted:
| "You'rr a lot Of heathens! It's in the Philo-
| pena Islands YcZ ought TO he, believed Pres
| ilcnt Mckinley was n good man, but me opin-
| ion av him is changed. 80 it IS. He ought TO be
| ashamed. so he ought. to make such hghfor-
| luOtin' civil service laws as these which take
| the chder from the mothers lap! II could
| writo letter I'd tell him it to his face too. 80
| would"
Clerk Meyer. who had charge OF the issuing
| OF certificates. together with the doctors;
| worked overtime until the crowd Of boys and
| girls had been disposed Of. To-day the eSami-