The news & observer., 1901-03-10

snE K. 7. BOOTH COMPANY. Ithaca. N. Y.
to all factories in which the employment
| is dangerous to health.
Eat some pains and labor to myself, .
said Mr.. Peele, I have examined the
labor laws Of most of our sister States
believing that this committee and mcm-
bers of the General Assembly who have
not had time and opportunity to do So
would be glad to have what light these
laws afford and to see what safeguards
other legislatures have seen fit TO throw
around the lives and health of children.
believe furthermore that the reason
why our State is behind nearly all the
others in safeguarding the life. health
and morals of its children employed in
factories is because the matter has never
been properly and sufficiently brought 10
public attention. 1t is true the Supreme
Court Clark, j., delivering the opinion.
in Ward VS.. Odell 126 N. C, Report, pages
947 and 948, spoke in no uncertain terms
but public attention has not yet been
aroused. 1t will be- Ii is coming, and
this General Assembly might as we'll
have the credit of entering the wedge as
any other rs not life more than meat
and the body than raiment?" once asked
the Great Reformer from Gallilee. He
took special interest in children, you re-
member. | hope there is none among us
who weighs property more than life, and
who weighs raiment or the spinning OF
il more tha nthe body (health)
Up to 1876 most of the States OF our
Union had found it wise and necessary In
enactng laws safeguarding the lives and
health of children to limit the ages and
hours of employment. All of the States,
including our dear beloved North Caro-
lima. have always found it wise and ne
cessary to throw protecting arms around
the property of the children minors as
they are called in law clean up to the
age CT twenty one. It would take volumes
to contain the laws and decisions in our
own State alone upholding the rights of
minors against the strong arm of the
oppressor Since in the course of our de-
velopment employments which are often
DANGEROUS to health have been introduced,
can we entrust the lives and health of the
children entirely TO private interests?
We have not thought proper to leave
their property rights to the tender mer-
cias Of private interests. For property
rights the law tenderly appoints disin-
terested guardian who must give bond
to the public for the faithful discharge
OF his duty
California is a rich and progressive
State. Let us see what are its laws re-
gulatiLg the employment of children.
section l. No minor under the age
of eighteen shall be empoyed in labor
ing in any manufacturing, mechanical, or
merchantle establishment or other place
of labor, more than ten hours in one day,
except when ii is necessary to make
repairs to prevent the Interruption of the
ordinary running Of the machinery, or
when a different apportionment of the
hours Of labor is made for the sole pur-
pose Of making a shorter days work for
one day of the week; and in no case
shall the hours Of labor exceed sixty
hours in a week.
Section 2 No child under ten years of
age shall be employed in any factory,
workshop or mercantile establishments; and
every minor under sixteen years of age
when so employed shall be recorded by
name ma book kept for the purpose, and
certificate (duly verified by his or her
guardian. or if the minor shall have no
parent or guardian. then by such minor.
stating age and place OF birth Of such
'minor) shall be kept on file by the en-
shall be produced by him or his agent
at the requirement of the commissioner
Of the bureau of labor statistics.
Section 3. Every person or corporation
employing minors under sixteen years
Of age in any manufacturing establish
ment. shall post and keep posted in
conspicuous place in every room where
such helpers are employed, q printed
notice stating the number of hours per
day for each day of the week required Of
such persons, and in every room where
miners under sixteen years of age are
employed a list of their names, with their
ages.
Section 4. Any person or corporation
thar knowingly violates or omits to COM
ply with any Of the foregoing provisions
Of this act or who knowingly employs, or
suffers or permits any minor to be en-
ployed, in violation thereof, shall, on
conviction, be punished by fine of not
less than fifty nor more than two hun
drcd dollars for each offense.
Section 5. 1t shall be the duty Of COM
missioner Of the bureau of labor sta
tstics to enforce the provisions of this
act"
The laws of Colorado forbid employment
of child under fourteen years old in
any business during school terms unless
the child shall have attended school II
weeks in the year. Connecticut, Illinois
and some other States have the same pro-
visions substantially. In Illinois employ
ment under 13 years of age may be al
lowed by the school board if the child
has attended school eight weeks.
In Louisiana no child under fourteen
shall be employed in any factory unless
he shall have attended school four
months.
Some States throw greater safeguards
around the girls than the boys. In Maine
no child can be employed in manufacto-
ries except during vacation unless he has
attended school at least sixteen weeks
during the year
In Maryland no child under sixteen can
be employed in any factory except can
ming establishments.
The following is the agreement which
has been signed by most Of the factories
in the State. as l am informed:
AGREEMENT AND PETITION.
we, the undersigned cotton mill own
ers and managers agree to the following
taking effect March LIST, 1901.
Q). That one weeks work shall not ex-
ceed &C hours.