The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-08
TAKEN up BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE
HOUSE
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST
The Bill Made by Persons Outside the
Legislature-The Question as to Pro-
hibitfng Working Children In Cotton
FactorIes-Mill Men Oppose Any Mill
Lecislation-An Agreement Prohi bit-
the Mills In the State.


Raleigh, February 6.-The house COM
considered the bill to regulate the
hours of labor and the ages of chill
dren in cotton mills this afternoon.
Representative Wright, of Rowan.
and Chief of Police Collins. of Randle-
man, spoke for the bill. Mr.. Wright
said there were 500 children under IL
years Of age working in Rowan fac
tories from twelve to thirteen hours
daily, many getting not over % cents
a day and having to board themselves.
Not one out of twenty-five went to
school, Many 16 years old could not
read or write. AL are dwarfed in body
and mind. He cid not blame the mill
owners. 1t was the fault of the law.
trifiing fathers.
Mr.. Collins said the children in Ran
dleman mills had only twenty-five min
utes to 20 home to dinner and We're
confined twelve hours daily. They We're
too sleepy and tired at night TO hear
preaching. Grown boys and girls could
not even read the figures on their work.
Out Of 700 factory children only seven
ty-five attended school. Over 100 are in
the mills there under IL years old. They
were badly stunted in body and mind.
S. B. Tanner, secretary of Henrietta
mills, said children under IA years of
age did but little work in that fac
tory except to mend broken thread
ends. All children under II years went
to school and many went TO school at
times up to IL years. His two mills
were a mile apart and helped support
two schools and six churches. They
employed 1900 people and they were
satisfied and prospering. They had
plastered rooms. and rents We're only
so cents per room monthly. Ninety
per cent. Of the mill men in the state
have signed an agreement not to en-
ploy young children and all will have
signed in a few days. Virginia and
Kentucky passed a labor law ten years
ago and not a cotton mill has been built
there since. Existence of the law Gre
ated friction between employers and
employees. while a voluntary agree
ment would do as much good as a stat
ute. without it's evils.
Moses Cone president of the Green's
boro cotton mills. said it was a bad
time to pass any law. The condition
of factory labor was constantly improv.
ing and wages increasing. Mill labor
was much better cared for than farm
labor had less hardships, was paid
better and worked less. Sixty-five
hours weekly was the rule at his mills
Competition for labor is SO great, mill
men will be compelled to stand by the
agreement as to ages of children en-
ployed and hours of labor.
Representative Ardrey. of Mecklen-
| burg, said the families moving from
country to factory in his county i'm
proved wonderfully
]. II. Pou, for the factory owners
! stated that an agreement would be sub
| mitted to the legislature in few days
signed by every mill owner in the state
The committee adjourned the hearing
| until February Goth.
Mr.. Wright stated that a fully sign
ed agreement might be satisfactory
without a new law. That the commit.
tee was favorable to an agreement wa.
| evident.