New-York tribune., 1902-07-10
CHILD LABOR PROBLEM.
CIVIL SERVICE BELIEVED By MANY TO BE
THE SOLUTION

The Civil Service Reform committee of the Mas
sachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs has
issued in its third report statement concerning
Industrial conditions they relate to children
which should be read by every woman and man in
terested IN preventing the slaughter Of the inno-
cents
Civil Service from the standpoint OF those in
teresed in the health and education Of children is
the keynote. or what good. inquiries the report. is
II to secure legal eractments providing for sani-
tary conditions Of factories and an age limit in
the employment of children when these laws are
executed by persons having interest in them
and susceptible 20 corrupting influences.
when we were working in New-York" says the
writer Of the report, FOR the first law in the
world making possible the appointment of women
as factory inspectors, came into personal rela-
ton with conditions demanding the utrost patience
and discretion. We became convinced that women
were needed in these positions Of trust and We
also hoped that could escape from the 'spo!,s
system Though there had been men factory in
spectors for years, there had been abuses in soTe
cases because of the unwillingness of girls and
women 10 make complaints to men. We received
one card, unsigned: Come and hep us Ne are niu,
girls working the NTH floor Of a house with
no no Walet @ aPoVe me thIrd moor no IRE Sscdp' ana
Our first appointments under the Law good,
political and otherwise, and simply added 70
the spoils to be given out. So We learned that
the Civil Service they being obtained through free
competition and remaining during god service I'VE
cannot risk these national interests the hands
OF man or woman who has not been selected for
special fitness You how this office
is TO suggestions Of bribery in form another.
and in manner impossible detect. Even the
parents, in their eaEerneSS to have the wages of
their children. will make false statements of age
and offer small bribe.
What We must keen in mind steadily. that
our higher interests cannot he served by and
women caught up here and there pay political
promises. This great movement Of our General
Federation of WOmen'S Clubs will bring added
good bit of work with hand insisting that
child of ten shall not work at night in factory
mine, and then put in by haphazard an inspector
who neither knows and is subject to
removal by public opinion. We are reckless in the
waste of human experience when turn out
efficient man or woman simply for the sake Of put
ting else in. and this will be done until Of
fciaIs protected by the Civil Service Ia
We told that child labor has increased In
some of Northern States in spite of the law.
such is the struggle for life and competition of in
shall be carried by inspectors selected accord
ing to Civil Service reform principles. but our
Southern States unprotected by law. and are
taken unawareS. by the swiftness with which
We country. capital goes from State
to State, seeking its largest opportunity. we must
that enlightened moral consciousness goes
hand in hand saving that least the children shall
be exploited. either by their wretched parents
by the employer
We cannot remedy these evils except by great
concerted movement Of all our federations, that
shall examine with thoroughness into the industrial
conditions of and children, that shall
press for uniform laws, shall insist that Of
cials dealing with these matters shall be appoint
anime into the education which is given in our
schools how far II is practical and helpful and
how far IT enriches the life and increases the op-
portuuty of the boy or girl who leaves school at
fourteen twelve years OF age
The report can be obtained from Miss Perkins.
Concord, Mass