The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-08
EXCELLENT
SHOWING FOR
PROVIDENCE
Increase In Numhar Of Adults
and Decrease in Employ
rneni Of Child Labor.

4 one of the most important documents
submitted TO the senate today, and Il will
come before the house Thursday. is the
annual report OF the factory inspectors
OF the state. j, Ellery Hudson and Helen
NJ jerks.
They state that during the year ending
Dec. 81. 1901, they inspected Gl7 estab-
lishments. This number includes 81 new
embellishments or places never before
visited, but there were % OF the places
Included ina last years report which have
been closed throughout the year, ana
which, therefore, do not appear I'm this
report, making the net increase over the
number reported last year -. Of the
"a new places 81 are located in the city
Of Providence, Is I'm other cities and towns
OF Providence county, and the balance in
other parts OF the state.
The foregoing figures compared with
those reported last year, show an in
crease of 1861 In the number of men en-
ployed. an increase OF 1877 I'm the number
OF women employed; a decrease of ll2 I'm
the number Of boys employed; and a de-
crease OF 70 I'm the number OF girls en-
ployed; a net increase of l769 I'm the whole
number employed.
a comparison of figures with those pub
lished in our last report will show that I'm
Providence county there was an increase
in the total number or employees OF 1916,
which is greater than that for the whole
state, and OF which 2Sl6 were found in
the city of Providence.
The number of children employed is
lA5 less than was reported last year.
While this decrease is small. and while
the number OF children employed the past
year has been larger, with two exoep-
tions, than I'm previous years, still IL is.
In degree, gratifying 10 know that IL
was proportonately smaller than I'm any
year since the factory law was enacted.
In 1900 81 per cent OF the total number
of employees were children under sixteen
years OF age. The figures OF our present
report for the year just closed show the
5.s, while the lowest for any previous year
was per cent. i'm 1899. To persons who
have read the inspection reports or other
states, this percentage may appear large.
but a comparison Of the scope of the
factory laws OF other manufacturing
states with that of our law Will place us
I'm better light. The factory inspection
law OF this state includes I'm It's provi-
sions the oversight OF only such establish
mentS as employ women or children TO
the number OF five; III all places Civ,
Ing employment to labor. without regard
10 the number, sex, or age OF employees,
came under its provisions. as Is the case
In many states. We feel confident that
Rhode Island would rank favorably in
its proportion OF child labor, notwith-
standing the fact that our age limit ad-
mits children into the factories and work
shops two years earlier In life than does
that OF most states.
The concluding paragraph and recon-
msndation OF the inspectors follow:
We are still OF the opinion that some
change is needed in the law as regards
child labor. and believe that an amend
mont embodying our suggestions made
In former reports would be productive or
beneficial results. We also believe that
the scope OF the law should be extended
so az 10 Include among the places coming
under It's provisions all workshops where
women and children are employed with
out regard to the number. We know Of
no reason why three. two, or even one,
should not receive the same oversight
through the factory law that is al pres
ent accorded TO five. our relations with
the manufa cturers have been most pleas
ant. We have been treated with uniform
Kindness and courtesy, and our RECON-
mendat tions have met with due considera-
tim