The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-29
Child Labor Bill.

The Tradesman, Chattanooga, Tenn.
 The Legislature of Georgia has before it a bill to regulate child labor in mills. factories, etc. We present a brief synop- sis of the measure. as 1t was engrossed.
 Section l provides that no child under F years old shall be employed in or about any factory or manufacturing establish ment, unless the child has widowed mother, or totally disabled father depend ent on the child's labor and without other means of support. No child under 10 to be employed in or about, or allowed to remain idle in any mill or factory.
 Section enacts that 1t shall be un- lawful for any owner, lessee, overseer, etc, to hire or employ any such child, unless there is first provided and placed on file In the office of such employer an or person standing in paternal relation thereto certifying to the age and date of birth of said child. Any person fur nishing false information of the age of the child or children employed. to be punished according to the Georgia law in such case made and provided.
 Section 3 prohibits employing at night work any junior under the age of H.
 Section I prohibits the employment of any child in or about any factory. etc., who cannot read and write his or her name and simple English sentences, this section to take effect September l, 1903.~
 Sections , and 5 we give in full:
 Sec. 5-Be it further enacted that any
 
 or foreman who violates any of the pro- visions of this act, or who suffers or per- mits any child to be employed in viola ti0n of it's provisions, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemea1or and fine of not less than $25 nor more than 800, or by im- prisonment for not less than twenty-five nor more than 100 days, or by both such fines and imprisonment, at the dis cretion of the court
 Sec. e.-Be it further enacted that the grand jury shall have inquisitorial pow CTS to investigate violations of this act. and that Judges of the Circuit and Grim inal Courts of the State shall especially charge the grand jury at the beginning of each term of the court to investigate violations of this act.
 This is altogether the best draft of a proposed child labor law we have seen. This being especially true of the provi- sion for enforcing the law and punishing offenders who violate It's penal provisions. And since Georgia has decidedly habit of enforcing laws, we should have some hope of these regulations being made eff fective there, to a certain-or more likely to an uncertain--extent.
 The exception in section 1 allowing children of poor widows and disabled fathers to be hired out to support the parent or parents, will be much abused, of course. There are other points in the proposed law that are not thoroughly guarded about which a good deal might be said; but this bill would do as a be- ginner, ana II Will prove to be nothing more than short first step toward such thorough reform as the situation VII fin- ally require and demand. All such laws are worthless. and worse, if they are not executed. And whenever an enlightened people shall begin to enforce the kind of law here synopsized they will begin to learn where 1t is inadequate and needs improving. strengthening, enlarging. Thorough reform will only come when a system of rigid inspection shall be estab- lished in every State and the truant offi- cer becomes the colleague and second of the inspector charged to see that tender children shall not he worked in the mills.