Rock Island Argus., 1903-01-07
to the inspection of the commissioners
of labor or their representatives.

| which have to bring to your attention
is that of the employment of the con-
victs in the penitentiaries. The COM
petition of convict labor with free la
Dor should not exist. 1 am in favor of
altogether abolishing sueh competi-
| tion, and / have reason TO hope for
| satisfactory solution before the ad-
| journment of the present general as
sembly. Early in my administration
as governor tie convict labor question
was taken up for systematic consider
alton, with Il view to reaching a set
| tlement of it which should be conclu-
sive, and at the same time satisfactory
to all interests involved. There were
held a number of conferences. partici-
pated in by representatives of labor,
manufacturers, and the wardens and
commissioners Of the penitentiaries.
The object of these conferences, the
results accomplished, and the concIu-
sion finally reached, are set forth in
the report of Mr.. Adam Menehe,
president OF the State Federation OF
Labor. submitted TO that body at its
recent meeting. ft
Inspection of Factories and Child Labor.
This department was created in 1893
with a corps of ten inspectors whose
jurisdiction was limited to the inspec-
ton of factories and workshops. BY
the act of the Fortieth general assem-
bly, the jurisdiction of the department
was extended so as to embrace the
inspection of all mercantile institutions.
Attention has been given recently to
material reforms in the work of the
department. Now not only is action
taken against the employer, but the
child under IA is turned over to the
officers of the compulsory department
of the board of education of Chicago
and returned TO school. Whenever an
inspector finds a child who is palpably
under the age of IA years. the affida-
Wit is taken Up for investigation. If
it proves false and if it be shown that
the age is less than II years, the child
is placed back in school, the parent
is censured and the employer is given
a proper warning. An important ad-
vance has been made by the depart
ment in the inspection of sweat-shops.
The department has recently assumed
the exercise of police power, and now
the inspectors, in making an inspection
of a garment shop, issue such orders
the establishments in Illinois cannot be
inspected in the short period of one
year with the small corps of inspec-
tors now provided by law. In my
opinion the legislature ought to provide
for a reasonable increase in the num-
ber of inspectors. In my opinion fif-
ty inspectors would not be too many.
State Board of Arbitration.
The state board of arbitration has
rapidly grown in Importance until 1t
now ranks among the most potent fac
tors in the Industrial world. 1t is graft
flying to note that the period of great
est advance in its practical achieve
ments has been during the past two
years. This advance has been truly
notable. When the law was originally
enacted in 1895, the arbitra ton of Ia
Dor disputes by an official tribunal had
been hitherto unknown in Illinois. 1t
is not surprising, therefore, that the
first attempt at legislation on this sub
ject should be somewhat crude and |
The arbitration law. as first |
enacted, proved to be defective in |
many respects. leaving the board prac-
tically without power to do anything. |
From time to time the law has been |
amended until now it is quite COM |
monty looked upon as being in ad- |
vance of all other state arbitration |
laws. The results accomplished have |
inspired general public confidence in
this board and its praises have gone |
beyond the state. Its work has al
ready saved, since the beginning of |
the present state administrat ton, to
employers, to employees and to the
general public, sum which it is not
possible to calculate with perfect ac-
curacy, but which may be said, with
due conservatism, to aggregate mill
ons of dollars. I believe there VIII
De no dissent from the opinion 1 here
Oy express that ample provision should
De made by the general assembly to
enable this board to carry on its splen-
lid work.
The State Board of Charities.
The state board of charities now has
sixteen charitable institutions under
is Jurisdiction. Fifteen of these are
n active operation and furnish ac-
.ommodations for over II 900 inmates.
The other, the State Home for Delin-
Iuent boys, is in process of construc-
ion. Over all the charitable institu-
ions the state board of charities has
Exercised yigilant, economical super
'ision, keenly alive at all times to
mcient management and the great re-
reposed in the state in the
are and education of its victims of !
The forty-second general r
ssembly appropriated 81 ABS, ,024.92 for
he enlargement and maintenance of
hese institutions for the two years
'eginning July 1, 1901. The care of
he insane and hopelessly feeble
minded has been humane and intelli- -.
ent; the instruction of the deaf and .
lind has been along lines fitting them
r useful citizenship; the soldiers or :
hans have received every attention .
ossible in the way of education and .
raining, and the soldiers and sailors
Widows have been made comfortable .