The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-13

the commissioner necessarily take him
from his office much Of the time.
The suggestions Of the insurance
commissioner in his asst annual report,
as we'll as the recommendations made
by him Of changes needed in our in
Surance laws are worthy of and no
doubt will receive rop consideration
at you hands.
THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
This board has done excellent work
during the past two years extending
the scope of its usefulness as the needs
Of the state manifest themselves. 1
transmit herewith the report of the
commissioner of agriculture and CON-
mend the case TO our careful cOnsii-
Grafton. l concur in the recommended
lions therein made.
THE NORTH CAROLINA CORPORA
TON COMMISSION.
This commission is doing work Of far
more value to the state than is gener-
ally understood and its beneficial re-
suits would be greatly enlarged if the
people in the state understood that all
complaints made to the commission n
reference to IN matter in regard to
transportation whether of persons or
of property will receive a prompt and
careful investigation. If those WIN
are disposed to complain about the
corporation commission would complain
to it much good wouid be don Dur
ing the past year the passenger rate
was made the same on the branch lines
OF the Southern, Atlantic Coast Line
and the Seaboard Air Line raj .roaCs as
heretofore existed on the main lines.
This reduction in itself amounts to d
considerable sum to the travelling pub
lie. The reports accompanying this
message set out in detail the work of
the commission for the past two years.
COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND
PRINTING.
CChild Labor in Factories.)
1 call the attention of your Honora-
BILE Body to the recommendations con-
tanned in the report of the cOmm.SSiOn-
er Of labor and printing and commend
them to your careful considerable.
The time appears to be ripe in this
state for some legislation in behalf IF
the children who are working in tex
tile and furniture factories. Most of the
states of the Union and man. foreign
countries have long since passed laws
prohibiting the working of children
under certain ages in factories of the
character named. 1t has heretofore
been deemed inadVisable to legis!ate
| upon this subject here. The state OWES
a duty to her children. The controver-
sy, if there be any, between capitol
and labor has nothing to do with this
question. In a high sense the state IS
a guardian to the children. a child in
this state can be taken by the courts
from the care of a parent who is nam
ifestly and grossly unfit to haVe charge
of it. The right of the state to do this
is found on the duty of the state to
~perpetuate itself by the care of those
who are hereafter to constitute her cit
!zenship. This right being conceded
it becomes the duty Of the state to pro-
tect small children against labor which
ends to dwarf them physically. men
tally oh morally. 1t cannot be denied,
| think, that work in the factories nam
ed by young children is, to say the least
of it, dangerous to their health and
calculated to make of them weak men
n women. l, therefore, earnestly re-
| commend to your Honorable Body the
passage of a law absolutely prohibit
ing the employment in such factories
of any child under the age Of twelve
! years. This law ought also to provide
that no child under the age of fourteen
| shall work in any such factory at
| night, and after 1903 nc child who can
| not read and write should be permitted
to work in any such factory under the
age Of fourteen years. / do not think
| that any exception should be made in
| the law passed. 1 am aware that
many people insist hat there are de-
pendent widows and invalid fathers
/ who need the labor of children under
| the suggested age limit, but the COM
munity owes something to such widows
and wall fathers, and it ought not
to suffer any child under twelve ear
of age to be required to support its
parents. There is great necessity Cor
the development of u industries. !
am glad to see the increase in number
and grow in prosperity. but there is no
such imperative necessity for the crea-
ion and accumulation of wealth :
to justify US in the sacrifice of child
life to secure it Indeed the state will
grow richer by preserving the health
n developing the minds and hearts
IF these children than it car possibly
grow by the creation of any values
which their puny arms can win. For
the sake of humanity. therefore. and
in the name Of the children of the state
it con your high privilege TO secure
them against the CeaSeleSS wear OF
mind and body necessary in the per
Torrance day after day and week afte,
week indoors, OF labor. which not hard
in itself, becomes painful to Children
by its u~nceasinG regularity.
The regulation of the hours OF labor
4 III tSt44lS q pISlloA ain olhN
whiCh is worthy Of discussion and de-
liberation on your part. Through the
education which has come to our pao-
pie by reason OF the inquiries and an
Swers gathered for several years pas
by our commissioners of labor anC
printing there has been a steady lesser
ing in most OF u manufacturing plants
Of the hours of ab0r. Sons of the cot
ton factories are now working only ter
hours per day. some few work twelve
while most of thom work tor only
eleven. Not all o. the manufacturer
are opposed 20 4 ten hour law. and NO
all of the labOrinG IleN are in favor O
It. Much of the wor,- done in factorie:
IS work for which the operative IS pair
/ by the piece. Many OF these operative:
pe-fer more hours but probably most o
the operatives in all the factories prefe1
fewer hours. From the best informa
ton which I can obtain q reasonable
lessening of hours will not decrease III.