The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-06
A CH|LO LABOR LAW
Advocates for and Against it
are Heard,
The Mill Men Present Without Exception D..
clare That Such Law is not Needed
in This State.

The meeting began slowly yesterday
afternoon when before the Committees ON
Manufacturing of the Senate and House
the matter of Child Labor Law was
cussed in the Senate Chamber.
But it warmed up before the meeting
closed, after a session of over three
hours. A number of the heads of cotton
mills were present and most of these
spoke. In every case q declaration was
made that no legislation which would
regulate the hours and time of children
employed in the cotton mills was needed.
You let Us alone and the matter Will
come out all right" said Mr.. Moses II.
Gene. of Greensboro. THE whole thing
is Yankee doings and it is matter OF
politicians working for the labor vote
said Mr.. w. l.. London. of Pittsboro-
Labor is in the saddle now and does
not need legislation" said Mr.. THOMAS
II. Battle. of Rocky Mount. THE girls
in the cotton mills in Henderson are the
prettiest in the county, said Mr.. ID. Y.
Cooper of Henderson. "a sentiment in
North Carolina has been worked UP Tor
OdelI. of Concord. These are but few
CT the terse fire which was used in a
rough and tumble debate. with fire Of
questions and. answers directed at Rep
rcsentative Parker. of Wayne, who held
the centre of the stage in urging that a
child labor law was needed in North
Carolina.
The proceedings began with the reading
Of the bills introduced concerning the
question of the regulating Of child labor
the Gillian bill being read first, then
the Durham bill. Next came the Dockery
bill, and finally the Parker bill, the lat
ter two from the House. and the first
two from the Senate.
The provisions of these bills, in brief,
are S follows:
THE GILLIAN BILL: Prohibits en-
rloyiDg in factories or manufacturing es-
Establishments of any child under fourteen
years of age, while the public school
which he would attend are in session.
Hours prescribed IS not before q. NJ.
or after p. m. The act does not apply
to children over twelve upon whom
widowed mother or totally disabled
father is dependent or in case the child
is an orphan and has no other means OF
support. No child under age of ten
years shall be employed under any cir
cumstances. Violation is put at a mis-
dCmcanor and fire is to be imposed on
the party employing of not more than
one hundred dollars.
THE DURHAM BILL: Prohibits any
child under twelve years of age from
being employed in manufacturing es-
tablishmcnt during the public school
term of the district. After the term CT
the schools of 1903 no minor who can
net read and write. residing in the dis
trict can be employed unless q certii-
cate is shown that the child has been
at school at least two weeks, after 1901
Of at least four weeks. After January
1st 1908, no child under fourteen years
of age to be employed who has not at
tended school for at least 10 per cent of
the term. unless hirdered by sickness,
and no child under fourteen to be ON
pIoycd while the public school of the
district is in session. No child under
twelve years of age is to be allowed
TO work at night, from p. m. to a. m.
unless such has been regulating employ
cd during the working hours Of the day
preceding.
THE PARKER BILL: Prohibits the
employment of any child under the age Of
twelve, unless a widowed mother or
totally disabled father is dependent upon
the labor of the child, or in case a child
is an orphan and has no other means OF
support. No child under ten shall be en-
ployed under any circumstances. No
thild under sixteen shall be kept at
work between p. m. and a. m, or for
mere than sixty-six hours in any week
CT moro than eleven hours in a day No
child under fourteen shall be employed
unless he or she can read and write, ana
unless after January LIST, 1904 such child
attend school for at least nine weeks in
tho wear.
THE DOCKERY BILL: No child to be
employed more than twelve hours a day.
sixty hours week. No child under
twelve to be employed at all in manu-
featuring establishments. No child under
fourteen to be employed unless there is
an affidavit that he is over twelve. No
child under sixteen to be kept at work
later than o'clock at night.
Following the reading of the bills came
the reading of a few petitions upon the
question. and some preliminary efforts to
get the debate started. DR.. J. II. Nc
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