The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-13

/
the State Commission of Labor, showing
that 927 children under twelve We're now
in the mills of the State. The lowest
price paid to women he quoted as 10 cents
a day in two counties, 20 cents in thirteen
and % cents in fourteen, saying that he
supposed children got less.
Among the counties in the 20 cent class
he named Alamance, and Mr.. VIM En-
win. of Durham. said that there must be
some error as he had lived in Alamance
for eighteen years and had not found this
| so.
Mr.. Parker took up the various sections
of his bill and stated his reasons for each.
When he spoke of the need for education
Mr.. Kicks interrupted him to ask: lis
| this an educational meeting?" intimating
that Mr.. Parker was off the track. Mr.
Parker said there was education in his
bill and the chair held that he was keep
ing to the text.
AS going to show the need of such a law
he said that all the States but four had
laws on the subject. He quoted Gov. Ay-
cock and State Superintendent Joyner
as favoring such law and read letters
| from various mill men. saying that child
labor was wrong He said he honored the
mill men who had established schools for
their operatives
Mr.. ]. M. Odell denied the statement
made in Labor Commissioner Warmers
report and said the answers to his blanks
had come from hands who did not Know
what they were talking about. that some
girls received as high as $l.25 and $l.39
a day. AS to SLOT per day being the
highest amount paid to women he de-
clared this untrue, as we'll as declara-
lions about pale faced, hollow-eyed rae
tory girls. He said they did come IN
that way from the country. with pottles
of ouinine but after being with the
mills they became healthy and rosy. he
said If looked as if Mr.. Parker did not
know what he was talking about In re-
Spouse to Mr. Parker's query IL he olu
not think his speech showed that he
knew what he was talking about, MI
OdeU said: mo, it did not.
Mr.. Odell deplored the abuse the mill
men were getting, he declared they ala
much for education and would not know
| inglv injure one child.
Mr.. d. B. Coletrane. of Concord gave
Some statistics, showing that Concord,
with its factories. had made great prog
ress in education. He said that he was
mot inclined to sit still and hear mill
men abused. and that as cashier OF the
hank in Concord, he knew the mill people
wore nrospering He denied emphatl-
cally that there was any abuse of chlld
labor.
Mr.. William Erwin said the mill men
of North Carolina did not want to i'm
pose on the children and were ready 10
meet the committee and agree on a law.
| That the sentiment of the mill men was
not to fight legislation, but to get such
as would be mutually satisfactory.
Senator Gillian read his BILL but SAID
that after celebrating on the matter
he had concluded that it would be best
to eliminate all educational features
from it. He said that he had come to
the conclusion that these three points
should go in bill No child under four
teen to work at night none under ten
to be in the mills at all, and none under
twelve unless there was widowed
| mother or totally disabled father to aid.
Continuing, Mr.. Gillian outlined as
proper bill this: No child under twelve
years to be employed in a mandatory
establishment at any time, day or night
sixty-six hours to be a weeks work; no
| child under fourteen to work between
| the hours Of p. N. and a. m; VIOLA
| tors of the act, either employer or par
ent to be fined not exceeding 500.
Mr.. Gillian said that he did not think
any good purpose would be attained by
| connecting education with the bill, but
! if any was to be attached he stood for
| his bill He said that he was not for
compulsory education at this period II
our history. He ably presented the
points of his substitute bill and thought
| the manufacturers would agree to it, as
| it would meet all emergencies He in
sisted that the regulation concerning
night labor was essential, and that q
conservative bill could be acceptable to
all.
Mr.. D. Y Cooper spoke next, intimating
/ that Mr.. Gilliam's bill suited him. He
| poured oil on the troubled waters by
saying that he did not think that there
| had been any purpose to abuse the mill
men and did not think Mr. Parker had
said an unkind word, but had simply
read from the record. Here Mr.. Odell
! interjected, But he said it was true.
! There was a laugh and good humor pre-
vailed. Mr.. Cooper spoke of the great