The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-24
Law Governing the Employment OF
Children Is Receiving More
Careful Observance.
PRACTICAL BAKER IS NEEDED
CHIEF WANTS ONE ADDED TO THE
LIST OF INSPECTORS.
A Chapter on Buildings without Fire
Escapes-Boiier ExplOsiOns-POpu-
lation Of Indiana Towns.

The sixth annual report of the Depart
ment of Inspection of Indiana for 1902 has
just been issued and is filed with interest
ing statistics. Chief Inspector McAbee. who
prepared the report, calls attention TO the
fact that the law governing the employ
ment of children between the ages of four
teen and sixteen years Is being observed
more carefully than ever for various rea-
sons: First, employers have a better knowl-
edge of the law; second, parents are more
careful in making affidavits as TO age;
third, truant officers are more efficient;
fourth, the supply of this kind of help is
better distributed than heretofore. quite
a number of complaints" the report says.
have been made of children under age
working in the factories. but when investi-
gated by us they were found to be based
on false information. We feel justified in
saying that the child-labor law in Indiana
is very generally obeyed."
On the question of dangerous occupations
the report says that Germany. France.
Italy, Sweden and Norway all have ex-
tended lists of forbidden trades. Continu-
ing, the report says: with the rapid de-
velopment of manufacturing industries in
our State. we will profit by their exam
pie If we shall prohibit the employment
of boys under sixteen and women under
twenty-one from those occupations that are
so injurious to health. Females under six
teen should not be permitted to work in
cigar, tobacco or match factories or rub
Der works. Females over twenty-one en-
ployed in rubber works should be limited to
not more than eight hours per day with one
hour and half of rest and exclusion from
the workrOom.
WELL PROTECTED.
while dangerous machinery is as well
protected in Indiana as in other States,
am convinced that we need a prescribed
list similar TO Ohio, which is, That no
young person under the age of sixteen years
shall be employed by any person. firm or
corporation in this State at employment
whereby its health is likely to be injured,
or its morals may be depraved by such
employment One feature of the Ohio
law declares that female under sixteen
years may be employed in any capacity
where such employment compels them to
remain standing constantly.
Chief Inspector McAbee recommends that
a practical baker be added to the force of
deputies whose special duty it shall be to
deal with bakeshops and food-producing es-
Establishments. I'm our inspection of these
places" the chief says, I'VE have found a
few Of them that were in very good con-
dition, while others were a menace to the
health of their patrons"
In discussing fire escapes the chief in
spector says: I'VE have had our attention
called to certain buildings by fire chiefs and
others. asking that we order escapes on
them. They were either lodging houses or
hotels which were only three stories high
sboud be so amended as to incIuIe SuS
ings of this class" Discussing boiler ex-
plosions the inspector says that during the
caused eleven fatalities and twelve injuries.
None of the establishments in which these
explosions occurred had been inspected by
any other inspectors the report
says. -Four of them were sawmill boilers.
five portable boilers and one in a grain
elevator" A law that would compel owners
OF boilers to have them inspected by a COM
petent inspector every six months, the re-
port says, would be good feature.
NO NOTICE TAKEN.
GAS long as there are only one or two
killed at each explosion" comments the
inspector, mo notice will be taken of the
necessity of licensing the engineers who
have charge of these boilers. Not until aft
er some great catastrophe occurs where a
dozen or more persons lose their lives will
our lawmakers be induced to pass such a.
measure as is I'm force In so many states
A law requiring every man having charge
of high pressure boilers to be licensed by
the State would be keeping abreast of the
times and would be OF no expense to the
taxpayers, as the fee charged for such IL
censes would more than meet the expense
of such a board. l find by referring
to the recommendations made two years
ago that nothing has been done for the
protection from fire in the Central Hospital
for the Insane except that contracts have
been let for changing the stationary bars on
corridor windows to hinges, to be opened
from the outside. This change should ex-
tend to every outside window where in
mates are locked in their rooms; this rec
ommendation TO apply to all buildings, coun-
State where a necessity.
The report shows that the total number of
establishments in the State employing or
ganized labor is 600 and that they employ
71,1n people. There are ninety-one estab-
lishments that are members of combina-
lions or trusts. The report gives the popu-
lation OF some Indiana cities as follows:
Alexandria, 7,221; Anderson, 20.17S; Attica,
$780, Bedford, 6,115: Bloomington, 6,460;
Bloomfield, 1880; Bluffton, 4,479; Brazil TO-
600; Brookville. 2,400; Cambridge City, liza;
Columbia City. 1878; Columbus. $3.50; Con-
1,610: Charlottesville 6.649: Crown Point,
1886: Danville. 1.so2; Delphi. 2135: Dunkirk.
3,1S7; East Chicago, $500; Elkhart, 1874;
Elwood, $3.50; Evansville, 59,007; FIT. Wayne,
45.115; Frankfort, 100: Franklin. $500;
Goshen. 1910; G; eencastle, 1900; Greenfield.
| 5000; Greensburg, $3.50; Hammond, 10000;
Hartford City. 5000; Indianapolis, 16S, l6;
Jeffersonville. 1914; Kokomo, Is, 500; La
fayette, 1915; Logansport, 1924; Madison,
| 1885; Marion, 1881: Martinsville, 5000;
| Michigan City. 1900: Terre Haute. 10000;
| S,6lS
The reports contain an excellent view Of
the soldiers and sailors monument.
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