Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-07-18
200 children and printers and publish.
ciS nearly as many more.

200 children and printers and publish
eis nearly MS many more.
AS an indication that many children
below the legal age OF IA years are
employed. II Is noted that the school
census OF last year shows no less than
$4,000 more children between the ages
Of . and IA years old In the city than
are accounted for by the returns from
the private schools and from the pr.
mary and grammar grades Of the public
schools. The reports from the public
schools also show that during each
year about 700 children between the
ages Of ~ and II years quit school.
Altogether there would appear to be
more than 10000 children below the
age OF II years who are not attending
school. These figures are. Of course.
only approximate and may be some.
what misleading, but. even after allow.
ing for large element Of error, there
are left thousands below the legal age
who are probably working In one way
or another.
The difficulty OF enforcing the law
which forbids the employment Of chill.
dren who are less than II years old
lies In the fact that the inspectors have
no way OF going behind the affidavits
which are made by the parents Of the
children. and which set forth In each
case that the child is at least II years
old.
Under the Illinois law any notary
public is authorized to grant afiidavits,
and many Of these officials issue them
on demand without at all questioning
the parents. who swear to the truth
Of the statements made. In other
States different means have been taken
20 insure greater proportion OF truth
full afiidavits. In Massachusetts, for
instance, all such afiidavlts are issued
by the school authorities, In New York
by the Health Board, and In Detroit,
Mich, all atiidavits must he obtained
from the State Factory and Workshop
Inspector on duty there. In each Of
these crses the only officials who are
empowered TO grant aftidavits are di.
rcctly interested In seeing that the law
Is enforced. and AS consequence II Is
not so easy 10 evade the law.
In New York State the law goes
much further, and provides that no
child between the ages Of II and 10
years shall be employed in any manu-.
featuring establishment unless II first
procures from the local Board Of
Health n certificate showing that II 10
physically able 10 do the work In
which II wishes TO engage.
In many States also II Is required
that children under IL years of age
shall be required TO demonstrate their
ability 10 read and write English be-
fore they are permitted to go to work.
New York, Pennsylvania, Massachu.
sets, Ohio and Indiana oil enforce
such rule. Other States require
proof OF school attendance, and In Ohio
the factory and shop inspectors are
given the power OF truant officers. In
Illinois there are no educational quail.
fications OF any kind required OF work
ing children, though In some OF the
larger establishments the lack has
been recognized by the voluntary es-
tablshment OF primary schools, which
the little employees are required or en-.
couraged 10 attend.
Another respect In which Illinois 10
behind the other great manufacturing
States Is In the limiting OF the hours
Of labor during which children under
IS years Of age may be employed. The
Illinois law provides that children un.
der 10 may not be employed for more
he, Iu,. tpt,,
week, but It is found hard to enforce.
Meanwhile New York, Pennsylvania,
Massac husetts, Ohio and other States
have passed laws providing that sim
liar protection shall be extended 10
young workers until they reach the
age OF IS, and In several cases, notably
that OF Ohio, II Is not lawful to keep
childrea under ~ at work for more
than 1AS.fve hours in any one week.
-rhica On Trlhuue