The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-29
NEW FACTS: REGARDING
:. THE. WORK OF CHILDREN
Laws That Are Not Enforced
and Statutes That Are
Totally Ignored.
Result in the Most Pitiful Con-
ditions in Our Factories.
and Mills.


ditions in Our Factories
and Mills.
Many new facts bearing on child
labor and the slavery of little tots who
ought to be in school have been
brought out in the latest government
report of industrial statistics. OF all
the States canvassed it is shown that
New York is second on the list in the
number of children under 16 years Of
age employed, Pennsylvania being
first in this regard, with 33,l35. The
number employed in New York at the
time of the inquiry was 1888.
From the report Of the special agent
Of the Bureau Of Labor it appears
that there is much laxity in most
states in the enforcement of laws in
tended to prohibit employment Of
children below certain age. The
limit is 13 in Pennsylvania, but many
children below this tender age were
found hard at work in manufacturing
establishment. Few of the mine oper-
ators are complying with the new
Pennsylvania State law, which makes
the age at which boys can be employed
above ground ii instead of IL years
and under ground Is years instead of
IA, as was the case before the an
thracite coal strike. The old law did
not require a child applying for en-
ployment to present an age certificate,
and the new law adds nothing to the
old in hiS
Children as young as five years were
found working in fruit-packing estab-
lishments In souther states. These
babies were not under employment,
strictly speaking. They helped their
mothers, older sisters and brothers,
but were kept busily engaged in pre-,
pairing fruit for packing. The children
found in the cotton factories of the
South were white except a very few
in two establishment, but colored. chill
dren were found employed in tobacco
factories.
The special agent reports that few
mills and factories provide proper ac-
commodations for women and children
employees, and that the latter. are
quick to pick up evil habits when as
sociated with workingmen. At a. glass
factory which the inspector visited
many Of the boys coming from work
were observed to have cigarettes or
pipes in their mouth. They pick. that
up very soon the overaeer remarked.
.At,a RreYsEy RssKS sxas '.a'
ana eseiYIns y6Ie
pint ana the Girls half a pint every
noon and evening !: >.z :
1t is reported that the New York law
regarding the number of hours chill
dren may work each day is not en-
forced.
A good deal, Of space is given in the
Sewall report to conditions that sur
round children in their places of labor.
1t was found that in some Industries
children were brought in contact with
chemical poisions through their occu-
pations. In furniture factories boys
were employed as varnishers, and thus
compelled to breath the turpentine
fumes. In a wallpaper factory and
in cloth-pr1nting establishment boys
were feeding coloring matter into
machines, thus coming in contact with
the various poisons in its composition.
The whole subject Of insanitary condi-
tions in factory labor, arising out of
the nature Of the industry and the
materials used, is reported as one OF
grave Importance as affecting not only
the welfare of children. but Of work.
ing people of all ages.
The earnings of child labor range
from trifle over 81 to IS a week. In
all the establishments that were can
vassed 30 per cent. of the children en-
ployed were earning less than So a
week, 38 per cent. were earning under
81 a week, 81 per cent. were earning 81
or cver week. The earnings of the
largest number were. 50 or under a
week. In Massachusetts alone more
than so per cent. Of the children earned
81 or over, while in Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
Alabama more than SO, per cent. Of the
children earned less than 50. Only In
New York and New Jersey did more
than SO per cent. earn between @3 and
81 a week.
Children at work often appear Older
than they really are. They are nc
longer children after they Ep to work.
superintendent remarked In speaking
of the boys in a glass factory. Much
Of the work of children, easy in itself
becomes exhausting because performed
at a high rate Of speed. Managers
push our children to rapid work by
adoption of the piecework system o1
payment. Possibly the most arduous
piecework that children are engaged
upon is that of operating sewing ma
chimes in clothing factories Although
employers claimed that they did mo-
employ any children on this: work un'
der 16 years of age, girls; under tha
age limit were found SO: employed:
could not, receive respectful considera.
| tion at his hands, and: where he ha:
no other friends than: the courts hi
I was sure and is sure so far as Mr.
Lovely is concerned, Of respectful con.
sideration at his hands, .S.=s Sz:ss. I, *> i
This. Is but a brief statement regard
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