Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-02

Report or inspector ol Td' lo.i'7
workshops, Mines and Quarries.
The report of Inspector Chas. f. At
wood closes the volume. being made dl-
rect to Commissioner Matthews.
After stating what is required of the
inspector in the line Of duties he goes
on to tell what has been accomplished,
Il summary of which shows that fort
nightly payments have been secured;
the sanitary condition OF many plant?
improved: doors made to swing out
ward. reducing danger in case of fire
md better conditions regarding child
labor
Mr.. Atwood makes the following two
suggestions:
While I am not ambitious for 4
more complicated line of official duties
than I now have. | may be allowed to
make 4 suggestion. which certainly
would not hinder. but would. as l be-
lieva. materially help in bringing in u
better condition of things. First. make
the compulsory school law and the labor
law identical as TO the age limit. Then
;urn the enforcement Of the school law
over to the inspector OF factories. with
I CORPS of assistants. with authority to
send idle boys to the common school.
20 the workship or to the State School
for Boys. This would be practical and
business-like.
cor. what might be more effective, ap-
point a State truant officer to have i'm
mediate control of all local truant Off
GERS with all the power necessary to re-
duce the nom school-gong surplus to
proper proportions.
THE CRYING need Of the hour is that
it shall be made so unhealthy in the
streets of our cities and villages by
somebody. for idle boys from twelve to
sixteen years of age. that they will
henceforth be found in the school-room
or work-room every day in the week
during school hours. 1t is a simple
proposition. entirely practical. and If
promptly accented could not fail to ac-
complish beneficial results. These sug-
sessions call, of course. for radical
amendment of our compulsory. school
law. AS it stands its teeth lose their
edge. for the reason that it now seems
TO be the special business of nobody in
particular to enforce it. Amend the
law. and make it the special duty of
somebody in particular to enforce 1t,
and. as fully believe, the child labor
problem as well as the child truant
problem. would be most satisfactorily
solved"
The proceedings of the 18th annual
convention of the International AS
sociation of Factory Inspectors at
Montreal, last August. are given,
| telling of what was accomplished and
| the work laid out.
The report closes with articles on the
| regulation Of child labor and the in
spection of factories in which the in
spector's views are very clearly sci
forth.
Kennebec County Unions.
Following are the reports of the labor
union in Kennebec county. with essen
| tial facts concerning them.
Augusta Federal Union, No. 11,454.
| Date of organization, September Fl,
1868: number of members, As; qualitica-
| tons for membership, any working
man not eligible to membership in any
labor organization already formed
] within the territorial jurisdiction of
the union: initiation fee, s1.00; monthly
dues, 81 cents: times of meeting. twice
a month: benefits, none; hours of labor
8: minimum daily wages. Sl.1o.
Augusta Typographical Union. No.
$50. Date of organization. October >,
1907: number of members. 81: qualifica-
tons for membership. four years APP
premiership; initiation fee, $500;
monthly dues. so cents; times Of meet
ing, first Saturday in each month;
funeral benefit, $500; hours of labor