The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-07-09


Government Agent Makes Some Sur
pr'sing Observation-Disclosures Par
tia to the Little Children.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July o.
Some fresh facts in regard to the
employment of child labor in the
United States, of local interest, are
presented in a. report shortly to be
made public by Hannah r. Sewell,
chief of the labor bureau of the de-
partment Of Labor to Carol D.
Wright, commissioner of labor.
Of all the states canvassed, Illinois
is second on the list in the number Of
children under 16 years of age. Penn
sylvania being first in this regard
with 33.135. The number employed in
Illinois at the time of the inquiry was
12.lo2.
Fourteen years is the limit under
which 1t is unlawful to employ child
rem in most of the states
Child Labor Laws Are Lax.
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 intended to
prohibit employment of children below
certain age.
The limit is 13 in Pennsylvania, but
MANY children below this tender age
We're found working hard in nanufac-
turing esta bishments.
Few Of the mine operators are COM
plying with the new Pennsylvania
state law, which makes the age at
Which boys can be employed above
ground A. instead of -, and under
of ~,
case before the anthracite coal strike
The old law did not require a child
applying for employment to present an
age certificate, and the new law adds
nothing to the old requirement in this
respect.
Children as young as years were
found working in fruit packing estab-
lshments in southern states. These
babies were not under employment
strictly speaking. They helped their
mothers, older sisters and brothers, but
were kept busily engaged in preparing
fruit for packing.
Many Children In South.
The children found in the cotton
factories of the South were white, ex-
rhpt very few in two esta blishments,
but colored children were found en-
plOyeO IN lOOacCO factories.
The earnings of child labor range
from trifle over So to IS a. week., OF
4 lzt1,ea=estab ablIsh tsz tl,a tWeressean-
vassed 80 per cent Of the children " ere
earning less than SO week, 3S per
cent were earning 81 a week, 81 per
cent were earning 81 or over a week
The earnings of the largest number
were SO or under 81 week.
\ good deal of space is given in the
SeWell report to conditions that sur
round children in their places of la
Dor. 1t was found that tin some in
dustries children were brought in con-
tact with chemical poisons through
their occupations. In furniture fac
tories boys were employed as varnish-
ers, and this compelled them to
breathe turpentine fumes.
In a wall paper factory and in a
cloth printing establishment boys were
feeding coloring matter into machines.
thus coming in contact with the var
ious poisons in its composition. The
whole subject Of unsanitary conditions
in factory work arising out of the
nature of the industry and the mater
ells used is reported as one of grave
Importance. as affecting not only the
welfare of children, but of working
people of all ages.
No Accommodations for Children.
The special agent reports that few
mills and factories provide proper ac-
commodations for women and children
employed and that the latter are quick
to pick up evil habits when associated
with workingmen.
At Il glass factory which the in
spector visited many of the boys COM
ing from work were observed to have
cigaretts or pipes in their mouths
"They pick that up very soon," the
overseer remarked
At brewing esta blishment beer was
given away, not only to the adult en-
ployes, but to the boys and girls, the
boys receiving one pint and the girls
half a pint every noon and evening"
Children at work often appear older
than they really are. "They are no
longer children after they go to work,
a superintendent remarked in speaking
of the boys in the glass factory. Much
Of the work Of children, easy itself
becomes exhausting because perform
ed at a high rate of speed.
Managers spur children to rapic
work by the Introduction Of the piece.
work system Of payment. Possibly
the most arduous piece-work tha
children are engaged upon is that o.
operating sewing machines in clothing
factories. Although employers claim
that they did not employ children or
this work under 16 years of age, girl.
under that age limit were found s<
employed.
The report states that the child labor
laws in the Northwestern states are
strictly enforced, and those caugh
employing children under the age limit
were severely dealt with
A DAILY THOUGHT.
From Goldsmith:
It has been thousand times OBJ
served and I must observe it ono,