The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-26
LABOR
BILLS WERE
DISCUSSED

The senate hearing room was crowded
this afternoon at y. m. with the friends
and enemies % open or otherwise OF
the three child labor bills before the
house committee on special legislation,
who came 10 voice their own or their
friends sentiments. School officials. city
officials. labor leaders. club women and
manufs ctursrs were all represented.
II was 1920 when Chairman Philip A.
Money called the meeting 10 order, and
after Clerk Jones had read the announce
ment. the chairman called upon Ellery
Hudson. state factory inspector, TO ex-
plain the need for a different law. the
present law" he said. provided that
children Of u years, irrespective OF their
educational attainments. might work and
continue all night II they or their EN-
ployers desired"
The school law fixes the school age at
10. he stated. and under the new bin it
Is hoped TO straighten this difference out
and TO require that ability to read and
write simple sentences I'm the English
language be made a qualification. He
stated now that the inspector had 10
prove the child was under age before
no could take any action and had no
authority TO demand that children at work
are Of proper age.
There should be a requirement that
children who are permitted 10 work
should have certificates Of their birth that
they must show the inspectors. In
Massachusetts, and Connecticut the school
age is II years and / believe that the
school age IN Rhode Island should be
made to conform with those places" A
change from the old law is one which
covers children permitted or suffered 10
work" as It was found that little ones
were carried in by parents and relatives.
and while not on the pay rolls helped them
| ir their work
RAISE AGE TO Il.
Mr. Hudson said that he favored that
after two years the school age limit be
| raised from IL 10 IA years. that is. on Jan.
| ]. 1907. the limit be fixed at a. AS IL is
now children under IL are sent here from
| Connecticut and Massachusetts, TO work
under the tutelage OF uncles or relatives
| here, evading the law Of their states,
| which provides they are not TO work until
| II years at least IL also enabfe~-the
| parents 10 profit by the easy laws OF
| Rhode Island and does children consider
| able harm.
| james y. Nolan, Jr., inquired III MT.
| Hudson approved OF House Bill No. s. and
| II so. what was the difference between
| this bill and the one which passed the
| house last year.
| Mr. Hudson announced that the only
| charges we're the provision that the chill
| drCn having certificates now will not be
| effected by the passage OF the act and a
slight change In the hours OF working
| tho new act providing that mo child
under 16 years OF age shall be employed or
| Permitted or sufficed 10 work in any fac
tory or manufacturing or business estab-
lishment between the hours OF p. m. OF
any day and a. m, explaining that the
hours suggested were satisfactory TO a
large majority OF workmen and opera
| tlVes.
Washington r. Prescott appeared on ac-
count OF the absence of John w. Hogan
for the school committee OF Providence,
which is supporting House Bill No. So.
and asked for a further hearing on that
bill
BILLS MUCH ALIKE.
Or. Willard OF Brown university said
he favored house bill No. 2s. which a
| number OF philsnthropic and other organ
izatlons were supporting. and spoke of the
differences between II and the bill OF the
| factory inspector. He said the two bills
were for the most part alike, and an
nounced that the minor points of differ
| ence had been agreed upon by the sup
porters OF the two bills.
or the manufacturing states he stated
that Rhode Island is at the foot OF the
list OF those who look out for children.
He introduced Prof. Gardiner OF Brown,
who quoted interesting statistics 10 show
that Rhode Island has the largest per-
centage OF illiterates OF any OF the Fl
northern states, having S.4 per cent. Mis-
souri, being next with 64.
II IL when the children are young that
Rhode Island stands near the top, six TO
nine years: but when they are 10 TO IL the
state drops to 18th place. and among the
| people OF Is 20 20 years the percentage
| OF illiterates Is greatest OF the II.
His statements were applauded by the
men and women present
Mr.. Keith. superintendent OF schools in
| East Providence, said he represented 100
school teachers and said they all wanted
| 10 favor an act for making the school age
II years
He said there are two forces the chill
dren have 10 contend with. the parents
who make them help TO provide the home
! and who raise them "on speculation" AL
most, that they might live easy when
they grow old. and the manufacturers.
The latter encourage child labor and very
often the father OF large family OF
| growing children often gets a Job easier
| TO-. that reason than other men.
Mrs Irons. president OF the State Fed
! Grafton OF Women's clubs. representing
800 women, made an earnest plea for the
rasoage Of the new BILL "for the sake of
| humanity
Mr. Troy. principal OF the Academy
! avenue evening school. told how difficult
! - was for children who work days 20
| study nights. They cannot stand it The
work Is too hard The children out r the
/ district where I live. In Olneyville, are
| ole before their time. a fact that you can
| rIove II you stand at the mill cato any
! night"
Mr.. Henry n. Sharpe spoke OF his ex-
] rtIiences with boys at Brown so sharpe 3.
/ ara announced that he was In favor OF
| tho general principles OF the bill.
DR. Willard said he was opposed 10
further consideration OF the bill recon =
mended by the school committee. as ~
had no features that were not covered
IN the other two bills. S and 26.
He then introduced oliver Lovejoy.
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