The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-02-02
CHILD LABOR
HEARING
CONTINUED

IT was a notable gathering OF school
officials. including several superinten-
dents. many teachers. professors and spe-
cial instructors, labor leaders. club women
and public spirited citizens, 10 say moth
ing OF the representatives. OF the manu-
featuring interests, at the public hearing
which was held this afternoon by the spe-
cial legislation committee OF the house OF
represen tatives on the theme Child
Labor Bills" that had been introduced
during this session.
The seating capacity OF the large senate
hearing room, No. 3l3. on the top floor
OF the capitol was taxed. and II was
necessary 10 bring in lot OF extra chairs
before the hearing began.
Chairman Philip A. Money of Exeter
called the meeting 70 order. and Judge
Henry A. Palmer who introduced house
bill 26, presented Miss Ellen Legarde,
supervisor OF physical training In Provi-
dence schools, who. he said. was thor
oughly conversant with the conditions as
they exist
She spoke of Rhode Islands policy of
looking out for the mental and moral
education and development without the
necessary physical training.
A great number Of the children we have
Europe and they are made 10 work while
very young to help gain lands and wealth
for the family. When they are sent 10
work or school they go brea kfastle and
sometimes supperless Many times the
children have very poor eyes. a school
child with eyes OF a man of so
Many children have poor memories, but
IL is because they are stunted mentally
and physically by improper aourishment.
a IL.
II Ia for the girls, as their growth Is a
critical affair. and It is a mystery to me
how some OF them are employed at all,
considering their physical condition.
THEY LOSE THEIR JOBS.
She also referred 20 the fact that par
ents OF many children would not provide
proper medicine or remedies unless the
fact that the childs working value would
be impaired. Gilbert Whittemore intro
duced John T Wilcox, an ex-trusnt Off
Ger OF Warwick, to tell what he knew
OF present conditions.
II think that fully half the children en-
ployed I'm Warwick are there without A
certificate. When a truant officer does his
full duty he very seldom serves but one
year You may talk OF public sentiment
supporting you and all that but know
what / am talking of
He told OF children being brought into
the mills so tired, at 6 a. m that they
curled up under the machinery and went
10 sleep. There are heads Of families In
Pawtuxet valley that can't speak word
OF English, but they have been brought
up right there. That Is the fault OF the
present system. WHEREBY the truant officer
is hampered I'm his work of Inspecting
the children laborers.
MIR HOGAN OF PROVIDENCE.
John W. Hogan OF the Providence
school committee contrasted the Standard
CHILD LABOR law which the committee rec
ommends with the others and told many
reasons why the standard bill should be
the one passed as an amendment
statistics shown that Rhode Island is
shown 10 he lowest in white iliteracy of
any state in the union. The padrone sys-
tenn is the vogue here" also said Mr.
Hogan, "and that is sufficient TO show
that a change is needed" Parents in the
surrounding states send children here TO
work under some boss or padrones under
our easy laws.
Where need and greed make a bargain
there Is hardly any limits as to what neeo
and greed will demand The man
ufacturers hire these young children
because it is cheap and the parents send
them because OF the personal gain that
wiz come 10 them"
He then spoke in favor OF the raising
OF the school age to IL and spoke Of the
large percentage OF children under IL who
graduated from grammar school there be-
ing over 20 in 2 class OF 81 and some who
were between u and IL.
1t is time that this fraud on the part Of
the other states was stopped and also the
colonizing plan.