The San Francisco call., 1905-01-21
THE CHILD LABOR BILL.

EFORE the bill for proposed child law hand
suggested certain limitations that should be observed in
Il The State has right faniy
by depvng minor members of the right OF sesupport or OF
contributing the support OF other members who are Temporarily
permanently ncapactated The bill which has since come to
hand respect these limitations and also to consider
enforced deness equal enforced work improper
1t exempts horticultural and agricultural labor OF the men,
Of family and the whole to be wholesome and
problem always difficult question to
with but principle plain and should never be departed
Certain kinds of labor such underground or among
machinery where there conditions necessarily nna TO
the certain lines of manufacture
where the air is filled with particles the foundation OF weak lungs
regulating every occupation which children become
give them air. sunshine water and clean and
surroundings developed and robust adult constu
power against conditions that grossly
tor @ n Fo & these the every y
California has quite excellent conditions now respecting the
labor of and children and legislation the subject
happily precautionary The shows
continental United States 22425 breadwnners of whom
2s25 young persons The percentage adults
g. Of IT, young persons In California the
centage of adults of S. and OF young only
report of Labor shows 153 estab
shments Francisco and vicinity with $50 employees only
28 between and 1o OF only los between i
and and only under These minors are principally
employed dry goods department where be
assumed that sanitary conditions fairly good Every law on
the subject should decrease restrictions about the middle teens
boy of TO- strong and healthy should make beginning OF his
industrial He should do under proper legal protection
but within that should have much liberty OF action as
possible for he begin learning independence and serence
To surround him with the restrictions of early childhood until only
of his majority them dangerous thing
for he becomes with experimental knowledge OF the re-
The advanced child labor laws like those of Massachu-
up the restrictions 10 of The bill
before California Legislature extends them I8 only
the hours of labor 1t prepared and introduced by
the and ndosed by the Merchants
Association which should its passage In important
is educational following closely the Massa
chuses law that provides that minor under 10
years shall be employed during school hours unless able
read English sight and write egby and correctly English
This makes ignorance disqualification for employ
and will powerfully discourage voluntary leracy Some
unnatural that they willing to keep their chill
den and deny them schooling enjoy the proceeds
of their labor when amply able support themselves When such
find their children under protection of the law which makes
ilteracy bar employment they will that their chill
schooling The of the law is that the eleven
passed by children between the school of five and the
age shall be used sound school
education those years we'll used child put possession
of key higher knowledge be needed and otherwise
equipped with which required making of
life if be supplemented with thrift industry health
and good habits.
The the law be the duty of the
Labor Commissioner This is and it will result the
Legislature making proper provision for that Office which has been
permitted become practically cipher consists of official
little believed that the incumbent especially
equipped useful State activity great benefit
the people and uyg better attention than has heretofore been
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