The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-16
INTEREST GROWING
IN CHILD LABOR
Ohio Valley States Should
Have a Uniform Law 1t Is
Ontended.
VIEWS OF OHIO OFFICIAL
OUTLINE FOR EFFECTIVE MEAS
URE WAS SUBMITTED IN AN ADJ
DRESS BEFORE THE NATIONAL
CHILD LABOR CONFERENCE.

Cincinnati, o., Dec. 15.-At the ma
tional conference on child labor held
here, John n. Morgan, state inspector
of workshops and factories in Ohio,
delivered an address in which he said:
AS the people of the Ohio valley
are one industrially as well as geo.
graphically, the laws Of these states
should be uniform, not only to insure
easier enforcement, but to protect the
manufacturers who are thrown into
close competition in this territory.
should not, however, be willing to see
any state lower it's present standard
70 secure this uniformity Of law, and
do not believe it will be necessary. To
be effec i've, the child labor law should
be simple, practical and enforceable,
and with this il mind I present the
following as a good working founda-
ton on which TO build:
Ffrst-No child under IA years old
shall be employed, regardless as to
time, occupation or conditions.
Second-Boys under 16 and girls un-
der Is years shall not be employed
after D. m, nor before 6 q. m, nor at
any occupation that is dangerous to
life. Injurious to health, or likely to
deprave morals. TIE list of occupa-
lions should be stated clearly in the
statute, and made to include all places
where Intoxicating beverages are man.
ufactured or sold, as well as all the
tobacco Industries.
Third-Miners under Is shall not be
omployed for a longer period than
eight hours in one day, nor more than
Is In one week.
Fourth-Miners between the ages of
IA and IS years shall present age and
schoal certificates issued under the
direction of the superintendent of
public schools, same to be kept on file
In the office of the establishment
where employed.
Fifth-A child desiring certificate
must appear before the superintend-
ent Of schools, accompanied by one OF
his parents or a guardian, who shall
have an employment slip certifying
that the child has work to go to, and
who shall also be required to certify
that the child's wages are necessary |
for his support. The superintendent |
should be authorized to inquire into |
the facts, and if in doubt as to the |
worthiness of the claimant, shall re- |
fuse the certificate and require the at |
tendance of the child at school. If the |
certificate is granted the child shall |
be required to sign 1T in his own hand
writing, in order that it may beused
for the purpose Of verification.
Sixth-Employers of minors be-
tween IA and 10 years shall keep a
register containing the name, age.
birthplace and residence of every such
minor, same to be open to the inspec-
ton of authorized officers.
Seventh-The inspector shall have
authority to take any child into Gus
tody or require it to leave the estab-
lishment In the event of his refusal to
give name and age, when there is rea-
sonable ground for doubt as to the
child being of legal age.
Eghth-A physical standard should
be required. as well as a mental.
I wish also to suggest that the COM
pulsory education laws be enforced by
state officers in stead of local, and
that these officers be required to en-
force all the provisions Of the child
labor and compulsory education laws
1t is my sincere opinion that the
Ohio law should be amended SO that
parents or guardians could be prose
cuted for classifying as to the age of
minors, for until parents and guar
dams are made to understand that
they are as liable to prosecution as
the employers. we will have more or
less trouble with this particular fea-
lure of the law