The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-01-25
Child Labor Bill
Meets With Favor


of the best child labor laws on the
statute books of any state, thanks to
the efforts of a band of noble women
and legislature that is trying to do
something for the state instead of for
special interests. The editor of The
Wageworker has, as newspaper man,
had considerable experience with Ne
braska legislatures. Without hesita-
tion he expresses the belief that in
point of ability, energy, progressive
ness and fidelity to the cause of the
people. the legislature of 1907 is SUI
perior to any other that ever con-
vened in the state house. 1t has gone
about its work with an evident inten-
tion of doing what the people elected
1t to do.
One of the best child labor bills ever
offered etaoi etaoibm bmetaobmmm
drawn was offered simultaneously Ill
douse and senate, in the house by
Henry T. Clarke, Jr., of Omaha, and
in the senate by B. F. Thomas of Om-
aha. The bill was prepared on the
initiative of the social science sec
tion of the Omaha Woman's club, pre-
sided over by Mrs. Draper Smith, than
whom Union labor has no better
friend. The best legal talent procur-
able in Douglas county was drafted
to assist in preparing the bill, and the
advice of educators and union me-
chanics was sought. House Roll 8
and Senate File 81 gives promise of
going through without amendment
The judiciary committee of the house
met on Thursday of last week and
bill, Judge Kennedy of Omaha, Super
intendent Stevens Of the. city schools,
State Superintendent McBrien, Mrs,
Draper Smith and w. M. Maupin ap-
pearing for 1t. At the conclusion of
the hearing the committee unanim-
ously recommended the bill for pass
age. Last Tuesday the house in COM
mittee OF the whole reported the bill
for passage with but two or three dis
senting votes. This means it's safe
passage through the house without
amendment. The senate gives bright
hopes of similar action, and Governor
Sheldon may be depended upon to
sign it,
The bill as presented to house and
senate is as follows, the sections pre-
scribing forms of certificates being
omitted:
"A Bill for an Act to Regulate the
Employment and Use of Child Labor,
to Provide for the Enforcement of it's
Provisions, and Penalty for it's Vio-
lation--
BE it Encated by the Legislature of
the state of Nebraska:
Section 1. No child under fourteen
years of age shall>be employed, per-
mitted or suffered to work in, or in
connection with, any theater, concert
hall, or place of amusement, or any
place where intoxicating liquors are
sold, or in any mercantile institution,
store, Office, hotel, laundry, manufac-
turing establishment, bowling alley,
passenger or freight elevator, factory
or workshop, or as messenger or
driver therefor, within this state. 1t
shall be unlawful for any person, Arm
or. corporation to employ any child un-
ness or service whatever during the
hours when the public schools of the
which the child resides are in session.
Section 2. No child between four
teen ard sixteen years OF age shall be
employed, permitted or suffered to
work in any theater, concert hall, or
place of amusement, or in any mercan-
tile institution, store, Office, hotel.
laundry, manufacturing establishment,
bowling alley, passenger or freight ele-
vator, factory, or workshop, or as a
messenger or driver therefor within
this state unless the person or cor
poration employing him procures and
keeps on file and accessible to the
Truant Officers of the town or city, the
State Commissioner of Labor, and his
deputies. and the members of the State
Board of inspection, an employment
certificate as hereinafter prescribed
and keeps two complete lists of all
such children employed therein, one
on file and one conspicuously
posted near the principal entrance ol
the building in which such children
are employed. Upon the termination
of the employment OF a child so reg
istered. and whose certificate is sc
filed. such certificate shall be forth
with transmitted by the employer ts
the city or county, superintendent O
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