Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-03
MADE FRA|L BY WORK
Children Refused Permits to
Earn Living.
BAD CONDITIONS REVEALED
Reference to Juvenile Court May
Cause Prosecutions.
ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF LAW
Badly Ventilated Quarters Where
Twenty-Eight Persons Are En-
ployed May Be Investigated:
ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF LAW

Startling conditions under which work
men. particularly children. have been EN-
ployed in the District have been revealed
in the investigations OF several applica-
tons of children for permits to work at
the Franklin School building This week.
according to r. y. Wilmarth. who issues
the permits
The results of working i'm poorly venti-
lated anu crowded workshops have also
been discovered by the examinations Of
the medical inspectors. Not "A few re-
that the child applicant, through past
work. is now too trail 10 work.
In the investigation of one application
yesterday. IT is stated by Mr.. W.lmarth.
II was discovered that twenty-eight per-
sons. some children and some adults. are
forced to work in a basement room about
- by 10 feet in size. ventilated only by a
small window about the size OF AN or
binary transom.
Permits Refused.
Several children working under these
conditions applied for permits to work.
Mr.. Wilmarth refused two OF them and
referred the others To Judge DeLacy OF
the Juven le Court.
A medical examination OF one boy. ii
is declared. showed that his body was
frail and that his health was undermined
by the work in the badly ventilated quar-
tiers. The medical inspector promptly
wrote Not approved on the application
for permit. The boy was told he must
stop the work.
Another case which the medical inspect
or refused to approve today was that OF
ten-year-od lad who wished to sell
papers.
He's been selling papers for four years
II don't hurt him none." explained the
father of the boy. Thus IL was learned
that the youngster had been put out on
lac FOR
when only six years old.
The doctor found the lad frail and re.
fused to pass him.
Prosecutions May Follow.
Judge DeLacy stated this afternoon that
he had not yet reached the case of the
boys employed In the poorly ventilated
and crowded basement. He would watch
out and take any legal steps possible to
stop the sweat-shop conditions.
There are building regulations govern
ing the amount Of AIR space required for
each occupant of a room. / think this
case would be violation of that section"
he added. The matter surely ought 10
be brought to the attention OF the build
ing inspector.
There was another long line OF children
and parents at the Franklin School build
ing. II was impossible 10 take care OF
the cases as fast as applications were
made.
To hurry along the issue of the permits.
Supt Stuart has obtained the voluntary
services OF several teachers to act as
clerks in filling out applications. Those
who are contributing their services today
are Charles y. Thompson, Lulu NJ. Mac
Intosh, Lillian +. Heller and Bessie Whit
ford.
President Oyster Protests.
II think it is an imposition to put all
this work on the school authorities with
out giving them additional help stated
Capt. James F. Oyster. president of the
board of education. this morning after
learning from Supt. Stuart and Secretary
H. o. Hine of the time taken to issue
the permits.
I'VE went before Congress last winter
and asked for more help in the office
school headquarters because We had
more work than our present force could
attend to- he continued. Not only did
they refuse additional help but they
added all this work under the child labor
law without making any provisions In il
for additional help with which To carry
out its provisions. / think that is rub
bling ii in.
our teachers have volunteered to carry
out the provisions of this law promptly
without extra pay or help shows the
loyalty and excellent spirit prevalent
throughout the school system"