Evening star., 1909-08-22
IN LABOR CIRCLES

Many OF the states are taking action
either prohibiting child labor entirely or
making the conditions of such employ
ment more beara BILE. In the current bull
letin of the department of laoor of New
York are given the recommendations OF
Gov Hughes on the matter OF child ia
Dor. In his annual message Gov. Hughes
said:
Il renew the recommends tion made in
my first message that in order to protect
children against dangerous employments
there should be a more precise prohibit
ton specifying the occupations. TO be Sc
lected with just discrimination. in which
not be employed. 1t is believed that this
Will be an Improvement upon the general
terms of the present law
1T is also desirable in the interests
Of justice, we'll as to aid in the en-
forcement of the law that where a minor
under sixteen suStains injury in the
course of an employment which the law
forDids the employer should be liable by
reason of the violation of the law with
out regard to contributory negligence
the employees assumption of risk. | be-
lieve that 1t would be salutary to go
further in accordance with the prime
pies which have been announced in some
other jurisdictions and in the case of
injuries sustained by adults by reason of
conditions created or permitted in viola
ton OF the labor law to preclude de-
fense upon the ground of the assumption
of risk by tine employe. This would be
an appropriate penalty for an infringe
ment of the statute and secure the pro-
lection which the statute is designed to
afford by requiring suitable safeguards
against the risks that are incident to
the employment Our statute should
make this policy clear in appropriate
terms. | also recommend that provision
be made for special and expert inquiry
into the questions relating to employers
Liability and compensation for workmen's
injury Our present methods are waste
full and result in Injustice"
In line with Gov. Hughes recommenda-
[ onS concerning protection of children
against dangerous employment. bill was
introduced at the instance Of the New
York child labor committee, which was
pa assed and became chapter 800 of the
laws of 1909. Heretofore only the opera
ton of elevators. the cleaning of machin-
cry while in motion and the operation of
polishing or buffing wheels had been spe-
officially regulated with reference to the
employment of children or young persons
! Beyond this there was only a general
prohibition of the employment of children
under sixteen on dangerous machines OF
any kind" The new law instead of this
uncertain general prohibition specifies by
name a score of different kinds of ma
chimes or machinery upon which children
under sixteen may not be employed and
| in addition prohibits their employment in
certain specific operations, processes or
occupations. including, in the case OF
! girls, emplOymentS compelling them to
remain standing constantly this second
| list of prohibited employments having in
view not only danger of accidental injury,
but also danger to health from harmful
| or poisonous substances used. This law
will go into effect Oh October l., 1909
Chapter 231 of this years laws regulates
the highly hazardous occupation of work
| in compressed air by specific restriction of
| hours OF work according to air pressure
requirement of proper means of decom-
preston, requirement of medical super
vision and provision Of dressing rooms
| So far as tunnel workings are concerned
substantially the same requirements as
eSta bliShed by this law We're contained in
| the rules laid down by the commi ssioner
of labor directed by section 40 of the
| labor law. But the new law substitutes
statutory requirements for administrative
| rules in the case of tunnels, and in addi-
/ ton applies those requirements to the en-
/ tire field of compressed air work, which
under the present methods of construction
and engineering has become extensive.
| The new law takes effect January /, 1910.
| Sam De Nedrey has entered denial
of the published statement that he will
be the first passenger on new aero
plane when the machine makes its
initial flight through the atmosphere
Labor day. In resigning the honor to
John j. Purcell, business agent of the
| electrical workers. Mr. De Nedrey said:
| TIP TO the present writing ! agree with
| Walt Mason that the solid old terra
firma is good enough for me-
| r. G. NJ Ross of the sheet metal work
ers who recently attended the conven-
| ton of that organization at Denver, has
! been elected delegate from the Sheet
| Metal Workers International Union to
| the American Federation of Labor for
! the term OF two years, Mr.. Ross is rec'