Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-29
ASKS SWEEPING REFORMS
IN CHILD-LABOR LAWS
Commissioner Lewis 7. Bryant in Annual Report Points Out
That Age Discrepancy Existing Between School and Fac.
tory Rule Causes Continual Clash of Authorities.

average violating parents. It is sug-
gested that IL a change is made in the
amount of the fine it be materially re-
duced, not to exceed $25 for the parent.
The commissions commends the Law
which enables him to issue special per-
mits when he Is satisfied as to the age of
the child, and says that If all manu-
facturers would take advantage Of its
requirements the employment OF chill
dren under the required age would
largely disappear. The department is
sued 645 of these special permits dur-
ing the year. About 1000 affidavits con-
corning the age Of employed children
have been filed with the department.
through the influence of manufactur-
ers. an Increase over last ear of 1000.
These afidavits are prepared by the in
spectors, a practise that the depart
ment has tried to encourage, because It
makes 1t possible for the inspectors to
see the proofs of age and to see that
the child Is physically able to under
take factory employment.
The report m upon the work
done in the branch Offices Of the de-
partment in Newark and Hoboken,
showing that in the past eight months
] the Hoboken Office has received evil
denee of sixty-seven altered baptismal
records, examined 102 applicants under
the legal age, found 166 children with
out proofs of age, found 23s children
without signers, held 81 afidavits and
called 81 manufacturers.
In the Newark Office during the year
the record has been: Special permits Sc
cured, 105; applicants too young for
factory work, 1853; records altered, 80:
passports altered, II; false affidavits
presented, /; sent abroad for informa-
ton, 46; sent to Ellis Island for infor-
nation, So; without birth records, 228;
without signers, 1856; records lost, 80;
affldavits held, 202; manufacturers
called. 139. It is intended to establish
ike offices for q few hours a week In
Elizabeth, New Brunswick, Millville
and Bridgeton.
The department instituted prosecu-
tions against forty manufacturers for
employment of children below the legal
age. 1t has been successful in each
case tried to date. and IL all the fines
are collected the State will receive
$1,000. The amount turned into the
state this year in fines and costs was
$1,000 in fines and $685. In costs. Re-
ports of accidents to the total of 1,134
have been received as compared with
sos for the preceding year.
sanitary Conditions.
Toward improvement Of sanitary con-
ditions in factories the department is
sued 48S orders, calling for installation
Of blowers. whitewashings and other
things. Cards prohibiting splitting have
been used with good effect in many
factories as a part Of the work of the
department In reducing conditions on
ducive to tuberculosis. Fifty-two orders
were issued for the installation of blow
ers. Commissioner Bryant thinks the
law dealing with blowers might be
broadened with good effect.
Discussing fires In factories, the COM
missioner says that 1t seems incredit-
able that some of the disastrous results
could have occurred. and undoubtedly
legislation should be framed with the
assumption that the protection afforded
would be needed under conditions of
excitement and panic n not during
the period Of factory discipline. at
would be well to require the erection
Of fire escapes On excessively high
buildings irrespective of the number of
operatives employed and possibly place
some discretion In the hands OF the
commissioner Of labor covering I'm
usual cases" The department issued
| eighty-one orders during h year.
calling either for new fire escapes or for
repairs to old ones
The report shows that bakers in the
State are beginning to realize the bene-
fit OF supervision OF bake shops by the
department. There are loo bakeries
on the books of the department, n at
the end of the past summer more than
three-fourths of these had been
screened. The commissioner hopes that
| all will be screened next year. During
the year 2,433 bakeries were inspected.
Commissioners Bryant urges a more
comprehensive law governing the juris-
diction of the department over mercan-
| tile establishments, including in add
ton to the prohibition of the employ
ment of children under fourteen years
at least during school hours. the gen.
| eral supervision over sanitary arrange
ments, ventilation and fire protection
eft would certainly seem that these
| operatives should receive proper pro
lection as we'll as those working in fac
| tories. 1t also seems i~ll-advised to
| have inspections made of these places
by this department md not permit any
| supervision over the age of children
employed. at least insofar as to assist
in the enforcement of the compulsory
education law. 1t would also appear
fair for employers of this character to
assume a similar responsibility to those
of the manufacturers I'M be liable to
a fine for employment of minors
younger than the age to be specified"
The laws controlling the operation OF
the department are as a whole very
satisfactory. but it is of course a IRE
ouent criticism that no legislation Is
provided prohibiting h employment OF
children under sixteen years of e at
night. the absence of any regulation OF
working hours for women and the fact
that prohibition of the employment OF
minors pnder fourteen years is confined
to factories.
The DEPARTMENT made S.1T insrec-
tions during the past year and issued
orders numbering 2.2o6. These figures
do not include i~nsrections of mercantile |