The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-08

law permits. We are due the criminals humane treatment, the paupers charity and the women and children protection, and it shall be the purpose of this de- partment to insure these things as far as in our power lies.
 "As soon as we get the office in order I shall start out on my tour of inspection and cleaning up, and my clerk, MT. John D. Adams, will follow in my tracks in short while to keep the work going. and to assist in any way in getting the laws in full operation When we get over the state we will probably back track and see what we are accomplishing. We are going to do very little office work. We are going to visit the institutions under our care as often as possible and endeavor to get results.
 Again we ask the cooperation of all the people,"
 Circular Letter. Montgomery, Ala, January ', 1909.
 'rThe compulsory education feature of the child labor law having become oper- ative January l. 1909. 1t becomes neces- sary for this department to issue this circular, explaining what will be expected of the cotton mills, factories and manu featuring establishments, and all children between the ages of F and Is years who may be employed in such mills, factories and manufacturing establishments Each child between the ages of 12 and 16 years who shall be employed on and after the above date under the statute, section 6429 of the criminal code, will be required to attend school for eight weeks during each year of employment, six weeks of which shall be consecu- tive.
 ''In order that this department may in- l telligently keep a record of these chil- dren, it has been decided that each child be furnished a certificate signed by the principal of a regular school, after each term of the required course has been com pleted (blanks for which will be fur nished by this department upon applica- l tion), said certificates to be mailed to the inspector at Montgomery where the same will be duly filed and preserved. and a card will then be furnished by this de- partment to each such child, which card will be evidence that such child has at tended school as required by the law, and may be employed in any mill, factory or manufacturing establishment in the office of which said card shall be retained and filed in alphabetical order. Upon the resignation or dismissal of any such child 1 said card to be delivered to it, which is to be used in like manner at its next 1 place of employment.
 Any child between the ages of 12 and l IS years who fails to attend school, as required by the law, will be debarred l from further employment in any mill, ] factory or manufacturing establishment as may be affected by the law, until the age of IS years shall have been attained.
 Amy principal, teacher or otheri per- l son found issuing false certificates will
 be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
 l This department urges upon parents l and guardians to make the eight weeks schooling consecutive whenever possible. ] The children will derive much more ben eft from such a course and it will en- l tail much less trouble, both upon the mill l operators and this department.
 "It Is also urged that all children be ! given this schooling as early in the year
 as possible, as this will greatly aid in
 getting the law into full operation.
 We respectfully ask the cooperation
 of parents, guardians and mill operators | in the enforcement of this law
 "C. F. BUSH, M. D., Inspector"