The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-05
CHILDREN WHO WORK
Years Progress Recorded by the National Child Labor ssEs Committee
Committee.

In Arkansas a compulsory. education law was passed, which however ap- piies only to certain communities and an effort to secure a. compulsory edu- cation law in Tennessee was defeated New York amended the law by fixine the minimum compulsory age at seven instead of eight years. In New Jersey the law enacted year ago raising the age of compulsory school Attendance to eighteen years was amended to pro-
 vide that children above fourteen may
 be excused by the local authorities on condition Of having met certain educa-
 tional requirements and on proof that
 their services are necessary to the
 family support.
 A number of changes have been
 made in the regulation of the hours of
 employment. Besides those already
 mentioned, Kansas, Oklahoma and
 North Dakota limit them to an eight
 hour day and forty-eight hour week
 Delaware to a nine hour day and fifty
 four hour week. Maine to ten hour
 and a ffty-eight hour week for boys
 under sixteen and girls under eighteen
 and Rhode Island to a ffty-six hour
 week for minors under sixteen years
 and all women. It will be Interesting
 to those whe have looked upon Rhode Island for many years as the most
 backward in matters of child protec-
 tion among the New England state
 to note that in this respect she now takes the, lead In the attempt to recommend limitation of hours at the recent southern conference on uniform child labor laws. the greatest interest was expressed by the southern dele gates but it was contended that in view of the long week in force in the New England cotton mills, it would be disastrous to southern textile manu-f lecturers to make radical changes in this respect A resolution was adopt ed. however, expressing cordial belief in the principle of an eight hour day It thus appears that New England stands as a barrier to progress toward a reasonable limitation of the hours of labor.
 The new laws in North Dakota and Oklahoma are among the most com- plete yet enacted, following closely the suggestions contained in the stand ard' law, especially in respect to hours of labor. prohibition of night work. in- furious employment, and proof of age
 The bill which Governor Haskell vetoed year ago in Oklahoma was received his approval. Important changes have been made also in Min nesota and bills are pending in Con- necticut. Florida, Illinois and Wiscon- sin.
 The most disheartening defeat was in North Carolina where an agree ment had been reached with the manu- facturers on a. compromise bill which was deliberately killed in the Senate. FEDERAL CHILDREN'S. BUREAU. |
 III duuilioil to these eHorlS tO IH- prove the laws in the various states | the National Child Labor Committee has taken a leading part in advocating 1 the establishment of Federal Chil- dren's Bureau. The bill is now before | the extra session of Congress and it is 1, that consideration will be | given to the measure during the early | days of the regular session. President | Taft, who is a member of the Com 1 mittee, has given his hearty approval | of the measure.
 State committees. affiliated with the National Committee. have been formed 1 during the year in Minnesota. Kansas l North Dakota, West Virginia, Louisi- | ana, and Massachusetts. The finances | of the Committee are in excellent shape, the increased budget of the l present year having been met by the generous support of the 5000 or more | persons who now constitute the mem bership of the Committee.