The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-11-26

mas increased over 30 per cent during
the past fifteen years, while the num-
Der of establishments inspected has
doubled and the number Of persons
employed therein has increased IS per.
cent. At the end of 1908 there were
still $4,000 establishments subject to,
inspection, that had never been Wis
tied at all. Many of the visited es-
Establishments had not been inspected
for two or three years, for in 1908
the officials were able to inspect only
10000 establishments, each depart.
mental inspector visiting during that
year at least once an average of over
1900 concerns
Certain provisions of the French
law, like that of a medical examina-
ton of all children believed by the in
spectors to be engaged in occupations
injurious to physical development, are
considered by most of the inspectors
to be somewhat illusory. Much the
same thing is true of the provision
that all child laborers must have an
age certificate. Frequently the certifi-
Gates are altered or carelessly made
out, or actually forged. This has been
the case to notable extent in con-
nection with the large numbers Of
Italian children imported into France
by padrones for distribution among
glass works and tile yards Of France,
as we'll as for employment in boot
backing and chimney sweeping. This
system of importation became so seri-
Gus as to lead to International negotia-
ton between Italy and France with a
view to it's curtailment.
Inspection Almost Worthless.
The French inspectors complain of
leniency in Furnishing violations of
the law, just as In other countries COW
cred by this study. The inspectors re-
port great resourcefulness, both on
the part of employers and children,
In escaping detection. To stimulate
the agility of children in disappearing
when the inspectors visit their works
some glass manufacturers have offer
ed prizes for the children who could
hide themselves most quickly at a
given signal.
The German child labor law permits
industrial employment to begin at
fourteen years, although work not ex-
ceeding six hours per day may begin
at thirteen if the required school at
tendance has been completed. For
occupations, considered as dangerous
or injurious, the employment of chill
dren Is prohibited, or Is permitted only
under special regulations. For chill
dren under sixteen years the hours Of
work are limited to ten, and night
work is prohibited between the hours
of $3.50 and $3.50.
In many respects the most radical
tn III TO-
the continent is found in the German
child labor law Of 1909. which at
tempts to. regulate the employment of
children in their own homes and un-
der the direction of their parents
This law owes it's enactment largely
to the systematic Investigation inaugu-
rated, by a. national organization of
school teachers who became convinc-
ed that the factory laws had in many
instances driven the child 1aborers out
Of the factories into home industries
and into non-industrial pursuits not
reached by previous legislation. The
new law Is not proving easy of en-
forcement, and some time will be re-
quired to draw valid conclusions in
regard to its actual effects. The Ger
man inspectors are able to visit only
about half of the establishments SUBJ
ject to the factory laws. In some
states of the empire only one-fourth
are inspected. Here, as In other coun-
tries, only small proportion Of the
offenses reported against the law were
in any way punished.
In Italy the law fixes the age at.
which industrial work may be begun
at twelve years, though for all work.
ers under fifteen years certain restric-
tons are imposed, including the re-
quirement of physicians certificate
Of physical fitness, and in dangerous
and injurious occupations employment
is entirely prohibited. The hours of
labor are limited to eleven per day
between the ages of twelve and f1f-
teen. Night work between the hours
Of 8 and Cor between and from
April to september) is prohibited for
persons under fifteen years and for
all females.
The Italian experience with their
factory inspection has been too short
to Justify any general conclusion with
regard to it's efficiency. The system
in fact, does not yet apply adequately
to the kingdom as a whole, but only to
certain industrial portions.
Switzerland's Many Laws.
In Switzerland the federal law pro-
hibits the factory employment of chill
dren under fourteen years, but for
dangerous or injurious occupations.
which include an extended list, en-
ployment may not begin under six
teen. The maximum hours Of labor
per day under sixteen years are
eleven. For all employees under eigh-
teen years night work between the
hours of and Cor between 8 and S
during June, July and August) is en-
tirely prohibited.
Switzerland presents a bewildering
variety Of cantonal labor laws, as we'll
as considerable divergence in the en-
forcement of the federal law. The
matter Of the revision Of the entire
law is under consideration, and the
enactment of new law is expected in
Switzerland at an early day.
A striking feature Of the study in
Switzerland relates to the employment
Of school children outside of school
hours. A recent investigation fur
nished much detailed information
showing the employment of very
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