The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-28
TO ASK FOR LAWS
FOR THE CHILDREN
CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE TO WORK
# FOR LEGISLATURE TO
PASS ACT.
SEEKS AID OF OTHERS
WILL DO NOTHING TO DETRACT
FROM ANY OTHER MOVE
MENT, hut WILL JOIN
OTHERS.

Children of the State will have the
watchful members of the Virginia
child labor committee looking out
for them during the meeting OF the
Legislature and they will have that
committee striving earnestly anu
faithfully in their behalf.
A meeting OF the committee vas
held yesterday afternoon in the
rooms of the Suffrage League, soo
East Broad street. A report from
subcommittee was expected, but IN
view of the fact that the committee
was not ready to make Its report. the
time was extended to "Wednesday
January 3, at 4:3o o'clock.
DR.. r. X Flanagan. OF the State
health department, chairman or the
committee presided. Other members
present were Miss Mary Johnston
Mrs. Minor. Mrs. 3. h. Munford, Mrs.
Alice NJ. Tyler, f, p. Cox and A. j.
Mokelway, secretary OF the National
Child Labor Committee Tor the
Southern States.
After some discussion ON the part
of all present, during which the pro-
posed action Of the committee in rex
erence to legislation desired was par
TALLY mapped out. this resolution eN-
tending the subcommittee was adopt
ed.
Resolved, That this committee use
its efforts to secure the passage OF
better child labor bill. but 1t does
not desire To interfere with the ell
forts to secure other proposed bene-
fetal labor legislation. and will not
Ia I.,,t will azGizt such tGR1sIa-
ton, and that the chairman appoint
committee OF three to determine
what child labor laws shall be asked
of the next Legislature. which Will
not interfere with such other labor
legislation"
The chairman named Rev. DIR. ]. T..
Mastin. Mrs. y. Il. Munford and r..
G. Davidson To the subcommittee,
and that body will in the meantime
confer with Labor Commissioner
poherty, and make report al the
meeting next Wednesday.
To Work in Harmony
II was brought out at the meet
ing that the sense OF the commit
tee is To work in harmony with the
labor department and the labor
unions.
we do not wish TO interfere with
any proposed legislation. that may oe
beneficial To women and children,
said Chairman Flanagan.
1T is not our desire to introduce
such matters that may attract atten-
ton from any other matters which
may be important. thus endangering
tn. passage of any bill" said Miss
Mary Johnston.
While | do not want to do any :
thing that mas interfere with the
adoption of proper bills for the bene :
ut of children. ! believe we should
proceed on our own Initiative, when
ii can be seen that we Will Toe aided
by the labor department and the FED
Grafton of Labor, said Mrs. Muntord.
eve must work in harmony with
the department" said Mrs. Minor.
',or We may lose the very thing we
are after. | understand the commits
sIoner has several important measures
which he hopes to get through the
Legislature. and we may. Ii we act
with him, combine our proposition
with his. thus getting something for
the children. which we might fail To
get. ii we go Independently. and de-
tract attention from those naea sures.
Mr. Mcke!way said the labor de-
partment had several important pro-
positions TO place before the Legis
lature, notably the bill TO prohibit
children under sixteen working around
dangerous machinery, and in mines.
and tn. extension of the ten hour law.
Our proposed uniform law" said
MIR, Mckelwas. goes little further
and takes up the question of night
work for children. and the age limit
for newshoys and messenger boys
"We may. through our committee,
get the department TO insert some Of
our suggestions in their bills. thus
placing the whole matter in Il safe
position | believe there will be iit-
tie trouble in doing this. We have
both the department and the fedora
ton with us In our movement"
The Propossd Law.
The proposed law prescr!bes a gen
eral age limit of fourteen for prac-
tically all employment. except agri-
culture and domestic service, and for
all occupations during the hours when
the public schools In the district In
which the child resides are In ses-
sion: an age limit of twelve for news
boys; an age limit OF sixteen for Ger
tain specified occupations dangerous
to life or limb. or injurious to the
health or morals of the child, the
specified occupations 10 be Increased
upon order OF the State Board oi
Health: an age-limit Of eighteen for
children in specified extra hazardous
occupations; an age limit OF twenty
one for employment Of boys In saloons
the employment of girls in mines. OF
uuarrfes. In cling or cleaning machin-
cry In motion. or In any occupa tor
where this employment compels them
In remain standing constantly! an
eight hour day for boys under sixteen
and girls under eighteen. with a fifty
four hour week for boys under eigh.
teen and girls under twenty one: ar
age-lfmit of twenty-one for boys ir
the nieht messenger service.
Certificates Of employment are tt
he issued by the local superintendent
OF schools or by person authorized
by him In writing. and the form OF
the certificate Ia carefully devised