Evening journal., 1911-02-28
EXPLAINS The
LABOR BILL
Consumers League President
Tells What organization
Wants for Women
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
HAVE LAW In FORCE

In discussing the bill now before
the Legislature limiting the hours Of
work for women and TO regulate the
conditions of their employment, In or
der 20 safeguard public health. Miss
NJ. II. Sherman, president Of the Con-
sumers' League, of Delaware, said to-
day:
"In this connection It is interesting
to note that the leading countries OF
Europe, among others. Great Britain,
Germany and France, in which women
are largely employed in factory or
similar work have found It necessary
to take action for the protection of
their health and safety and the public
welfare and have enacted laws limit
ing the hours OF labor for adult wo-
men.
Our own country was backward in
following the lead Of Europe, but today
twenty-six States, including nearly all
of those In which women are largely
employed in factory or similar work,
have also found It necessary 20 pass
such laws. This legislation is not the
result of sudden impulse or passing
humor-it has followed upon deliber-
ate consideration and been adopted in
the face Of much opposition More than
thirty years in this country, and more
than sixty abroad, have elapsed be-
tween the earliest and the latest OF
these acts, but In no instance has any
such law been repealed. Nearly every
amendment has been in the line Of
strengthening the law or further re-
ducing the working time.
THE constitutionality Of such laws
has been called in question in some in
stances but they now rest upon the
firm foundation Of favorable judicial
decisions of the Supreme Court Of the
United States. and of the States Of
Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon,
Washington, Louisiana, Michigan
and Illinois, the Illinois court
having reversed in 1910 its former ad-
verse decision.
Delaware has no law. which can be
enforced for the protection of its wo-
men workers, yet the need for such
a law is constantly apparent.
THE following is a summary Of the
main provisions Of the proposed law:
The first four sections deal with the
hours Of employment, limiting them,
in practically all establishments where
women work, to ten in any one day, for
J women over eighteen years Of age, and
/ for girls under eighteen TO nine hours (;
and forbidding work after ten o'clock
at night for women, and after seven
in the evening for girls.
"A woman factory inspector is TO
furnish a printed form, which the EN-
ployer is TO post in the work-rooms
after filling out the hours Of work re-
quired, to aid the inspector in the en-,
forcement Of the law
The following sections regulate the
conditions under which women are tc
work; Seats, for use when not neces-
sarily engaged IN the active duties OF
their employment; good drinking wa
] ter; vessels for expectoration and
| proper and separate water-closets are
to be provided. Work rooms are 10
be properly ventilated, lighted, rea-
sonably warmed, and kept in a clean
and sanitary condition; mechanical
ventilation, BY the use Of a fan or
other mechanical means is TO be pro-
vided In establishments where any
process is carried on by which dust
or particles are inhaled to an injuri-
Gus extent Dangerous machinery,
such as exposed saws. betting and
cog-wheels, is 10 be properly safe
guarded. Elevator openings and stair
ways are to be protected. Accidents TO
women, Of serious nature, are to be
reported to the woman factory IN
spector, who may, after investigation.
require such precautions to be taken
as will prevent the recurrence of
similar happenings.
THE use toward female employees
of abusive, indecent or profane langu-
age is forbidden.
The final sections have to do with
the enforcement Of the law and pro-
vide for the appointment by the Su-
perior Court, Of a woman factory in
spector at salary of $3.50 a year, who
shall VISIT all establishments where
females over 16 years Of age are en-
ployed. and duly enforce the provis-
ions Of the act.
To make sure that the law Is being
enforced, two or more unpaid women
visitors are TO be appointed, also by
the Superior Court. who shall visit the
establishments where females are en-
ployed. to see that the provisions and
! requirements Of the laws relating 70
the employment of females are car
ried out"
Penalties, varying from twenty to
two hundred and fifty dollars for a
third offense, are provided