Evening journal., 1911-03-17
WANT LAW TO
SAVE THE WEAK
Consumers League Asks for
Protection of Women and
Children
GAMERS FORCE ONE
AMENDMENT TO BILL

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del March 17.-Hearings
we're given by the Legislature in joint
committee of the whole yesterday af-
ternoon ON the Senate bill to regulate
the hours of employment of women to
ten hours a day at the maximum, and
the Senate bill to amend the child
labor law in order to make its en-
forcement more efficient and to make
it more stringent.
No objection was voiced TO the bill
during the afternoon, the packers and
Gamers of Kent and Sussex coun-
| ties Withdrawing their objection when
! they learned that the bill had been
amended to exempt canneries and
vegetable and fruit packing houses.
/ In all probability the bills will be
passed.
A big delegation of men and women
mostly of Wilmington, was present
representing the Consumers League
the churches and labor organizations
The bill to limit the hours of employ
ment Of women was the first cOnsid-
cred. President pro TEN. Monaghan
/ presided.
At the outset Representative Moore
moved that each speaker be allotted
five minutes. which was decided on
Miss Margaret Sherman, of the Con
sumers' League, was the first speaker
She explained that the bill was en-
dorsed by the Consumers League, the
New-Century Club of Wilmington, anC
many other organizations. Miss Sher
man said some amendments had beer
agreed upon to meet objections O
candy and ice cream merchants anC
restaurant proprietors of Wilmington
and that canneries also were exempted
from its provisions. She said the bill
would prohibit employment of womei
more than ten hours a day and no
later than 10 o'clock at night, and tn
employment of a girl of Is years o.
under more than hours a day and no
after o'clock at night She said thI
Crosby and Hill Company. LippincOt
and Company. the Smith-zollinge
Company and Kennard and Company
of Wilmington had endorsed the bill
Miss Sherman said an essential prOvi
sion of the measure was that for
female factory inspector at $3.50
year. to be appointed by the Superio
Court
Mr.. Ridgely Speaks.
Henry Ridgely. Of Dover. spoke o
the duty of the State toward womel
and said there should be no hesitanc.
OH the part Of the State to protect it,
women, girls and children by appro
pirate legislation.
Miss Anna Bird, of Wilmington. sail
this country was back of some of tn
foreign countries in protecting work
ing women and in safety devices 70
machinery She said Delaware is be
hind twenty-siX other states in regar
TO this class of legislation. She beliey
ed the bill a practical humanitaria
measure.
Preacher Speaks for Bill.
The Rev c. A. Henderson. pastor c
the First Unitarian Church, Whining
ton. said he considered the pendin
measure a modest and just bill, on
that should be enacted unanimousl
because OF its merit and not to b
traded upon.
Miss Sherman in conclusion, aske
that the bill as q matter Of conscienc
be passed, as II affects $4,000 womei
Gamers Are Satisfied.
President Monaghan asked If any
body desired to speak against the bill
Walter O. HOffecker. Of Smyrna. pre-
sident of the Tri-State Packers AssC
citation. asked Il he understood that a
amendment had been framed to es
empt canning establishments Mis-
/. Sherman read the amendment to thf
, effect, and Mr.. Hoffecker announce
that he had no further interest in III
bill to present.
= Child Labor Bill.
The Senate amendments to the Chill
Labor Law then were called up for dis
cussion. The Rev. Hubert w. We'll
3 was the first speaker in advocacy {
: the bill It prohibits the employmeI
Of persons under the age of 21 years
night as messengers and anybody els
under the age OF fourteen years in IN