Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-03

ployers of free labor
Hon William r. Pattangall of Wa
teryflie. attorney general of Maine.
was the closing speaker Of the eve
ming and took up thu subject of Child
Labor in Maine He sai4 thai up 10
1907 the child labor laws of Maine
We're ef little value. but in that year
a law was passed forbiddng the en-
ployment of children unuer IA except
in factories where perishable goods
were handled. since June %. 1911, d
law has been i'm io"ce removing this
exemption and providing for children
between Il and Is having Il certain
amount Of schooling.
We have done about all that We
can hope for in the way of iegisla
ton" said the speaker. THE great
est difficulty now is that in some cases
this law. which works for the seHer-
al good. works great hardship where
the children are compelled to become
breadwinners very carly." He adVa-
Gated the issuance of individual Ger
tifleates BY the commissioner Of la
Dor and industry n certain cases AT
the discretion Of the commissioners.
TX improper StisAA ''iAis VI illeANitt
cry in mills makes employment partic-
uIarly hazardous Tor boys and girls
between Il and IS. Who were allowed
To work in the mills out Of school
times and that there was room for
legislation along this line was the
opinion of Mr.. Pattangall.
The speaker said that he thought
that the enforcement Of the child la
Dor law was being well carried out
and cited an instance where the labor
commissioner had cancelled 4nn Ger
tificates that were issued under a mis-
apprehension of facts.
Mr. Pattangall said that the labor
of the children of tender age in the
mills was due in nine cases out of ten
To the extreme poverty of the par
ents. He advocated reaching out for
| the cause and teaching the children
who We're not allowed To work in the
mill, quickly some method OF earning
| a living.
industrial education on a large
scale should interest us when we talk
about child labor and the prevention
OF child labor. Do you think We could
hear much Of child labor if the adult
workers of the State received an ade
quate wage"
Safeguard the lives of the children
and bring about the sentiment that no
| industry has a right to exist in this state
| that does not pay a living wage" SAID
the speaker in conclusion.
mild sensation was created at the
close of Mr., Pattangalrs remarks when
Rev. Leayitt II. Hallock pastor of the
| Pine Street Congregational church. ac-
| cused factory owners of classifying In re-
| gard to schooling certificates of minors,
and declared there was no state in the
union where factory employees We're COM
PEELED to work as many hours as in
Maine.
81 hope that when Mr.. Pattangall
again manipulates Maine Legislature
he will seek TO regulate the hours of
adult labor" said the clergyman with
emphasis.
Il do not know of any state that linn
its the hours of labor Of adult men; that
is matter of contract" replied Mr.. Pat
tangall. I'VE have laws limiting the
hours of employment of women and chit
dren and no woman is allowed to work
more than Sc hours in a single week"
y brief general discussion followed and
p. NJ.
Friday forenoon will be devoted to Wis
ting Institutions of interest to social
workers in Augusta and vicinity. includ-
ing the House of the Good Shepherd.
Gardiner; the state Industrial School for
Girls. Hallowell; the Maine Children's
Home. Augusta.
Automobiles will be provided by the
local committee. leaving City hall at $50
A. NJ. The program for the afternoon
and evening is as follows:
II +. M-"Co-operative Work for Needy
Families in Their Homes" Mrs. AL
berta q. Scott, secretary Associated
Charities Bangor
.. IS 7. M-"Co-operation in Child Helping
Work" Rev. r. w. Plant. House of
the Good Shepherd, Gardiner; Mrs
Ira II. Cullen, secretary Maine Chll-
drens Committee.
Annual meeting Maine Chldren's Com
mittee.
S F. M.-Reports of committees.
Education as Part of Life Hon.
PaNson Smith, State superintendent Of
schools of Maine.