The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-05
NEW LAWS ON CHILD LABOR IN PRACTICE HERE Agent Hall Looks For Decrease in Working of Children CHILDREN MUST APPLY FOR
 PAPERS AT CITY HALL Rigid Enforcement of Certificate System is Made Possible
 Summary of Law

| Today for the first time the new
 legislation affecting the employment
 of children was put into operation in
 this city when Charles N Hall, the State agent of the Board of Educa- | ton, held forth at the council cham Der, City Hall, from 11:30 to 8 o'clock, | removing his headquarters for this city from the Police and Charities l building to the more commodious quarters, and receiving many appli- | cants
 MT. Hall is member of the lower branch of the Legislature from New Milford. He was an active factor in l the framing of the legislation and he 1 is confident that it will materially re- l duce the employment of small chil- dren.
 All children from IA to 1e years of l age. desiring employment in any me- establishment must apply at the City | Hall for a certificate of fitness. Not
 only mental, but physical, condition is
 examined by State Agent Hall
 The weekly visit to the council
 chamber here of State Agent Hall will be fin the interests not only of Bridge port children, but also of those of
 Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull The child in every instance must be accompanied by eith- CT parent or guardian, and must bring evidence of age. He will be here each Tuesday at the above hours. Under the new law, the children de- siring employment cannot secure single certificate and upon the strength of that go out and seek work. They must first have employment, and the nature of the work and the loca- ton of the Sane must be indicated This is embodied in the certifscate aI- lowing manufacturers, etc., to employ them. turer must at once forward a blank showing that the cflfid in question Is employed with hfrn. And when the employment ceases he must forward a similar blank. When such employ ment ceases. the certificate issued to the child becomes invahdated How ever, the child may use a certificate which is issued to the parent along with his original certificate, and for one week only may work in new em- plOyment pending the Issuance, of new papers by the State agent.
 The law, summarized, Is as follows:
 -'.No child under fourteen years of any mechanical, mercantile or manu- factur1ng establishment
 ''Tyhe penalty for violation of this law is a fine not exceeding one hun dred dollars in each casa
 '"The law enacted by the Legislature of 1911 and in force on and after Sep tember l. 1911, requires the employer of any child under sixteen years of age to obtain and keep on file a cer- tfficate showing the age of the child and signed by the secretary or an agent of the State Board of Educa- ton.
 '"The penalty for violation of this law is fine not exceeding one hun dred dollars in each case
 The fact that an employer believes a child to be over sixteen years of age is no defence if it is proved that the child is under sixteen years of age.
 After September 1, 1911, no em- ployment certificate of any description whatsoever, except the certificate of the State Board of Education, may be accepted by any employer
 The certificate will be issued to the employer in each case and must be filed by him when employment begins