The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-22
LEGISLATIVE COMMENT
By LEWIS H. MACHEN
WOMEN AND CHILD LABOR

Two of the most interesting bills
\ from the standpoint of the sociologist.
now pending in tho Legislature, arc
inc Dreamer bill, regarding the hours
OF labor OF women In work shops, laun-
, cries and mercantile establishments.
aud the Byrd child labor bill both OF
which have been engrosscd and are
now on tho calendar Of the House of
Delegates in their third reading.
Amendments to both bills were
adopted by the House, excmpting can
Hcries from their operation, and also
eXcmpting mercantile establishments
la country districts and in towns OF
less than 1000 Inhabitants. Both bills
are amendat0ry OF existing statutes-
the Creamcr measure of the act APP
proved March 4, 1890, and the Byrd
ban of the act approved March ~. 1908.
If the Dreamer bill becomes a law
the situation will be as follows: No
female and no oh!ld under the age OF
fourteen ycars can work as an opera
tive in any factory, workshop, laun-
dry. mercantile or manufacturing es-
adjustment IN this State (with the
exceptions stated moro than ten
hours in any one day OF twenty four
hours. and any contract nude for
longer hours will be void. and the en-
pioyer viii be subject to fine OF not
less than So nor more than $40.
The ovcrworldng OF women in the
lines OF employment Indicated has been
found TO so seriously affect their
health. and that of their offspring.
that the Legislatures OF many OF the
Stntcs now consider that IL is against
public policy.
The Byrd child labor bill marks q
distinct advance in the protection of
the health ami morals of children en-
pioyed in the like pursuits. and cur
tails their employment. under certain
conditions not hitherto dealt with by
our statutes. Under the existing law
no child under the age OF fourteen
may be employed or permitted to work
in any factory. workshop. mercantile
establishment laundry, bakery. brick
or lumber yard. or in the distribution
or ira nsInission or sale OF merchandise
Under the bill. no child under the ago
of sixteen years shall be employed
or permitted to work. in any such In
sttution6 for more than six days in
any one week, nor more tnan ten
hours in any one day. nor before I
o'clock in the morning: nor afh:r 9
o'clock at night
In cities OF 5000 inhabitants or more
no child under the age of fourteen can
work az messenger for telegraph. tele-
phone or messenger companies in the
distribution. transmission or delivery
OF goods or messages; and no child
under eighteen years OF ago can work
at such occupations between the hours
of 10 o'clock In the evening and S
o'clock in the morning.
Tho chief reason for preventing the
labor OF children at night Is because
IL deprivcs them OF their natural rest
and gets them accustomed to irregular
modes of life. which have a tendency
to undermine their health during the
period OF greatest physical develop
ment
Tho objection TO their being en-
ploytd IN messenger service and the
like is that they are too often sent 10
places which 1; IS improper for them
TO visit, and put into contact with vi
cious persons, likely 10 impair their
morals at an inprcssionable time OF
Nre II ha. been stated on good au-