The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-06-13
FARM. LABOR

!; FARM.
!:
(By Rev. Peter E. Dietz, of Social
Service Commission, Milwaukee.)
The federal Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics of the Department of Agri-
culture furnished the information to
the effect that the average length of
time per day required of hired labor
of the U. S.. considered as whole is
nine hours and forty-eight minutes
day. The different seasons of the
year vary this average as follows:
spring season, nine hours and fifty
four minutes; summer season, ten
hours and fifty four minutes; fall
season nine hours and fifty-two
minutes; and the winter season,
eight hours and thirty-three minutes
Since 1893 the average increase of
wages to 1913 has increased 54.4
per cent, the amount paid monthly
going up from $500 to $21.38, in
Guiding board and room, and few
other privileges. Whether this in
crease is equal to that of the cost of
living is not shown, but the time of
employment under such favorable
surroundings as are found in agri-
cultural pursuits, has become an in
ducement for the return current of
labor to the land. The increase IA
cilities for the alleviating of the
more irksome duties of the farm
laborer, combined with the recent
movement for providing educational
and entertaining opportunities for a
rural population promises much
needed revival of the strength of the
agriculturists as class.
Child Labor Law Sustained.
The House Of Representatives of
the State of Massachusetts, has killed
the physical test amendment to the
state labor bill, which means that no
change will be made in this enact
ment. The amendment provided
that children could work under the
prescribed age If they were examined
by physician employed for the pur-
pose by the mayor of a city OF by the
~ NH Ys0-
port whether children were capable
without mental or physical injury.
Under this law the employment Of
minors between fourteen and sixteen
years Of age fifty four hours a week,
would be permissible. The present
law prohibits child under sixteen
years of age from being employed
more than forty-eight hours per
week. The interest urging the re-
peal of the law have taken into con-
sideration merely the physical de-
velopment of the child. thereby ne
GAL FIVE Standard 6-5 wpw
glecting the mental or spiritual de-
velopment. The benefits of the adj
ditional hour hereby guaranteed to
the young working people of the
country has already been evidenced
by the increased enrolment of the
continuation and evening schools,
and the increased accumulation of
the books in the Libraries.
There is no more deadly certain
way to undermine national power
than to deny its children rights,
necessary to most complete develop
ment of heart, mind and body.
Housing Betterment.
The National Housing Association,
and in particular, the Tenement
House Committee of the city of New
York in recent publications shows
the work done by the respective
organizations during the past season.
The progress in better housing con-
ditions brought about by these and
similar organizations has brought
the attention of our municipal and
state legislatures to the need of bet
ter laws and duty of the state to its
citizens in this respect. Eighteen
laws and ordinances dealing with
housing conditions were enacted by
states and cities. Concerted and
we'll organized movements were
started in many of the larger cities
to bring about the enactment of
favorable housing conditions; the
prevention of congestion. Of high
buildings. improvement of tenement
house life and disorder through bet
ter sanitation and surroundings, the
removal of the dirty neighbor. the
irresponsible tenant, the careless
match-thrower, the fire-escape OBJ
structor, the Indifferent janitor and
what not.
Already great gains have been
made. The Board of Health of the
city of New York reports that the
death rate per thousand Inhabitants
for greater New York has decreased
in ten years since the tenement
house law went into effect, from
"a IN "a II Tho infant mortal l.