Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-03


TRENTON, July S.-Child labor leg
islation, declared by social workers,
educators and legislators to be the
most far-reaching and drastic ever
written ON States statute books,
will become effective tomorrow. From
that time for ward, legal barriers will
prevent children of tender years from
being employed by INSCRIPTIONS
manufacturers or others in unhealth-
full occupations or at late hours.
One of the most vital provisions in
the new legislation is the provision
which vests authority in officials of
each municipality to deal with Of
tenders of the statute Heretofore,
the child labor laws have been inef-
fectual, according to the State Board
of Education, because the machinery
for their enforcement was clogged
with legal red-tape, and because en-
ployers did not fear to violate the
statute on account of lax or tardy
prosecution of complaints. In adolf
ton TO this, the penalties for ignor-
ing the States mandate were trivial,
the maximum punishment being
fine of $50.
Parents and Employer Liable.
The new legislation makes the en-
ployers and the parents equally LA
BILE to prosecution in cases of VIOLA
ton of the statutes, prison term PEN
alties are provided, and machinery
created to enforce the legislation.
Here are some of the provisions or
the new laws
No child under the age of sixteen
years shall be permitted to work
more than eight hours a day, or
~. nntr n.
der the former law, children could
work in canning factories as many
hours per day as they could stand
the strain.
No working papers shall be granted
any child under the age of fourteen
years No child under that age is
permitted to work at night. An ex-
ception to this provision is made in
cases where children desire to work
during school vacations. ByNsecur-
ing a certificate from the school doc
tor that contemplated work will not
endanger the child's health, q child
under fourteen may work during
school vacations.
Henceforth papers permitting
child to work can be issued only by
the school authorities. This differs
from the old law in that such papers
were issued by inspectors of labor, the
school authorities being held respon-
sible for keeping child In school I'M
til fourteen. This situation created
conflict between the labor inspectors
and school officials, the result being
that many children under fourteen
quit school to work by giving false
affidavits as to their age to the labor
inspectors.
A strict record of such working pa
IL IiaT1a fsff1 nj Faf
the State, the employer and the school
working in unison. This correlation
makes it impossible for a child TO
evade the statute.
Cities Now Have Right to Act
The new law gives each municipal
ity the legal right to have its police
men or inspectors enter workshops
and investigate violations. The va
rious cities also have the authority 10
conduct prosecutions
Heretofore all cases had to be
prosecuted by the State attorney
general in the name of the commits
sioner of labor. This led to the piling
up of hundreds of complaints, and
with a limited number of assistants
he was often unable to reach cases
until two or three years after such
violations occurred. So employers did
not fear the law. They often found
1t more profitable to continue vio-
lating the child labor laws than to
discharge the children in their employ
when complaints were lodged against
them. The maximum penalty for
conviction was $50 fine.
Offenders of the new laws are to be
dealt with as are ordinary criminals.
Violators will be hailed to the police
court on the day of their. arrest or the
day following and tried while the evil
dence is easily obtainable, and sem
fenced forthwith to the county Jail or
fined
A single offense against the pro-
visions of the law is punishable upon
conviction before a police magistrate
by a $50 fine or ninety days in jail,
or both. Habitual violation of the
law, employment of several minors
by the same person, renders the Of
Tending employer liable to conviction
for maintaining a disorderly house,
the penalty for which is three years
in the State prison or a fine of $1,000,
or both.
Fines Go to the Cities.
The fines under the new laws will
go to enrich the treasures of the mu-
inequalities. Heretofore they were
turned over to the State.
Not only are employers who violate
the laws liable to prosecution, but
also the parents of the children who
work in violation of the statutes.
This provision will prevent parents
from employing children of tender
years in their homes in 'sweatshop"
work.
The provision preventing night
work also applies to mercantile es-
adjustments during the Christmas
season rush, as we'll as at other
times.
Stringent safeguards are provided
to prevent the engaging in occupa-
lions dangerous to health or limb
The new laws were fostered by
Commissioner OF Labor Lewis It.
Bryant, the State Association of At
tendance (truancy) officers. represent
tatiyes of child caring societies and
the State immigration commissioners.
Vehicles Having Right of Way.
Another of the new measures,
which will probably come as a sur
prise to many, is one which gives
all vehicles of fire departments and
hospitals the right of way through
public streets Drivers who obstruct
the street are liable to a fine of 500.
Another law designed to reduce the
enormous number of workmen striek-
en- while at work in tunnels or canals
t,raxrfTau fhaf Ia hnro,- r,attaf he aw.