The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-01-13

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is all that has thus far entered any of
these contests, although there Is
spirited rivalry for many of the
places. The report Is that there are
twenty eight candidates in the field
for the position Of state librarian
the only elective position in the state
held by woman.
MORE LABOR LEGISLATION.
Calling attention to the generosity
which the general assembly has dealt
with the department Of agriculture,
commerce and industries, in enacting
into laws recommendations in the
past, Commissioner Watson in his an
nual report recommends more labor
legislation. He calls attention to the
good results which have come from
the enactment of the Factor Inspec-
ton Act, regulating hours of labor
in mercantile establishments, relat-
ing to seats for women, the Messenger
Boy Act, wiping out of exemptions of
children under II years of age work
ing, and other labor legislation.
Mr.. Watson recommends a law pro-
viding for the collection of vital sta
tistics, saying that the law is needed
I'm the enforcement of the child labor
laws, that the Messenger Boy Act
should be made to apply to boys
working in stores, places of amuse-
ment, cold drink stands and offices,
and that newsboys should be prohibit
ed from working before q. m. or
later than p. m, that an Act should
be passed prohibiting absolutely the
use of the suction shuttle in any cot
ton mill after July 1, 1914, that no
women be permitted to work after
10 p. M, that the provision allowing
making up of time in the hours of
labor in textile plants be repealed and
substituting therefor such regulations
t ocover such contingencies as may
arise, that all manufacturers be re-
quired to file reports with the COM
missioner one month earlier than De-
cember s..
FOR BETTER PROTECTION.
Commissioner Watson recommends
the requiring OF all factory buildings
to be equipped with fire escapes, that
all dangerous machinery and beltings
in all manufacturing plants and work
shops be properly safeguarded, to re-
Qulre proper ventilation and santa
tion OF manufacturing plants and
work shops, and confer authority on
the commissioner to enforce the
regulations,
He also recommends that laws be
enacted providing for the inspection
and regulation OF all baker shops and
confectionery shops. He would have
a law passed preventing the appear
ance of children under "a years OF
age In any professional performance
upon the stage of any theatre or
place OF amusement, to make employ
ment agencies subject to license by
the commissioner, who shall enforce
rules and regulations for their con-
duct, to provide for the registration
of births, to provide for workmen's
compensation and insurance in manu-
featuring plants, upon the line of the
Wisconsin Compensation Act, to fix
definite and general regulations ap-
plying to manufacturing plants in
the matter of the holding back Of
wages of employees, to require the re-
porting b yemployes to the commits
sioner Of all industrial accidents up
on blanks to be furnished for that
purpose.
Mr.. Watson would amend the law
prohibiting employment of children,
and increase the minimum age from
II years to 13 years, after January
/, 1915, and TO IA years after Jan
uary l, 1916. He calls attention to
the fact that most of the states have
II years as the age at which children
must arrive before they can be en-
ployed in cotton mills or other man
ufacturing plants and he thinks that
the time has now come when South
Carolina ought to raise the limit
from Il to IA years, gradually.