Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-02
PERMITS FOR ALL
UNDER is YEARS
Factory Inspector Warns Par
ents and Employers of Terms
of Child Labor Law.
THOUSANDS OUT OF SCHOOL
Those Under "a Years Prohibited
From Working at Anything Elk
eept Farming or Gardening.

In view Of the fact that about
10000 children will seek employment
upon the close OF the school sessions
for the vacation period, Oscar F. Mel
son chief state factory inspector. has
issued a statement serving notice upon
all parents that they must secure
working permits for their children be
fore they enter any occupation or en-
ployment. The factory inspector says
that this notice applies TO employers.
as well as TO parents.
With the closing OF most OF the pub
| lie and private schools, it is estimated
that close to $4,000 children between
the ages OF II and 16 will seek to en-
ter factories. stores and many other
places of employment for the purpose
of earning a few dollars during the
vacation recess.
In this connection Mr.. Nelson says:
81 want TO call attention of the par
ents and employers to this notice, be-
cause / know that many of them are
not acquainted with the details of the
child labor law. The first requirement
is. that in order to obtain job. a child
must be between the ages of IA and
10: the second is that the child must
attended"
Before certificate is approved, the |
child must show that it has fulfilled |
the requirements of the school last at !
tended and then the name. address, |
weight, height. color CT eyes and hair |
are recorded on the certificate for /
purposes of Identification.
May Work on Farm.
THE present child labor law in |
simple language" says Mr.. Nelson,
prohibits any child under II years
of aEe from employment in any occu-
patton, except farming or gardening,
during vacation time.
Employers who hire children must
convince themselves that the children
are of working age. The responsible
ity rests entirely with the employer.
The child's word or the parents aft
davit is of no account. Justice Hughes
of the United States supreme court
specifically states, in a recent case in
volving the constitutionality of the
Illinois child labor law, that an en-
ployer hires a child at his peril and
that he must ascertain the true age of
the child
IF the child is less than 16 years
Of age, the employer must keep on file
the age and school certificate for ex-
animation of the deputy factory in
spectors. At the same time a time
table must be properly kept showing
the name and address of each child.
NO child may be employed more
than eight hours per day. 1t is Also
provided that child may not begin
work before O'Clock in the morning !
and must not work after in the eve .
ming. ,
Machine Work Arduous. I
"Of vital importance is the pro- t
hibition of children, especially girls, '
under 10 years of age on sewing ma q
chimes. \ new construction has been /
placed on section II of the child labor {
aw. according to which no child may '
De employed at such work as is harm a
-ul in any degree to its health. After
examination of a large number OF /
children by the physicians of this de-
1artment, il was discovered that chill T
lren under 16 years of age who do I
he machine sewing In garment fac ]
cries rapidly develop anemia and b
In order to further pro-
ect and conserve these wage-earners e
II tender years, a universal order has
,een issued to all employers engaged S
n the manufacture of garments of all
linds, notifying them that their youth '
III operators on sewing machines