The Nevada County picayune., 1914-09-04
CHILD LABOR LAW
 AND FARM WORK
PROPOSED LAW PERMITS CHll- DREN TO WORK FOR
 PARENTS.
L. H. Moore of State Federation of Labor, Who Helped Draft Law, Ex- plains Provision Which Has
 Caused Misunderstanding.


 minds of people who are interested in agriculture as to tine application Of the proposed child labor law to the work of children on farms The law states that no child under "A years shall be permitted to work in any re muneratiye occupation in this state except that children under fl years during school vacations may be em- ployed by their parents or guardians on work owned or controlled by them ' I.-.-....,--. 4Gaa
 This means, of course," said MT. l.. II Moore of the Arkansas State Federation C, Labor "that any child nay work or, d farm owned or con troiied by his parents, outside of school hours" NIr Moore took an active part in the drafting of the child labor law. and hence has thorough understanding of it's provisions.
 Arkansas Law Flexible.
 We did not word the law so that certain specified occupations were forbidden to children under 14," con tinued MT Moore, because it has been found that this method give rise to serious dihica,ties. If certain occu""tt"NJ - unly are listed as forbid den, it means that occupations which are not so listed are exempt from the operation of the law. It is this very thing which has caused the greatest difficulty in states where the child labor laws are worded in this way. such as New York After the law has been passed, child labor abuses arise i'll occupations which were not included in the law, because children were not largely employed in such occupations at the time the law was passed Nothing can be done then to eii. .1iuate these abuses until the law is amended to include such operations. This usually takes several years ta accomplish and iH the meantime chi 3sa4 continue to work under eoHdi= lions which should not be tolerated feH I moment
 .eGap new Arkansas law was draft cd with a view 10 overcoming this difficulty It was made elastic so thaf il could be applied 10 new abuses 8. they arise. instead of having to wal until the law can be amended The enforcement of the law rests with the commissioner and deputy commission er of labor They Will apply it to the establishments where. in their iGdg ment. the child labor evil is really serious"
 Need for Such Law.
 There can be no doubt about the great value to Arkansas of such q )aw." said Mir Moore "People are awakening at last to the frightful and unnecessary loss of child life through too early employment with it's far tr#achiug influence over future gen Ae.#tiona mentally, morally and physi- .rtlv We have prcaf of this awaken i.a n th" stringent laws which many states have passed governing tue cnl- p.oymcut If children. and providing q suitable education for them Ark au=as h.~ heon h3g. ward in the work. but wil redeem herself if she adopts reis urv child tabor lav."
 \ 'y-Year Ltr.t for Dangerous ooeu.
 pations
 Under i.e pra.eat ,aud labor aw n Arkansas there is iiyear lmit of easN eu ta H5aes and no lmJ 5 lMidryu al work in other ocoIp4.
 os which uu seuaral'N c,aeaad .s taeorou- \ .udl of tine child la ast laws of otl.r states reveals the set 1hat .6 state, prohibit children p}er l6 from working in mines or in .,aor dangerous occupations.
 
 CAld Labor Committee who has made a thorough study of mining, makes >,e following statement about it.
 The slase falls, the liy' wire which applies power to the electric motor the explosions the accumulation of gas. the rapid movement of cars through narrow entries. and tn, blast ing of coal all contribute to make min ing dangerous occupation, and it is only reasonable that the age limit for employment in such work should be raised from l4 to l6 years,
 Aside from the dangers a mine is poor place for growing boy, Many of these boys who spend 10 hours daily in the blackness of mine are undeveloped, some are anaemic. and all apparently show some effects of being deprived of health-giving sun light The tasks at which boy is employed are monotonous He may . be required to open a trap door fifty times a day. or perhaps only a dozen. and the rest of the time he sits idle. When it is cOnsidere- that the work [ begins al a. m. and ends at 5;30 ? D. m some iGea of tee deadening in fuence of the work may be had"
 n commenting on the other danger I sls trades Tn which the children of Arkansas are engaged. this same in , vestigator finds that the greatest num- her of children engaged in any indus : try ot the state are to be found in the sawmills. The abundance of ma chinery in these mills makes the em- ployment of children exceedingly dan gerous IL is inevitable that serious