Evening journal., 1915-10-07

Grantland. child labor inspector, sub
mitted his report for the past six
months. Mr.. Grantland not only sub
mitted a general report of work that
has been accomplished, but also rec
commended some changes in the pres
ent child labor law.
The report follows:
"To the Chairman and Members,
"Child Labor Commission of Della
ware.
I'm accordance with the provision of
the act creating the Labor Commits
sion of Delaware that the officers
shall make quarterly reports to the
commission. we present the following
as a report of the work up to the close
of the first six monthS of the admin
istration of the present commission.
While we probably have not accom-
pished all that should have been ac-
complishei and may not have done as
much perhaps as you had hoped, yet
we have the consciousness of having
done the best we could under the
existing circumstances. In the en-
forcement OF a law that is very little
understood by either the employing
or employed, law that is confronted
with criticism and opposition from
many quarters, law that is very dif-
fcult to comprehend and more diff
cult TO administer, 1t has been deemed
the better plan to educate and per
suade rather than to prosecute and
force. We are striving to convince
the public that this law in protecting
the moral and physical welfare of the
present childhood is preparing for a
stronger and healthier childhood in
the future, mentally, morally and ply
sically. Many perplexing problems
have arisen, some OF which have been
settled to our satisfaction at least,
while there are others which we viii
present for your consideration and
decision.
"Our files show that at the present
time there are in force ga general
employment certificates, Az having
been issued to boys and 2O2 to girls:
The boys are engaged in all lines OF
business and industry from the pack
ing OF pellets in a powder yard TO the
sorting OF stockings in a hosiery
while the girls are employed III the
textile, morocco and tobacco indus
tries principally. Our files also show
that while 465 certificates have laps
ed, the number OF the ceruheates
now being issued runs close 10 1900.
This is accounted for by the fact that
a considerable number of the chill
dren have had more than one certi-
ficate, caused by a change in their
place OF employment. Nine certificates
have been issued to one boy and quite
a number Of both boys and girls have
had four or FIVE. This brought about
a situation that Professor G. ]. Scott
who. through his secretary. Miss Jes-
sic II. Culbertson, is the issuing Of
fcer for Wilmington, thought should
be remedied because Of the lack OF
sufficient clerical force in his Office.
After conference with Attorney
General Wolcott. at which the Child
Labor inspector was present, Profes-
sor Scott decided that, inasmuch as
the law did not provide that the gen
eral employment certificate should
state the place of employment anf
kind Of industry in which the chile
was employed. the procedure in tn,
future would be that the child, upor
calling for a returned certificate
would be given the certificate re-
turned. unless a new one was de-
manded or was considered necessary
by the old one having been mutilated
worn out. dirty or had been lost.
Since the first of the present yea
1853 street trade permits have beer
issued and upon classification, it il
found that they have been obtaine,
mostly for errand work, 9S havin,
been issued for that purpose. T,
newsboys, 81 we're issued and % t
those who desired to engage in regu
lar street trading, such as working a
fruit stands, milk and wood wagoi
helpers. lamp lighting and helping
hucksters. The smallness of the mum
Der issued to neWsboys is due to tn
ruling that only those engaged il
the selling of papers and between tn
years of twelve and fourteen ar
obliged to secure permits. During tn
summer seven boys were permitted &
be employed in occupations that coul
probably be questioned as to bein
street trades, but the best interest
OF the boys and the kind of employ
ment engaged in, caused us to dc
eide in favor of them being employed
In the matter of badges for stree
traders, we are informed by the issu
ing officer that they are in need q
another supply. and with three NOR
months for issuing this year. at leas
twenty-five more will be needed.
might be well to mention that ii ha
been held by the Attorney-Genera
that the law provides for no minimum
age for street trading, except news
boys, and the only check we have o
this class of child-workers is th
Judgment OF the principal in issuing
school statement.
Pursuant to Section 81 OF tn
Child Labor Act which provides
relation 10 what has become know
as special permits that "The Stat
Child Labor Inspector shall make ~
port OF all such cases to the Con
mission" we submit the accompany
ing statement of the disposal Of Oh
26 applications for special permit
that have been made during the tim
of the present Commission. Seve
permits were granted by the issuin
officers on recommendation OF the II
spectOr, two were withdrawn an
four applicants we're provided wit
scholarships by the Consumer
League. We would call your after
tion Of the three instances whel
special permits we're given to boy
who were more than fourteen yeal
Of age and could not secure generi
employment certificates. In one cas-
the applicant could not secure
physical certificate and in the 9th,
two cases school records could NJ
be obtained. Several cases of tn
kind having come to hand hs
hro,,cbf IN tho question as fO Whptl