Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1916-02-24

: HI
: uniform, which makes him practically
snow covered Alps.
thirds of those 16 years of age and
over earned less than Sc in a represen-
tdl1re week. In another group of 20
industries, an examination of the earn
lngs OIL over $4,000 women Ii years Oh
age and over showed that over Al PEI
tvnL earned less IMAM So III a repre-
SENTATIVE week.
LIE report shows that the employ
Aent OF children was Dotn extensive
anu serious; not only were children
= Iounu employed IN great numbers, Du.
Lney were tOund employed below tnt
: legal age; employed al WORK legalls
prohibited to cnlloren Of their years,
employed tor Illegally long hours ant
AT illegal times; employed through
evaslons OF the law and under unde
snaO1e conditions. In. spite OF all O,
in Lne relative number OF childrel
employed, and very plain indications
that a public sentiment against the1
exploitation is making itself felt Ell
fectively.
Since the publication of the Blu.
reau,s report many and important
changes have. been made in Labor
laws, especially in, those affecting tht
conditions OF employment OF womeL
and children and the health and safe
~ OF wage earners, regardless of Sc
and age.
1t is not possible to say how far til,
findings of these reports have beel
directly instrumental in securing new
labor legislation, for within the perio<
since 1908 many agencies have beer
lctive in the work of investigation
discussion, and propaganda, in man.
cases using the data Of these reports
in other cases supplementing them BY
further investigation along the SAINT
or other lines.
Most important of such supplement
tary Investigations Of an official char
acter have been those of the variof
State minimum wage commissions, tn
workmen's compensation or acciden
, commissions, some of the State BIZ
reaus or departments of labor, an
the New York State Factory Invest
eating Commission. Most fmportan
of the unofficial agencies in the wor
of investigation and propaganda hav.
been the National Child Labor Con
mittee, the National Consumer
League, and the American Associatio,
for Labor Legislation. All of tht
agencies mentioned have contribut
ed in an important way to the progress
in labor legislation affecting womer
and children which has been so mark
ed during the last Z or years.
Some definite idea of the breadt,
and strength of the movement for pre-
tective labor legislation during recen
; years may be gained by an examina-
ton of the legislation of the various
States from 1908 to 1915. Thus, tax
| ing as examples some of the more i'm
portant provisions for the protection
of women and child wage earners, we
find within this period the number OF
States prohibiting factory employment
under IA years of age increased from
80 on January 1, 1908, to Al in 1915
the number requiring medical examin-
| alton or a certificate of physical fit
ness preliminary to the issue of work
permits from 8 to 35, the number pro
FITTING night work under Is years
from 1S to Sc, and the number limit
ing hours of work under 16 years tc
per day from 3 to 21. Changes quite
as striking are found in provisions
affecting women. Since 1908 the mum
Der limiting the hours of work in fac
tories to per day increased from
none to 4, the number limiting hours
Of work to 10 day increased from
10 to "a, while two classes of laws no
!: known in any State in January 1908
namely, minimum wage and mother:
pension laws, have been enacted, this
former in II States, the latter in Is
States.
The progress In labor Legislation
affecting women and children within
this period is not adequately measur
ed bv the number of States enactins
new laws, for much more effective en-
forcement has also been provided fol
by the creation of factory inspection
in Is States where formerly Their,
were no inspectors, by increases il
the personnel in other States. and b,
giving TO fsctory inspectors IN severe
of the States greatly increased powers
The movement for workmen's com
pepsaticn LEGISLATION and occupation
al disease reporting. which Is entire
" new within this period. Is scarcel,
less Important than that which ha
secured the classes of laws dread
no-ae1 for the compensation law
have brought new standards of safet.
and sanitation affecting all employees
with new methods and powers Of en-
forcement Furthermore, the guar
anty Of compensation payments q