Evening journal., 1916-03-21
MR.. GRANTLAND MAY
QUIT AS Inspector
Continued from Flrst Page.

terry meeting.
During the period that has elapsed |
since the last meeting, we have en- /
deavored to broaden the scope and /
improve the service OF issuing en- /
ployment certificates to the working /
children in other parts of the State |
outside the city Of Wilmington and /
while our efforts in this direction |
have not been as successful as we |
would have liked them to be, we do |
feel at least justified in reporting
progress. Inability TO secure the ne |
cessary papers required for the is
suance of the certificates and indif- /
ference on the part OF most all con-
cerned are the chief difficulties that
have been encountered.
The very efficient service, which
has been rendered during the present
administration at the office Of Profes-
sor c. ]. Scott in Wilmington. in the
issuing of employment certificates and
permits. recently suffered a serious
loss I'm the death of Miss Jessie II.
Culbertson. the issuing officer, whose
faithfulness to duty during the siren
uous period following the new regime
caused nervous collapse from which
she never fully recovered. The eX-
UiAUdliNHn anu lAnhA NNAANAA AfNffNR
i'm administering the necessarily COM
plicsted provisions of the Child Labor
law incident to the issuance of
working paper to a child call for an
officer of untiring patience, courtesy
and above the average intelligence
and fidelity. All of these qualities
Miss CuIbertson possessed to re-
markable degree and her ideals Of Of
fetal right and justice were always
sacredly preserved.
At the present time we have on
file seven hundred and five active
certificates. Of which two hundred
and thirty-one have been issued to
girls and four hundred and seventy
four TO boys. During the last four
months two hundred new and ono
hundred and forty-four subsequent
certificates have bpen issued, while
during the same period one hundred
and ffty-four certificates have lapsed.
This shows a steady increase in the
number of working children due part
ly to the determined effort that has
been made TO bring all such under
the law. Previous to January 1,
1916. we compiled and now have on
file in the Office the names of more
than four hundred children under
sixteen years of age, who during the
mast two years have indicated in one
way or another an inclination 10 be
employed and the most of whom are
without employment certificates
From time to time the oldest of the 'e
children have been looked up and,
il located in such employment as
comes under the law. have been re-
auired to comply with its provisions.
A recent investigation of about one
hundred Of the children on this list
disclosed that sixteen were working
at occupations coming under the
Child Labor Law without certificates
nine were working at occupations
outside the law, twelve could not be
located and the balance were report
ed as being in school. During the
last quarter we have been in touch
with all the children working in Viii
mington with certificates with five or
six exceptions.
Being convinced that the old method
OF trying to locate working children
by visitation from place to place al
regular intervals is both Impractical
and impossible. we have laid aside
for the time being at least this prac-
tice, with its detailed reports, and are
striving to introduce and cultivate a
spirit Of cooperation between en-
ployer, parent, child and inspector
and TO this end we purpose to direct
our immediate efforts. A step in this
direction has been taken by the sub
mission OF a proposition TO a number
of the larger industries employing
children that a suggested form Of age
card be given all children seekinl
employment. the same to be signed by
parent. guardian or custodian. Up tC
the present time, although some o.
the most desired employers have no
responded, we have been assured o
the cooperation OF enough agencie!
to warrant a trial OF our proposal
This proposition is the outcome Of thu
numerous cases that have been dis
covered of the deliberate misstate
ment OF the age of a child applying
for employment in order that the!
might come outside the provisions o
the law. and it was upon cases o
this nature that our recent action wa
taken in Wilmington and upon a IA
yOrable decision OF which we hat
based our hopes of being better abl
to overcome this practice in the fu
ture. Our hopes in this direction no
having been realized, the above men
Toned proposal has been offered as
means OF bettering the aforesaid con
1itions
Our plan OF following up the child
rem. whose certificates have been re
turned. by calling at their homes, max
ing inquiry as to why they had LEI
their previous employment. advisin
he seeking Of such occupation as OF
iers something for the future and as
sisting in securing such employmer
whenever possible. has succeeded I
some extent i'm allaying the feeling {
antagOnism had b. the parents an
children towards those who are calle
ipon to administer the law.
During the present year seventy
two street trade yermits have bee
issued but we are far from convince
that this number represents all {
this class of child workers. This is
feature of our administration that ha
been most unsatisfactory and we al
free to confess our inability 20 COZ
with it as yet. After considering III
many possibilities of construction (
the street trade provisions Of the la
and the various ramiticatiOns inl
which il leads, we conferred with Pr
fessor G. J. Scott and the decisio
was reached that those working aft
chool hours at light occupation