French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-02-22
GOOD AS FAR AS IT GOES.

Representative Grier, or Iredell, ha.
introduced bill in the House to regu.
late the hours of employment of fe-
males and minors in mercantile estab-
lishments. The bill provides that nc
female, or minor under fourteen years
of age, shall be employed or permitted
to work in any mercantile establish,
ment, laundry, bakery, hotel, restau-
rant, printing establishment. book
bindery ,theater, show house or places
| of amusement, more than nine hours
! in any one day, or more than ifty-four
hours in any one week. 1t contains a
provision that in cases of emergency
in hotels and restaurants, femaels NAL
work to maximum of ten hours dur
J ing the twenty-four with their consent,
such females to be paid not less than
double their regular compensation for
such extra time. Under the proposed
tact, no female who has not attained the
age of sixteen years would be permit
ted to begin work before six O'Clock in
the morning or continue after the
same hour in the evening of any one
day, and no female or minor could
legally be permitted to labor continu-
ously in any establishment more than
six hours, without at interval of at
least one hour, but might be employed
for not more than six and one half
hours continuously If such employment
ends not later ethan half-past two
O'Clock in the afternoon, when released
for the remainder of the day.
1 So far, so good. But why not in
clude mills. factories, canneries. work
shops, garages, manufacturing estab-
lishments generally, and in the trans
mission of telephone and telegraph
messages? And that no child under
fourteen years of age shall be employ
ed or permitted to work for hire at any
occupation during the hours when the
public school of the district in which
such child resides, is in session? The
United States Congress has enacted a
law containing these provisions and
the General Assembly of North Carroll
ma would show the part of wisdom by |
passing bill conforming to the FEEDER
al statute. The National law, which |
becomes effective on the first of Sep
TENDER, 1917, provides that Gin any
state designated by the board (the Sec
rotary of Labor, Secretary of Com
nerce, and Attorney GeneraD an en-
Dloyment certificate or other similar
paper as to the age of the child, issued
lnder the laws of that state and not
Inconsistent with the provisions of this
let shall have the same force and eff
ect herein provided for"
The essential part of the certificate
the. method by which age can be
'roved and if the State of North Caro-
ina should provide means OF enforce. Ii
cent CO tie Federal child labor bill "
stands to reason that the reports of 1
er officials would be accepted by the
rational board and thus obviate the | Z
ecessity of Federal inspection of in l
1strial plants in this State. If Repre- q
entative Grier's bill is to become a
wv, it should be so amended as to .u- v
lude all establishments in which chill t
rem under fourteen years of age are F
nployed, together with provisions
lat will meet the requirements of the ;,
ederal statute. 1t is manifest dis b
animation to specify mercantile es- n
and tacitly consent to II
'ntinuance Of the employment of J y,
nall children in hurtfuI occupations. lc
we are to better the conditions of n
e young manhood AMI womanhood of lot
e State particularly the working -
'ys and girls" let all classes of them v
included in the same humanitarian in
easure. = .-x re