The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-08-09
PERMITS FOR ALL UNDER II
Law Seeks to Greatly Extend the Edu-
cation to Be Given to Workers En-
ployed in Wisconsin Factories-May
Affect Employment in Kenosha.

Managers of manufacturing institu-
tions in this city are greatly interested
in the child labor lew passed by the
last Legislature. Wien up in both
houses of the legislature the measure
did not attract much attention. But
now inquiries are being made of the
industrial commission as to the scope
of the law, and the manufacturers
want to know what they must do to
comply with its provisions.
The most important change made is
that after September /, 1917, all min
| ors under II years of age must secure
| permits to go to work. The only ex-
ceptions are for farm work, for do
nestle service of casual nature, and
for other kinds Of domestic service in
cities in which there are no vocation
al schools. Under the old law only
children up to 16 years of age had to
secure permits. AS originally passed
| by the legislature, the new law provid-
ed that children up to Is years Of age
must secure permits. It also provided
that the act should go into effect i'm
mediately upon passage. Upon repre-
| sentation by the industrial commission
that these provisions would work great
hardships to employers, the governor
refused to sign this measure until the
legislature had amended it to make the
permit age IL instead of Is years and
not to have the new law become effec-
tive until September /, 1917.
All permits hereafter are to be issued
by the industrial commission and by
such judges and other persons as the
commission may designate to issue per-
i mits. Previously, county and munich
pal judges have had joint authority
with the commission to issue child la
Dor permits. This dual system led to
much confusion and frequently permits
! were issued Illegally with the result that
| the employers of such children subject
ell themselves to heavy penalties Ar
rangements are now being made by
the commission for the appointment of
| Judges and other persons in each COM
munitv to issue child labor permits
Another change made by the new law
| is that striking out the provision Of
the old law allowing employers to work
children of permit age So hours per
| day on five days of the week, provided
they were given Saturday afternoons
off, Under the new law. a straight g.
hour day for children under IS years of
age is provided, with limit of 4s
hours per week.
The legislature has also increased the
| hours per week during which children
working under permits must go to con-
| tinuation school. Hitherto it has been
per week, hereafter it will be s per
week for children under 16 years Of
age and 4 per week for children from
le to IL years Of age.
The new law makes necessary im-
portant changes in administration. The
industrial commission is now working
upon new rules REGARDING proof of ace
and new forms of permits to comply
with the amended law.
Conferences are being held III Wash
ineton during this week under the au-
spiees of the United States Department
Of Labor, to draft rules and regulations
for enforcement Of the federal child
labor law. It is the intention of the
industrial commission to follow the fed
eral rules as closely as possible, so that
no difficulty will result because there
are now both state and a federal
child labor law.
The industrial commission is prepar
ing literature for distribution among
employers to advise them of the new
law and it warns them that they must
be careful to comply with all of its
provisions. This is very essential be-
cause the new federal law imposes a
very severe penalty of exclusion from
interstate commerce of the products of
manufactures who do not strictly COM
ply with all of its provision, and in
addition, provides for fines and impris-
onment. The new workmen's compen-
sation act of Wisconsin provides that
minors employed without permit, who
are injured in the course of their en-
ployment, may recover triple damages.
The United States Patent Bureau has
issued patent to Theodore Moericke