Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

An interesting survey has recently
been made by experts of the bureau
of education
Investigating Work relative to the
by School Children. children dur
ing out-of-school hours. OF the
total number of children investi-
gated SO per cent are employed during
the summer vacation and 81 per cent
are employed during out-of-school
hours throughout the school year. The
amount of employment varies greatly.
During the summer vacation it was
found that some children work only
few days or weeks. while others put
in full time, and the earnings range
from 81 to $3.50. During the school
year. likewise. the amount of work
varies from a few odd jobs to fairly
regular employment both before and
after school.
It is interesting to note the total
income and the average income from
such employment, and 1t should be re-
membered. it is pointed out by those
making this study. that these are chill
dren of the sixth, seventh and eighth
grades only. OF the number of which
inquiries were made those who were
employed during the summer vacation
earned s6S,342.04. Assuming that the
same proportion of children in these
grades throughout the United States
earn as much, the annual income from
their employment amounts to approxi-
mately $60.000,O00. The average earn
ings of the children amount to $1319.
but per cent of those Investigated
averaged SS901 The average weekly
earnings of those who work during
out-of-school hours amount to S1.51.
amounts. it was found: per cent
earned an average of 1927 per week.
One boy was To-" Who earned $2J a
week in running paper business.
Michigan. Ohio and Iowa show the
largest proportion of summer workers.
states. and many schoolboys work in
the country during the summer. Utah
also shows high percentage. but the
number of children Investigated in that
state was not sufficient to warrant con-
illusions. None of the other states ex-
ceeds the average. Michigan shows a
high proportion of workers and low
average income. Washington. Missouri
and Alabama show the largest proper
ton of high incomes-$50 or over.
The experts in their work found
from the standpoint of weekly earn
ings while school Is in session that
Alabama, Missouri and Washington
show the highest average earnings.
AS the conclusion o. their studies
officials of the bureau do not recon-
mend the immediate elimination OF
children from the Objectionable occu-
pations which some have adopted. but
they believe that it should be the duty
of the school. so far as possible. to in
struct and guide children in the mat
ter of employment. The school should
be intrusted. they say. with the task
Of regulating the employment OF chill
dren during out-of-school hours. 1t
should be willing to undertake this
additional responsibility in self-de-
tense.
Great progress has been made during
the past two or three years in connec-
ton with the special in
Commercial designations that are car
ried on by agents of the
inquiries. bureau of foreign and do
mestic commerce in foreign countries.
A special Investigation now involves
program of action of which the agents
report is merely the most important
feature instead Of being. as often here
tofore. the sole object to be achieved.
This program covers. first. the widest
publicity possible for the proposed work
among the interests Tor whose oeneht
it is being done.
Ohicials of the bureau have found 1t
to be almost as important to prepare
the ground for the reception of the In
formation as 1t is to obtain the in
formation itself. and to do this it Is
necessary to arouse the interest of the
industry affected both in the subject of
foreign trade and in the special work
Of the bureau. The second feature OF
the program. the careful selection Of
the man to undertake the work. is OF
manifest Importance.
1t is the opinion of the officials that
the value of the whole Undertaking
rests in the confidence that the trade
has in the judgment of the investigator.
and it Is essential to have man of ex-
perience and reputation. whose recon-
mendation will carry weight. In spite
of certain amount OF cyniciSm among
some business men as to the value of
governmental work. 1t is nevertheless
true that with a large part or the bust
ness public an official government rep
resentative is assumed to be a man
who can speak with authority on his
subject
The fourth feature of the program is
the dissemination of the information
received to just as wide a public as
can be reached. not only through the
printed reports. but also through per-
sonal conferences of returned agents
with manufacturers. And finally, the
program includes active endeavor on
the part of both the agents and the
bureau to remove obstacles to the trade
in American goods or promote con-
structive work that the agents in
Quiries have revealed to be necessary
to the increase of such trade.
When an investigation is decided
upon the trade associations, trade
papers and important firms connected
with the industry concerned are cir
cularized, and their cooperation So
licited either in finding the best man
for the work or in Offering suggestions
as to making it of the most practical
value. or both.
Both before and after the agent goes
to the foreign country which he visits
he makes a tour of the United States,
touching those chief centers of man.
ufacture of his line. and discusses in per-
sonal conferences with prospective export
ers, the markets that he will explore or
has explored. In this way the knowl-
edge of conditions that he has obtained
abroad is utilized to the fullest extent.
The farmer has a direct interest In
the efficiency Of the marketing organi-
cation in cities. ac-
The Farmer oud cording to officials
the Markets. - ,ar,o,,,nra sinoo