Evening journal., 1917-01-13
Child Labor ACT To
include CANNERIES
DresSmakers and Amuse-
ment Places Affected by
Proposed Amendments
LABOR COMMISSION
APP ROVES CHANGES

women, we're approved by the LABOR
Commission of Delaware at meeting
n this city yesterday afternoon. One
of the most important changes In the
new child labor bill Is a section which
would bring all canneries under its
provisions. the canneries under the
present bill being exempted. This
change, It is claimed, is necessary to
make the State law consistent with
a federal law passed since the Della
ware act became law.
Charles Warner, president OF the
commission, presided at the meeting
which was attended by all the other
members John H. Hickey and Miss
Helen S. Garrett Of Wilmington; For
mer Representative George A. Hill,
Of Bridgeville; and Thomas c. Fraime,
IT.. of Dover. The latter Is a new
member succeeding G. ID. Sypherd,
0f Dover, resigned.
State Child Labor Inspector Charles
H Grantland presented draft Of
the proposed new child labor bill at
the meeting yesterday After some
minor changes in the draft We're au-
thor zed. the bill was approved by the
commissi ion. The bill viii be got
ten into shape at once and intro
duced in the House within a week or
ten DAYS. The amendments pro-
posed by Miss Mary S. Malone, the
Ten Hour Inspector. to the Women's
Ten Hour bill we're also approved by
the commission and the amendments
VIII be taken to Dover in a short
time.
Another proposed change in the
child labor law contained in the new
bill is on increase Of the age limit
for messenger boys and others whose
employment requires them TO be out
on the street after 10 O'Clock at II ght.
The present educat' onal requirement
for obtaining employment that
child shall have attended school lSS
days during the year previous TO
seeking employment IS also changed.
It viii require that child must have
been in the sixth grade IN the public
school before a certificate for en-
plnvment can be given.
Consideration OF the matter aroused
considerable discussion. Il was said
some people favored its entire aboli-
ton. At the present time a special
certificate for employment is granted
10 children whose parents can prove
either extreme need or incorrigib.hty
on the part OF the children. The old
law was finally upheld by the com
mission and no change is made IN
that particular.
The commission and child labor in
spector, after several years trial.
claim that the present law is too cum
bersome and complicated, and VIII
endeavor TO make the new act much
palmer for everyone interested TO un-
derstand and at the same time will
make changes thought TO be essential,
The most far-reaching amendment
proposed by Miss Malone, the ten-hour
law inspector, to the present ten-hour
law. is the including of restaurants,
hotels. moving picture houses and other
ulaees of amusements, dressmaklng es-
tablshments and offices. under the pro-
visions OF bill, those places under the
preseut law being exempted lhs
amendment is approved by tile COM
mission.
Other amendments 10 the ten-hour
law will provide fo1 a full day OF rest
each week and the abolshing OF the
Driyileoe granted to some employers oi
working their employees twelve hours on
one dav ont OF each week. The amend
meut as drafted requires that the ten
hour law Will be uniform a contnu-
ous and that no exceptions except ones
stated in the old law be allowed.
Another amendment provides that
not less than thirty minutes SHAH be
allowed any female employe in any
establishment that comes under the
provisions of the act for the midday
or evening meal and that she VIII not
be required to remain in the WORK
room during the time allotted Tor the
meals.
The commission also endorsed the
proposed bill which the Consumers
League will present TO the Legisla-
ture for their approval cai9ed the
Sanitary Ac. for Women.
Child Lnbor Inspector Granuand
submitted to the commission yester-
day lengthy report OF the work OF
the department since the present
commission took Office. This report
WI be printed in pamphlet form and
distributed throughout the state TO
show the citizens Of Delaware just
what the commission has been doing.
Mr.. Grantland in this report deals
with the details OF issuing employ
ment certificates. He makes several
suggestions looking toward the i'm
provement OF the system In this re-
port Mr.. Grantland says:
"Since January, 1915, at which
time the issuance of employment GER
tifcates in the city of Wilmington
was assumed by superintendent c. J.
Scott, 1891 certificates have been is
sued, of which number 991 were IS
sued in 1915 and 400 were issued in
1916 AS Is shown in table A, 703 or
n per cent. Of these issuances were
for male and 2SS or % per cent for
female workers In 1915 and in 1916
the issuances 10 male workers we're
S9l or 636 per cent and to female
workers 509 or 1854 per cent. were IS
sued. The total for the two years
shows an issuance of 1894 or 66.6 per
cent 70 males and 797 or 33.4 per
cent. 20 females. The issuance OF
ORIGINAL certificates for this period
with a total OF 1880 shows the same
ratio OF .wo boys to one girl as TO
the sex OF children entering the field
% labor. OF these two original is
susnces 577 were issued in 1915 and
in 1915 these issuances numbered 703
A study % table A disclOses the en-.
ccuraging fact that "a per cent. of the
original issuances in 1915 and 80 per
cent in 1916, were secured in June
and July the period of the beginning
OF the school vacation. and as a con
siderable number of these children re
turned to school at its opening, only
tauporary employment IS repre-
rastad."
H.