Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-09


resulted in the correction of many
| Of the conditions which existed only
| a few years ago. Continued deter
mined efforts on the part of those in
| tcrested, would, within q short space
| of time. do away with the evils of
child labor in the State of Maine.
! In the course of his address Mr..
7 Eddy briefly traced the course of the
minor complying with the system in
! Maine from the time he applies for
! a work permit until he is 16 years of
| age He then said in part
! You Will please note that the first
notice that the Department Of La
! Dor receive that the minor has secur-
ed employment is from the work per-
init which contains the name of the
employer. a record is made Of this
at the Department of Labor and if
the employer complies with the law,
within "a hours we will receive the
employment certificate. If he does
not comply with the law. he is ex-
posed by the work permit previously
received, which gives the name of
the employer. On the other hand, if
the superintendent of schools does
not send in the work permit, he may
be exposed by the employer when he
forwards to the department the en-
ploymcnt certificate which gives the
name OF the minor and number of
| his work permit and the name Of the
uperintendent' who issued it. Aft
err receiving the duplicate work per-
nit accompanied by the original evil
dence. the Department of Labor will
inspect the birth certificate as soon
as possible and if found to comply
with the law, will approve the same
and return to the superintendent Of
j schools enclosed in an envelope on
the outside of which is a copy Of the
work permit.
The system works we'll and there
! is no reason why there should not he
the closest kind Of an enforcement
of the law with very small expense
TO the State as compared with the
enforcement under the old law, yet
! the number Of the minors who have
certificates is now, and will be as
! long as this law continues, govern
cchool". Super 1ltendents have the
power TO make the list large or small.
, Many Of the superintendent are US
ing all tho facilities Of the law 70
make the list small, while apparent
| ~ there are others who are issuing
work permits to children who should
be in school.
1t is the duty of the school super
tntendents to issue work permit ana
1t is tn" duty Of the enforcement Of
ficcrs Of the department of labor to
see to it that no minor between the
age of IA and Is is employed unless
he has a work permit duly issued by
| the superintendent Of schools Of the
town in which the child resides. Tn
less both officials do their whole duty
rs the law directs, the purpose of
the law will be defeated and the
child will remain in the mill Much
depends on the school superintend-
ent. Unless he is an earnest worker
against& the employment of minors,
little can be accomplished.
| have a table prepared showing
the whole number of minors between
the age of II and 16 years employed
IN the State and how they are dis
trihutcd, 1t should he remembered
That there are no minors employnl
under II years Of age and that oil,
minors between the age Of IA and l6
are required to furnish their en-
pIoycr with a work permit
The whole number of minors be-
tween Il and 16 years of age EN-
pl0yed in the State of Maine Nv, -,
l'lS.
AUBURN Observation-Disclosures, II
Augusta ............... Ga
i>lddetord
brunswick %
Lewiston 90