Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-12-21
LABOR COMMISSIONER
GIVES HIS REPORT TO
STATE LEGISLATURE
Child Labir Is Increasing
Mrs. TrumbulI Advises
Stricter Legislation.

Farm and labor conditions, a resume
of shipbuilding conditions, wages being
paid in various industries and crafts.
housing conditions for japanese and
Chinese in Portland, recommendation
of labor unions for legislation, the
child labor situation, and many othei
related subjects are treated by o. p.
Hoff, labor commissioner, in his bien-
nial report to tie legislature.
Products turned out by the 1949 in
dustrial plants which made reports ia
the labor bureau for 1917 and 1918
were valued at $62, 2,231 ,237, the report
shows, which is a very material in.
crease over the preceding biennium.
Wage Scales.
The report shows that following wags
scales in ious Oregon industries.
Agriculture-From $50 to $75 !,
month and board; harvest hands, from
SO to $4 day and board skilled helh
from So to $6 day and board.
Mining and quarrying-From $3.50
to $5.25 per eight hour day.
M'snnfacturing-From SO to S. day.
Construction-From $3.50 to So a day
for laborers, So for carpenters, and 9TH
er skilled mechanics receiving wages
based on this schedule.
Transportation and public utilities
Common labor, from SO to $3.50 per
l0-hour day; mechanics, from 81 to
$7.47; carpenters from So up.
Trade-From So to 81 per eight hour
day.
Included in the report is depart
mental report from Mrs. Millie r. Trun
bull, secretary of the bureau of inspec-
tion of child labor. She says that child
labor, increasing on account of war con.
ditions, has become a serious problem
for the state. She says:
There. are many dangers confront.
ing the state as a result of the intru-
sion into industrial life of this army
of child workers due in large measure
to the exaggerated idea given the youth
as to his place in the world. He ia
given mans place at man IS wages
with but youths Judgment to main
eaAt bliC bdAtbHCC.
Delinquency Increases
delinquency is increasing extrava-
giant expenditure Of high wages is ere-
ating irresponsible habits; parental con-
troll is relaxing, and is resolving itself
into decided menace There have
been more runaway boys than for many
years. They are attracted to the city
by the reports of high wages and we
find an army Of youthful hoboes travel
ing the coast from Vancouver south
stopping in each city only long enough
to become dissatisfied with its restric,
tions.
1.-The remedies to be applied are
stricter regulation through child labor
laws, higher standard of scholarship
before the child is allowed to leave
school, a deeper sense of the parental
responsibility established through more
frequent prosecutions for parental de-
dnquency on the part Of juvenile court
authorities, and recognition of tho
ruinous policy now being followed bS
many employers--that of outbiddins
SeNN NNASi Ill WdStS.
recommends Ruling.
Inc report recommends that the in.
1ustrlal welfare commission make n
ruling which will prohibit night work
Tor boys up to IS years old. II points
out that many high school bows attend.
ID school during the day and worked in
inc shipyards until 1890 al night.
"This double duty" says the report
may not be hard On a grown man
llthough there are but few who carry
but for the growing boy, not yes
,ihrough the adolescent period, it is If.
sle short of suicide. Night work is
iard enough for adults-it is ruinaus
Tor children and should be stopped II
We have any thought for their future
health and working power. Some mar
ents seem to have gone money crazy
ana children are being sacrificed to
'he opportunity which the war industry
has brought.
I'm the interest of this department.
n Its work of protection of the work
ng child, we ask an advance of the
'chool qualification to the eighth grade
1nQer the aun ~ 1e -