Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-08
LABOR COMMISSION
HEARS REPORTS ON
STATE CONDITIONS
Child Labor and Ten-Hour Law
Enforcement in Delaware
Receive Attention.
CHAIRMAN TO BE ABSENT

The Labor Commission OF Delaware
held meeting on Saturday, ut its head
quarters in the du pont building. In
view Of the fact that J. Edgar Rhoades.
the chairman. will be absent for some
months, leaving this week with the Friends
mission for relief work in Germany, Miss
Helen s. Garrett was elected vlce-chair-
man, with authority Of the chairman IN
the absence OF the latter.
The report Of Charles A. liagner,
State Child Labor Inspector, for the year
1919, was submitted, Ills report showed
that the number of children applying
for and receiving employment certificates
in Wilmington during the past year has
greatly decreased over the preceding year,
due largely to the passage Of the federal
child labor tax law Under the provisions
of that law children between II and Is
are not permitted to work more than eight
hours in any one day nor more than
forty-eight hours IN any one week.
1t is interesting to note, the report
saws. shat of the 97l children now work
ing in Wilmington between the ages Of II
and 16 wears, 357, or 36 per cent, received
certificates upon presenting school records
showing that they had cempe ed only 5
or 81 yearly grades Tho ast-named
grade should be attained by child Of
liz years
A table submitted showing the school
grades completed by the applicants shows
that I04 had completed A grade, 90 the
II grade, 1876 the 6 4 grade, IL the b
grade. Ii3 the 7 A grade, 56 the 8 Il
grade, 90 the s 4 grade and ~ High
School
From parcohiaI schools 60 had eom-
pletcd the fifth wear, s. the sixth year. 45
the seventh year, 81 the eighth year and
the High School
The number Of general employment,
certificates issued up to December !
1919, in Wilmington WIS 461, rs compared
with 7OS for the Same period IN 1918.
This form Of certificate entities children
between the ages OF II and III Years to he
employed the entire year. Ihe division
by sexes for the time FROM january ! %
December / was Male, 2s9: female
us
The number oi provisional Or summer
certificates issued curing the year WIS
considerably reduced. ,iue presumably u
the lack of opportunity - he employed
and the success Of the Wilmington Gom-
munitv Service Ia directing the attention
of the children to weI-cqnpped play
grounds The number Is IS0, rs com
pared with 6sS for 1918
OCCUPATIONS selected Is tho holders q
certificates was noted rs follows Errsnd
snd messenger service, l0i' textile, 10,
morocco. So miscellaneous manntac-
turing, 35. department aud other stores.
"a clgar factories. -. launirns. -
fibre, 4 printing oiiee-. II sh4Rbmid-
ing, Is
ENFORCING II S-HpT & Law.
Tho report If vi Edna Palmer, Ten
Hour law Inspector. was submitted. show
ing the work done in enforcing that law
and the sanitary law for female employees
from April - 10 December |
During his period ,26i establish
nents have employed SOL women, As
compared with .5O3 establishments en-
ploxing 0,537 women during the same
period last year showing deefes.se OF
III establishments and 2,526 women
The greatest decrease IS III NeW tastle
county. exclusive Of Wilmington, which
Is due to the closing Of the munltion
plants.
.'In Wilmington there has heqn small
increase IN the numner ot women etH-
ploved in manufacturing establishments
During he war women Were introduced
in naw departments III the HaIoeea t1s-
tori.s ..nd ha " 20 far been retained t)ac
thousand ioar hundred ant tIHltN-fNo
Hoinen. OF 49, per cent 9f ali tn Women
enploNetl ~ manufacturing establish
meut- IA Wilmington. arr III the morocco
Inal..Irt enc leather plant employs
about zoo Women, winch Is ne ia5essat
gIoHD ~ women employed III any IadI-
yIdu.1 manufacturing plant Ia tile state.
There has been general tendency q
re,iace the working hours in all estab-
h-hments Comparatively few nerean-
IL t.ft- fEf
of those IN the rural districts, employ
women the maximum 81 hours per week.
while the average working week III offices
Is 4 hours, and IN the manufacturing -
adjustments the elght hour d4f s
becoming more generally accepted
We have had number u requests
from VARIOUS agencies Tor catalogue
of the industrial establishments in Dala-
ware As the Labor department. III
other States prepare such information
annually for distribution W h.tst cont
piIcd such a directory for Delaware and
rust 10 have the same printed III pam
phlet form in the near future
Under the sanitary laW for female
employees, various orders we're ISSUED fer
the installation OF toilets, screening ot
toilets and their repair aud cleaning, h
provide ventilation in toilets, 70 provide
dressing rooms, washing facilities, seats
for women, and sanitary drinking tauns
taInF
In May letter was aent 10 Ill es.aaeFies
IN the State calling their attention 10 the
provisions Of the law. and requesting
them TO make necessary changes before
the canning season opened In sep
tcnlbor an inspection OF q canneEIes was
made. twenty Of the cannerIes visited
we're not operating and Of the remaining
-, forty provided satisfactory facilities
While = were unsatisfactory he man
agefs were notified Just what changes
we're necessary IN bring their plants up to
the standard " we're encouraged to
find that aIi u the cannerlea. having
the poorest sanitary facilities last year.
had built modern sanitary toilets for
their women
a classified ilst ot establishments Ia
Wilmington employing women shows
Bakeries II, latndrica 70 manufacturing
-. mechanical }9 mercantile t59 prat-
ing y, telephone aud telegraph i, restau-
rant 90 hotel II, place oi amusement II.
dreSsmakcrs :. Offices 20a Total 90 es-
tablishmcnts Outside Of Wilmington IN
New Castle County there are 10 ea-
t4bhshments employing Women, and III
Eent County I5l, IN Sussex los
The number Of females employed III
n ilInington classified according to es-
Establishments are. Bakeries 40. laundfies
100 manufacturing 3 f2G ngehanieaI