The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-20
: BILL A
KNOCKOUT FOR
CHILD LABOR
(BY THOMAS d. MAYSJ

CHARLESTON. Jan. I%. - Employ
m"nt Of child labor in West Virginia
Will hc dealt n "knork-out" blow il bill
int reduced in the State Legislature BY
Senator Jesse \. Bloch. Of Wheeling. is
enacted
The bill which IS offered to amend
several sections Of the present child
labor law" sets forth number OF re-
forms. chief Of which is That ii shall
hr unlawful TO employ child under IA
years Of age in any gainful occupation.
Excepting agriculture. and requiring
proof Of prosperity" employment for
children under IL year Of age from the
employer and proof or schooling 10 the
sixth grade or its equivalent and proof
'rf rhySiral ntncSs OH tn" part nt the
child
The bill provides that i, shall II" un-
lawful 10 employ Il child under Il years
Of ag" in any occupation except aSricul-
iurc. ar any child under il years OF ar"
in any occupation dangerous or inJurl-
Gus to the lives. limbs, health or NOR
ais
|, shall I've unlawful for any child un-
der IL years Of age Ia be employed IN
any mine. quarry. tunnel or nXcava ton.
Tho bill also provides that II shall br
unlawful for any person. firm or corpor-
alton to employ any child under II
years Of aG" IN any business or service
whatever when the public schools of In"
school dist rrt in which the child resides
are III session.
II is PROV lrrd that nu child under the
a:c Of Ii ycmrs shall II" sold. apprcn-
tlrrd. given away. let out nr otherwise
disposed OF Ia any person or company 10
cnGnEc IN the occupation " rnp" or wiz"
walker. EymnH&t. "untortluniSt circus
rider. aCrnhat. or clown. nor III any lnd"-
cent obscene or immoral exhibition or
practice.
Employers Of children hriw"cn III"
ages of / and IL kc..J un III" work per
mits issued by the school SupcrIntrnd-
nnt Of tn" district i'll which tn" child re-
sides.
Tronf uf employment Is required in =
written statement signed by tn" person
Tor whom thu child expects TO work that
the former intends legally Ia employ
such child and agrees T." return III"
work permit a. tn" issuing officer with
in two. days of tho termination nf such
child'S employment.
Proof of nEr is required Ivy birth "rr-
tiiirnI" from tho school physician. y
..hild To- tax" employment in any ocrupa-
ton must he able 10 road and write cor
rcctly simply sentences in tho English
language and have satisfactorily COM
p!ctrG the stvdicS covered IN tho first
six yearly grades nf tn" elementary pub
lie schools. ar ;hcir "Gui"rlrnt. 4 GER
tilirair rs To the normal development of
the child j. also required from III"
school physician. IT is also required
that tn. child u" in sound health and
physically ahl" to engage i'll work.
Th" bill provides that no child be-
twrcn the ages Of II and IL years 81 axe
shall hr employed. permitted or suffered
to work in. about or in connection with
anr gaInful occupation for NOR" than.
SIN days IN amy week. nor NOR" than IS
hours in am ON" week. nor more than
eight hours in any oHe day. nor before
the hour Of : u'cl"ch in III" morning nor
nftrr the hour Of : O'clock in III" nve-
ming al any day.
Violations uf tn" various sections nf
tn" hill provides FIR punishment by fine
Of moi loss than sen or more than 500.
jail punishment is also provided not 10
exceed 90 days.