Evening journal., 1919-01-18
REPORT ON CHILD
LABOR CONDITIONS
Labor Commission Wants
Larger Appropriation to
Carry on Work
NEWSBOYS' BADGES
ARE RECOMMENDED

Charles A. Hagner, State Child Labor
Inspector in his annual report to the
Labor Commission OF Delaware at the
annual meeting held yeste day after
noon in the Office Of Charles Warner.
chairman OF the commission, pointed
out some conditions as to child labor
in the State which has caused him
much concern.
In his report Mr.. Hagner stated that
the number Of children who applied for
working certificates between the ages
OF "a and &c years, and who had only
attained 1--WE yearly grades at school
was alarmingly large. He also stated
that a number Of children IA years or
age and over when refused employment
certificates, remained at home untii
they were exempt from the Child Labor
Law, an evil he said, which could have
been remedied had the city regularly
appointed school attendance officers.
The great demand for women for
munitions plants, offices and even
banking institutions in the state dur
ing the past year, increasin1 the num-
Der OF women employed 1 652 over The
iO.537 in the preceding year, was re-
corded by Miss Edna Palmer the Ten
Hour Inspector in her report to the
commission. The report also disclosed
the fact that during the past year col
ored women entered the factories as
employees in this State for the first
time.
In explaining the first increase OF
business that came to the attention Of
the Labor Commission during 1918, the
labor Inspector stated that It was due
In a measure to the world war Great
ing a demand fo- child labor.
"Boys and girls OF more than i6
years Of age were given an opportunity
to engage in the same industrial pur-
suits performed by their elders, with
the result that there existed hundreds
OF vacancies in the less important
branches Of industry. It was TO obtain
positions vacated by the children Of
more than i6 years that the children
coming under the provisions OF the
child labor law elected 10 give up their
educational opportunities and enter
the labor world.
Eight hundred and sixty general GER
tiflcates, the form permitting children
10 be employed during the entire year,
were issued In 1913. Provisional GER
tiacates. the form OF certificate permit
ting boys Of 10 years and upward and
girls OF "A years and upward to be en-
ployed The entire year, excepting such
time as such children are required to
attend public, private or parOchial
schools. were issued to the number OF
6ss. Reissue Of general certificates
were given TO 90i children during the
year.
The Lsbor Commission considered a
new bill 20 be introduced In the Legis-
lature this session. A melton was adopt
ed authorizing the placing OF the Bit
before the Legislature with the approv
al OF members OF the Advisory Board o
the Commission.
The new bin provides for a statutory
allowance OF $1,000 annually for tn
commission, just doubling the present
appropriation OF 5000 yearly. This
provision will allow the commission.
according TO Mr.. Warner, 10 have a
chief Inspector and two Other inspect
ors under him TO enforce the three laws
now in the hands Of the commission.
The bill provides for these offices,
which a-e to be paid for at the discre-
ton Of the commission out OF the si0-
600 limit set on them by the aYpropri-
alton named in the bill.
At present the commission has two
inspectors. one foT the child labor law
and another, a woman, for the en-
fOrcement OF the i0-hOur law and for
the sanitary law for women These
inspectors are paid as provided by ths
law now In force and not at the dis
cretion Of the commission. II was
also stated at the meeting that the
larger appropriation from the State
In connection with the power to use Il
as the commission deems advisable,
VIII enable the commission TO employ
a clerk in their office In the dupont
Building. thus making It possible for
the commission to relieve the Board OF
Public Education Of much OF the work
Of Issuing permits for children Of
school age 10 work.
The bill also provides for q badge
system for newsboys, In order that the
commissions inspector may keep a
better watch on them. The badge pro-
vision Will mean that every newsboy
between the age OF 70 and i6 years
must wear a badgs, showing that he
has the permission OF the commission
10 sell papers. The section also makes
Il Illegal for a boy under the age Of ~
yearS 70 sell Daners on the streets