Evening journal., 1919-04-26
STATE LABOR BOARD
NAMES INSPECTORS
Esdsral Child Labor Law
Effective, F,wer Children
at Work
PRESENT REPORTS
AT ANNUAL MEETING

Children employees are rapidly losing /
wartime positions, according to the /
report Of state Child Labor Inspector |
Charles A. Hagner, TO the quarterly /
meeting OF the Labor Commission Of |
Delaware Yesterday A new Federal /
law placing a tax on child labor went /
into effect yesterday, which IS one /
cause for the lessening demand.
Edgar A. Rhoades, a newly-appointed /
member was elected chairman Of the I
State Labor Commission. Charles 4. /
Hagner, State Child Labor Inspector, /
and Miss NJ. Edna Palmer, Ten-Hour /
Inspector were reelected for four-ycar
terms. in his quarterly report Mr..
Hagner said in part:
During the past three months the
demand for child labor has greatly de-
creased. This decrease is due princi-
pally TO the fact that positions for
merly held by children between 10 ana
a years Of age are now held by more
mature persons, thus forcing, general
rcadiuslment in all lines Of child EN-
plOyment down TO errand and messen-
ger service, with the result that at this
time many children with legal employ
ment certinct tes are out OF work. An
other factor is the increased number OF /
employers who do not desire to employ
children under IS years Of age, four
concerns employing approximately i2U
children having recently discontinued
all child labor, including onlce boys.
The return TO school Of many children
who have been employed should be a
result Of the present scarcity OF posi-
tions
with the enactment Of the Federal
Revenue Act Of 1918. Title a, Of which I.
provides an excise tax on the employ
ment OF child labor, effective today
fApru 25th). a still greater decrease in
the employment Of child labor In in
dustry can be looked for.
Title XII-TaX on Employment OF
shild Labor, reads as follows:
"'Section 1900. That every per
son (other than q bona ilde boys.
or girls canning club recognized
by the Agricultural Department OF
"a State and OF the United States)
operating (al any mine or quarry
situated in the United states IN
which children under the age OF i6
years have been employed or per
mitted 10 work during any portion
OF the taxable year; or ,b) any
mill. cannery, workshop, factory
or manufacturing establishment
situated in the United states In /
which children under the age Of "a
wears have been employed or per-
mitted 10 work. or children between
fbe axes Of "a and i6 have been en-
ployed or permitted 20 work more
than eight hours in any day or
more than six days in any week,
or after the hour OF : o'clock post
meridian. or before the hour OF
o'clock ante meridian. during any
portion Of the taxable year, shall
pay for each taxable year, In addi-
tion to all other taxes imposed by
law. an excise tax equaVilent to 10
per centum Of the'entire net profits
received OF accrued for such year
from the sale or disposition Of the
product OF such mine, quarry, mill,
cannery, workshop, factory or man
ufacturing establishment
Work Only Eight Hours.
"In order TO comply with the pro /
visions Of the new Federal law, u VIII
be seen that employers OF children ,
under &c years Of age in industries
noted in the above section may employ
them but eight hours per day, as com
pared with ten hours under the pro-
visions Of the Delaware Child Labor
law some employers are not inclined
10 reduce the working hours IN their
plants with the result that the en-
Dloyment Of child labor viii be dlscon-
tinued by them.
AS an indication Of the cooperation
that the Labor Commission OF Della
ware is receiving from employers gen
orally, 20 children have been sent 10
the office Of the commission during the
past quarter by employers to OBTAIN
statements proving them to be more
than &c years Of age, and therefore eH-
empt from the provisions OF the child
labor law Misrepresentation OF ages
make up the chief form Of violations.
Continued cooperation Of employers,
with the advent Of the new revenue
law is greatly desired.
"The appointment Of three school at
tendance officers for the city Of VII
mington by the Board OF Education mas
been helpful in enforcing the provisions
OF the Child Labor Law. The result or
their efforts can be noticed by the de
creased number Of children about the
streets during school hours. Fewer 5A
grade school records should be present
ed by children applying for employment
certificates in the future.
There were 81 general certificates,
the form Of certificate permitting the
holder TO work the entire year, issued
during the past quarter, as compared
with i3i FOR the FIRST three months OF
last year. Thirty-three children ap-
piled for and received provisional GER
tincates, part time certificates, as
AGAINST 2i last year. while i29 Reissue
OF certificates were granted compared
With 229 for the first quarter OF 1918.
The thirty-three provisional certlil-
Gates were issued to newsboys and boys
engaged in errand service before ana
after school hours and on Saturdays.
"The number of general certificates
in force on April 1 was 965, divided as
to sex as follows: Males $50; females,
319."
C. A. HAGNER.
Miss Palmer's Report.
Miss Palmer, ten-hour law Inspector
said in part;
1896 visits Of inspection have been
made and the following violations have
been noted and corrected: Working
more than six days per week, II; work
Ing more than ten hours per day more
than one day per week, f. wo king
more than 1fty-1ve hours per week in
one establishment, 6; working more
than flftv-fVe hours per week in two