Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-01-05
Decrease in vSIuS.


Carolina for 1921 over 1920 and de-
crease of 1G7.1S2.SGS in the value Oi
the annual product of the mills for
1921, as compared with 1920, are two
striking facts brought out IL the an
nual report of the labor division of the
department of agriculture.
This report has just been compiled
by A. II. Gilbert. Jr., chief inspector Of
the department, and will be submit
ted to Commissioner Harris for the
regular report.
An increase in the number Of en-
ployes in cotton mills is also shown
for this year with 55,05S, as compared
with 54,529 employed in 1920 and 81.
462 in 1919. Total wages paid for the
year, December, 1920, to December,
1921, amounted to s34,S4S,35S. as COM
pared with s51,O32,99S in 1920 and
s36,677,3SS in 1919. These wages did
not include salaries of managers.
In 1919 the capital invested in all
cotton mills was s117,177,166 and in
1920 the amount was S140,343,S47,
while this year the figures advanced
to S145. .290,05e. The value of the an
nual products Of the mills in 1919
was S22S,912,960 and in 1920 it was
2S615S,142, while this year it dropped
to S15S.965,179. The number Of estab-
lishments il 1919 was 174 and in 1920
the number was 1S4, while in 1921 the
number dropped to 1SO.
Another fact brought out in the re-
port is that in 1919 the average num-
ber of days plants were operated was
296 and n 1920 the number was 292
and tbs year 271. The number OF
males under 16 years Nof age employ
ed n the mills was LIZA 1919, 1882
1920 and 1,41S 1921. The number
Of females employed under 16 years
of age was ISL 1919, 1,471 1920.
and 1886 n 1921.
AS result of factory inspection in
the state the number Of children en-
ployed in the mills has greatly de-
creased year by year until none under
IA years of age is now allowed to
work, while the number between IA
and 16 years of age has decreased
from 1929 in 1916 to 2,9S7 in 1921.
This decrease has ben made despite
the tremendous increase in the num-
ber of spindles. Figures compiled by
Chief Inspector Gilbert show that a
steady decrease in the employment or
children has taken place since 1908
when the number between IA and 16
wears old was 4,412 and between IL
and IA it was 3,S76 and under II years
of age. 726. Since 1912 no children un-
der 12 have been employed and since
1917 none under IA years has been en-
ployed.
Several changes in existing laws
are favored for next year and new
laws are also recommended in the
report. Among the new laws recon-
mended are minimum wage scale
for women, a workmen's compensa-
tion act and a change Of the present
law so as to make the hours Of labor
not more than ten in any one day or
55 hours in any week. The recon-
mendations are as follows:
THAT Section 421 Of the criminal
code. Volume liz Code of Laws OF
South Carolina, relating to hours or
work in cotton and woolen mills be
amended so as to prohibit employees
from working more than ten hours in
one day and not more than 50 hours
in one week.
"Tsat Section 426. criminal code,
1912, relating to work of children IN
factories, mines and textile establish
ments be amended so as to prescribe
penalty for employing children with
out state permit from the commls'
sioner of agriculture. commerce ana
industries, the penalty to be not less
tha. s25, nor more than 500 for eacn
and evrey offenSe.
THAT Section 424. criminal code,
1912. limiting the hours of labor for
children in factories, etc. to read not
less than $25 nor more than $lOO Tor
each and every offense, or 10 De lih'
prisoned not longer than 30 days al
the discretion of the court.
THAT Section 42S, criminal code'
factories to be provided with suitable
water closets, to be amended to read
not less than 25 nor more than Sl0o
THAT the messenger boy act (4oo'
acts of 1922 be amended as follows:
That children under 16 years OF age
be prohibited from working as news
boys. messengers in mercantile estab'
lishments.
ITO amend an act entitled hours OF
labor for women in mercantile estab'
lishments, Section 430. criminal code,
1912. to read as follows: That the
hours of labor for women in mercan'
tile establishments be limited TO 90
hours per week and not more than
ten hours in one day.
Charleston Man Wins in Debate.
Joseph Horowitz Of Charleston, de-
Ia ~