The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-25
DECREASES IN CHILD
 LABOR QUALIFIED
Figures Show Marked Fall ing Off, But Close Inspec- tion Alters Conclusion.
By KARL M. EIISH, International News Service Staff Cor
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lnIcrnaL1OI1Nl NeWS ScrV1cc Stdh SOf-
 respondent.
 Washington, Sept 25.-The marked dcrease in the number of children between 10 and 15 years old who are 1920 just published, is more apparent than real, according to Dr. Alba M. Edwards, census expert of the De- partment of Commerce. The ques- lem, accentuated by the Supreme Courts recent decision, despite the optimistic figures of the census of 1920.
 No Good Comparison.
 The number of boys and girls at work in 1920 according to the sta- that year. was 1,O6o,s5s, a decrease of 92e,367 from the 1910 figures But-and here is what largely null1- flies the encouragement of the 192o cenesus-the 1910 census was com piled in mid-April. when spring planting operations were at the peak, and farmers throughout the country were begging for help. In January, G,owever The number of farm laborers is at it's lowest ebb.
 Tt is believed" Dr. Edwards's re- port statee. that when the enumera- usually employed as farm laborers were not then at work and were not returned by the census enumerators as gainfuIly occupied. This appears to have been true especially in the case of children living on the home farm. The enumerators' schedules show that a considerable proportion neither attending school nor being gainfuIly occupied" Gain Inconsistent.
 On the face of the census returns only 647,3O9 children of both sexes were engaged in farm work in 1920 as against 1,4S4,42S in 1910. But too many children were enumerated as farm laborers in 1910. according to pr. Edwards, who pointed out that, although an increase of 34.S per cent. occurred between 1900 and 1910 in the number of children employed on farms there was mo similar increase fin the total number of persons en- gagged in agricultural pursuits.'
 The decrease in the number of child wage-earners in 1920 was widespread throughout the country. Both in cities and rural districts the figures ciassifications did their number in crease-clcrical occupations and pub lie .service"-- where their numbers jumped from 5S7 to 1,1So and 71,oo1 to S0,140, respectively. All the States showed decreases in the proportion of boys gainfully employed, with the District of Columbia standing alone with an increase In the proportion Of girls at work Arizona and the Dis trict of Columbia were the only units to show increases.
 Decreased In Cities.
 g Child labor decreased proportion ately in most of the 6S cities of over 100000 population, only six showing increase in the proportion of boys. with three showing increase in the proportion of girls. In the cities of 5000 to 100000 population the pro- portion of working boys in 1920 was larger than in the cities of over 100,- 900. A comparison of the girls at work shows smaller proportion in favor of the smaller cities.
 One of the most significant de- creases in child labor was in mines and quarries, in which category are included oil gas and salt wells. Frpm B total Of 1890 in 1910 the Itotal dropped to 7,191 in 1920. Cautiously enough, however, the number of girls in this category rose from T in 1910 to 146 in 1920, the increase being largely accounted for by an increase of TO working in coal mines
 The encouraging decreases in child labor figures Dr. Edwards attributed In part to increased legal restrictions, more stringent compulsory school at tendance laws and the better enforce ment of these classes sof laws.
 'Tt is probable. also,' he wrote, pthat the greater popular disapproval of child labor decreased the tendency to employ children