Evening journal., 1922-01-16
FIND LESSElNLED NEED FOR
CHILD LABOR IN STATE

Reports submitted by issuing Of i
acers throughout tie state outside .
~ Wilmington show that a total OF
s.xty-eight employment certificates F
We're issued during the year" Mr.. /
Hagner concludes. The superin-
tendents OF the special school dis
tricts act as issuing officers. and
number reported that they have had
the finest attendance during the past
year that they have had FOR many
years.
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES A. HAGNER.
Miss Br.nton. Ten Hour Law In
'pector, in the course OF her report.
'ays.
During the first six months Of
he year the work Of this depart
ment was done by Miss NJ. Edna
Palmer. but upon her resignation as
Ten Hour Law Inspector, which be-
came effective July /. 1921. the
work was taken up by the present
inspector.
The year just past was one OF
such serious business depression
that practically no industry employ
ing women remained unaffected.
The average number OF women en-
ployed during 1921 was about 6.73S
as compared with 1885 shown on
last years report. The number OF
establishments employing these wo-
men decreased from .344 to 96s or
a decrease OF 80 per cent.
'In Wilmington the greatest de-
crease is shown in the mechanical
industry. Last years report showed
394 women TO be engaged in this
line of work as against 5S girls so
employed this year.
The largest group, manufactur-
ing, has given employment 20 2.13s
women and girls in Wilmington this
year as compared with $3.50, the
figures for last year. other groups
are proportionately decreased.
I'm only two groups do we find a
slight increase, these are the group
OF girls working in bakeries and as
telephone operators.
"In view OF this Industrial de-
| preston with it's subsequent lessen
| ing Of the demand for labor and it's
| products. the inspector has found
a slight improvement in the hours
OF employment for women in some
establishments. There has been
little reason for overwork and in a
great many cases no demand for
making even the hours scheduled.
In one manufacturing establish
ment employing thirty women, the
work day has been shortened one
half hour and the manager gives as
surance that even with the increase
in business the plant will not return
TO its old schedule. In three laun-
dries there has been a shortdning
OF the working day likewise by one
half hour. In several establishments
the jute mill. hosiery, cigar and
leather industries women have been
employed only part time. OF all the
above-named Industries the depres-
sion has been most noticeable In th'
leather industry, in all probabilit,
because II constitutes 25 per cent. o.
all the manufacturing establish
ments OF the city.
1T Is interesting to note tina
/ while Wilmington industries seem 4
have been more seriously affected
perhaps than rural New Castle. Ken
and Sussex counties. the decrease il
these counties according to a com
parison Of this years figures an,
those Of last year, is 33 per cent. o.
a loss in industries in operation OF
per cent. over that OF Wilmington
Seasonal occupations, OF whicl
hotel employment, paper box max
Ing. and canning constitute tn
greater number came under the ef
feet OF the depression.
b "Of 107 canneries throughout tn
State only 23 we're in operation thi
fall. The severe loss OF the frui
crops in Kent and Sussex countie
accounted for many OF them remain
ing idle. Failure TO fnd a marke
for last years output in some line
Of vegetable canning caused othe
, Gamers to hesitate about tyin
- themselves up at this time eithe
e financially or with a large outpu
{ the sale OF which was not assured
! "As a result OF this slow bushes
q employment was limited to local II
male help and the practice OF in
r. porting labor from other cities wa
o practically abolished. This had a
e effect on, the condition around N
!. immediate canning district II di
j. away with the mushroom coloni,
j. with their inadequate sanitary II
e cilities and their generally poe
d mode OF living.
u During the year 1898 visits OF ir
r spection we're made at which tim
255 violations OF the various claus,
J. OF the Ten Hour Law were noted.
.e "Ohices and mercantile establish
a ments generally have the seven an
~ half hour and eight hour day. tn
'e Christmas season just past shove
rs to a gratifying extent splendid con
e pliance with the law as affecting N
ie stores Even with Christmas comm
It as II did this year on Sunday. nor
ID OF the larger stores In town kel
open after p. m. Those stores sue
D. as the and 10 cent stores and ST
le tionery and others that did wor
e, three nights prior 10 Christm'
r, closed mostly at Q p. m. and in a fe
b cases 10 O'Clock
T. -Four Of the largest Office bull,
ie lngs in Wilmington employ woms
T. as elevator operators. all OF who
g are working an eight hour per ds
l. schedule.
m six complaints OF violation ha'
l. been reported to the Inspector. Il
is vestigation proved that three
In these complaints were unfounded.
" the other three one was a cal
where the girl employed was gettir
4 ~ a..HI