The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-11-21


forcement program against oppressive
child labor in industry is being
mapped out by the Wage & Hour and
Public Contracts Divisions, U. S. De-
partment of Labor.
A move to make the legal minimum
of IS years for heavy logging and saw
milling occupations also apply to pulp
wood, chemical wood, excelsior wood,
cordwood, fence posts and similar
woods is under way.
A new unit, known as the Child
Labor branch, has been established
within the Wage & Hour and Public
Contracts Divisions to direct the cam
paign against exploitation of minors
in all industries.
These are some of the facts dis
cussed at a conference held this week
in San Francisco, according to John
M. Ekeberg and Anthony J. Craig, who
represent the divisions in Montana.
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Coleman of Wash
ington, DC, child labor adviser to the
director of field operations of the Di-
visions, conferred with Regional Dl-
rector John r. Ollie and supervisory
members of his staff on future adj
ministration of the child labor pro-
visions of the Fair Labor Standards
Act Federal wage and hour law in
the eight western states, the Montana
representative said at his headquart
ers at 206 Lewiston building.
Mrs. Coleman reported the number
of minors illegally employed in indus
try throughout the nation has in
creased materially" he said. How |
ever, in the eight western states, a
slight decline was noted over last |
year. During the first three months
of the present fiscal year-July, Aug
ust and September = some type of
child labor violation was found in %
percent of establishments inspected,
the figure for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1947 was 2.9 percent
in the region.
CAS- a result of recent departmental
reorganization, child labor enforce
nent activities are now merged with
he enforcement of the minimum wage
md overtime provisions of the wage
md hour law in the divisions. A new
init in the divisions, known as the
Child Labor Branch, has been estab-
ished by order of the Secretary of
Labor to take over certain functions,
)ther than enforcement, formerly car
led on by the Child Labor and Youth
Branch of the Division
# Standards.
"a public hearing has been SEIZED
led for December in the Depart
nent of Labor building in Washington
o consider an order extending to Is
ears the minimum age for most &C.
upations in logging pulpwood, chem
cal wood, excelsior wood, cordwood. h
ence posts and similar woods.
Hazardous Occupations Order No \
, which has been in effect since 1871,
rohibits the employment of minors
nder IS years old in heavy logging
nd sawmilling occupations. 1t did b
OF apply to occupations in the logging
f pulpwood. Interested persons plan b
ing to attend and participate in the
calling Sl1OuIQ lIlO IuSlI nOLlC6 vi Ill
antion with the Secretary of Labor
I Washington before November 20.
'riefs of statements should be filed 3
y December 8.
IF Hazardous Occupations Order b
10. is revised after the public hear
lg, it would then be illegal to employ a
child under IS years old in the oc-
upations which the secretary would 9
eclare to be particularly hazardous y
Dr. minors. d
six other hazardous occupations 4
rders, issued since the wage and hour h
wv became effective in 1888, are now
l force. These orders establish an
Swear minimum age limit for en- 4
loyment dealing with occupations in n
liant manufacturing explosives; oc- 4
lpations of motOr-vehicle driver and r
elper; all underground operations in
,al mining; operation of power
'iven woodworking machines; oc- d
lpations involving exposure to radio