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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1907)
1 T- ' -j ofC-1- A7 figflV fiTl TTl J ? ni WlnltW IUJLA11I-,I TU1 3 VOL. 3 lilNCOLN, NEBRASKA, JANUARY 25, 1907 NO. 42 I ' ' ' , ' V ' - - ', 7..- Child Labor Meets ; Nebraska bids fair to soon have one of the best child labor laws on the statute books of any state, thanks to ; the efforts of a band of noble women and a legislature that Is trying to do something for the state instead of for , special Interests. The editor of The Wageworker has, as a newspaper man, had considerable experience- with Ne braska legislatures. Without hesita tion he expresses the belief that in point of ability, energy, progressive tvess and fidelity to the cause of the people, the legislature of 1907 is su perior to any other that ever con vened in the state house. It has gone about its work with an evident inten tion of doing what the people elected It to do. ' , ' "One of the best child labor bills ever . offered etaol etaoibm bmetaobmmm drawn was offered simultaneously In douse and senate, In the house by Henry T. Clarke, Jr., of Omaha, and la the senute by B. F. Thomas of Om ha. The bill was prepared on the initiative of the social science sec- ' tlon of the Omaha Woman's club, pre sided over by Mrs. Draper Smith, than whom anion labor . has no better friend. The best legal talent procur able in Douglas county was drafted . to asslBt In1 preparing the bill, and the advice of educators and union me chanics was sought. House Roll 9 and Senate .File 91 gives promise of going through without amendment. The judiciary committee' of the house met on Thursday of last week and listened to arguments in favor of the bill, Judge Kennedy of Omaha, Super intendent Stevens, of the. city schools, State Superintendent McBrlen, Mrs Draper Smith and W. M. Maupin ap pearing for it. . At the conclusion of the hearing the committee unanim ously recommenced - the bill -for pass age. Last Tuesday the house in com mittee of the whole reported the bill for passage with but two or three dis senting votes. This means its safe passage through the house without amendment. . The senate gives bright hopes of nimllar action, and Governor Sheldon may be depended upon to sign It. " The bill as presented to house and senate is as follows, the sections pre scribing forms of certificates being omitted: , "A Bill for an Act to Regulate the ; Employment and Use of Child Labor, to Provide for the Enforcement of Its Provisions, and, a Penalty for its Vio lation "Be it Encated by the Legislature of the state of Nebraska: "Section 1. No child under fourteen years of age shallbe employed, per mitted or suffered to work in, or in connection with, any theater, concert hall, or place of amusement, or any place where intoxicating liquors are sold, or in any mercantile institution, store, office, hotel, laundry, manufac turing establishment, bowling alley, . passenger or freight elevator, factory or workshop, or as a messenger or driver therefor, within this state. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or cornoration to emnlov anv child un ' ness or service whatever during the hours when the public schools of the town, township, village or city in which the child resides are in session. "Section 2. No child between four- . teen and sixteen years of age shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work In any theater; concert hall, or place of amusement, or In any mercan tile institution, store, office, hotel, laundry, manufacturing establishment, bowling alley, passenger or freight ele vator, factory, or workshop, or as a messenger or driver therefor within this state unless the person or cor lioratlon employing him procures and keeps on file and accessible to the Truant Officers of the town or city, the State Commissioner of Labor, and his deputies, and the members of the State . Board of inspection, an employment certificate as hereinafter prescribed and keeps two complete lists of all . such children employed therein, one on file and one conspicuously pouted near the principal entrance of the building in which such children are employed. Upon the termination of the employment of a child so reg istered, and whose certificate is so . filed, such ."certificate shall be forth with (fc-ansmitted by the employer to With Favor schools of the County in which the child resides, and shall be turned over to the child named therein, upon de mand. Any Truant Officers, the State Commissioner of Labor, or his ' depu ties, or any member of the State Board of Inspection may make demand on any employer in whose place of busi ness a child apparently under the age of sixteen years is employed or per mitted or suffered to work, and whose employment certificate is not then filed as required by this Section, that such employer shall either . furnish him, within ten days, evidence satis factory to him that such child is in fact over sixteen years of age or shall cease to employ or permit or suffer such child to work in such place of business, the same evidence of the age of such child may be required from such employer as is required on the Issuance of an employment certificate as hereinafter provided; and the em ployer furnishing such evidence shall not be required to furnish any further evidence of the age of the' child. In case such employer shall fail to pro duce and deliver to' the Truant Offi cer, the State Commissioner of Labor or Deputy State Commissioner of La bar, or member of the State Board of Inspection within ten days after de mand for the same, such evidence of the age of any child as may be re quired of him'under the provisions of this act and shall thereafter continue to employ such child or permit or suf fer such child to work in such places of business, proof of the giving of such notice and of such 'failure to produce and file such evidence shall be prima facie evidence in any prosecution brought for violation of this Section that' such child is under sixteen years of age and is unlawfully employed. Section. 2. An employment certifi cate shall be approved only by the sup erintendent of schools of the school corporation in which the child resides, or by a person authorized by him in writing, or where there is no superin tendent of schools, by a person autho rized by the school district officers: Provided that no school district offi cer or other person authorized as aforesaid shall have authority f.o ap prove such certificate for any child then in, or about to enter his own em ployment, or the employment of a firm or corporation of which he is a mem ber, officer or employee, or in whose business he is Interested. The officer or person approving such certificate shall have authority to administer the oath provided for therein or in any investigation or examination neces sary for the approval thereof. No fees shall be charged for approving any such certificate' nor for administering any oath or rendering any services in respect thereto. The Board of Di rectors of each school corporation shall establish and maintain propert records where copies of all such certificates and all documents connected there-1 with shall be filed and preserved and shall provide1 the necessary clerical service for carrying out the provisions of this act. "Section 4. The person authorized to issue an employment certificate shall not Issue such certificate until he has filed the following papers, duly tse received, examined and approved and executed; (1). The school record of such child, properly filled out and signed as provided in this act showing that the child has completed the work of the Eighth (8) Grade of the Public schools or its equivalent, or is regu larly attending night school in com pliance with Section eight (8) of this act.'. (2). A passport or duly attested transcript of the certificate of birth or baptism or other' religious or offi cial record, showing the date and place of birth of such child. A duly attested transcript of the birth certificate on file according to law with a registrar of vital statistics, or other officer charged with the duty of recording births, shall be conclusive evidence of the age of such child. (3). The affidavit of the parent, or guardian or custodian of a child, which shall be required, however, only in case none of the documents mentioned in clause (2) of this Sec tion can be produced and filed, show ing the place and date of birth of such child; which affidavit must be taken before the officer issuing the employ. ment certificate. Such , employment 00CK0CCKlcO00 ' OniPMIl I IHAAI M - I WAGES The W ageworker has been 'accused of inconsist ency in advocating the patronage of home industry in one breath and condemning a home industry in another breath. The accusers are possessed of feeble ' discernment. There are a lot of home industries that The "Wageworker does not beliete in patronizing and , promoting. Some of them are found where the red ' lights glitter. Others are located where the tele- graph sounder makes a noise and the operator marks figures on a blackboard. The Wageworker would not -advocate tlCiJtf ronage of the galoon industry. The "Wageworker fyes, however, advocate the pol icy of spending money earned in Lincoln with those ; firms and institutions that are worthy of the patron age of wage-earners. There are Lincoln firms in every line of business, nearly, who are fair and who are deserving of the patronage of every wagpearner in the city. , ' , There is no earthly reason why a single dollargf Lincoln earned money should be sent out of the city for flour. There is no earthly reason why a single suit of clothing should be purchased with Lincoln ' . earned money from any catalogue house in Chicago or elsewhere. There is no reason why a single article of hardware, of lumber manufacture, of headgear, f ootAvear, neckwear, or body wear should be pur- . chased with Lincoln earned money from merchants ' doing business outisde of Lincdln. What is true of the wage-earner is also true of the retailer in large measure. Retail grocers of Lincoln should buy their goods of Lincoln wholesalers. Re tail druggists should purchase their stock of Lincoln . wholesalers whenever possible. ' , ' But it should not be expected that union men will pursue the home patronage policy to the extent of patronizing their industrial enemies. The home patronage policy, carried to its logical 1 conclusion, would mean more for Lincoln during the. next ten years than 'anything that has ever before added to its prosperity. It would furnish employ ment to more wage-earners, teDd to increase wages, build up the commercial interests, and make Lincon a bigger and better city, - j 1 , Lincoln wage-earners siiettifl't-behind the home ' patronage movement. It will be missionary work -' for the cause of unionism. Lincoln housewives, wives of business and professional men as well as the wives of mechanics, should spend the money earned by their husbands with the business men of Lincoln. 'i ' , Let us keep all the Lincoln made money right here' in Lincoln that we possible can. "Home first, the , .world afterward," may be a slogan that sounds ;. selfish, but an enlightened self-interest is what this city needs right now. 1 I And Lincoln's interests should be paramoimt with Lincoln wage-earners. ' . - The beneficia feature of the Retail Clerks' Union went into effect recent ly.' By its provisions any member that holds a paid up card and becomes sick is entitled to $5 a week for twelve weeks, or as long as the disability remains. I OPPORTUNITY FOR VVOnEK AWD GIRLS I Lincoln women who want to secure splendid jobs paying a magnificent rate of wage should hasten to consult Secretary Whitten of the Commercial Club. The daily papers state that the Commercial Club has an opportunity to land a big commercial enterprise in Lincoln provided its promotors can . be assured that they can secure plenty of female help for the factory. It wants a hundred women and girls as a starter, and promises to double the force in a very short time. " The promotors generously offer to pay a rate of wage that will allow the female workers to earn from "FOUR TO TWELVE DOLLARS A WEEK." Of course the new concern wants to employ gar ment workers who can run heavy sewing machines, and it expects to pay FOUR DOLLARS A WEEK. Lincoln needs a lot of industries like that. Women ; who want to work for FOUR DOLLARS A WEEK, and board and clothe themselves, should make great haste to register their names with Secretary Whit ten.' After the women have paid their board and rent, laundry bills and clothing bills out of their FOUR DOLLARS A WEEK, they , will find Lincoln merr chants and Lincoln banks eagerly bidding for their surplus. ' O ' o o o 2 2 2 o 2 2 o o o o IN LINCOLN ind oy Thos. I. Kidd, of Chicago, for. 15 years general secretary of the Amal gamated Woodworkers" International Union, has accepted a position with, the Burnswick-Balke-Collender com pany in connection with its branch house in New York. ' Among the Live Locals of Lincoln The Central Labor Union' met' last Tuesday" night and transacted a lot of business expeditiously. President Smith was prevented by sickness from presiding, and Vice President Quick wielded the gavel. V. ' By unanimous vote the central body offered an addition of $25 to the re ward offered by the Appeal to Reason to any man or men who would kidnap ex-Governor Taylor and return him to Kentucky, just as Moyer and Hayward were abducted and run oft into Idaho. Incidentally, the central body adopted a resolution caustically criticizing the supreme court- of the United States for its infamous decision in the habeas corpus case of Moyer and Hayward. , Resolutions of regret and sympathy concerning Fred Karcher, who died last week, were adopted by a rising vote. Karcher was a member of the Bartenders' Union. " 'i j .;. L. L. Ingraham of the Typograph ical Union was unanimously endorsed by the body as its choice for the po sition of deputy labor commissioner, arid the endorsement will be forward ed to Governor Sheldon."1' Messrs.. Maupin, Leaden and Kelsey were appointed on a committee b meet the legislative committees on la bor and secure, if "possible, the fram ing and passage of a labor law or two. The Central Labor Union will elect officers for the 'ensuing six months at the next meeting, and all delegates are expected to be present. The executive committee was given two more weeks in which to examine and report on the books' of ex-Secretary Long. The piano contest, which has been dragging for a month, was settled just before the central body was called to order. Ticket ' holders were allowed to designate the manner of drawing, and It was conducted Just as they willed. The holder of ticket No. ,371 may hare a fine union made piano by presenting the ticket to '"'. Treasurer Evans or ' the editor of ' The Wage worker. ; The meeting . of the central body was one of the ' largest in recent months and several very interesting talks were made. ' . LEATHERWORKERS' BALL. Union Celebrated Fourth Anniversary ' . With Merry Social Event. . , ' ' x ."'" ' The local union of Leatherworkers on Horse Goods celebrated the fourth ami.- prsary of the organization " of vlieii union Thursday night of last week. The celebration took the form of a ball, Which was given at A. O. U. W. hall with Quick's ; orchestra fur nishing the music. Over one hundred couples were in attendance' and the ball, like all others given by this or ganization, was a social and financial success. The committee on arrange ments attended to their duties in at manner that w&rded off all criticism, and the- floor coir.mittee saw-to it that everybody had a good time.' The local union is in good shape; better, perhaps, itan ever before In its histoiy. . PLUMBER NOTES. Items of Interest for the Boys Behind the Traps, v The Plumbers' Union of ! Chicago is preparing a letter to President Roose velt . asking what he thinks of the union's scheme ; to give a bonus of $100 for a baby, $200 foe' twins and $500 for triplets. The Wageworker onines it would be a good thing'. It wii; give a little priza of $5 to the first set of twins born to a union plumber and his wife in the city of Lincoln, and a fine baby carriage to the first set of triplets born to a Lincoln plumber and his wife. This same offer holds good with any union man and his wife in Lincoln. ' ' ' '"' Many members of the United Asso ciation of. Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Steam Fitters are urging that the or ganization establish a home for .the aged and infirm, along the same lines as the typos. : : ' ' The steamfltters and helpers of th Pittsburg district have secured an ad vance in wages of 25 cents a day. Members of the Ashtabula, O.. Plumbers' association, recently pleaded; guilty to indictments changing them with violating the Valentine anti-trust-law. Five of the members were fined " '$60 and costs and three $50 and costs. Mrs. Bert Chipman has been ser- iously ill for some time. ; Her many friends will rejoice to hear of her ." ; speedy recovery- ' .' V- Union plumbers of Detroit,, hearing ; that a former member of the union but hailing from another city, had died and was about to ' be given to a medical college, claimed the body and' gave it Christian burial. The first -time the ' Citizens' Alliance , does a Christian act like this we will print the fact in big red letters. PRESSMEN RENEW CONTRACTS. For Five Years and Get Eight-Hour , " Day January 1, 1909. v The following from the Washington Trades Unionist will take a , load off 'the minds of the Lincoln pressmen. but we should wait until it is officially j confirmed before . jubilating very strongly: - ,' ( v. The Philadelphia Ledger of the 8th t instant says: "The executive council of the International Printing ' Press man and Assistants' Union and a coni -mittee from the United Typothetae of America met in Philadelphia pa Tues day, and an agreement was entered into renewing the present contract for' five years, with a provision for inaug urating the eight-hour day on Jan uary 1, 1909. This is a compromise.. ' The pressv 1 men wanted the eight-hour day to' be gin next May, when the present con- - tract expires. It will fleet about 14, 000 men in this countryNind Canada, who are employed in- book- and jely printing - offices and are what are known at ''flat-bed" pressmen. The job and 'web pressmen have dis solved' and will organize separately in Denver.,. - Lincoln pressmen- are kept busy these days. Work was never, better in the city. . v - ". , - , ' CARPENTER NEWS. Items Picked Up. Here and There for T";. Local Men to Read. St. Paul, Minn., carpenters have de cided, to ask for an increase from 40 to 45) cents aa hours. Notice to that ' effect has been given to 'all St. Paul contractors, i " ii - '', ." -- While it is agreed that the French . speaking carpenters ' are fairly well . organised, there is still much work to be done, and they feel that an organ-, izer who can speak the French lan ugage will do much in Ottawa . to thoroughly organize tha" craft. ,; Strike of the , union carpenters of ' the Pittsburg '' district has been ; de- clared off. Less than 100 men are now -being carried on the benefit list and , over S.O0O men are now receiving. $4 for eight hours. . ; . . v ' . ' Two hundred ship earpenters in the employ of the Newport News Ship building Co. are minus their tools, as . a result of a diststrous fire which destroyed a large part of the plant. It is estimated the 200 tool chests and their contents were worths $10,000, ; which' will be a total loss to the mon. MACHINISTS. i ' The union machinists of Omaha will give their annual ball at Creighton hall ' on February 12th. Over in,v Montreal nearly 100 ma chinists joined the union in one night It created so much talk that at, .the next meeting 200 got in line. And they are still a-coming. ' Business Agent Powers of 'the Bos ' ton machinists', union, says that he. has jobs for 225 union machinists and has sent word to several cities . for men. . . . . BRICKLAYERS. ?' The bricklayers of Kansas City have served notice that on and af,er April 1,1907, the scale will, be 70 cents an hour, foremen SO cents.; This actlqu was taken the first of the year. t,v; 1 The Garment Workers' Union la the largest in the United States- and com posed chiefly of women. . - . t't if r L the city or count superintendent of (Continued on page G.) FCK3CO0O00 d 000C000000Oil - ;