CHILD LABOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. Execution of the child labor law passed by the last legislature (1907) has devolved upon this Bureau. The Deputy Commissioner has been most materially assisted in this work by two of the members of the State Board of Inspection provided for by the law, Mrs. Draper Smith, of Omaha, and Rev. James Wise, of South Omaha. The superintendents of schools in those two cities have also been most helpful, as has Probation Officer Bernstein and his assistants. Mrs. Smith, Dr. Wise, Professors Davidson and Graham, working harmoniously, tactfully, and with lage intelligence and understanding, have accomplished all that could be expected-in fact, all that could be asked. Theirs has been the really heavy end of the labor, and they have shouldered the responsibility willingly and with markedly good results. In Lincoln, Prof. Stephens and the truant officer, Dr. Martin, have taken a keen interest to the limit of their time and opportunity. Throughout the state, in the larger towns especially, the superintendents of schools and truant officers have been alert and ready at all times to aid the Deputy Commissioner whenever called on. The same tribute can be paid to county attorneys so far as their assistance has been needed, which was to a very limited extent, happily. In only one instance, at Beatrice, was it found necessary to cite a parent into court, and in that case the father of a young girl who persisted in remaining out of school to work was fined $5.00, after entering a plea of guilty. Credit must also be given to the managers of the packing houses and other large employers of labor for the admirable spirit exhibited, with rare exceptions, in accepting and complying with the provisions of the law. It can truly be said that there is at present very little abuse of the state statute to be complained of. Nebraska employers, as well as Nebraska students of sociological problems, can well congratulate themselves that no state in the Union can show a cleaner or more satisfactory condition, industrially. Child labor is at the minimum, those at work are well treated, and very few indeed of the juvenile workers are not accounted for in some definite fashion. The compulsory education law must be awarded a large measure of credit for the admirable conditions at present existing. Up to the close of the school year in June, 1908- -a period of fourteen months from the date when the law took effect as an emer gency measure-permits to work were issued as follows by superintendents of schools who reported to this office: In Lincoln, 182; in Omaha, 347; in South Omaha, 96; other places, 34; a total of 659. Many of the permits were for brief periods only; others because of need for the child's assistance as a wage-earner to help support the home. The superintendents also have informed us that a fair proportion of those working under permit were attending night school, while a few were taking private tuition. The Deputy Commissioner respectfully recommends that the absolute prohibition of child labor, below the specified age, be modified to the extent that boys of 14 be permitted to work during the summer and winter school vacations, at any kind of employment not prohibited specifically by the law. Also, that boys under 18 be absolutely prohibited from serving as messengers where the employer's business calls for delivery of messages or packages at questionable resorts, or the taking of messages or packages therefrom. There are, in many of our rural towns, canning factories and similar establishments where children can be employed, and are in demand, during the summer vacation, without hurt to themselves, and with good results to all concerned. The same is true of many large stores and other concerns in our cities. Street loafing, practically enforced by law, is not to be preferred, with all of its dangers, to profitable occupation, with resulting good from proper discipline and some degree of business or mechanical training. FEMALE LABOR. Scientists and thinkers have pointed out that health and vitality are the capital of society. It follows, then, that any lessening or weakening of the natural power of womanhood over the race will be distinctly injurious. To lower the standard of bodily strength will bring a disastrous reaction on society later. To deprive her of mental training means simply a retrogression to serfdom-slow, perhaps, but sure. Prevention of these things is the object of about all of the laws passed in recent years by progressive states and nations. In too many instances the laws are crude and give too wide a latitude for transgressors. The Nebraska law governing the employment of female labor is, in my judgment, weak and ineffective as it stands, although reasonably effective among the growing class of considerate employers. Its greatest weakness is in permitting ten hours' work to be performed by females between the hours of 6 o'clock in the morning and 10 o'clock at night. As applied to factory and shop workers, and to the girls and women employed in stores, the working hours should be limited between the hours of 7 o'clock in the morning and 7 o'clock in the evening. Six o'clock in the evening would be better. Some stores close at that hour every night in the week; and many others every night except Saturday. The reasons for advocating an amendment in the law governing the hours within which female labor may be employed in this state are: Six o'clock in the morning is too early for a developing girl or a sickly woman to go into a factory, a shop or a store; and 10 o'clock at night is too late an hour to keep female workers away from home. In the cities, it means that such workers will get home not earlier than 10:30 to 11, because a majority of them live far from the business center. Temptation to "suspend the rules" is always offered in cities to tired and discouraged workers, men and women; and the latter must also face the wiles and insults of loafers and mashers when out alone late at night. Attacks on young girls returning from work late at night are not infrequent; and since this is so, the state ought to protect them to the limit of its unquestioned power. By fixing a closer limit on hours for female labor, it will not be so easy as it is at present for the grasping and "driving" employers to defeat the plain purpose of the law. 3 Girls in factories are expected to keep up a certain "pace" while at |