Certain Employments Of Children Forbidden

It shall be unlawful for any person having the care, custody or control of any child under the age of 14 years to exhibit, use or employ, sell, apprentice, give away or let out any such child to any person in or for the vocation of singing, playing on musical instruments, rope or wire walking, dancing, begging or peddling, or as a gymnast, contortionist, rider or acrobat in any place whatsoever, or for any obscene, indecent, or immoral purpose, exhibition or practice whatsoever, or for or in any business or exhibition injurious to the health or dangerous to the life or limb of such child, or cause, procure or encourage any such child to engage therein. Engagement of children to sing in churches, schools, etc., excepted.

R. S., ch. 38, sec. 42a.

Sec. 42b.

Unlawful To Exhibit

Practically same as Sec. 42a.

Sec. 42c.

Order As To Custody

When it shall appear to the court that a child has been engaged or used in violation of Sec. 42a, or anyone having the custody of a child shall have been convicted of a criminal assault upon such child, if the court deems it desirable that such person shall be deprived of the custody of the child, such child shall thereafter be deemed to be in the custody of the court, and the court may make such order as to the custody thereof as now is or hereafter may be provided by law in cases of vagrant, truant, disorderly, pauper, or destitute children.

Sec. 42d.

Endangering Life Or Health

It is unlawful for any person to permit the life of any child in his or her custody to be endangered, or its health to be injured.

Sec. 42e.

Penalty

For a first offense, fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment in the county jail, or both. For second or subsequent offense, fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment in penitentiary not exceeding two years, or both.

R. S.. ch. 48, sec. 20.

Child Labor - Child Under 14

A child under 14 years of age shall not be employed, permitted or suffered to work at any gainful occupation in a theater, concert hall or place of amusement where intoxicating liquors are sold or in any mercantile institution, store, office, hotel, laundry, manufacturing establishment, bowling alley, passenger or freight elevator, factory of work shop, or as a messenger or driver therefor, in this state. No child under 14 years of age shall be employed at any work performed for any compensation, to whomsoever payable, during any portion of any month when the public schools of the city in which he or she resides are in session, nor be employed before seven o'clock in the morning or after six o'clock in the evening. No child shall be allowed to work more than eight hours per day.

Register

Every person, firm or corporation employing minors over 14 years and under 16 years of age in any mercantile institution, store, office, hotel, laundry, manufacturing establishment, bowling alley, theater, concert hall, or place of amusement, passenger or freight elevator, factory or work shop, or as messenger or driver therefor, shall keep a register in such place in which shall be recorded the name, age and place of residence of every child so employed. No person, firm or corporation shall employ or permit to work any child over 14 years and under 16 years of age in any of the above-mentioned places unless an age and school certificate, approved as hereinafter provided, is first produced and placed on file in such place of business.

Sec. 20a.

Wall Lists

There shall be posted in a conspicuous place in every room in every establishment employing five or more children over the age of 14 and under the age of 16 years, in any of the foregoing employments, a list containing the name, age and place of residence of every such person employed or permitted to work in such room.

Sec. 20b.

Age And School Certificate

Children over 14 and under 16 years of age shall not be employed in any of the above-mentioned employments unless an age and school certificate is first produced and placed on file in such place of business, accessible to any State Factory Inspector, and unless a complete list of minors under the age of 16 years employed in such place who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences is kept on file and produced on demand of said inspectors, except when such child is attending night school.

Sec. 20c.

Sec. 20d.

Age And School Certificates - How Approved

Age and school certificates shall be approved by the Superintendent of Schools or some person authorized by him in writing, or authorized by the School Board. Superintendents or principals of parochial schools shall have the same rights and powers as a superintendent of public schools. Members of a School Board shall have no authority to issue certificates for children about to enter their own establishments. Persons approving these certificates shall have power to administer oaths, but no fee shall be charged.

Sec. 20e.

Proof Of Age

An age and school certificate shall not be approved unless satisfactory evidence is furnished by the last school census, a certificate of birth or baptism, the register of birth with a town or city clerk, or the records of the public or parochial schools, that such child is of the age stated in the certificate. If such proof is not obtainable, the parent or guardian shall make oath before the Juvenile or County Court as to the age of such child, and the court may issue a certificate.

Sec. 20f.

Employment Ticket

No age and school certificate shall issue except upon the presentation of a school attendance certificate properly filled out and signed. A duplicate of all age and school certificates shall be forwarded to the State Factory Inspector. (For forms of a school certificate, evening school attendance certificate and an age and school certificate, see this section in the Revised Statutes).

Illiteracy

In case a child cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences the certificate shall continue as follows, after the word sentences: "I hereby certify that (he or she) is regularly attending the (name of public, parochial or evening school)." The certificate shall continue in force just as long as the regular attendance of said child at said evening school is certified weekly by the teacher and principal of said school.

Evening School

Where there is no evening school, an age and school certificate shall not be approved for a child under 16 years of age who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences. This also applies when there are no evening schools in session. The certificate of the principal shall be prima facie evidence as to the literacy or illiteracy of the child.

Schooling Required

No one shall employ, nor shall a parent or guardian permit to be employed, any minor over 14 years and under 16 years of age, who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences, while a public evening school is maintained in the city, unless such minor is a regular attendant at such school.

Sec. 20g.

Duties Of State Inspectors Of Factories

The State Factory Inspector shall visit all places where minors are employed to ascertain whether or not there are violations of this act.

Sec. 20h.

Hours Of Labor

No person under 16 years of age shall be employed more than 48 hours in one week, nor more than 8 hours in one day; or before 7 o'clock in the morning or after 7 o'clock at night. Every employer shall post in a conspicuous place in every room where minors are employed a notice stating the hours required of them each day, the hours of commencing and stopping work, and the hours for meals. A form of such notice shall be furnished the State Factory Inspector.

Sec. 20i.

Sec. 20j.

Employments Forbidden Children Under 16 Years Of Age

No child under the age of 16 years shall be employed at sewing belts or to assist at sewing belts, in any capacity whatever; nor shall any child adjust any belt to any machinery; they shall not oil or assist in oiling, wiping or cleaning machinery; they shall not operate or assist in operating circular or band saws, wood shapers, wood jointers, planers, sandpaper or wood polishing machinery, emery or polishing wheels, used for polishing metal, wood-turning or boring machinery, stamping machines in sheet metal or tinware manufacturing, stamping machines in washer and nut factories, operating corrugating rolls such as are used in roofing factories, nor shall they be employed in operating any passenger or freight elevators, steam boilers, steam machinery, or other steam generating apparatus, or as pin boys in any bowling alley; they shall not operate or assist in operating dough brakes or cracker machinery; wire or iron straightening machinery; nor shall they operate or assist in operating rolling machinery, punches or shears, washing, grinding or mixing mill or calendar rolls in rubber manufacturing, nor shall they operate or assist in operating laundry machinery; nor shall children be employed in any capacity in preparing any composition in which dangerous or poisonous acids are used, and they shall not be employed in any capacity in the manufacture of paints, colors or white lead; nor shall they be employed in any capacity whatever in operating or assisting to operate any passenger or freight elevators; nor shall they be employed in any capacity whatever in the manufacture of goods for immoral purposes, or any other employment that may be considered dangerous to their lives or limbs, or where their health may be injured or morals depraved; nor in any theater, concert hall or place of amusement wherein intoxicating liquors are sold; nor shall females under 16 years of age be employed in any capacity where such employment compels them to remain standing constantly.

Prima Facie Evidence Of Employment

The presence of a child under 16 years of age in any manufacturing establishment shall constitute prima facie evidence of its employment there.

Sec. 20k.

Enforcement Of This Act

The State Factory Inspector shall enforce the provisions of this act and prosecute all violations of the same. He and his deputies are authorized to visit and inspect all places covered by this act.

Sec. 201.

Penalty

Whoever, having under his control a child under 16 years of age, permits such child to be employed in violation of the provisions of this act, shall for each offense be fined not less than $5 nor more than $25, and shall stand committed until such fine and costs are paid.

Failure to produce to Factory Inspector age and school certificates or lists required by this act is a violation of the same. Penalty: fine not less than $5 nor more than $50. Any person certifying to any material false statement in the certificates provided for by this act, thereby violates the same. Penalty: not less than $5 nor more than $100 fine.

Any firm or corporation violating or failing to comply with the provisions of this act or refusing admittance to premises to the Factory Inspector shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Penalty: fine of not less than $5 nor more than $100.

Sec. 20m.

Child Under 14 Not To Be Employed

No child under 14 years of age shall be employed in any manufacturing establishment, or factory or workshop in this state. Every person, firm or corporation employing children shall keep a register in which shall be recorded the name, birthplace, age and place of residence of every person employed under the age of 16 years; and no person, firm or corporation shall employ any child over 14 and under 16 years in any manufacturing establishment, etc., unless an affidavit of the parent or guardian, stating the age, date and place of birth of such child, is first placed on file; said register and affidavits may be inspected by the Factory Inspector. Factory Inspector may demand at any time a certificate of physical fitness from some regular physician, in cases of children who appear physically unable to perform the labor at which they may be engaged. In case minor cannot obtain such certificate Inspector shall have power to prohibit the employment of such child.

Sec. 24.

Sec. 36.

Hours Of Employment - Children Under 16

No person under 16 years shall be employed or suffered to work for wages at any gainful occupation more than sixty hours per week or ten hours in any one day.

Sec. 37.

Evidence Of Employment

The presence of any person under 16 years in any manufacturing establishment, etc., shall constitute prima facie evidence of his employment therein.

Sec. 38.

Extra Hazardous Employment

No child under the age of 16 years shall be employed, or permitted or suffered to work by any person, firm or corporation in this state at such extra hazardous employment whereby its life or limb is in danger, or its health is likely to be injured, or its morals may be depraved. (For penalty see Sec. 41 of this act).

R. M. C.

Sec. 1446.

Cruelty To Children - Exhibition

Practically same as Sec. 42a, Criminal Code, R. S. It adds that the vocations enumerated shall not be followed in any saloons, or in the streets or alleys.

Life Or Health Endangered

No person shall take or receive any child under 14 years of age for any employment dangerous to health.

Sec. 1447.

Penalty

Any person violating 1446 and 1447 supra, or who is guilty of cruelty to any child (1) by cruelly beating, torturing, overworking, etc.; (2) by unnecessarily failing to provide any child in his charge with proper food, drink, shelter or raiment; (3) by abandoning any child; (4) by willfully and unnecessarily exposing to the inclemency of the weather or by injuring in any manner such child in health or limb, shall be fined from $5 to $100 for each offense.

Sec. 1448.

Minors Employed In Pawn Shops

No pawn broker shall employ minors under 16 years of age to take pledges in pawn for him.

Sec. 1586.