INFANTS IN THE COTTON MILLS.
Mr. SHOEMAKER (by leave) returned from the Committee on Manufactures Mr Williams, of Union's bill, [H. R. 283], to regulate the employment of persons under sixteen years of age in the cotton and woolen manufactories, and to provide fop the education of such persons, recommending its passage, and on his motion it was taken up and ordered to the second reading.
Mr. KERCHEVAL proposed to amend, by striking out the word "eleven" where it occurs in the bill, and inserting "ten" in lieu.
Mr. RUDDELL. That leaves the law where it now stands. This bill is for the purpose of encouraging this class of capitalists instead of discriminating against them. We have no law which prohibits them from working their hands more than ten hours a day. In Ohio and Illinois they may work eleven hours, and in Kentucly there is no limitation. Now, when capitalists compare our inducements with those of other States, are they going to stop here and invest their money while we are thus discriminating against them? One hour with the manufacturers amounts to one-tenth of their profits. There is but one factory in the State, he said, which regards this law; and in the years 1866, 1867, and 1868, this factoro paid $23,950 84 local tax, exclusive of Government revenue. This bill was t copied from the Rhode Island statute, and worked well.
Mr. STEWART, of Ohio, proposed to amend the amendment, by restricting the work to " eight" hours a day.
Mr. KERCHEVAL said he offered his amendment not so much in the interests of capitalists as in the interests of humanity. Both political parties had pledged themselves to the eight hour system; and this bill proposes to make these tender children work eleven hours a day.
Mr. McFADIN favored the amendment, and rehearsed how, in 1867 here, he lost confidence in a prominent Democratic friend, because he was in favor of working these tender children more than ten hours a day. He denounced the heartlessness of the proposition, and approved Dr. Franklin's division for eight hours for labor, etc.
page: 83[View Page 83]Mr. STEWART, of Ohio, had offered his amendment in good faith, and advocated it under a profound sense of humanity and its justice.
On motion of Mr. WILE, the further consideration of the bill was postponed, and it was made the special order for Thursday at 10 o'clock.
The House then adjourned.
