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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OE LABOR
CHILDREN’S BUREAU

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*

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.

PUBLICATION Na. 214

THE ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR
AND THE


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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W . N . D OAK, Secretary

CHILDREN’S BUREAU
GRACE ABBO TT. Chief

THE ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR
AND THE

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAW
By
ELLEN NATHALIE MATTHEWS

Bureau Publication No. 214

U N ITE D STATES
GOVERN M EN T PR IN TIN G OFFICE
W ASHINGTON : 1932

%
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.


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Price 15 cents


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CONTENTS

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X

Letter o f transm ittal______________________________________
Part 1.— Status of illegally employed minors under the workmen’s com­
pensation laws of the United States_______________________________
Introduction____ __________________________________________ ~__ ~~
Eligibility of illegally employed minors for compensation_____ I ____
Status under workmen’s compensation laws________________________
Legal basis for eligibility___________________________________________
Compensation laws covering illegally employed minors” and also
penalizing their employers___________ _____________
Laws subjecting employers to fines__________ I I ______________ I H _
Laws subjecting employers to suit at law___________ I I I I I I I _ I I I
Extra compensation la w s_________ _____________________________ I _ I I I
Indemnification of illegally employed minors under different types
of legal provision____________________________________________
Administration of extra compensation laws___________________________
Investigation of legality of employment o f injured minors_____
Procedure in obtaining payment o f extra compensation________ I
Measures for conserving extra-compensation funds paid to
m inors-________________________________________
Part 2.— Special studies of illegally employed minors under the work­
men s compensation laws of Wisconsin and Indiana_____________
W iscon sin _____________________________________________________
Introduction______________________________________ "
The Wisconsin workmen’s compensation law and the injured
minor____________________________________________
General provisions____________ !______________________
Provisions relating especially to minors____________________ I_
Administration of the Wisconsin workmen’s compensation law
in the interest of the illegally employed minor________________
Investigation of legality o f employment_____________________
Procedure in obtaining payment____________________________
Manner in which payment is made______________ I I I _ I ____
Education of employers to prevent illegal employment I I
The injured minors_________________________________________
Number, sex, age, and occupation______________________ ____ I I
Legal provisions violated_________________________I _ _ I I I I '
Nature and location of injury____________________________
Extent and duration o f disability_______I - I I I I ____ I _ I _ I I _ _
Compensation and penalties fo rinjuries_____________
Causes of injuries________________________________ ”
Accidents due to machinery______________ _________________
Accidents not due to machinery__________________________
Wisconsin laws and rulings relating to the payment of extra
compensation!______________________________________
Excerpts from workmen’s compensation act
__________ I
Excerpts from child labor law _____ _______________ _______ I_ I I _
Rulings o f industrial commission_______
Indiana_______________________________________
Introduction___________________________ _____ _
The Indiana workmen’s compensation law and the inïûrëd
minor_____________________________________
Administration of the Indiana workmen’s compensation law
in relation to the illegally employed minor_______
The injured minors_______________________________________ I __
Number, sex, age, and occupation______________________________
Industry in which injured___________________________
Legal provisions violated___________________I I I I I I
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CONTENTS

Part 2.— Special studies of illegally employed minors under the work­
men’s compensation laws of Wisconsin and Indiana— Continued.
Indiana— Continued.
Nature and location of injuries----------------------------------------------Extent and duration o f disability--------------------------------------------Causes of injury-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Accidents due to machinery------------------------------------------------------Accidents not due to machinery----------------------------------------------Indemnification of injured minors----------------------------------------------Information obtained from records--------------------------------■-----::—
Information obtained from interviews-----------------------------------Method of payment--------------------------------------------------- ----------------Medical services---------- -------------.------------------------------------------- —
Industrial, economic, and social effects of injuries-------- -----------Indiana laws relating to workmen’s compensation for injured
minors_________— _____ — -------------- ----------------------------------------------Definition of employee in workmen’s compensation law------Extra compensation law passed in 1923-----------------------------------Excerpts from child labor law--------------------------------------------------Part 3. Recommendations of the W hite House Conference on Child
Health and Protection relating to the illegally employed minor under
workmen’s compensation laws--------------------------------------- -----------------------------Workmen’s compensation la w s -----------------------------------------------------— ------Specific provisions for minors----------------------- ----------------------------------------Appendix-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Statistics of illegally employed injured minors-----------------------------------References to State workmen’s compensation laws------------------------- -—
Forms used in administration of Wisconsin workmen’s compensation
law ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------


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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

U

n it e d

S tates D

L abor,
C h il d r e n ’s B u r e a u ,

e p a r t m e n t of

Washington, September 15, 1932.
There is transmitted herewith a report on the Illegally
Employed Minor and the Workmen’s Compensation Law. The
study upon which the report was based was made by Ellen Nathalie
Matthews, formerly director of the industrial division o f the Chil­
dren’s Bureau. The report was written by Miss Matthews, assisted
in the analysis o f laws and court decisions by Lucy Manning and
Ella Arvilla Merritt. Mary Skinner interviewed the injured minors
in connection with the special study made in Indiana and assisted in
the analysis o f material for that State.
The Children’s Bureau acknowledges with appreciation the infor­
mation furnished by officials o f the departments administering the
workmen’s compensation laws of the various States, especially by
the officials o f Wisconsin and Indiana, whose interest and coopera­
tion made possible the special studies undertaken in those States.
Respectfully submitted.
Sir :

G race A

Hon. W.

N. D

oak,

Secretary of Labor.


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bbo tt,

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THE ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR AND THE WORK­
MEN’S COMPENSATION LAW
Part 1.— STATUS OF ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINORS
UNDER THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAWS OF
THE UNITED STATES
INTRODUCTION

It is estimated that at least one in every ten persons reported as
injured in the course o f employment in the United States is under 21
years o f age.1 Many of these are mere children. The young worker,
to an even greater extent than the worker o f mature years, it is
believed, is subject to accidents in industry and is susceptible to
injury from such sources as industrial poisons, fumes, and acids. An
injury to the young worker has also more serious results. It may
oblige him to give up work in which he has shown special aptitude
for an occupation in which he is not interested or in which he has
few opportunities for advancement. It may occur, as it frequently
does, before he has had an opportunity to obtain any vocational skill,
and permanent disabilities or long periods o f enforced idleness may
prove a serious barrier to his getting into work requiring skill or
training or even physical strength, or may so affect his morale that he
becomes unemployable.2 Preventive measures, such as the adoption
o f more effective means to insure the safety of all workers and more
stringent regulation o f the work o f young persons in specially haz­
ardous employments, are necessary and fundamental. Rehabilita­
tion funds to provide at public expense vocational training for in­
jured workers would help. Measures such as these, however, either
preventive or remedial, do not wholly meet the situation. W ork­
men’s compensation laws offer a means o f obtaining for injured
minors some immediate relief for their economic needs, which are
often most pressing.
Workmen’s compensation laws, under which employees or, in case
o f death, their dependents are compensated for industrial injuries
by employers, have been adopted in the last two decades in the Dis­
trict o f Columbia and in all the States except Arkansas, Florida,
Mississippi, and South Carolina. Under these laws the injured
1 See Nineteenth Annual Report of the Chief of the Children’ s Bureau, Fiscal Year
Ended June 30, 1931, p. 13. Washington, 1931.
2 See Industrial Accidents to Employed Minors in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New
Jersey, pp. 63—85 (U. S. Children’s Bureau Publication No. 152, Washington, 1926) ;
Casualties o f Child Labor— Ten Children Illegally Employed in Pennsylvania and What
Happened to Them (Consumers’ League of Eastern Pennsylvania, 1924) ; Labor and
Industry, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry: July, 1927,
pp. 8—9 ; July, 1928, pp. 5 -9 ; December, 1929, pp. 5—1 1 ; December, 1930, pp. 6 -1 1 ; The
Social Aspects of the Administration of the Double Compensation Law in New York State,
pp. 46-67, 88—104 (New York State Department of Labor Special Bulletin No. 168, Albany,
1931).

1

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T H E IL L E G A L L Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

employee receives automatic, certain, and more or less adequate
money compensation and medical care at the time when it is most
needed, in lieu o f his right to bring suit against his employer for
damages under the common law or under statutes establishing em­
ployers’ liability. A suit for damages for injuries received in the
course o f employment, like any suit at law, involves delay and ex­
pense, and it is likewise uncertain in its results. Negligence on the
part o f the employer must be proved ; and even if proved negligent,
the employer can escape liability under the common law by setting
up certain defenses. The compensation laws, on the other hand,
provide for stated relief based on the facts o f employment and o f
injury in the employment without proof of negligence.
A ll workmen’s compensation acts now operative in the United
States8 contain some provisions that especially affect minor em­
ployees. These relate to one or more o f the following points: (1)
The legal competency o f minor employees (that is, the power o f
minors to bind themselves absolutely by their own acts) ; (2) the
financial basis upon which compensation to injured minors is com­
puted; and (3) the extent to which minors come under the acts and
are therefore entitled to compensation. As to legal competency, at
common law a minor, owing to his immaturity and consequent lack
o f judgment and discretion, does not have the capacity to bind him­
self absolutely by contract but must act through his guardian. In
order to facilitate proceedings under the workmen’s compensation
acts, most States have considered it necessary to endow minor em­
ployees with the legal capacity o f adults, in some States for all
purposes under the compensation law, in others only for certain
enumerated acts. In regard to the financial basis, compensation
computed on the usual basis (a stated percentage o f the average
weekly, monthly, or yearly wages or earnings o f the employee
at the time o f injury) obviously amounts to very little in the case
o f young workers, whose wages are likely to be small, and a number
o f States have therefore included in their compensation laws special
provisions that operate to increase the amounts o f compensation paid
to certain groups of minors. This is usually accomplished by com­
puting the minor’s compensation on the basis o f his probable future
earnings at his majority if he had not been disabled, or on the basis
o f adult wages.4
But the most important of the provisions o f workmen’s compensa­
tion laws especially applying to minor workers, are those that relate
to the extent to which minors are covered by these acts and, there­
fore, are entitled to compensation. The laws apply to practically all
minor employees who are legally employed. In the treatment of
minors employed in violation o f the child labor laws, however, as
contrasted with those legally employed, the laws differ in different
8 For a general discussion of the provisions of workmen’s compensation laws, see the
following publications: Comparison of Workmen’s Compensation Laws of the United
States as of Jan. 1, 1925 (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bull. No. 379, Washington,
1925) ; Workmen’s Compensation Legislation of the United States and Canada as of
July 1, 1926 (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bull. No. 423, Washington, 1926) : Work­
men’s Compensation Legislation of the United States and Canada as o f Jan. 1, 1929
(U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bull. No. 496, Washington. 1929).
* See Child Labor— Facts and Figures, pp. 77-81 (U. S. Children’ s Bureau Publication
No. 197. Washington, 1930), and Child Labor; report of the subcommittee on child labor
o f the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, p. 353 (Century Co.
New York, 1932).


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COMPENSATION LAW S— UNITED STATES

3

States. Some States exclude illegally employed minors from the
compensation acts, others include them, and still others include them
and require additional compensation for them. These differences
have developed in the process o f substituting, through compensation
laws, a statutory remedy for the injured employee’s right to sue at
common law for damages, and they are found both in the statutes
and in the interpretation placed upon them by the courts.
The number o f minors receiving injuries while employed contrary
to law and the proportion this group forms of the total number o f
injured minors is not accurately known. Statistics relating to the
minor injured while illegally employed have been compiled or special
studies have been made in only a few States. (F or such statistics,
see Appendix, pp. 219-223.) Limited as the information is, however,
it emphasizes the unusual seriousness o f the problem o f the illegally
employed injured minor. In all the States for which comparable
figures exist the proportion o f injuries resulting in death or perma­
nent disability is greater, and the average period o f disability is
longer, for those injured while employed contrary to law than for
legally employed minore, a result, o f course, o f the fact that so many
o f the injuries occur in occupations prohibited because unusually
hazardous.
The present study o f the status o f injured minors under work­
men’s compensation laws is confined to those illegally employed.
The study consists o f an analysis of the provisions o f the laws that
relate to such minors and the interpretation o f these laws by the
State agencies administering the workmen’s compensation acts and
by the courts, and of such evidence as exists showing the comparative
benefits that are available under different types o f laws to minors
injured while illegally employed. In addition, because o f the great
importance o f administrative procedure in insuring to the injured
the benefits o f such provisions, an account o f the procedure followed
in the administration o f laws providing for extra compensation for
illegally employed minors is also given.
For this study workmen’s compensation legislation through the
year 1931 was analyzed and court decisions relating to minors under
the compensation laws available in reports published through May
31, 1931, were read. Information regarding the administration of
the provisions affecting minors was obtained through published
reports of State administrative agencies, through correspondence
with these agencies, and through personal interviews with adminis­
trative officials in most of the States that had passed laws providing
for additional compensation to minors injured while engaged in
illegal employment. Some studies relating to the indemnification
for injury of illegally employed minors, which indicate the relative
effectiveness o f different types o f laws, had already been made by
State labor departments and private organizations, chiefly in Illinois,
New York, and Pennsylvania. The Children’s Bureau has attempted
in the present inquiry to round out this information by additional
studies in two States, one a State in which minors injured while
illegally employed are excluded from the compensation act, the other
one in which they are covered by the act and are also entitled to
additional compensation.


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

Wisconsin, the first State to enact legislation providing that minors
injured while illegally employed be entitled to more than the regular
compensation, was one o f the States selected by the bureau for this
study. The operation of this law was studied through the records
o f the State industrial commission relating to the cases occurring
September 1, 1917, when it became operative, through December 31,
1928.
The other special inquiry undertaken as a part of this study was
made in Indiana, as in that State special investigations are made of
all reports of industrial injuries occurring to minors reported as
under 20 years of age, and records o f such minors found to have been
illegally employed at the time of injury are available over a con­
siderable period of years in the files of the State industrial board,
which administers the workmen’s compensation act. A study o f the
cases of these minors was made to ascertain what attempts, if any,
had been made to obtain indemnity through the courts and with what
success, and also what had happened in cases in which court aid had
not been sought. Information was obtained through study o f the
records of accidents in the files of the industrial commission and o f
court records; through personal interviews 5 with a number o f the
injured minors themselves, including all who could be located whose
accidents were serious enough to cause permanent disability or
temporary disability of at least 28 days; and through personal inter­
views with the parents of the minors who had suffered fatal injuries.
The findings o f these two special inquiries are presented in detail
in Part 2 o f this report and are only briefly summarized, together
with similar information relating to other States, in this section
(Pt. 1).
ELIGIBILITY OF ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINORS FOR
COMPENSATION
STATUS UNDER WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAWS®

A ll the workmen’s compensation laws apply to minor employees
who are legall yemployed or legally permitted to work,7 but they
vary in the treatment of the injured minor employed in violation of
the child labor law. Thirteen States (Delaware, Indiana, Iowa,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia) exclude
illegally employed minors from the benefits o f the law.8 Seventeen
BInterviews with the injured minors or their relatives did not form a part o f the
inquiry in Wisconsin as the records of the cases were unusually complete, including a signed
receipt for payment of compensation. Such receipts were not, of course, required in
Indiana, at least during the greater part of the period covered by the study (see p. 148)
made in that State when minors illegally employed were excluded from the operation of
the workmen’ s compensation act, and the industrial board had no responsibility for pay­
ments made to them.
..
.
.
8 References to State workmen s compensation laws are given on pp. 224-225.
7 The laws of Kentucky and New Mexico are limited in their application in such a
way that not all legally employed minors are included. The New Mexico act by impli­
cation excludes minors “ under the age of 14 years,” and the Kentucky law applies to a
minor under 16 only if he has obtained his employment upon a certificate of his parent
or custodian that he is 16 years old. A minor under 16 employed without such a cer­
tificate even though legally employed, therefore, would not be subject to the act. (Elkhorn Seam Collieries v. Craft, 207 Ky. 849, 270 S. W. 460 (1925) ; see also Wynn Coal
Co. v. Lindsey, 230 Ky. 53, 18 S. W. (2d) 864 (1929), involving a minor under 16
illegally employed and without such a certificate.)
'.
.
8 In some of these States minors employed in violation of any provision of the child
labor law, and in others only those employed in violation of certain specified provisions,
are excluded. On the basis of the reported decisions of the courts in the IS States, such
minorsf employment must be in violation of a State child labor law. violation of regula-


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w o r k m e n ’s

COMPENSATION LAW S— UNITED STATES

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States and the District o f Columbia cover illegally employed minors
and give them the same compensation as those who are legally
employed. These are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
District o f Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine,
Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Caro­
lina, Ohio, Texas, and Wyoming. Three States (Nevada, Oregon,
and Washington) cover them and in addition subject the employer
to a fine, 2 States (North Dakota and Virginia) cover them and also
specifically permit the employer to be sued, and 9 States (Alabama,
Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) cover them and provide that in such
cases larger compensation shall be paid than in the case o f injuries
to the legally employed. In New Jersey an illegally employed minor
or_ his representative may also sue his employer for damages for
injuries due to the employer’s negligence.
One o f the States providing the same compensation for the
illegally employed minor as for those legally employed, Kentucky,
and one o f those providing extra compensation, Illinois, give to an
illegally employed minor the alternative right to accept compensa­
tion under the act or to sue at law. In Kentucky the workmen’s
compensation act provides 9 that the statutory guardian or personal
representative o f a minor who is injured or killed while “ employed
in willful and known violation by the employer of any law of this
State regulating the employment o f minors ” may either claim com­
pensation under the act or sue the employer at law for damages
as if the compensation act had not been passed.10 I f compensation
is claimed under the act it operates as a waiver o f the right to sue,11
and the institution o f a suit for damages is likewise a waiver o f
all rights to compensation. This choice o f remedies is limited
under a decision of the Court of Appeals o f Kentucky to a case in
which the employment is prohibited by law.12 The act contains
a proviso, however, that “ in case a minor under 16 years of age
who procures his employment upon the written certification by his
tions enacted by a subdivision of the State, as, for example, city ordinances, are not
sufficient. As a general rule the courts in these States have not m’ade any distinction
between the status of a minor whose employment is entirely prohibited by statute (that
is, a minor under the minimum age for any employment) and one whose employment
would be permitted if certain conditions (as by obtaining an employment certificate)
were complied with, and have held that the workmen’s compensation acts are no more
applicable to minors employed in violation of this condition than to those employed in
violation of the minimum-age or dangerous-occupations provisions. This is the rule in
all reported cases in the 13 States now excluding any illegally employed minors so far
as the question has come before thè courts. (See footnote 45, p. 17, in regard to the
Wisconsin law before it was amended to provide for additional compensation, in which
the courts did distinguish between these two types of illegal employment.) No decision
has been found in which a violation of the hours-of-labor provision alone was held
sufficient to deprive a minor of the benefits of the compensation act, although practice in
at least one State, Indiana, excludes a minor from the act if an hours-of-labor violation is
evident from the accident report. (See p. 147.) It has been held also that the violation
o f a State law requiring the guarding of machinery is not sufficient to exclude a minor
from the compensation act. No case, however, has been found in which the violation
o f a safety order issued by a State labor department has been held to exclude a minor
from the compensation act.
8 Ky., Laws of 1916, ch. 33, sec. 30, as amended by Laws of 1924, ch. 70.
18 The right to determine whether the accident occurred under such conditions as to
authorize an election to sue at law or to accept the benefits under the compensation act
rests with the guardian of the infant if he is injured, or his representative should he be
killed, and not upon the State workmen’s compensation board. Frye’ s Guardian v
Gamble Bros. (Inc.) (188 Ky. 283, 221 S. W. 870 (1920)) ; Blanton v. Kellioka Coal Co.
(192 Ky. 220, 232 S. W. 614 (1921)).
11 In Elkhorn Coal Corporation v. Diets (9 S. W. (2d) 1100 (1928)), the court held
that after accepting compensation a minor who has legal capacity for the purpose of the
act can not sue at law for damages even though he was illegally employed.
“ Frye’s Guardian v. Gamble Bros. (Inc.) (188 Ky. 283 (221 S. W. 870 (1920) ).


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

parent, guardian, or one having legal authority over him ” stating
that he is 16 or over, “ his parents, statutory guardian, or personal
representative of a minor who is killed can not elect to claim either
compensation * * * or to sue to recover damages as if this
act had not been passed, but he must rely on his claim, if any he has,
for compensation * * *
The terms o f this proviso are am­
biguous, and it is not clear whether the choice of remedies is denied
in case o f an injury to such a minor or only in case o f his death.
The Court o f Appeals o f Kentucky called attention to this ambiguity
in a decision rendered in 1928, but found it unnecessary to decide
the point in the case before it.13 A provision somewhat similar to
that o f Kentucky has recently been made part o f the Illinois com­
pensation act. Under an amendment passed in 1931 an illegally
employed minor, or his legal representative, is permitted to reject
the compensation act within six months after his injury or death
and sue the minor’s employer to obtain damages for such injury
or death. The law provides that no payment of compensation shall
be made to such a minor or his representative without the approval
of the commission administering the act or o f one o f its members
and that the payment o f compensation after such approval has been
given shall act as a bar to a subsequent rejection of the act and suit
for damages.14
Underlying the exclusion o f illegally employed minors from the
workmen’s compensation acts is doubtless a recognition o f the fact
that in suits at law, in theory at least, the employee is entitled to
recover for all the damage that he has sustained, whereas compensa­
tion laws, both in theory and in fact, undertake to indemnify the
employee only partially. A minor injured while employed in viola­
tion of a law designed for his protection, it is therefore argued,
should not be restricted to such partial indemnity but should be
permitted to sue at law for the entire damage that he has sustained;
and, moreover, an employer who has violated the public policy o f a
State in employing a minor contrary to law should not in cases in
which injury results be given the benefit o f a law that limits his
liability for the minor’s injuries. Furthermore, as the employment
o f a minor in violation of the child labor law constitutes negligence
on the part o f the employer and in view o f the refusal o f the courts,
as a general rule, to permit an employer to avoid the consequences o f
this illegal act by setting up the usual common-law defenses,16 it has
been maintained by some that an illegally employed minor whose
injury is due to the employer’s violation o f the law, is practically
assured o f obtaining damages in a suit at law and also of receiving
more by this means than he would under the compensation law.
Actually, however, few illegally employed minors bring suits, and
their employers, instead of being subjected to a greater liability than
employers who have complied with the State child labor laws, have
in many instances incurred no liability at all. (See p. 23.) Some
States, therefore, have amended their laws to include specifically
illegally employed minors, and a few, in depriving such minors of
ls Elkhorn Coal Corporation v. Diets (9 S. W. (2d) 1100 (1928)).
“ 111., Laws of 1931, p. 576.
is These defenses a re : That the injury was due to the fault of a fellow servant or to the
contributory negligence of the employee himself, or that the employee in accepting em­
ployment in the occupation in which he was injured had assumed the risks of this
employment.


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W O R K M E N 'S COMPENSATION LAW S— UNITED STATES

7

their common-law rights and the possibility o f higher damages by
including them under the compensation acts, have required addi­
tional compensation for them, thus indemnifying them in a sum more
nearly comparable to that which they might have obtained in a suit
at law. In some States a recognition o f the value o f the imposi­
tion o f additional compensation to be paid by employers as a measure
to obtain greater compliance with the provisions o f the child labor
law has influenced the passage of such legislation even in those
States in which the law previously covered minors illegally employed.
LEGAL BASIS FOR ELIGIBILITY

The exclusion or the inclusion o f illegally employed minors may
be due either to the express language of the compensation acts or to
judicial or administrative interpretation o f general language. In
22 States illegally employed minors are expressly included by the
wording o f the statute, and in 2 they are expressly excluded. In the
remaining 21 jurisdictions their exclusion or inclusion is based on
implication from the express wording o f the statute or on interpre­
tation o f general language, either by courts or by administrative
agencies.
Exclusion or inclusion by express language o f statute.

The workmen’s compensation laws o f Louisiana and West Vir­
ginia exclude certain illegally employed minors from the benefits
o f the act by express language. The act in West Virginia specifi­
cally provides that it shall not apply to “ persons prohibited by law
from being employed.” The Supreme Court o f West Virginia has
interpreted this phrase to refer to “ those cases where there is a
positive statute prohibiting the employment o f certain classes in
certain employments,” expressing the view that the legislature by
this proviso recognized the manifest justice o f requiring that an em­
ployer who violates a prohibitive statute by the employment o f a per­
son whom “ the law does not allow to be employed,” shall bear the
“ full burden which may be imposed because o f the injury o f such an
employee ” instead o f placing any of the burden on the industry as a
whole.16 In West Virginia, therefore, the courts have permitted in­
jured minors excluded from the compensation act because their em­
ployment was prohibited by law to sue their employers for damages
for their injuries.17 The Louisiana a ct18 provides that it shall not
apply to “ employees o f less than the minimum age prescribed by law
f.or the employment o f minors ” in the trades, businesses, or occupa­
tions covered by the compensation act. The Supreme Court of
“ Byrd v. Sabine Collieries Corporation (114 S. E. 679 (1922)). It was also held In
this case that the proviso of the compensation act excluding “ persons prohibited bv law
î roï ï ^ eing^ employed was not intended to apply to employment that, although expressly
forbidden by a parent, was not in violation of law. See also Adkins v. Hope Engineer­
ing & Supply Co. (94 S. E. 506 (19 1 7 )), in which the employment of a 15-year-old minor
was held not to be unlawful merely because such employment was without his parents’
knowledge or consent.
17 The following reported West Virginia cases indicate the types of prohibited employ­
ment in reference to which suits have been maintained to collect damages for injuries to
minors: Mangus v. Proctor-Eagle Coal Co. (105 S. E. 909 (1921)) (minor in a pro­
hibited occupation) ; Irvine v. Union Tanning Co. (125 S. E. 110 (1924)) (minor under
14) ; and Morrison v. Smith-Pocahontas Coal Co. (106 S. E. 448 (1921)) (minor between
14 and 16 employed in a mine while school was in session). In Jackson v. Monitor Coal
& Coke Co. (126 S. E. 492 (1925)), possession of an age certificate by an employer issued
by the proper authority was allowed as a proper defense to ah action for damages for
injuries received in such employment, the court holding that the possession o f the
certificate by the employer kept the employment from being unlawful.
u La., Laws of 1914, Act No. 20.


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8

T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

Louisiana in holding that the phrase does not refer “ to the ages
fixed by municipal ordinances as a requisite to obtaining permits
to engage in certain occupations ” said that it has reference only to
the minimum age prescribed by State laws such as the child labor
law,19 and an intermediate court in Louisiana has indicated that the
minors excluded by the compensation act are only those below the
minimum age of 14 fixed by the State child labor law.20
The inclusion of illegally employed minors under the acts, unlike
their exclusion, is by express language in 22 o f the 32 jurisdictions in
which they are covered by law, that is, in Alabama,21 Arizona, Cali­
fornia, Colorado, Georgia,22 Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan,
Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Caro­
lina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia,23 Wash­
ington,24 and Wisconsin. This list, of course, includes all the
States that provide additional compensation in the case of ille­
gally employed minors (see pp. 17-23), and those that impose a
fine upon the employers o f illegally employed minors or make the
employers of illegally employed minors subject to a suit at law in
addition to paying compensation (see p. 16).
Exclusion based on implication from express language.

In Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Utah, and Rhode Island ille­
gally employed minors have been regarded as indirectly excluded
1» Flick et al. v. Toye Bros. Auto & Taxicab Co. (124 So. 140 (1929)), reversing 120
So 721
à> Ross et ux. v. Cochran & Franklin Co. (Inc.) (122 So. 141 (1929)). Although in
this case it was not necessary to construe this phrase, as the minor in question was 16
years old (above the age regulated by the child labor law ), the Court of Appeals of
Louisiana for the Second Circuit said that the “ compensation law applies to minor em­
ployees unless they be under the minimum age provided by law for the employment of
minors in hazardous occupations, which age is 14 years.”
„ ,■ ,
» I n Ivey v. Railway Fuel Co. (118 So. 583 (1928)), the Supreme Court of Alabama
held that the specific declaration in the compensation act (sec. 7539) applying the act to
“ employees who are minors and who have been employed in accordance with or contrary
to laws regulating the employment of minors ” prevails over a provision in the act which
deals generally with words and phrases (sec. 7596) in which employee is defined as
“ including minors who are legally permitted to work under the laws of [this] State,” on
the ground that where there is a conflict in sections the provision dealing specifically with
a subject must prevail over one doing so generally. This decision was rendered before
the Alabama act was amended to provide extra compensation for illegally employed
22 The Georgia compensation act provides (Laws of 1920, p. 167, sec. 2b) : “ * * *
Minors are included even though working in violation of any child labor law or other
similar statute, provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed as repealing
or altering anv such law or statute.” The Court of Appeals of Georgia in Horn v.
Planters Products Co. (40 Ga. App. 787, 151 S. E. 552 (1930)) said “ * * * Whatever
might be the rule but for this plain and unequivocal provision of the act * * * a
minor, though employed and put to work in violation of the provisions of the child labor
law, must be taken to be an employee so far as necessary to give operation to the work­
men’s compensation law, for and against each of the parties to the employment.”
28 In 1924 (Laws o f 1924, p. 478) tha. Virginia act was amended to provide specifically
that the act applies to any minor injured while employed contrary to the laws of the
State. The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia in Humphries v. Boxley Bros. Co.
(146 Va. 91, 135 S. E. 890 (19 2 6 )), has held that prior to this amendment the act
applied to illegally employed minors, the amendment making “ no change in the existing
law, but was merely declaratory thereof. The legislature we must assume was familiar
with the difference in the interpretation put by different courts on other statutes of a
similar nature, and intended to indicate how the Virginia act should be interpreted. At
all events, the legislature intended to make it plain that it was immaterial whether the
employment of the infant was lawful or unlawful. In either event the infant was entitled
to the benefits o f the act.”
» The Washington workmen’s compensation act (Remington’ s Comp. Stat. 1922, sec.
7683) expressly provides that if a workman be at the time of the injury less than the
“ maximum a g e p r e s c r ib e d for the employment the employer may be required to pay
into the State accident fund a sum equal to 50 per cent of the present value of the amount
to he paid to the workman. The Supreme Court of Washington in Rasi v. Howard Manu­
facturing Co. (109 Wash. 524, 187 Pac. 327 (1920)), held that this section clearly
recognizes that a minor under the age prescribed for employment is a workman within
the meaning o f the act and that a minor employed either lawfully or unlawfully is
entitled to all its privileges.


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V T O R K M E N ’ s C O M PEN SATIO N L A W S — U N IT E D STATES

9

by reason o f the fact that the compensation acts extend by express
language only to minors who are • legally permitted to work ” or
“ lawfully in the service o f another,” or “ working at an age legally
permitted.”
The words “ legally permitted to work ” in the Minnesota law
were held by the State supreme court in a case decided in 1917 to
have been intended by the legislature to exclude from the act minors
who were employed in violation o f the child labor law, the court
saying:
This is made too clear for controversy when viewed in the light of the legal
rights of minors in this State, and of our statutes affecting such rights, known
as “ child labor laws.”
In the absence of legislation to the contrary, all
minors may lawfully engage in such employments or work as their age and
capacity fit them, and in this respect are “ legally permitted ” to work, though
their contracts, except as to necessities, are voidable at their election. In
fact we have no statute expressly permitting the employment of minors, and
the use of the words “ legally permitted to work ” was not intended as a
reference to permissive legislation. But we have statutes, and have had for
many years, known as the child labor laws, by which the employment of minors
of certain age is expressly prohibited in specified classes of employment deemed
detrimental to their moral welfare and dangerous to their life or limb. And
in making use of the language quoted it is apparent that the legislature in­
tended to preserve the status of minors in respect to their employment in dan­
gerous occupations, and to remove them from the compensation act when
employed in violation of law. No other construction of the statute can be
adopted that would not be in discord with our whole legislative policy upon
the subject.25

In this 1917 case the court also had before it the question of
whether the employment o f a minor of 14 loading waste material
on cars in a quarry was in violation o f the child labor law and the
minor therefore excluded from the compensation act. The Min­
nesota child labor law does not specifically prohibit the work in
which the minor was engaged, but the court held that such employ­
ment was dangerous to a minor under 16 and accordingly illegal
under the provision of the child labor law (Minnesota, Gen. Stat.
1913, sec. 3870) that forbids the employment of minors under this
age in specified occupations or “ in * * * any other employ­
ment dangerous to their lives or limbs, or their health or morals.”
Although under this decision the range o f employments that may
be classed as dangerous and therefore prohibited is indefinite, the
State industrial commission has held that not every employment in
which an accident occurs is dangerous and therefore prohibited but
that before an occupation not specifically enumerated as a forbidden
employment in the law can be classed as dangerous the conditions
surrounding such employment must be considered.26
Likewise, the Indiana courts have held that an illegally employed
minor is not an “ employee ” within the meaning o f the act, which
defines the term to “ include every person, including a minor, law* Westerlund v. Kettle River Co. (137 Minn. 24, 162 N. W. 680 (1917)). To the same
effect is the recent case of Weber v. J. E. Barr Packing Corporation et al. (234 N. W.
682 (1931)). In the earlier case of Pettee v. Noyes et al. (133 Minn. 109. 157 N. W.
995 (19 1 6 )), the court, though the question was not directly before it, said that the
provision in the compensation act making the statute applicable to minors “ who are
legally permitted to work under the laws of this State,” was intended to exclude from
the statute minors whose employment is prohibited by law.
24 Carr v. Berg and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co., decided May 21, 1925
(Minnesota Workmen’s Compensation Decisions, vol. 3, p. 108).


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

fully in the service o f another * *
27 As interpreted by the
courts and the industrial board, which administers the workmen’s
compensation law, any violation o f the child-labor statute is
sufficient to place a minor outside the terms of the compensation
law. (F or further information on the exclusion o f minors under
the Indiana law, see pp. 147, 149.)
The Nebraska and Utah acts, like that o f Minnesota, define
“ employee ” to include minors “ legally permitted to work ” and
the Rhode Island act covers minors “ working at an age legally
permitted,” but no decisions have been handed down by the supreme
courts o f these States definitely holding that illegally employed
minors are excluded from the benefits of the law. The Utah indus­
trial commission, which administers the act, however, has denied
compensation to such minors on the ground that it has no jurisdic­
tion over them, and in a recent case the third judicial district court
o f Salt Lake County said that the Utah compensation act “ by impli­
cation excludes minors who are not legally permitted to work for
hire.” 28 In Nebraska, the State supreme court, although not pass­
ing directly on the question as to whether or not the act excludes
an illegally employed minor, has held that the workmen’s compen­
sation act did not compel a 15-year-old minor, injured while operat­
ing a laundry mangle and whose employer had failed to obtain the
employment certificate required by the child labor law, to rely on the
compensation a c t ;29 that is, he might sue his employer at law.
In Rhode Island, the commissioner o f labor, under a decision of
the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 1919,30 in which it was said that
a. minor under 14 employed in violation o f the minimum-age pro­
vision or one between 14 and 16 employed without an employment
certificate was not working “ at an age legally permitted under the
laws o f the State,” has ruled that the act does not apply to such
minors. There have been no decisions by the Rhode Island courts
as to whether minors working in violation o f the hours-of-labor or
night-work provisions o f the law, or working at an occupation pro­
hibited under the hazardous-occupations provisions of the child labor
law, are excluded from the benefits o f the act.
M f7 f a r® Stoner (128 N. E. 938 (1 9 2 0 )); Indiana Manufacturers’ Reciprocal Associa­
te?? 5 1
i00!??3! ( 13?, **•,?.: 171 (1921)j ; in re Morton, 137 N. E. 62 (1922) ; Dris?t0rw S 0' ( l 33 N• E- 12 (1921)) ; Raggi v. H. G. Christman Co. (151
I p n d p f i n iQiQ
?*SKS+Cited ,arose under Indiana act of 1915 (chapter 106, as
amended in 1919 (ch. 5 7 )), but the language construed is identical with that found in
“
noew workmens compensation law passed in 1929 (ch. 172) which is quoted in the
iw n n
w !« * n
(1AIbani I Bo1 and Basket Co. v. Davidson (125 N. E. 904
iq iq
^ 0X ^ °; ^'.Hazzard (146 N. E. 420 (1925)), arising prior to the
, 1 9 amendment which expressly limited the application of the act to minors “ lawfully ”
lawful mnpkf meiTt*0^ 61"’ *n wll*cl1 *t was held that the act nevertheless applied only to
n^uB?neo„u?t al.. No. 45612, Third Judicial District Court of the State of
Sw iL*11
®alt Lake County, Dec. 11, 1930. This case involved the right of the
father of an 11-year-old minor, who was killed while employed as a water boy in the
the chll? ’s employer for damages for the minor’s death on
«
t^e chiM w as employed without an employment certificate he was not
„
11Pei
ecl •t° y orA an4 was excluded from the compensation act. The court,
a« e r calling attention to the fact that the child labor law was “ quite ambiguous,” held
j ia c° atamed no provision prohibiting or regulating the employment of a child
under 14 in this occupation, the employment of the minor was not illegal and the father’s
ct^lni against the employer would have to be satisfied under the compensation act
“ Benner v. Evans Laundry Co. (222 N. W. 630 (19 2 9 )). In Navracel v. Cudahy
as
193 N. W. 768 (19 2 3 )), it was held that a minor injured
as a result of the employer s violation of the act requiring proper safeguards around
* ^ inei7 T*as su^ ef t to f,he compensation act and could not sue at law.
Taglinette v. Sydney Worsted Co. (105 Atl. 641 (1919)).


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w o r k m e n ’s

COMPENSATION LAW S— UNITED STATES

11

Exclusion or inclusion by interpretation.

In 15 States and the District of Columbia illegally employed
minors are not specifically mentioned in the workmen’s compen­
sation law and are, therefore, neither expressly included nor ex­
cluded, nor has their status been indirectly implied from language
in the workmen’s compensation law relating expressly to legally em­
ployed minors. In these jurisdictions it has been necessary, there­
fore, for the courts or the State administrative agencies to determine
whether or not illegally employed minors are included among the
“ employees ” covered by the act. Although all these acts define
employee to include “ every person in the service o f another, under
any contract o f hire, express or implied * * * ” or “ a person who
has entered into the employment of, or works under contract o f serv­
ice, express or implied * *
or in some similar manner (spe­
cifically including minors in some instances although not referring
specifically to legality of employment), the laws have been con­
strued in some States to apply to illegally employed minors and in
others not to apply to them.
In 6 States (Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee,
and Vermont) they have been construed or interpreted, either by
court decision or by administrative action, as not to apply to the
illegally employed minor or at least as not preventing such a minor
from proceeding against his employer in an action at law. On the
other hand, in 9 States (Connecticut, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Massa­
chusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, and W yoming) and
in the District o f Columbia the acts, though likewise not explicit on
this point, have been construed or interpreted to include illegally
employed minors.
In Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vermont, all the
States (except South Dakota) in which the illegally employed are
excluded but not expressly nor by implication from express lan­
guage, the compensation acts have been construed by the courts to
embrace only persons in lawful employment. These courts have rea­
soned that the legislature could not have intended to include con­
tracts the making o f which is prohibited in the child labor law ; that
for an employee to be included within the compensation act there
must be a valid contractual relationship between the employer and
employee, and as no valid contract could be made by or for a minor
to engage in employment contrary to law, he is not an “ employee ”
under the compensation act; and also that an employer by such void
contract can not limit his liability to such a minor to that fixed in the
act. In all these States the courts have given effect to this view by
permitting suits at la w 81 to be maintained for damages for injuries
to illegally employed minors.
According to the Industrial Commission of South Dakota, which
administers the workmen’s compensation law, minors employed in
81 Delaware: Widdoes v. Laub (129 Atl. 344 (19 2 5 )). (Employment of a minor
between i4 and 16 without employment certificate. The court stated that such a minor
between 14 and 16 was in the same position as a minor under 14— both groups were
unable to “ assent to be bound” by the compensation act.)
__
Iow a: Sechlich v. Harris-Emery Co. (184 Iowa 1025, 169 N. W. 325 (19 1 8 )). (Em­
ployment o f a minor under 14 in violation of a minimum-age provision of the child labor
act.
125914— 32------- 2


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12

the

il l e g a l l y

em ployed

m in o r

violation o f any provision o f the child labor law are excluded from
the compensation act.
.
.
The following excerpts from some o f the decisions just cited give
the reasons advanced by the courts for excluding illegally employed
minors. The Supreme Court o f Oklahoma, in Rock Island Mining
Co. v. Gilliam (213 Pac. 833 (1923) ), said :
It is our opinion that in enacting the workmen’s compensation law the
legislature referred to legal employment, and that the provisions of the act
have no reference to minors who are employed in violation of the statute.
To construe the law so as to permit an employer who has employed children
illegally, in express violation of the statute, to insist that they are deprived
of their common-law rights, and must look to the compensation act for relief,
would nullify the provisions of the statute prohibiting child labor and would
be in disregard to (sic) the public policy of the State. The workmen’s com­
pensation law was not intended to prescribe rights and remedies for persons
engaged in unlawful or criminal occupation. It in no manner destroys the pur­
pose of the workmen’s compensation law to hold that its provisions were not
intended to apply to children who are unlawfully set at work in hazardous
employments and that where they are injured in such employments they have
a common-law action against the employer.

In Sechlich v. Harris-Emery Co. (184 Iowa 1025, 169 N. W . 325
(1918)) the Supreme Court o f Iowa said:
* * * Under the compensation statute the right of the employee to exact
compensation from his employer for personal injury, according to its terms,
and the right of the employer to exemption from all other liability than is
there provided, are in their last analysis a matter of contract. Neither party
is bound by the terms of the contract as to compensation until he expressly or
impliedly accepts its terms. The employment of a child under the prescribed
minimum age being forbidden, the child can not lawfully consent to take em­
ployment under the statute, nor can the employer by such void contract limit
his liability for injury to such child to the compensation fixed by the act, to
which it was incapable of giving consent. * * * Whether if a child ma s
a claim under the compensation act, the employer could successfully plead the
child’s nonage in defense, we do not attempt to decide.

The following excerpt is from the decision o f the Vermont
Supreme Court in W lock v. Fort Dummer Mills (129 Atl. 311
(1 9 2 5 )):
It is to minors who are employed without violating any of the piovisions
of the last named law [that is, the child labor law ] that reference is made in
sections 5758 and 5765 of the workmen’s compensation act, where the employ­
ment of minors is recognized, and by the latter of which sections a presumption
is created that, when employed, their rights are to be governed by the pro­
visions of that act, unless notice of a contrary intention is given by or to the
parent or guardian of the minor. * * *
Oklahoma: Rock Island Coal Mining Co. v. Gilliam (213 Pac. 833 (1923)). (Employ­
ment of a minor under 16 in a hazardous occupation (underground in a mine) .)
Tennessee: Manning v. American Clothing Co. (147 Tenn. 274, 247 S. W. 103 (19 2 2 )).
iEmDlovnrent of a minor under 14 in violation of the mmimun^age provision of the
child^labor la v .) Knoxville News Co. v. Spitzer (152 Tenn. 614, 279 §. W. 1043 (1926)).
(Employment of a minor between 14 and 16 without a° ® “ P*°yment certificate.) West­
ern Union Telegraph Co. v. Mrs. Estelle Ausbrooks (148 Tenn. 615, 257 S. W. 858
(1923))
(Employment of a minor of 15 without an employment certificate ana at
prohibited hours.) In this last case, however, the supreme court, although the ques­
tion was not directly presented for decision, said that it doubted that an il^gally ©mployed minor should he deprived of the benefits of the compensation act if he’
them, as the child labor law penalizes the employer and not the child and the employer
should not be permitted to use his wrongdoing as a defense against an employee s claim
^V erm ont ^ ^ o c k ^ F o r ^ D u m m e r Mills (129 Atl. 311 (1925)).
without an employment certificate.)


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(Employment of a minor

W O R K M E N - S C O M PEN SATIO N L A W S ---- U N IT E D STATES

13

The Supreme Court o f Delaware in the case o f Widdoes v. Laub
<129 Atl. 344 (1925)) said:
In the final analysis every claim for compensation by an injured employee
against his employer under the terms of a workmen’s compensation act which,
like our own, depends for its binding effect upon both the employers and em­
ployees election to be so bound must be founded upon the basic principle that
between the employer and employee some contractual relationship existed as
to the very nature of the claim, v iz .: Compensation for injuries. Upon this
relationship rests the claim o f the employee under the act and upon this
relationship is likewise based the exemption of the employer from liability
other than that provided by the act. The consent of the parties to the contract
is either express or implied by the terms o f the act upon failure to give the
prescribed notice not to be bound by the act at all.
Now, it seems to us that it must be apparent that a child under 14 years of
age can not lawfully assent to be bound by the provisions of the workmen’s
compensation law nor can anyone do this for him, for the employment of such
child is expressly unlawful. I f it be also true, as we believe it is, that there
is no distinction in this respect between a minor under 14 and one between 14
and 16 for whom no employment certificate had been obtained as in the matter
here pending, it must necessarily follow that in this case there was no lawful
assent to be bound by the terms of the compensation act. There was no lawful
contract covering compensation for injuries.
Adverting again then to what we conceive to be the fundamental rule that
compensation laws such as our own are based upon the idea of a lawful contract
for compensation in case of injury, we hold that such compensation law does
not govern such a case as the present. To hold otherwise would in a large
degree nullify the child labor law, and would have no tendency to discourage
the practice which the statute has made illegal, for the employer’s liability
would be no greater in case of an illegal than of a legal employment. The
concluding paragraph of the child labor law is th a t: “ It shall be so interpreted
and construed as to effectuate its general purposes and objects.”
W ith this rule of construction in mind and perceiving that the child labor law
and workmen’s compensation law were both approved upon the same day,
April 2, 1917, it seems incredible that one act should be interpreted as the
solemn commandment that the children of designated ages should not be
employed and the other should be construed as providing compensation to the
prohibited class.

O f the 10 jurisdictions that include illegally employed minors
under the workmen’s compensation law in the absence o f express
wording in the law, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ohio have done
so by judicial interpretation. The Supreme Judicial Court o f Mas­
sachusetts in 1929 held that the phrase in the compensation act
extending the act to “ every person in the service of another ” includes
illegally employed minors, saying:
A s respects the rights o f minors under the act we do not perceive any
reason to differentiate between those who are lawfully employed and those
employed as a consequence o f the employer’s illegal conduct. In both instances
the minors are free from any statutory inhibition; their contracts as to
themselves are free from any taint of illegality; in each case they are entitled
to similar benefits and to an equivalent amount of protection. The parties are
possessed of capacity to establish the relation of master and servant notwith­
standing the contrary obligation which the statute imposed upon the employer.
The contract is not of that type which is wholly void and from which no
enforceable rights a rise.32

The present Ohio act has likewise been interpreted by the courts as
including the illegally employed. This act formerly applied specifi­
cally to minors “ who are legally permitted to work for hire under
the laws of the State,” 33 and the Supreme Court of Ohio held in
^Pierce’s case (166 N. E. 636 (1929)).


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33 Ohio, Laws of 1913, p. 72, sec. 14.

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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

1918 “ that it was intended by this clause to exclude from the opera­
tion o f the provisions of the act minors whose employment is
illegal.” 34 In 1919,35 however, the legislature amended the act,
eliminating the qualifying words “ who are legally permitted to
work for hire under the laws o f the State.” In a suit for damages
arising after this amendment, in which a minor o f 14 sued his
employer alleging that he had been injured while working upon
dangerous machinery and without an employment certificate in vio­
lation o f the child labor law, the supreme court held that, under the
1919 amendment (which in the opinion of the court had been passed
as a result of the 1918 decision above referred to), the minor was
included under the compensation act, and said:
A s it now stands the workmen’s compensation act is plain and explicit.
Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1465-61, general code, provide that every
person in the service of another employing five or more workmen under “ any
contract of hire * * * including * * * minors ” shall be construed to
be an employee “ as used in this act.” Though the employment be illegal, that
section makes “ any contract of hire ” efficacious to sustain the relation of
employee and employer under the act. Penal statutes prohibiting employment
of minors are neither repealed nor made ineffective by the workmen’s compen­
sation a ct; they can still be enforced, but such statutes do not preclude the
legislature from exercising the powers, conferred on it by section 35, Article I I ,
of the constitution, of defining who shall be workmen or employees.88

The Connecticut compensation act, in this particular much like
that o f Massachusetts, defines an “ employee ” as “ any person who
has entered into or works under any contract o f service or apprentice­
ship with an employer * * *. ” The supreme court of errors, in
a decision rendered in 1930 in which it examined and discussed the
varying opinions of the courts of the different States relating to this
subject, held that a minor employed in violation o f the child-labor*
statute is included in this definition of employee and is subject to
the compensation act. This decision is o f special interest in view o f
the fact that the court reviews and answers the arguments usually
advanced in excluding illegally employed minors from the compensa­
tion act. It reads in part as follows:
The argument of those decisions which hold that under provisions similar to
ours minors employed in violation of a statute are not entitled to compensation
largely comes to this, that the legislature must be assumed to have intended,
when it speaks of a contract of service, to include only legal contracts, and there­
fore it can not have intended to include one made in violation of a statute.
The difficulty with this argument, as it seems to us, is that as regards the child
the legislature very evidently did not regard him as in any sense a real
wrongdoer if he entered into such a contract without there being a compliance
with the statutes. It might be that the employer could get no advantage from
such a contract in a court of law because he would not be permitted to set up
the fact that he had acted in contravention of its mandate, but that would not
necessarily prevent the child from claiming any benefit which might arise out
of its terms. (3 Williston, Contracts, secs. 1630, 1631.) * * *
The other principal argument advanced in these opinions which deny the
right of compensation to a minor employed in contravention of a statute is that
to admit him within the compensation law would be to decrease the incentive
upon the employer to comply with the [child labor] statute, because he would, in
case of injury, be holden to no heavier a liability for an illegal, than for a legal,
employment. W e can not admit the force of this argument. Such sanction
as statutes regulating the employment of children derive from civil liability
34 Acklin Stamping Co. v. Kutz (120 N. E. 229 (19 1 8 )).
« Ohio, Laws of 1919, pp. 313, 317.
86 Mueller v. Eyman (112 Ohio State 337, 147 N. E. 342 (1925)).


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consequent upon their breach is incidental, and, where they make no mention
o f other than monetary penalties,87 it can not be deemed to have been greatly
regarded when the statute was enacted. Before giving to this argument con­
trolling weight, the balance would have to be struck between the possibility of
benefit from the employment of fewer minors in contravention o f the statute
and the advantages which would come from extending to those so employed the
obvious and recognized benefits of the compensation law. In determining the
legislative intent, we can not think that the former consideration had weight,
but we believe that the extension to the child of the benefits of the act better
accords with the broad humanitarian purpose o f the law, to give certain and
speedy relief to those suffering injury in industry and to those dependent upon
them.38

In addition to the States in which illegally employed minors have
been held to be under the acts by judicial interpretation, there are
six States (Idaho, Kansas., Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and
Wyoming) and the District of Columbia, which, although the com­
pensation acts do not specifically mention illegally employed minors
and the courts have not passed on their application to such minors,
are regarded by State officials as including illegally employed minors
within the terms of the acts. In three o f the six (Idaho, Kansas, and
Maine) and in the District o f Columbia, the workmen’s compensa­
tion acts are administered by a central agency specifically charged
with their supervision, and the administrative officials have stated
that the acts extend to the minor who is illegally employed. In the
other three (New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wyoming) no one
central State agency is specifically charged with the entire adminis­
tration o f the workmen’s compensation law, all claims for com­
pensation in New Hampshire and New Mexico being settled directly
by the employer (or his carrier) and the injured employee and in
cases o f disputes by courts having jurisdiction ; and in Wyoming by
the judge o f the district court in the county wherein the accident
occurred. In these three, however, State officials concerned in some
way with the administration of the act, or familiar with its opera­
tion, state that illegally employed minors are regarded as being
covered by the acts and that they are being compensated according to
their terms.89
COMPENSATION LAWS COVERING ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINORS
AND ALSO PENALIZING THEIR EMPLOYERS

In addition to providing for the payment o f compensation to
illegally employed minors in the same amount as to legally employed
minors, the compensation acts o f 14 States subject the employers of
such minors to additional payments or additional liabilities. Three
subject the employers to fines, two to suits at law by the injured
minor or his parents, and nine to larger compensation than in the
case o f injuries to the legally employed. Such provisions indicate
a growing tendency in workmen’s compensation legislation to place
employers who violate the State child labor laws in a less favorable
position under the workmen’s compensation law than those who
comply therewith.
37 The Connecticut child labor law does not make a violation of its provisions a
misdemeanor but provides only monetary penalties for specific classes of violations.
38 Kenez v. Novelty Compact Leather Co. et al. (149 Atl. 679 (1930)).
89 In New Mexico no minor under 14 is subject to the act (see footnote 6, p. 4 ). The
illegally employed minors covered by the act, therefore, are those 14 or over.


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R
LAWS SUBJECTING EMPLOYERS TO FINES

Employers in Nevada, Oregon, and Washington are liable to the
State for specific penalties if the injured minor employee is less than
the age prescribed by law for employment in the occupation in which
he is engaged when injured. The penalty provided in Nevada is
from $300 to $2,000, and the law provides also that the State may
collect the penalty in a civil action, thereby permitting the State, in
case o f an adverse decision, to appeal its suit, whereas if the penalty
were enforced through criminal procedure no appeal by the State
would be possible. In Oregon the employer, if he did not employ the
minor in good faith,40 may be required to pay into the State accident
fund 25 per cent o f the amount o f compensation up to a maximum
o f $500, and in Washington, 50 per cent o f the compensation.
LAWS SUBJECTING EMPLOYERS TO SUIT AT LAW

North Dakota and Virginia not only require the employer o f an
illegally employed minor to pay compensation as in the case o f a
legally employed minor, but expressly provide that in addition he
may be sued at law under certain conditions, although suits at law
are not permitted as a general rule under the workmen’s compensation
acts if both the employer and the employee are subject to the com­
pensation act and have complied with its provisions. In North Da­
kota the employer may be sued at law in the case of either in­
jury or death of a minor employed in violation of law, and in
Virginia the act expressly reserves to the parents of a minor the
right to sue the employer for loss o f the child’s services if he has
knowingly and willfully employed the minor in violation of law.
In this connection it is important to note that when New Jersey
adopted, in 1924,41 an extra-compensation amendment it expressly
provided that u nothing in this act contained shall deprive an infant
under the age o f 16 of the right or rights now existing to recover
damages in a common-law or other appropriate action or proceeding
for injuries received by reason of the negligence of his or her master.”
Before the passage of this amendment illegally employed minors ex­
cluded from the compensation act had the right to resort to suits at
law in order to obtain damages for personal injuries received during
such illegal employment,42 and the New Jersey courts have held that
this right still exists as to minors under 16.48
40 Possession of a properly issued employment certificate is made conclusive evidence of
good faith, otherwise “ good faith ” is to be determined conclusively by the industrial
accident commission.
41N. J., Laws of Ì924, ch. 159.
42 Hetzel v. Wasson Piston Ring Co. (89 N. J. Law 201, 98 Atl. 306 (1916)) ; Schwartz
v. Argo Mills Co. (92 N. J. Law 433, 105 Atl. 199 (1918)) ; Volpe v. Hamnrersley Mfg.
Co. (96 N. J. Law 489, 115 Atl. 665 (1921)) ; Boyle v. Van Splinter et al. (101 N. J.
Law 89, 127 Atl. 257 (1925)).
43 In Mautbe v. B. & G. Service Station (139 Atl. 245, decided in 1927), the employer
contended that an administrator who was suing him for damages for the death of a
minor who was killed while employed in a gasoline supply station should have proceeded
under the compensation act. The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that as the minor
was “ of the age of 15% years and therefore under the age of permissive employment,
under the statute, in the service for which he was engaged,” the right of the administrator
to sue at law was not affected by the compensation aet, as the 1924 amendment pro­
viding extra compensation expressly provides that nothing in the act “ shall deprive an
infant under the age of 16 of the right or rights now existing to recover damages in a
common law * * * action or proceeding for injuries received by reason o f the
negligence of his or her master.” Later, in 1929, the Court of Errors and Appeals of
New Jersey also reached the same conclusion in Terlingo v. Belz-Parr (Inc.) (147 Atl.
480 (1929)), which involved a suit by the administrator of the estate of a boy under


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EXTRA COMPENSATION LAWS

The nine States that provide for the payment in certain cases of
injuries to illegally employed minors o f an amount in addition to the
compensation paid in case o f an injury to a minor employed legally
are Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Formerly the workmen’s
compensation law o f Indiana provided for the payment o f additional
compensation to illegally employed minors, but it does not do so
now. (See p. 144.) In addition, Ohio at the present time has a pro­
vision in its State constitution that might, it would appear, permit
o f the interpretation that extra compensation should be paid to such
minors. The State industrial commission holds, however, that this
provision does not apply to violations o f the child labor law.44
History of extra-compensation legislation.

Legislation providing for the payment of extra compensation in
the case of minors injured while illegally employed originated in
Wisconsin. Prior to 1917 the Wisconsin compensation act included
among the employees subject to its provisions “ minors who are
legally permitted to work under the laws o f the State who * * *
shall be considered the same and shall have the same power of con­
tracting as adult employees.” This was construed by the courts as
including only minors who at the time o f contracting were legally
authorized to enter the employer’s service, and minors not “legally
permitted to work ” under the child labor laws were held to be out­
side the compensation law.45 However, such minors as were excluded
from the act were in a very favorable position when bringing suits at
law because, as under many child labor laws, a person employing a
16 killed while working in a stoneyard without an age and schooling certificate. The
court sa id :
“ By express legislative language the infant is not deprived of any rights which
existed, either at common law or by virtue of any other appropriate action or proceed­
ing. These words of legislative purpose can not be construed so as to deprive the repre­
sentative of the deceased infant of existing rights.
“ The legislative purpose in making this amendment is perfectly clear. The minor is
given certain additional rights, and is deprived of none that exists. True, the dependents
are given certain new rights, hut no purpose is expressed to deprive them of those that
existed. The statute is remedial, and in the absence of words an intention to curtail
existing rights is not to he presumed.”
44
Sec. 35, art. 2, provides that if the State industrial commission finds that an injury,
disease, or death has resulted from the employer’s failure to comply with any specific
requirement for the protection of the lives, health, or safety of employees enacted by the
general assembly or in the form of an order adopted by the commission, the compensation
payable may be increased by not less than 15 per cent nor more than 50 per cent. The
decision of the commission in such a case is made final. The commission on June 30,
1927, in the case of George Hardy v. Cleveland Hardware Co., claim 1047621, granted
a 50 per cent extra award under this clause to a minor injured while illegally employed,
but at a rehearing of this case on Feb. 20, 1928, the commission reversed itself and
disallowed the additional award on the ground that this provision does not apply to
child-labor violations because “ the laws governing the employment of minors in this
State are not regarded as specific requirements for the reason that it was not so con­
templated at the time of their enactment and in fact do not constitute specific require­
ments.”
«S te tz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co. (163 Wis. 151. 156 N. W. 971 (19 1 6 )). In this
case the Supreme Court of Wisconsin held that the minor employee not having obtained
a written permit authorizing his employment as required by law could not be legally
employed and therefore was not subject to the act, the court saying “ the statute includes
only such minors who at the time of contracting are legally authorized to enter the em­
ployer’s service.” In Foth v. Macomber & Whyte Rope Co. (161 Wis. 549, 154 N. W. 369
(1915)), it was held that the phrase “ minors who are legally permitted to work under the
laws of the State,” should not be given a restrictive construction limiting it to minors per­
mitted to be employed at the precise work in which injured, but should be construed to in­
clude a minor permitted under the laws of the State to do any kind of w ork ; therefore, a
minor having a work permit was legally authorized to work in the occupation for which he
contracted to work and was an employee within the meaning of the compensation act and
entitled to compensation, although at the time of the injury he was working at a pro­
hibited occupation. See also Lutz v. Wilmanns Bros. Co. (166 Wis. 210, 164 N. W. 1002


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

minor in violation o f the laws is guilty o f a criminal offense (a mis­
demeanor), and under the decisions o f the Wisconsin courts such an
employer is deprived of the usual common-law defenses and can not
set up any excuse in avoidance o f the consequences of his criminal
act.46 P roof o f the fact that the minor’s injury occurred in employ­
ment in violation of law is sufficient to establish the employer’s
liability. As a result of these decisions, a suit at law for damages for
injuries to such minors becomes practically a mere assessment o f
damages. The employers were alarmed at the possibility o f large
awards in such suits and the plan for extra compensation was pro­
posed by a representative o f one o f the leading employer’s associa­
tions in the hope o f making definite the amounts that the employers
are required to pay.47 As a result, a provision was incorporated into
the Wisconsin law in 1917 that provided for triple compensation if
the minor was working without a permit or at a prohibited
occupation.48 (See p. 58.)
Extra-compensation legislation has since been adopted in eight
additional States at the instance of various agencies, chiefly those
interested in obtaining additional safeguards for the protection
o f children under the child labor laws. The first State to follow
Wisconsin was Indiana,49 which passed an act providing double
compensation in case of certain illegally employed minors ; this act,
however, has been inoperative since 1926 (see p. 144). In the same
year New York,50 on the recommendation o f the child-welfare com­
mission, a body appointed by the legislature51 to “ examine laws
relating to child welfare, and propose remedial legislation * * * ”
enacted an act providing double compensation. New Jersey 52 fo l­
lowed with an extra-compensation measure in 1924; Missouri,53 in
1925 (effective in 1927) ; three States (Maryland,54 Illin ois55 and
M ichigan56), in 1927; and two more (Alabam a57 and Pennsyl­
vania 58) in 1981.
Constitutionality of extra-compensation legislation.

The Supreme Court o f Wisconsin in 1920 held the extra-compensa­
tion provision o f the State law constitutional. The court said that
extra compensation is not (as was contended by the employer) a
penalty imposed in the enforcement o f a criminal statute, namely,
the child labor law, but is a condition that the legislature has the
power to lay down as a prerequisite to permitting illegally em­
ployed minors, who had previously been excluded from the work­
men’s compensation act, to be compensated under the act. The court
44 Green v. Appleton Woolen Mills (162 Wis. 145, 155 N. W. 958 (1916)) ; Pinoza v.
Northern Chair Co. (152 Wis. 473, 140 N. W. 84 (1913)) ; Stetz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe
Co. (163 Wis. 151, 156 N. W. 971 (1916)). (See also pp. 23, 25 for decisions cited on
this point arising in States that at the present time exclude illegally employed minors
from the workmen’s compensation law.)
47 Witte, E. E .: Treble Compensation for Injured Children. American Labor Legisla­
tion, June, 1923, p. 123.
48 Wisconsin, Laws of 1917, ch. 624 (amended by Laws of 1919, ch. 680; Laws of 1925,
ch. 384; Laws of 1927, ch. 517; and Laws of 1929, ch. 453).
48 Ind., Laws of 1923, ch. 76.
60 N. Y., Laws of 1923, ch. 572.
81 N. Y., Laws of 1920, ch. 699.
62 N. J., Laws of 1924, ch .159.
63 Mo., Laws of 1925, p. 375.
54 Md., Laws o f 1927, ch. 536.
55 111., Laws of 1927, p. 497 (amended by Laws of 1931, p. 576).
88 Mich., Laws of 1927, Act No. 162 (amended by Laws of 1929, Act No. 113).
07 Ala., Laws o f 1931, Act No. 357.
88 Pa., Laws of 1931, P. L. 36.


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pointed out also that under an earlier decision 69 employers in W is­
consin who have elected to operate under the compensation law are
bound by all the provisions thereof and have waived all commonlaw remedies.60
The Michigan Supreme Court has held that an employer who has
chosen to operate under the workmen’s compensation law of that
State thereby accepts the act and all amendments thereto and may
not question the constitutionality of it or any amendment thereof.
The court also indicated that the employer’s liability to pay extra
compensation is contractual in that by his contract of employment
he has agreed to be governed by the provisions of the extra-compen­
sation amendment.81 The parents of a minor killed while illegally
employed were likewise denied the right to question the constitu­
tionality o f the provision, the court saying that as the legislature had
given illegally employed minors the right to contract “ the minor
employed is under the same estoppel as the employer to deny consti­
tutionality.” 62
No cases involving the constitutionality o f such legislation in the
seven other States in which extra compensation laws are now opera­
tive have been reported.® (For discussion of the constitutionality of
such legislation in Indiana, see p. 144.) Awards o f double compensa­
tion to minors illegally employed made by the industrial board of
New York have been affirmed by the State courts without opinion.66
Minors covered by extra-compensation provisions.

The additional compensation provisions differ in scope in the vari­
ous States. The minors covered by the provisions in each State are
as follows :
Alabama: Any minor who at the time of injury is “ employed in
violation or contrary to the law regulating the employment
[of minors], or any part thereof.”
Illinois: Any minor who is under 16 years of age at the time of the
accident and who is “ illegally employed.”
Maryland: Any minor employed “ illegally under the laws of this
State, with the knowledge of the employer.”
Michigan: Any minor under 18 years of age “ whose employment
at the time of the injury shall be shown to be illegal.”
M issouri: Any minor whom the “ employer knowingly employed”
in violation of the child labor law.
New J ersey: (1 ) Any minor who at the time of the injury is under
14 “ employed in violation of the labor law.”
(2 )
Any minor who at the time of the accident is between
14 and 16 “ employed, permitted, or suffered to work without
an age and schooling certificate, or an age and working certifi­
cate or at an occupation prohibited at that age by the labor
law.”
N ew Y ork: Any minor under 18 “ employed, permitted, or suffered
to work in violation of any provision of the labor law.”
68 Anderson v. Miller Scrap Iron Co. (169 Wis. 106, 170 N. W. 275, 171 N. W. 935
(1«oBrenner v. Heruben et al. (170 Wis. 565, 176 N. W. 228 (1920)). This case was
reaffirmed in the later cases of Mueller & Son Co. v. Gothard et al. (173 Wis. 135) and
Faust Lumber Co. et al. v. Gaudette et al. (173 Wis. 136), both reported at 179 N. W.
576 (1920). For more detailed discussion of this case and others arising under the
Wisconsin extra-compensation provision, see p. 61.
« Cooley v. Boice Bros, et al. (245 Mich. 325, 222 N. W. 768 (1929)).
62 Thomas 17. Morton Salt Co. (253 Mich. 613, 235 N. W. 846 (1931)).
° Since this report was written the Illinois extra compensation amendment has been
held constitutional. (Landry v. E. G. Skinner & Co. (Inc.), 344 111. 579, 176 N. E. 895
^«s’ cross uf^General Motors Corp. (223 App. Div. 803, affirmed 164 N. E. 568 (1928)) ;
Miller 17. Jost (217 App. Div. 810 (1 9 2 6 )); Longadino v. Aiello (220 App. Div. 793
(1927)) ; Freeburg i?. Delaney Co. (215 App. Div. 849 (1926)) ; Estenich v. Fort Plain
Iron Co. (213 App. Div. 842 (1925)).


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R
Pennsylvania: Any minor at the time o f the accident under 18
years of age “ employed or permitted to work in violation of
any provision of the laws * * * relating to minors of
such age.”
W isconsin: (1 ) Any minor of permit age or over who at the time
of the injury is illegally employed, required, permitted, or
suffered to work at prohibited employment.
(2 ) Any minor of permit age (that is, between 14 and 17
except during school vacation, when permit may be issued to
child between 12 and 14 for specified work) who at the time
of the injury is illegally employed, required, suffered, or per­
mitted to work without a permit issued pursuant to law or in
any place of employment or at any employment in or for which
the industrial commission has ruled that no permits shall be
issued.
(3) Any minor who is “ under permit age and illegally em­
ployed ” (minimum age for permit is 14 years, except in school
vacation, when the minimum age is 12 for work in specified
occupations).

In all these nine States, except New Jersey and Wisconsin, these
provisions apply to illegal employment generally without specifying
the types o f illegal employment that would result in the employer’s
incurring liability for extra compensation. Although the definition
o f illegal employment under laws of this type may be open to admin­
istrative and court construction, such laws can be extended to apply
to a greater range of illegal employment than is reached by acts
that are more specific, as in New Jersey and Wisconsin. For in­
stance, under the New York provision, which applies to work in
u violation of any provision o f the labor law,” the courts have af­
firmed, without opinion, double-compensation awards in cases involv­
ing violations o f the night work law, as well as violations o f the
employment certificate law, and of the prohibitions against the em­
ployment of children in dangerous occupations and o f the minimumage provision. (See decisions cited in footnote 63, p. 19.) Employ­
ers in Illinois have likewise been required to pay extra compensation
for similar violations. In Michigan, also, where double compensa­
tion is payable to any minor under 18 whose employment at the time
o f the injury is illegal, the provision has been interpreted by the at­
torney general64 as being applicable in cases of violations of the
child labor law regulating (1) maximum hours of labor or work at
night, (2) minimum age, (3) employment without an employment
certificate, or (4) work in prohibited occupations or, in the case of
a minor between 16 and 18, work involving some degree o f hazard
in an occupation that has not been approved by the department of
labor and industry as being not unduly hazardous. The supreme
court has held, however, that work not hazardous in fact is legal
even without the approval of the department of labor and industry
and has stated also that if a well-defined and commonly understood
occupation is once approved by the department as not unduly haz­
ardous special approval is not required in each instance.65 Neither
“ Opinion of the attorney general of Michigan, dated May 1, 1928, to the Michigan
Department o f Labor and Industry, supplemented by information from the department.
At the date o f this opinion of the attorney general the extra-compensation provision
applied only to minors between 16 and 18 years of age, but this provision was extended
in 1929 to all minors under 18.
68 Van Sweden v. Van Sweden and Aetna Life Insurance Co. (250 Mich. 238, 230 N. W.
191 (1930)). In this case the commission had awarded extra compensation to a 16-yearold boy injured while employed by his father as a carpenter’s helper, on the ground that


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the Wisconsin nor the New Jersey extra compensation laws, which
aPPly t° specific violations, provide extra compensation for a viola­
tion o f the provisions o f the child labor law regulating the maximum
hours o f labor and night work. In Wisconsin, where the extra com­
pensation is payable only for specified violations of the child labor
law, the supreme court held, in 1930, that such provisions must be
strictly construed and an employer becomes liable only if the pro­
vision o f the child labor law violated is precisely that specified in
the compensation act.66
On the other hand, even though the New York provision is more
general in its application to illegal employment than those in New
Jersey and Wisconsin, the failure o f an employer to comply with
certain general provisions o f the labor law that impose duties upon
employers intended to assure the safety o f their employees has been
held not to make the employment of a boy over 16 “ in violation of
the labor law ” within the meaning o f the double-compensation pro­
vision. In reaching this conclusion the court said that the violation
which the legislature intended to cover occurs only when the employ­
ment is not lawful for the age and sex o f the employee.67 Again,
in 1929, an employer was held not to be liable for extra compensa­
tion to a minor of IT injured while operating a power-brake machine
which was not guarded as required by sec. 256 of the labor law.
The employment in which he was injured, the court said, was lawful
for one o f his age, and the violation o f a statutory requirement that
a machine should be guarded does not make an employment to work
on the machine when unguarded unlawful. The court pointed out
that the extra-compensation section is penal in effect and said it
“ should be strictly construed and not extended by implication or
construction beyond its terms as fairly interpreted.” 68 The New
York provision apparently does not apply, either if the minor is
employed in violation o f a ruling by the State industrial board, as
such rulings, although they are given the force o f law, are not a
part o f the “ labor law.” 69
^
^
ei a^se’ although there was no evidence that the work the boy
~
,wa£ hazardous, it had not been approved by the department o f labor as Mnot
c^urf
» i f r i S alid also because the hoy was employed without a permit. The
fP“ V 8etasi(ie the award of extra compensation on the ground that the employment was
legal, holding that as the work was not hazardous in fact it did not need the denartm ents approval, and also that the law did not require a permit to be obtained for anv
not ?pec.fi,cally enumerated, and that, therefore, it was not unlawful for a
covered by* th l^ a w f WS S° n aS a helper wlthout a Permlt, this kind of work not being
“ Calvetti et al. v. Gasbarri et al. (230 N. W. 130 (1930)).
„ Hall v. Chatham Electric Light, Heat, & Power Co. (220 App. Div. 18, 220 N Y S 226
affirmed by the Court of Appeals of New York, without opinion, 246 N. Y.' 544,‘ 159’
law invnivori
«. 'c,+o+^e decision does not give the specific violation of the labor
N ^ Y n r iT
a£eme“ t regarding this case appearing in Special Bull. 156 of the
department o f Labor, p. 203, refers to the violation as a failure to
Q1^ h th.e. labor law s general provisions relative to the safety o f all em?o the W n^ a i
fort,h in ?ecs- 200 and 256 o f its text.” Sec 200 relates
kd
the employer to protect the health and safety of employees and
P9KA™ ii ¿ h ab oa i d t0 ma^e ru] es to carry into effect the provisions of this section.
™m56 relates to the guarding of machinery.
ea
Natl? ni^1 Ventilating Co. et al. (227 App. Div. 333, 237 N. Y. S. 488 (1929)).
whpthAi^ nSi^r Amrui^ii0nai Ventilating Co. et al., cited above, the court declined to decide
“ nrAvfainn11
tdolating a ruling of the industrial commission had violated a
nwh*
1?i>0r law
and thereby incurred liability for extra compensation,
tn tho £ ^ aad 411? 4 the
allege<l to have been violated had been issued subsequent
« o S m*nor s injury. In this connection, however, it cited without comment the case
aom S sT V ’
Y< 346> 150 N- B' 139 (1925)). In that case the court of
f BaI<?’ A legislative declaration that a rule has the force and effect of
S s l a t i v e en^tment ”S° ’ lf by that iS meant th&t it: ls the equivalent of or equal to a


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

The Maryland and Missouri laws limit the cases in which extra
compensation is to be paid to minors illegally employed with the
employer’s knowledge, but no court decisions have been found in
these two States deciding what constitutes knowledge on the part o f
the employer under this provision. In practice, proof o f the em­
ployer’s actual knowledge has been required in Missouri, whereas in
Maryland the extra compensation is payable if it is established that
a minor under 16 was injured while employed without an employ­
ment certificate or that a minor between 16 and 18 was employed in
a prohibited occupation.
Amount of extra compensation.

The amount o f extra compensation payable varies considerably in
the different States. In Illinois and Missouri the amount is 50 per
cent o f the primary compensation ; in Alabama, Maryland, Michigan,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, 100 per cent; and in
Wisconsin, 100 per cent for employment in violation o f the permit
provisions and 200 per cent for employment in violation o f the
minimum-age requirements, whether in general employment or in
special hazardous occupations, and for employment in an occupation
for which the commission has ordered that no permits shall be
issued.
The Wisconsin law also specifies that if the amount recoverable for
temporary disability by an illegally employed minor is less than
the actual wage loss, the employer shall pay the minor an amount
equal to such loss o f wage, regardless o f the number o f days he is
disabled. A minor legally employed whose disability does not
exceed the waiting period provided is not entitled to receive any
money compensation under the act, but a minor illegally employed is
entitled to receive an amount equal to the wage loss that he has sus­
tained. No provision is made in any other State insuring to a minor
injured while employed contrary to law a minimum payment equal to
his wage loss under such circumstances.
Responsibility for payment of extra amount.

Under the law in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsyl­
vania, and Wisconsin an insurance policy undertaking to relieve the
employer o f the risk o f the extra compensation is void, and the
employer must bear the burden o f the additional compensation alone,
although in Wisconsin the insurance company is secondarily liable.
This restricts the cost to the employer who is directly responsible for
the illegal employment, instead o f permitting the liability to be
assumed by an insurance carrier, which in effect distributes the cost
equally on all employers. This personal liability, it is argued, is
likely also to cause employers to make a greater effort to comply
with the requirements o f the child labor laws. No provision is made
in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania for full pay­
ment if the employer is insolvent. In Wisconsin, on the other hand,
the insurance company is secondarily liable under such circumstances.
Thus, although the employer can not avoid the personal liability i f
he is solvent, payment to the minor o f the extra amount is neverthe­
less assured if he is unable to pay. In Alabama, Illinois, Missouri,
and Michigan the law does not provide that a contract in an insurance
policy undertaking to relieve the employer is void.

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Death benefits.

In Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and
Wisconsin the extra-compensation provisions apply specifically to
death benefits i f the minor is killed while illegally employed. The
Alabama and Missouri provisions are sufficiently broad to apply
to death benefits, and according to State administrative officials they
have been so interpreted. In Michigan the law does not extend
to death benefits, the payment o f double compensation being ex­
pressly limited by the terms of the law to the minor himself.
Special provision for protection of employers.

A means whereby the employer who, acting in good faith, employs
a minor in the belief that he is o f proper age for employment may
be protected from liability for extra compensation is furnished by
employment and age certificates. A ll the States providing extra
compensation provide for the issuance o f such certificates. A ll of
them, except Alabama, expressly provide, also, either by the compen­
sation laws or by the child labor law, that if a minor is employed on
a properly issued employment or age certificate the certificate itself
is conclusive evidence that the minor is of the age certified.70
INDEMNIFICATION OF ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINORS UNDER
DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEGAL PROVISION

Is it not to the best interests o f the illegally employed minor to
exclude him from the compensation acts? The theory underlying
this question is still sometimes defended on the ground that it may
enable him to obtain through court proceedings a larger amount
than he would be entitled to under the compensation act, but the
known facts tend to disprove it. It presupposes that the minoi
is aware o f his rights under the common law, that he is financially
able to institute court proceedings or can find a lawyer who will
serve him on a contingent basis, that he can tide himself over with­
out financial aid during the period o f delay incident to court pro­
ceedings, that he actually exercises his right to sue, and, finally, that
he succeeds in collecting from his employer the amount of his judg­
ment. It is true that in some instances large verdicts have been
given by juries in suits involving the injury or death o f minors
illegally employed. In fact, in most of the States in which such a
minor is excluded from the compensation acts he is entitled, if he
sues, to a judgment for the entire damage sustained as a result
o f his illegal employment, as the courts in most of these States have
refused to permit an employer to be relieved o f liability, as he might
be at common law, on the ground that the injury was due to the
contributory negligence o f the employee himself, or to the fault of
a fellow servant, or that the employee had assumed the risks o f the
employment in which he was engaged.71 Their action has been based
The age certificate is made conclusive evidence of the minor’s age in Illinois, Mis­
souri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and the employment «certificate in Mary­
land, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The employment certificate is also
expressly made prima facie evidence of age in Illinois.
71 Indiana : Inland Steel Co. v. Yedinak (172 Ind. 423, 87 N. E. 229 (1909)) ; Waverly
Co. v. Beck (180 Ind. 523, 103 N. E. 332 (1913)) ; Mid-west Box Co. v. Hazzard (195
Ind. 608, 146 N. E. 420 (1925)).
, Minnesota : Dusha v. Virginia and Rainy Lake Co. (145 Minn. 171, 176 N. W. 482
(1920)) ; Weber v. J. E. Barr Packing Corporation et al. (234 N. W. 682 (1931)).


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on the reasoning that the legislature in passing the child labor
law has established a definite policy with regard to the employment
o f minors and has indicated that minors lack the judgment and
discretion necessary to be employed except in accordance with the
rules laid dow n; that minors should not be charged, therefore, with
the judgment and discretion necessary either to assume any of the
risks incident to employment contrary to such law or to exercise
the care and prudence required in such employment; also that an
employer should not be permitted to avail himself o f these defenses
to avoid civil liability that has arisen from his own illegal act.
Some o f the courts have also pointed out that the defense o f assump­
tion o f risk is based on the contract o f employment between the em­
ployer and employee and as a minor could not make a valid con­
tract to work in violation o f the child labor act, he could not make a
binding agreement to accept the risks proceeding from work with
fellow servants or other risks incident to his employment.72 The
courts in these States in which the question has been before them
have likewise refused to permit an employer to avoid his liability
to a minor employee because it was represented to him that the
minor was o f legal age for the employment in which injured, the
child labor law being directed against the employer, not against
the child 73; nor can this fact, according to court decision, be conNebraska: Rookstool v. Cudahy Packing Co. et al. (100 Nebr. 118, 158 N. W. 440
(1 9 1 6 )); O’Neill v. Rovatsos et al. (114 Nebr. 142, 206 N. W. 752 (1925)).
Oklahoma: Curtis and Gartside Co. v. Pigg (39 Okla. 31, 134 Pac. 1125 (1913)). (In
this case the employer attempted to rely on only one of the usual common-law defenses,
namely, that the accident was due to the negligence of the minor’s fellow servant, and
the court held that this defense was not applicable to the case.)
Pennsylvania: Stehle et al. v. Jaeger Automatic Machinery Co. (220 Pa. 617, 69 Atl.
1116 (1908), 225 Pa. 348, 74 Atl. 215 (1 9 0 9 )); Lenahan v. Pittston Coal Mining
Co. (218 Pa. 311, 67 Atl. 642 (1 9 0 7 )); Sullivan v. Hanover Cordage Co. (222 Pa. 40,
^ T en n essee: In Knoxville News Co. v. Spitzer (152 Tenn. 614, 279 S. W. 1043 (1926) )
it was held that the defenses of fellow servant and assumption of risk were not avail­
able to an employer who had violated the child labor law. See footnote 72, below, for
Tennessee cases relating to the defense of contributory negligence.
Texas: Bridgeport Brick & Tile Co. v. Erwin (241 S. W. 247 (1922)).
Vermont: Wlock v. Fort Dummer Mills (98 Vt. 449, 129 Atl. 311 (1925)).
West Virginia: The defenses of assumption of risk and fellow service were not per­
mitted to an employer in Norman v. Virginia-Pocahontas Coal Co. (68 W. Va. 405, 69
S. E 85? 11910)) : Blankenship v. Ethel Coal Co. (69 W. Va. 74, 70 S. E. 863 (1911)).
See footnote 72, below, for citation to decisions regarding defense of contributory
negligence.
«Louisiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia employers, notwithstanding their violation
of an express provision of the child labor law, have been permitted to set up the defense
o f contributory negligence, and in Iowa this defense as well as that of assumed risk has
been allowed. The courts in these States, however, have applied the general rule that a
minor is not subject to as high a standard of care as an adult, requiring the employer to
establish that the minor had in fact ability to recognize the dangers and risks involved.
(Flores et ux. v. Steeg Printing and Publishing Co., 142 La. 1068, 78 So. 119 (1918) ;
Dalberni et ux. v. N. O. Can Co., 139 La. 49, 71 So. 214 (1916) ; Queen v. Dayton Coal
and Iron Co. (Ltd.), 95 Tenn. 458, 32 S. W. 460 (1895) ; Manning v. American Clothing
Co., 247 S. W. 103 (1922) ; Blankenship v. Ethel Coal Co., 69 W. Va. 74, 70 S. E. 863
(1911) ; Norman v. Virginia-Pocahontas Coal Co., 68 W. Va. 405, 69 S. E. 857 (1910) ;
Griffith v. American Coal Co. of Allegheny County, 78 W. Va. 34, 88 S. E. 595 (1916) ;
Honaker v. New River and Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Co., 71 W. Va.177, 76 S. E. 180
(1912) ; Bromberg v. Evans Laundry Co., 134 Iowa 38, 111 N. W. 417 (1907) ;see also
Woolf v. Nauman Co., 128 Iowa 261, 103 N. W. 785 (1905).)
«In d ia n a : Inland Steel Co. v. Yedinak (172 Ind. 423, 87 N. E. 229 (19 0 9 )).
Iow a: Sechlich v. Harris-Emery Co. (184 Iowa 1025, 169 N. W. 325 (1918)).
Louisiana: Alexander et al. v. Standard Oil Co. of Louisiana (140 La. 54, 72 So. 806
(1916)).
Minnesota: Dusha v. Virginia and Rainy Lake Co. (145 Minn. 171, 176 N. W. 482
(1920)).
Oklahoma: Tulsa Cotton Oil Co. v. Ratley (59 Okla. 45, 157 Pac. 1056 (1916)).
Pennsylvania: Krutlies v. Bulls Head Coal Co. (249 Pa. 162, 94 Atl. 459 (1 9 1 5 ));
Pinter et al. v. James Barker (Inc.), (272 Pa. 541, 116 Atl. 498 (1922)).
Tennessee: Knoxville News Co. v. Spitzer (152 Tenn. 614, 279 S. W. 1043 (1926)).
Vermont: Wlock v. Fort Dummer Mills (98 Vt. 449, 129 Atl. 311 (1925)).
West Virginia: Norman v. Virginia-Pocahontas Coal Co. (68 W. Va. 405, 69 S. E. 857
(1910)) ; Blankenship i). Ethel Coal Co. (69 W. Va. 74, 70 S. E. 863 (1911)) ; Morrison
v. Smith-Pocahontas Coal Co. (88 W. Va. 158, 106 S. E. 448 (1920)).


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sidered in mitigating the amount o f damages for which the employer
is held liable.74
In spite o f the rules o f law thus evolved to safeguard the interests
o f those for whose special protection child-labor legislation has been
enacted, few illegally employed minors have sued at law, so that
employers in many instances instead o f being subjected to a greater
liability than is provided under the compensation laws have escaped
payment entirely. This fact has been brought out by all the studies
that have been made of the redress obtained by minors injured
while illegally employed both in States in which such minors were
covered by the compensation laws and in those in which they were
not. Such studies have been made in three States in which minors
were not, at least at the time of the study, included under the com­
pensation laws, namely, by the State labor departments in' Illinois
and Pennsylvania prior to the enactment of their extra compensa­
tion laws,75 and by the United States Children’s Bureau in Indiana.
Studies have been made also in three States in which the laws
provide for additional compensation for illegally employed minors—
in Illinois by the State department of labor; in New York by the
State department of labor,78 and in Wisconsin by the United States
Children’s Bureau.
.
.
In the inquiry made by the Children’s Bureau in-connection with
this study in Indiana, where minors illegally employed are excluded
from the compensation law, it was found that only 7 o f 83 injured
minors interviewed had instituted civil suits ; 7 others had em­
ployed lawyers who effected a compromise agreement. Although
62 had received some indemnity or had been paid their regular
wages, 44 o f these minors injured in industrial accidents received no
more than they would have been entitled to under the compensation
act, and 20, a little less than one-fourth, received no redress whatso­
ever for their injuries. The study revealed general ignorance on
the part o f the injured minors o f their rights under the law. Almost
one-third stated that at the time o f the accident they knew nothing
whatever about the workmen’s compensation law or their right to
institute civil suit, and one-fourth stated that they knew only*
vaguely that “ they ought to get something.” Although the re­
mainder were familiar with the provisions o f the law as they applied
to legally employed workers, only one o f them was aware at the
time of his infury that illegal employment affected his status under
the law.
The findings have been similar in other States in which informa­
tion is available as to illegally employed minors who were in the
same position under the law as in Indiana. In Illinois, of 55 illegally
employed minors under 16 years of age injured in industry during
1923, previous to the enactment o f the amendment to the workmen’s
compensation law providing for additional compensation to illegally
employed minors,77 only 3 received more indemnity for their injuries
74 Knoxville News Co. v. Spitzer (152 Tenn. 614, 279 S. W. 1043 (1926)).
n See Accidents to Employed Minors in Illinois, by Miriam Noll, pp. 17-20 (Illinois
Department o f Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin No. 1, 1927) ; Labor and In­
dustry, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, for February,
1926, July, 1927, July, 1928, December, 1929, and December, 1930.
_
.
76 See The Labor Bulletin, published by the Illinois Department of Labor, for December,
1928, December, 1929, and December, 1930; The Social Aspects of the Administration of
the Double Compensation Law in New York State.
. . . . . .
,
...
,,
77 The Illinois compensation law not only has been amended to include minors illegally
employed, granting them extra compensation (Laws of 1927, p. 497), but a later amend­
ment permits them to reject the act and to sue at law. (Laws of 1931, p. 576.)


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

than they would have received under the compensation act, and 6
at least received none.78 The conclusions reached by the Illinois
Department o f Labor as to the results of excluding illegally em­
ployed minors from the compensation act are as follows :
To sum up, the state of affairs in regard to illegally employed minors was as
follow s: (1) In many of the more serious injuries, no compensation was paid,
the child went to court and collected damages, or he did not know his rights
at common law and collected nothing. The court procedure, when resorted to,
was often long drawn cut and the delay in settlement was much greater than
it was when the cases were settled under the compensation act. (2 ) In most
of the less serious injuries, the provision barring such minors from receiving
compensation was not effective. Most of the cases of accidents to children
illegally employed belonged to the second group.
A summary of the theory and actual operation, during the year studied, of
the provision of the compensation act which excluded minors illegally employed
from the benefits of the act is as follow s:
1. In theory, all children injured in industrial accidents in Illinois were
denied workmen’s compensation but retained their rights to sue or settle under
the common law.
^
,
■ ... ,
In practice, the present study shows that only 9.1 per cent of such children
injured during 1923 had obtained settlements or verdicts in their favor under
the common law as late as the summer of 1926.
2. In theory, children illegally employed received more money by retaining
their rights under the common law than they would have received by being
under the jurisdiction of the workmen’s compensation act.
In practice, at least 87.3 per cent of the children injured in 1923 who were
illegally employed received either nothing or no more than the compensation
act provided for workers under its jurisdiction.
3. In theory, the possibility of heavy damages kept the employer from
violating the child labor law.
In practice, 76.4 per cent of all children injured during 1923 while illegally
employed received compensation as though they came under the workmen s
compensation act. That is, in more than three-quarters of all accidents to
minors illegally employed the employers were not penalized; and if the six
cases in which no settlement of any kind had been made as late as 1926 are
added, the proportion rises to 87.3 per cent. In only 9.1 per cent of the cases
of children who were injured while working illegally did the employer have
to face the possibility of suit and damages under the common law.”

In Pennsylvania, where illegally employed minors were, up to
July 1,1931, excluded from the compensation act, 11 o f 560 illegally
employed minors under 18 who were injured from July 1, 1926, to
December 31,1929, and whose injuries would otherwise have entitled
them to compensation, received more than they would have been
entitled to under an extra-compensation provision; 35 failed to re­
ceive anything by way of indemnity (except medical costs in a few
cases), and only 4 brought suit against the employer.80_ In Pennsyl­
vania, as in Illinois, the insurance companies in the majority o f cases
paid compensation to illegally employed minors on the same terms
as to other injured persons. However, in 57 cases (one-tenth o f
the total number under consideration) the insurance company had
refused to pay compensation, or the parent had refused to sign a
compensation agreement, and, as in Illinois, a number o f these were
relatively serious cases, one of them having resulted fatally and
19 in permanent disabilities. The conclusions o f the present director
o f the bureau of women and children o f the Pennsylvania depart78
Accidents to Employed Minors in Illinois, pp. 17-18 ; supplemented by correspondence
with administrative officials.
1Q 1ft
n Accidents to Employed Minors in Illinois, pp. 18-19.
.
. T , .
80 Labor and Industry, published by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry,
for July, 1917, pp. 6, 7, 10; July, 1928, pp. 3, 5, 9 ; December, 1929, pp. 3-5 ; December,
1930, pp. 3-10.


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ment o f labor with reference to the operation o f that law were as
follows :
The exclusion of illegally employed children from the benefits of the work­
men’s compensation law does not necessarily mean that the minor receives no
recompense for lost time and medical expenses nor does it mean that the
minor collects damages greatly in excess of the amount which would have
been due through workmen’s compensation. It does mean, however, that the
settlement of such cases is removed from the scheduled course of action laid
down by the compensation law to the highly uncertain action of civil damage
suits or of the whim o f the employer. * * *
The present compensation status of illegally employed minors is far from
satisfactory. Their exclusion from workmen’s compensation benefits appar­
ently has brought them no advantage, and certainly in some instances has
brought great hardships. The theory that the exclusion o f illegally employed
minors from compensation would tend to encourage civil suits in which the
injured minor might receive amounts larger than would be available under
the compensation law has not been realized in practice.81

On the other hand, an analysis of the records for States whose
laws provide that extra compensation be paid in the case o f minors
illegally employed shows that unquestionably under a well-enforced
law o f this type benefits accrue to minors injured when unlawfully
employed. For example, all except 1 of the 962 injured minors in
the Children’s Bureau study o f the records o f all such cases occurring
in Wisconsin from 1917 to 1928 had received the ordinary compen­
sation to which they were entitled, and all except 7 had received in
addition the extra indemnity due them because o f their illegal em­
ployment. The fact that seven had failed to receive the extra com­
pensation was due to inability to locate them or to other causes for
which the administrative agency could not be held responsible.
The average amount o f compensation paid was $377.67, o f which
$241.58 was paid as additional compensation. Additional compen­
sation alone paid to individual minors ran up to more than $6,000 ;
88 (9 per cent) o f the total number received at least $500, and 54
(6 per cent) $1,000 or more. The total amount o f additional com­
pensation payable for the 962 accidents in the 10-year period was
more than $200,000.
The advantages to injured minors under such a law, if it is effec­
tively administered, are evident when comparison is made between
the compensation received by those relatively seriously injured in
Wisconsin and in Indiana. The studies made by the Children’s
Bureau showed that in Wisconsin the average total amount received
in the case o f minors whose injuries had proved fatal or had resulted
in permanent disability or temporary disability for 28 days or more
was $844.84, whereas the average amount received in the case o f a
corresponding group of injured minors interviewed in Indiana was
$368.34. Moreover, of the 83 relatively seriously injured children in
this group interviewed in Indiana 20 received no money indemnity
at all, whereas in Wisconsin, as pointed out above, every injured
child subject to the act, except 1, received compensation. (See
pp. 97, 189.)
. Similar benefits have been shown to result from the operation o f
similar laws in other States. In New York the recent study made
by the State department o f labor o f the cases coming under its double
“ Ibid-» December, 1930, p. 5 ; December, 1929, p. 10.
125914— 32------- 3


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TH E ILLEGALiLY EMPLOYED MINOR

compensation law from July 1, 1923, to December 31, 1928,82 shows
that a considerable number have benefited, although it is quite possi­
ble that because o f differences in administrative procedure (see
p. 38) a smaller proportion o f the minors injured while illegally em­
ployed were discovered than in Wisconsin and a smaller proportion
o f those who were awarded extra compensation had been paid the
additional award. The New York workmen’s compensation law has
relatively liberal provisions, so that those who were given extra com­
pensation received higher total awards than in any other State, even
than in Wisconsin, where treble compensation is awarded in certain
cases. In New York, where only double compensation is paid, the
average award in 141 cases was $1,278.77, compared with the average
award o f $496.64 for 308 Wisconsin cases.83 In Illinois also, although
the additional compensation is less (only 50 per cent o f the normal
compensation) than in Wisconsin and New York, and payment
appears to be less sure, many injured minors have received a sub­
stantial award who prior to the passage o f the law providing for
additional compensation would probably have received little or
nothing. The average award in Illinois for 39 cases was $213.52.84
The receipt of the additional award in New York and Illinois,
the only States besides Wisconsin for which information as to the
payment o f the extra compensation is available, has not been so
certain as in Wisconsin. In 34 (22 per cent) of 152 such cases re­
ported as closed in New York from July 1, 1923, to December 31,
1928, the injured minor had not received the additional award at
the time of the survey made by the State department of labor in
1929, and in 104 (38 per cent) o f the 275 cases in Illinois from July
1, 1927, to June 30, 1931, the injured minor had not received the
additional award by December, 1931. The greater success in W is­
consin is probably due in part to a more thorough system o f follow
up (see pp. 40, 41), and in part to the fact that the law definitely
places the responsibility of paying the additional compensation upon
the insurance company if the employer is unable to pay, so that it is
to the insurance company’s interest to see that the employer pays
if possible and pays promptly. The New York law makes no pro­
vision for the payment o f the award if the employer is unable to p a y ;
the employer must bear the burden o f the additional compensation
alone, and any insurance policy undertaking to relieve him of this
“ The Social Aspects of the Administration of the Double Compensation Law in New
York State.
„
„
83 Ibid., p. 78. The higher average award in New York as compared with Wisconsin
is due in part to the fact that wages are higher in that State and the rate of com­
pensation is based upon the wages received by the minor at the time of injury. In
1928, the latest year for which comparative figures are available, a weekly wage of
more than $30 was received by 30 per cent of the total number of persons awarded
compensation in Wisconsin, whereas 45 per cent of those awarded compensation in New
York were in this wage group. Another element entering into the situation is the
fact that the New York procedure in discovering cases eligible for extra compensation
(see pp. 38, 39) apparently results in the inclusion of a relatively large number of
more seriously injured persons. The greater liberality of the New York law is another
explanation o f the difference. In the New York study comparative figures are given
(on p. 78) on the number and cost of extra compensation awards in New York, Wis­
consin, Illinois, and New Jersey from 1924 to 1928. They show that maximum and
minimum payments were higher in New York, a weekly maximum of $20 to $25 and
a minimum of $8 (or actual wages, if less, for total disability) being provided for total
or partial disability, whereas Wisconsin, during the period involved, fixed a weekly
maximum of $18.20 to $19.50 and a weekly minimum of $6.83.
The rate o f com­
pensation for total disability in New York was also slightly higher than in Wisconsin,
being 66% per cent of average weekly wages, whereas the Wisconsin rate was 65 per
cent. (In 1931 the Wisconsin rate was increased to 70 per cent, Laws of 1931, ch. 101.)
M Ibid., p. 78.


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liability is void. The law o f Illinois does not provide that the em­
ployer alone shall be liable for the additional compensation, nor
does it make void a contract to insure this liability.
In all States, however, in which provisions for increased com­
pensation have been enacted and actively administered, they have
been o f positive benefit in the form o f more adequate compensation
for injuries received by those employed in violation o f the child
labor law, and they have also served as a strong incentive to the
employer to comply with the law. The assessment o f the excess
indemnity, which the employer himself generally must pay, may
amount to a much heavier penalty for violation than would result
from prosecution under the provisions o f the child labor laws.
ADMINISTRATION OF EXTRA COMPENSATION LAWS

In practically all the States in which provisions for the awarding
o f additional compensation to minors illegally employed are opera­
tive, the agency charged with the administration o f the workmen’s
compensation law has the responsibility not only of seeing that in­
jured minors, like all other injured persons, receive the compensa­
tion to which they are entitled because o f the nature o f their injuries
and the length o f time they are disabled, but also o f determining
whether or not they are entitled to extra compensation provided for
under the law for minors illegally employed at the time o f injury.
Experience has shown that without special administrative machinery
many who are entitled to extra compensation fail to receive it.
Experience has shown also that because o f features peculiar to the
laws providing for extra compensation, such as the fact that the
additional compensation is usually payable by the individual em­
ployer, and that awards in such cases frequently provide for rela­
tively large payments, special machinery must also be established
J? insure that the injured minor actually receives all the compensa­
tion due him, and that it is paid to him in the form and manner most
advantageous to him.
The importance o f these administrative measures and the fact that
the necessity for the adoption o f a thoroughly effective administra­
tive program has not been fully recognized in all the States that
have passed legislation providing for extra compensation for
illegally employed minors make it advisable to outline in some
detail the procedure now followed in these States.
INVESTIGATIONS OF LEGALITY OF EMPLOYMENT OF INJURED MINORS

The question o f legality o f employment can not be determined
merely by an inspection o f reports o f an injury sent in to the admin­
istrative agency by employer, employee, or insurance company. A l­
though the forms used in most States in the reporting of accidents
contam queries as to the injured person’s occupation and the hour at
wmch the accident occurred, facts as to whether the occupation was
a prohibited one and whether the minor was employed illegal hours
are not necessarily self-evident from the report. Three States— Illi­
nois, Wisconsin, and Indiana—have included on their report forms
special queries as to whether or not an employment certificate wa?

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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

on file in the case o f injured minors.85 Although such queries have
undoubtedly proved helpful in discovering cases o f illegality, it has
been found that the replies are not sufficiently accurate to render
further investigation unnecessary. Thus, an analysis o f illegal em­
ployment cases made by the Children’s Bureau showed that in 80
per cent o f the cases in Wisconsin in which the employer stated on
the accident report that a permit was on file, and in 84 per cent o f
the cases in Indiana, certificates were in fact not on file. Another
method o f checking up on the injured minor’s certificate status with­
out special investigation is that now being tried in Pennsylvania,
where, under the extra-compensation provision that became oper­
ative July 1, 1931, the bureau o f women and children o f the depart­
ment o f labor and industry is requiring that a copy o f the
employment certificate be filed with the agreement for compensation
in the cases of all minors reported as under 16 years o f age at the
time of injury. (See p. 39.) Even information as to age calls for
investigation, although in all States the form on which accidents are
reported contains an entry for the age o f the injured person. Again
and again, however, this information has been found to be unreliable.
In Wisconsin about two-thirds o f the minors awarded extra com­
pensation, and in Indiana a little more than three-fourths o f those
illegally employed whose ages were verified, were reported by their
employers as older than they were. (See pp. 67 and 152.)
Special investigation by the administrative agency seems to be
necessary, therefore, to ascertain, first, the injured minor’s true age
in order to know what legal restrictions, if any, the law imposed upon
his employment; and, second, whether, if he was o f the age for which
an employment certificate is required under the law, such a certificate
was on file for him at the time o f injury. In many cases, investiga­
tion is necessary also to determine whether or not he was employed in
an occupation prohibited for minors of his age or in violation o f some
other provision o f the child labor law.
In most o f the States in which minors injured while illegally
employed are entitled to extra compensation some effort is made to
ascertain the legality o f employment at the time o f injury o f all
injured persons reported as under certain ages. Only one State,
Missouri, reports that no inquiry o f this sort is made. In New York,
inquiry is made only at the hearing which is held on all compensa­
tion cases. Efforts to ascertain legality o f employment similar to
that followed in most extra-compensation States have been made for
some years in two States—Indiana and Pennsylvania—in which ille­
gally employed minors are, or have been, excluded from the com­
pensation law. In Pennsylvania since June 1, 1931, illegally em­
ployed minors have been covered by the law and are entitled to extra
compensation.
m Following are the queries as to age and permit status entered on the accident report
forms (those sent in by the employers) for these three States: Illinois— (12) Age (as
o f last birthday) ; (13) birth date (if under 18 years of age) ; (14) number of employ­
ment certificate (if injured is under 1 6 ); (15) date issued; (16) place issued; (17)
for what job. Wisconsin— (9) Age (give date of birth if injured under 18) ; (10) sex;
(11) permit on file (if injured was minor under 17) (yes or no). Indiana— (7)
Age and sex o f the injured employee, years, male, female, (a) If over 14 and under 16
years o f age, have you on file an employment certificate issued by school authorities?
Ans. -------, (b) I f over 16 and under 18 years o f age, have you on file an age certificate
issued by school authorities? Ans. -------.


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The nature and thoroughness o f the investigations differ consider­
ably from State to State. In most of the States the initial proce­
dure, however, is very much the same. Reports of all injuries occur­
ring to minors under certain ages are referred shortly after they are
received by the agency administering the workmen’s compensation
law, to some special bureau or branch o f the department enforcing
the State child labor law for investigation. In Indiana, Pennsyl­
vania, and Wisconsin, which have special bureaus in the State
departments o f labor that are responsible for the enforcement o f
child labor laws or for research in the field o f child employment, the
reports o f injuries to minors are referred to these bureaus. In Illi­
nois they are referred to the bureau of statistics and research of
the State department o f labor, a research agency that compiles the
compensation and other statistics published by the department and
that has devoted much attention to the matter o f accidents to minors.
In New Jersey minors’ accidents are referred for investigation to
the factory-inspection department o f the State department o f labor.
In Maryland, where the child labor laws are enforced by a different
State agency from that administering the workmen’s compensation
law, reports o f injuries to minors are referred by the latter to the
agency administering the child labor law, the office of the commis­
sioner o f labor and statistics. In Alabama inspectors of the State
child-welfare department, which administers the child labor law, visit
the workmen’s compensation bureau from time to time for the pur­
pose o f obtaining information from the records regarding accidents
to minors reported as under 21 years o f age. In Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin the practice is to refer the
original accident reports; in New Jersey and Maryland, lists are
furnished, giving the names of the injured minors, names and ad­
dresses o f employers, and certain other information on the cases.
The ages o f injured minors whose cases are investigated vary
according to the State. For example, in Indiana investigation is
made not only of all injured minors under 20, but also o f all injured
persons whose ages are not entered on the employer’s first report of
accident, whereas in Maryland and New Jersey only cases o f injured
minors reported to be under 16 are investigated. Only four of the
States having extra compensation laws—Alabama, Illinois, Pennsyl­
vania, and Wisconsin—investigate the cases o f minors over the age
for which employment certificates or attendance at continuation
school is required, although it has been generally found that those
whose ages are reported as just over employment certificate or com­
pulsory continuation-school age are the ones most likely to have had
their ages overstated. Judging from Illinois, Indiana, and Wiscon­
sin, the only States for which information as to the accuracy o f the
age reported for minors found to be illegally employed is available,
a large proportion of these were reported by employers as older
than they were. (See above and also pp. 67 and 152.) In In­
diana nearly two-fifths and in Wisconsin approximately one-half of
those whose ages were overstated were reported as two or more
years older.
The value o f investigating the ages o f those reported as over cer­
tificate age is shown by the experience in all three of these States.
In Indiana, where age or employment certificates are required up

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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

to 18 years, although almost three-fourths of those found through
investigation to have been illegally employed had been represented
at the time o f injury as 18 years or older, only one minor had actu­
ally reached the age of 18. Similarly in Wisconsin the ages of twothirds o f the minors found to be illegally employed were given on
the accident reports as 17 (the age up to which certificates are re­
quired) or older and one-fourth as 18 or older, whereas actually
only 6 per cent were 17 and none was as old as 18. In Illinois, where
the provisions o f the child labor law extend only up to 16 years
o f age and a check is made as to the age o f injured minors reported
as under 18, 60 per cent o f the minors found to be illegally employed
during a 3-year period were reported to be 16 or 17 years o f age
whereas none was as old as 16.8a In the same State, o f 539 minors
under 18 (including both legally and illegally employed) whose
injuries were reported during the year 1929 and for whom proof
o f age was obtained, the ages of 146 (27 per cent) were incorrectly
stated on the accident report, the majority being represented as
older than they actually were.87 Because the majority of violations
occur among those whose ages are reported as one or two years above
the legal maximum for employment certification and continuationschool attendance and the legal minimum for employment in haz­
ardous trades, it is possible by investigating the ages o f those re­
ported as one or two years beyond the ages covered by such legisla­
tion to cover the great majority o f those whose ages may have been
misstated for the purpose of evading the restrictions of the child
labor or compulsory continuation school law.
Marked variations appear in the methods followed in investigating
violations and in the thoroughness o f investigations, as well as in
the upper age limit o f cases investigated.
In five States—Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
and Wisconsin—inspectors enforcing the child labor law make some
investigation to check up on legality o f employment. In only two
States—Maryland and New Jersey—however, are all cases referred
for investigation checked by means o f an inspector’s visit to the
minor’s place o f employment to inquire into the nature o f the work
the minor was doing at the time o f injury and whether or not he
had an employment certificate as required by law. The fact that in
these two States investigations are made only in cases o f minors
reported to be under 16 makes so careful an investigation of less
value than would at first glance appear to be the case, as, judging
from the experience in other States, a large proportion o f the injured
minors found to be illegally employed are ones who are reported
as over work-permit age (which in Maryland and New Jersey is 16)
but who are really under that age. In Pennsylvania, cases in which
in the opinion o f the bureau o f women and children some illegality
is indicated from the information on the employer’s report o f the
injury— about 10 per cent o f the injuries reported as occurring to
minors under 18— are referred to the factory inspectors for inves­
tigation. In Wisconsin only injuries occurring to minors who are
employed in prohibited occupations or who may have been employed
86 The Labor Bulletin, published by the Illinois Department of Labor, for December,
1928, December, 1929, and December, 1930.
81 Unpublished figures furnished by the Illinois State Department of Labor.


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in such occupations are usually referred to inspectors o f the safety
department o f the industrial commission for special investigation.
Except for the investigations made by the factory inspectors, such
checking o f minors’ accidents for violations o f the child labor law
as is undertaken is accomplished through the examination o f rec­
ords— chiefly records o f employment certificates— and through cor­
respondence.
Five o f the nine States having extra compensation laws—Alabama,
Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and Wisconsin—require that dupli­
cate certificates or papers relating thereto be sent to the office of the
State department enforcing the child labor law. In Indiana, also,
the law makes this requirement. Duplicate certificate files are used
in checking legality o f employment in Alabama, Maryland, Wiscon­
sin, and Indiana. In Wisconsin and Indiana the searching o f the
duplicate files is supplemented by correspondence with the employer,
employee, and local certificate-issuing officer if the age or certificate
status of the injured minor can not be ascertained by reference to
the file o f duplicate certificates. In Illinois the information relating
to age and certification status is obtained largely through corre­
spondence, although the Cook County birth records are examined.
In Wisconsin a search o f birth records and in Indiana a search o f
school census records is also made if information as to age is not
available in the duplicate employment-certificate files. In Pennsyl­
vania the checking of employment certificates is made by factory
inspectors in cases referred to them for special investigation and by
adjusters o f the workmen’s compensation bureau in certain cases
(see p. 39.)
In New York every compensation case is heard before a referee
o f the State department o f labor before a settlement is made. The
types o f violation that are discovered when the cases come up for
. hearing are chiefly those which are self-evident from the information
given on the accident report, such as employment in prohibited
occupations or under permit age.
As shown in the statistical tables presented in the appendix (see
pp. 219-223), the most common type o f legal violation usually found
in cases o f illegally employed minors who are injured is failure to
have an employment certificate on file. The proportion of cases in
which this provision was violated has been found to range, com­
paring the States for which the information is available, from 98 per
cent in Indiana to 35 per cent in New York. (See Table II I, appen­
dix p. 221.) On the other hand, New York has the largest proportion
reported as employed in violation of the prohibited-occupation clause
only of the child labor law— 42 per cent as compared with 12 per
cent in Illinois, 10 per cent in Wisconsin, and 2 per cent in Indiana.
In a study o f accidents to working minors in Ohio, made by the
Consumers’ League o f Ohio,88 it is pointed out that less than half
o f 378 investigated cases among the 563 compensable accidents oc­
curring to minors under 18 in the period covered by the study, the
first nine months of 1926, had proper certificates on file. Although
no special investigation of the nature o f the employment at the time
o f injury was possible in connection with this inquiry, information
“ Accidents to Working Children of Ohio, published by the Consumers’ League of Ohio,
pp. 28, 36. Cleveland, 1927.


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

as to occupation, more or less complete, showed that in 37 (or 7 per
cent) o f 496 cases the minor was employed in an occupation pro­
hibited by the Ohio child labor law.
Following is a description of the procedure followed in investigat­
ing legality o f employment in the States having laws providing
additional compensation for minors illegally employed, and also
in Indiana.
Alabama.

The following program for investigating minors’ injuries for the
purpose o f determining legality o f employment has been put into
operation following the passage o f the Alabama extra-compensation
amendment, which Decame effective July 6, 1931. This law provides
that extra compensation shall be paid in the case o f minor employees
who at the time o f the injury are employed in violation o f the law
regulating their employment.
As reports o f accidents are received by .the Alabama Workmen’s
Compensation Bureau (see p. 43), special inquiry is made with ref­
erence to the legality of the employment o f all minors under 18.
First, the clerk of the bureau immediately sends to the employer a
form letter in which is inserted an inquiry in the case o f minors
reported as 17 years old as to their date o f birth and in the case o f
minors reported under 17 years of age as to their date o f birth and
the legality o f their employment. I f the answer to these questions
indicates that the child is entitled to double compensation, the bu­
reau so notifies the insurance company, or the employer i f he is a
self-insurer (see p. 43).
In addition, it is the intention o f the Alabama Child Welfare
Department, which administers the State child labor law, to make
a personal investigation o f each such accident.89 A n inspector o f
the department visits the workmen’s compensation bureau at least
twice a month and transcribes from the reports o f all accidents
occurring to minors under 21 the names and addresses o f employer
and employee, cause and nature of the injury, duration o f the dis­
ability, and amount o f compensation paid.00 The information for
minors o f 19 and 20 years o f age is used for statistical purposes
only. For the injured minors o f 16 years o f age and under search
is made o f the duplicate employment certificates sent to the childwelfare department.
No further action is taken in the case o f minors reported as 17
or 18 years o f age, or as 16 and under for whom a certificate is on
file,91 until the inspector visits the place o f employment in the course
o f her regular inspections. A t that time inquiry is made in the
cases o f all injured minors as to the cause o f the accident and what
has been done to avoid similar accidents. The minor is interviewed
to ascertain his physical condition and, if he has been reported as
17 or 18, to establish his age. The same evidence is required in
89 For some time prior to the passage of the additional-compensation provision, this de­
partment obtained from the workmen’s compensation bureau information regarding acci­
dents to minors under 18 and made similar investigations.
90 In cases in which this information as to duration of disability and amount of com­
pensation paid is not entered on the original accident report, it is added to the child
welfare department’s record of the case later, after it has been reported to the workmen’ s
compensation bureau.
91 Employment certificates are required for minors between 14 and 16 ; age certificates,
for minors of 16.


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establishing age as is used when certificates are issued; that is,
birth record, baptismal record, Bible record, insurance policy, or
school record and affidavit in the order stated. Inquiries are made
as to the settlement o f compensation claims and i f there is any
irregularity it is reported to the compensation bureau.
In the case of a minor reported as 16 or younger for whom no
duplicate certificate is on file, the action taken depends upon whether
the inspector will be able to go to the place o f employment within
a month’s time. I f she will be unable to do so, a letter is written
the employer, setting forth the legal requirements for the employment
o f children, stating that no duplicate certificate is on file at the
department office, asking whether the employer had a certificate and,
if not, for an explanation o f the fact, and instructing the employer
to send the minor to the local issuing officer. Copies o f this letter
are sent to the issuing officer and county child-welfare superintendent
or city attendance supervisor. I f the inspector can go to the city
where the child was injured within the next month, no letters are
written. Upon reaching the city, she talks first with the issuing
officer and county child-welfare superintendent or city attendance
supervisor and then goes to the place of employment. She informs
the employer that she has had a report o f the accident, that no
certificate is on file, and asks for an explanation of the illegality of
employment. She interviews the minor and, if possible, his parents.
I f the minor is found to be under IT, as reported, the employer is
given an order from the commission to obtain a certificate for him.
Inquiry is also made as to the cause o f the accident and what has
been done to avoid similar accidents, as is also done in all other cases.
Illinois.

In Illinois, where the extra compensation law applies in the case
o f minors under 16 who are injured while illegally employed, all
cases o f injured minors under 18 are investigated with a view to
determining whether or not they were illegally employed at the time
o f the accident. As the provisions o f the child labor law relating
to prohibited occupations, employment certificates, and hours of
labor apply to minors up to the age o f 16 only, and the compulsory
continuation school law does not apply anywhere in the State after
the child reaches 17, it is felt that by investigating all cases o f minors
whose ages are reported as under 18, practically all those who are
actually under 16 will be discovered.
Illinois is one of the few States in which the form on which acci­
dents are reported has a number o f entries that are intended espe­
cially to bring out the facts as to the age and certification status
o f injured minors. Not only is there the usual query as to the age
o f the injured person, but also a query as to the date o f birth to
be answered for all injured employees under 18 years o f age. In
addition, four queries relative to employment certification are to be
answered in the case o f all injured persons under 16: (1) Certificate
number, (2) date o f issuance, (3) place o f issuance, and (4) job for
which issued. In most cases these queries relating to date o f birth
and certificate status on the accident reports are not answered, how­
ever, and State officials do not believe that they help very much in
the enforcement o f the law.

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T H E IL L E G A L L Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

As soon as accident reports are received and indexed in the bureau
o f statistics and research of the State department o f labor, those of
minors whose ages are reported as under 18 years are sorted out and
certain information relating to them is entered on special cards and
filed in this bureau. The bureau then proceeds to investigate the
actual age and legality o f the employment of these injured minors.
Although the child labor law o f Illinois requires that duplicates o f
all employment certificates issued be sent to the State department o f
labor, officials o f the bureau of statistics and research state it to be
their belief that duplicates of only a very small proportion o f the
certificates issued are actually sent in to the department and that
many o f those that are received are much delayed in coming in. It
is not thought practicable, therefore, to make use o f these duplicates
in verifying age and ascertaining legality of employment. In the
case of minors reported as 16 or IT years old, which is above employ­
ment-certificate age, letters are written to the minors themselves,
asking them to submit birth records or other acceptable evidence o f
age. In addition, the county birth records are examined for all
minors reported as born in Cook County. In the case of all minors
in occupations for which certificates are required 92 who are reported
as under 16, or who are, through correspondence or in some other
way, found to be actually under 16, a letter is sent to the employment
certificate issuing authorities in the towns in which they live asking
i f they have been legally certificated for the employment in which the
injury occurred. In the case o f minors for whom no birth or bap­
tismal records or other more acceptable proof o f age can be obtained,
the bureau asks the school authorities for evidence o f age as con­
tained in school records. The accident reports are also examined for
other evidence of illegality, such as employment in prohibited occu­
pations or in violation of the laws relating to hours o f labor or night
work. For some time serious accidents and since early in 1931 all
cases o f injuries to illegally employed minors have been referred for
investigation to the division o f factory inspection o f the department
Maryland.

The Maryland workmen’s compensation act requires payment o f
extra compensation if the minor is illegally employed with the
knowledge o f the employer, and under the practice o f the commis­
sion the burden o f proving that the child was legally employed is on
the employer. An employer is considered to have had knowledge of
the illegal employment and is held liable if it appears that the child
was in fact working without the required certificate or at a pro­
hibited occupation.
Claims for compensation are filed by employees with the Maryland
Industrial Accident Commission,“ which sends the names of injured
children reported to be under 16 years of age to the office o f the
Maryland commissioner o f labor and statistics for investigation.
This is the State agency responsible for the enforcement o f the
child labor law through the issuance of employment certificates and
industrial inspections. As soon as an accident is reported to the
92 Certificates are not required by law for golf caddies, newsboys, or farm workers.
"A lth ough Maryland employers are required to file reports of accidents, Maryland is
one of the States in which the injured person must file a claim for compensation before
any action is taken by the industrial accident commission.


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commissioner of labor and statistics, an inspector is sent to the place
o f employment to discover whether the child was employed in viola­
tion o f any provision of the child labor law, and the certificate rec­
ords are searched for information regarding the certificate status of
the child. A fter investigation the commissioner o f labor and sta­
tistics makes a report as to the legality o f the child’s employment to
the State industrial accident commission.
According to information furnished by the commissioner o f labor
and statistics, o f 32 casesw o f injuries occurring during the year
1929 referred to his office, 2 occurred to children who were found to
be working without having obtained the necessary employment cer­
tificates, and 2 children who had obtained employment certificates
were engaged in occupations other than those recorded on the certifi­
cate. For 1930, of 19 cases 94 o f injuries referred to the commissioner
o f labor and statistics for investigation 1 was found to have occurred
to a child who was working without a certificate and 3 others to
children who had obtained certificates but were engaged in occupa­
tions other than those for which the certificates were issued.
Names o f injured minors reported as 16 years of age and over are
not sent to the commissioner o f labor and statistics for investigation
as to the legality o f their employment, although the extra-compen­
sation provision o f the Maryland law applies to all minors illegally
employed, and the child labor law prohibits the employment of
minors between 16 and 18 years o f age in certain hazardous occu­
pations. Minors o f these ages, however, have been awarded extra
compensation when the fact o f such prohibited employment has
appeared in the course o f hearings before the industrial accident
commission.
Michigan.

Under the Michigan workmen’s compensation law, extia compen­
sation is to be paid to any minor under 18 whose employment at the
time o f the injury is illegal. A ll reports o f accidents to minors
under this age are specially examined when received in the Michi­
gan Department o f Labor and Industry to determine whether or
not the minor is employed in violation o f the State child labor law.
No attempt is made to investigate cases i f the age is reported as
18 or over, although minors are required to obtain employment cer­
tificates and to attend continuation school (where established) and
their employment in a number o f occupations is prohibited up to
18 years o f age. Accident reports are checked only for violation of
the minimum age law and the laws or department rulings relative to
dangerous occupations and apparently, at least in some cases, for
violations o f the laws relating to hours o f labor. No attempt is
made to ascertain whether or not the minors had an emplovment cer­
tificate on file, and cases of injuries to minors are not made the sub­
ject o f investigation by factory inspectors as is done in some States.
The Maryland Industrial Accident Commission, however, reports 84 claims allowed for
“ toore under 16 in the year ending October 31, 1929, and 66 in the year ending October
dl, 1930, thus indicating that not all cases where claims were filed during these intervals
by minors reported as under 16 were sent for investigation to the commissioner of labor
and statistics. A change during, the year 1931 in the general procedure of reporting
cases to the office of the commissioner of labor and statistics is said to be producing
more effective results.
p
8


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T H E IL L E G A L L Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

New Jersey.

In New Jersey extra compensation is payable if the injured em­
ployee is at the time o f the injury between 14 and 16 and is work­
ing without the employment certificate required or at an occupa­
tion prohibited by the labor law or is under 14 and is employed
under conditions illegal for minors under this age. As the re­
ports o f industrial injuries are received by the State department
o f labor all cases o f injuries to minors reported as under 16
are referred for investigation to the factory inspector assigned to
the district in which the accident occurred. In order to determine
whether or not there had been any violation o f the child labor law,
the inspector visits the place o f the child’s employment and inquires
as to the nature o f the work he was doing at the time of injury and
his hours o f labor, and as to whether or not an age and schooling
certificate was filed with the employer as required by law. Although
the “ original papers ” upon which employment certificates are
granted throughout the State must be sent for approval to the State
department o f labor, and information as to whether a certificate
has been issued is filed in the Trenton office o f the bureau o f women
and children o f the department, checking o f reports o f injuries to
minors under 16 with these files is not a routine procedure, depend­
ence being placed on the inspector’s investigation to determine
whether there was a certificate violation. The information obtained
through inspectors’ investigations is then referred to the workmen’s
compensation bureau o f the department to use as a basis for deter­
mining the amount o f compensation to which the child is legally
entitled.
No investigation is made in the case o f injured minors reported as
16 or over. It will be recalled that the hours of labor, the employ­
ment certificate, and the continuation-school attendance provisions o f
the New Jersey child labor law apply until the child reaches 16.
Employment in a number o f occupations is prohibited up to this
age. It is, therefore, the ages just above 16 that are most likely to
be reported by the younger children wishing to avoid these restric­
tions. As no check is made o f those reported to be just above 16,
some illegally employed minors who are under 16 in fact, and who
are entitled to extra compensation, may not, and doubtless do not,
receive the benefits o f the act.96
New York.

Extra compensation is payable under the New York act if the
injured employee at the time o f the injury is under 18 years o f age
and is working in violation o f any provision o f the labor law. No
investigation similar to that made in most o f the States in which
the law provides for the payment o f extra compensation to minors
is made in New York prior to the time their cases come up for hear­
ing. New York, however, is the only State in which no compensation
case can be settled without a hearing before a referee, and at this
hearing an opportunity is afforded for inquiry into the matter o f
the legality of employment in the case o f injured minors. This
machinery is undoubtedly effective in many cases in ascertaining
the facts with reference to the employment o f minors in prohibited
16 See the experiences of Illinois (p. 35) and Wisconsin (p. 40) on this point.


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occupations or at illegal hours, but the facts as to age and certificate
status can not always be brought out without recourse to documents;
and this, experience has shown, may require a lengthy investigation
involving considerable correspondence and outside interviews. The
much smaller proportion o f minors found to be illegally employed
in New York compared with other States for which comparable
information is available, 1 per cent in New York as compared with
5 per cent in Pennsylvania and 20 per cent in Wisconsin, may be, at
least in part, due to the fact that in New York no attempt is made
to check the ages and certificate status o f all injured minors under
certain ages as in other States.96
Pennsylvania.

Only since July 1, 1931, has the Pennsylvania act provided extra
compensation in the case of a minor under 18 years of age who
at the time of the injury is working in violation o f the laws regu­
lating the employment of such minors, but since July 1, 1926, all
reports o f injuries to minors under 18 have been referred to the
bureau o f women and children o f the department of labor and in­
dustry shortly after they are received in the bureau o f workmen’s
compensation o f the department. If, in the opinion o f the bureau
o f women and children, any illegality or other irregularity is indi­
cated on the accident report, the essential information regarding
each case is copied from the report on a special card and the cases
are referred to the bureau of inspection o f the department for in­
vestigation as to the adequacy o f the proof o f age, the legality of
occupation and certificate status, and recommendation for such legal
action under the child labor law as the facts warrant. The bureau
o f inspection then sends to the plant where the accident occurred
an inspector who inquires as to the machine or process at which the
minor was working when injured, interviews the person in charge
o f the plant and, in most cases, the minor also, and ascertains whether
or not the employer had the required employment certificate or age
card on file. The inspector’s report on each case includes also a
recommendation as to whether or not the employer should be prose­
cuted for violation of the child labor law, and this report is con­
sidered before legal action on this point is initiated by the bureau
o f inspection. In addition, the bureau o f inspection reports the
result of its investigation to the bureau of women and children; and
if the report reveals anv illegality, the latter calls the attention of
the bureau o f workmen’s compensation to the facts o f the case.
89 Among the recommendations made by the division of women in industry of the New
York Department of Labor in its report on The Social Aspects of the Administration o f
the Double Compensation Law in New York State (Special Bull. No. 168, May, 1931 pp
«4-8 5 ) with regard to changes in procedure for the purpose of increasing the effectiveness
° V :5?.12WJ S tP**
the New York City compensation district a special minors’ calendar be
established.
* * * A number of concrete reforms and improvements might be
brought about by the establishment of such a calendar. All cases would be considered as
possible double-compensation cases, and the double award would be made wherever there
was a violation of the labor law. The procedure might then be made to provide for the
sopmissioD of legal proof of age, and an inquiry in each case as to whether or not the
child has legal working papers, was working illegal hours, or in an illegal occupation.
*
,
Illinois and Wisconsin check all cases of compensated accidents to minors for
Illegal employment and for liability for double compensation. The establishment of a
minor s calendar in the New York City district would eliminate the necessity for this
subsequent investigation because the machinery of the calendar would uncover all cases
o f Illegal employment. In the up-State districts, however, where the establishment of a
special minor s calendar might be impracticable, the introduction of this method (that fol­
lowed In Illinois and Wisconsin) would insure the discovery of cases where the age of the
injured child has been incorrectly reported.”


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

The cases thus referred to the bureau o f inspection by the bureau
o f women and children for investigation constitute only about onetenth o f the total number o f cases o f injuries to minors under 18
occurring each year. Information regarding the age or certificate
status or all injured minors, however, is obtained by the bureau
o f workmen’s compensation. This bureau requires a copy o f the
employment certificate to be filed with the compensation agreement
in all cases involving minors under 16 years of age. I f no em­
ployment certificate is filed, a compensation adjustor is sent out to
investigate the case. The bureau also makes a check on the accuracy
o f age as given in the accident report filed for minors of 16, 17, and
18 years o f age. This check is made by sending a form letter to
certificate-issuing officers asking that the issuing officer verify the
age o f the minor, if an employment certificate or age card has been
issued to the minor, and also enter in the blanks provided for this
purpose the minor’s birth date and the number of the employment
certificate or age certificate, if any, issued for this employment. In
addition, a form letter is sent to the employer asking for substan­
tially the same information, and the minor is requested by letter
to send in the date o f his birth.
Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin extra-compensation provision applies if the minor
at the time o f the injury is (1) under permit age and illegally
employed, (2) o f permit age or over and working at prohibited
employment, and (3) of permit age and working without a permit
or at employment for which the commission has ruled that no per­
mits shall be issued.
Shortly after reports o f injuries to persons under 19 years o f age
are sent to the Wisconsin Industrial Commission, they are referred
for verification o f age and checking as to legality o f employment
to the child-labor department o f the commission, which is responsible
for the administration o f the State child labor law. During the
first few years after the extra compensation law became operative in
1917, the practice was to verify the ages o f all injured workers under
21. The checking of the ages of those reported to be between 19
and 21, however, was discontinued some years ago, because of the
amount o f time it required and because the ages o f relatively few
minors who were reported as 19 or over were found to have been
overstated. Under the Wisconsin child labor law 19 is three years
above the age up to which the hours o f labor provisions o f the child
labor law apply, two years above the age limit for employment
certificates, and one year above the age under which most hazardous
occupations are in general prohibited and attendance at continuation
school required.
The duplicate copies o f all work permits and age certificates issued
in Wisconsin, which the law requires to be sent to the industrial
commission, are filed with the child-labor department o f the com­
mission. The first step in the investigation of the legality o f the
employment o f injured minors by this department consists in a
canvass o f these records. In Wisconsin the issuance of certificates
throughout the State is under the authority of the industrial com­
mission and the work is very carefully supervised; in consequence
the certificate records on file in the office o f the commission are

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unusually complete. For this reason in most cases a search o f the
duplicate certificate records gives the necessary information as to the
child’s age or certificate status. I f the records do not yield the
facts needed as to these points, form letters are sent to both the
employer and the injured minor asking for information as to the
age o f the minor and the nature of the documentary evidence on
which the statement of age on the accident report was based. The
employer is also asked whether or not he had a permit on file for
the minor. In Wisconsin, as in Illinois and Indiana, a query as
to whether a certificate was on file is printed on the form on which
the employer reports the accident to the industrial commission (see
p. 66). and the employer is also asked to give the date of birth for
all injured persons whose ages are reported as under 18. I f no
duplicate certificate is found and the employer has reported that he
had a certificate on file, a letter is sent him to obtain further informa­
tion regarding the certification status o f the minor. I f the minor’s
certification status remains in doubt, letters are frequently sent to
the local certificate-issuing officer. I f the desired information as
to the minor’s age is not obtained through this correspondence, a
request is made o f the State or county health departments that they
search the birth records. I f all these efforts fail, inquiry is made
o f the school or church authorities, or other persons in the locality
where the child was injured, in a further effort to obtain the correct
date o f birth. The commission states that cases are rare in which
a reliable proof o f age can not be discovered.
Injuries that appear to have occurred to minors employed in
prohibited occupations are usually referred to the inspectors of
the safety and sanitation department o f the industrial commission
for special investigation. In such cases the inspector may also
make local inquiries as to the employee’s actual age and certificate
status. In addition to the investigation o f these specially referred
cases in which illegal occupation is suspected, all cases o f severe
injuries both to adults and to minors are investigated by the safety
and sanitation department to determine the cause o f the accident,
the character o f the occupation, and if easily ascertainable, the age
o f the injured person.
Indiana.

Illegally employed minors are not covered by the benefits o f the
present Indiana compensation act. The law enacted in 1923 and
since repealed, however, provided extra compensation for injuries to
them. The industrial board still makes the same investigation of
reported accidents to establish legality o f employment inaugurated
under extra compensation. The form on which accidents are re­
ported by employers in Indiana, as in Illinois and Wisconsin, con­
tains a query as to whether minors of “ employment-certificate ” age
(between 14 and 16) or o f “ age-certificate ” age (between 16 and 18)
had the required certificates on file.
Reports o f all acidents, after they have been numbered and in­
dexed in the compensation department of the State industrial board,
are referred to the department of women and children, also under
the industrial board, which is responsible for the enforcement o f the
State child labor law. This department investigates the legality o f
employment o f all minors reported as under 20. This is two years

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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

above the age up to which the employment o f minors is regulated by
law by the requirement o f employment or age certificates and o f
attendance at continuation schools and by the prohibition o f work
in certain hazardous employments.
Duplicate copies o f all employment certificates or certificates o f
age issued throughout the State must be sent to the industrial board
of Indiana by local issuing officers, and these certificates are kept on
file in the department of women and children. Daily, as the accident
reports come in, all those in which the age o f the injured person is
reported as under 20 are checked with this file for verification o f age
and certification status. I f no duplicate certificate is found, a letter
is written the issuing officer in the town in which the injured minor
lives, and an attempt is made to verify his age through the records
o f the school census, which is taken annually throughout the State
and covers all persons under 21. I f the school census records yield
no information, no further effort is made to verify the age. In cases
in which the industrial board can not find a certificate on file, and in
which the employer fails to state in the accident report whether or
not he has a certificate for the injured employee on file, or if he states
that he has none, regardless o f whether or not a certificate is found
in the files o f the board or the age verified, a letter is written to the
employer stating that the child was employed in violation of the law,
calling his attention to the provisions o f the law, and ordering him
to comply with them and notify the board that he has done so.' I f
he has the certificate and has merely failed to state the fact, this gives
him the opportunity to produce it. I f he states that he had the cer­
tificate and no duplicate is found in the industrial board he is re­
quested to forward the name of the issuing officer so that the dupli­
cate, which should be on file in the department o f women and chil­
dren, may be located. Furthermore, in all instances in which the age
o f the injured workman has been omitted from an accident report
the department o f women and children writes the employer asking
for this information and if an injured employee is reported to be
under 20 years o f age the age is verified in the usual manner. Oc­
casionally, as when a boy has moved from the town in which his
certificate was issued, this information is forthcoming, but usually
the employer admits himself in error or fails to reply to the request,
which is, in itself, regarded as sufficient evidence to discredit his
original statement.
The accident reports are also examined in the office o f the depart­
ment o f women and children for other violations o f the law—that
is, prohibited occupations, night work, and so forth—but no special
investigations are made in Indiana by the factory inspectors in cases
in which the employment o f children in „prohibited occupations is
indicated.
A fter the completion o f this investigation a memorandum is at­
tached to the accident report calling attention to any illegality of
employment and the report returned to the compensation department.
PROCEDURE IN OBTAINING PAYMENT OF EXTRA COMPENSATION

In most o f the States in which the workmen’s compensation law
provides for the payment of additional compensation, the law re­
quires that this payment be made by the employer. Usually it has

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been found more difficult to obtain the payment o f this additional
sum from the employer than the payment of primary compensation,
which is usually paid by the insurance company. This study in­
dicates that the extent to which the extra compensation is paid
depends largely upon the procedure followed by the administrative
agency, which in turn may also depend to some extent upon the
general authority given the administrative agency on its own
initiative to take action in cases in which the employee has not filed
a claim or requested a hearing.07 According to information avail­
able considerable variation exists in the extent to which the admin­
istrative agency follows up the matter o f payment in such cases. In
some States the agency appears to limit its responsibility merely
to checking the agreement o f settlement between employer and em­
ployee and refusing to give the necessary official approval to this
agreement i f it does not provide for the additional compensation.
In a few States, however, the administrative agency as soon as it has
evidence o f illegality, without waiting for the agreement to come
in, notifies the employer o f his obligation under the law. In at
least one State, Wisconsin, it follows up the matter in all cases ex­
cept those in which formal award is entered by the commission until
payment is made. (See p. 73.) A somewhat similar procedure
Was formerly followed in Illinois.
Alabama.

The Alabama workmen’s compensation law is weaker in its admin­
istrative provisions than that o f most States in that it does not pro­
vide that all claims for compensation must be submitted to a central
administrative board or commission and that all settlements be
approved by it. It does provide, however, for an office, known as
the workmen’s compensation bureau, with which must be filed reports
o f all industrial accidents and settlements for compensation and
reports o f all cases taken to court. A bureau with such limited
powers, all the work of which is handled by one clerk, can not, o f
course, follow up all cases and insure prompt and full payments as
can the boards and commissions o f some other States. Cases in
which double compensation is due are, however, brought to the atten­
tion o f the insurance companies98 or the employer ix self-insured by
the clerk o f the bureau, who also examines the settlement reports in
such cases with a view to determining whether or not the extra
compensation has been paid. The bureau has no legal authority,
however, to see that compensation is in fact paid. Although no
case has occurred, as yet, in which liability has not been insured or in
which the carrier has refused to pay, it is stated that if such a case
should come up the clerk would notify the child of his right to pro" Among the 9 States providing extra compensation for illegally employed minors
Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Michigan are the only ones in which any such power is
given to the administrative agency by specific provision. In New York in practice the
same result is reached as hearings are held and awards are made in all cases and
all double-compensation cases are followed u p ; if payment is not made within 30
days, they are referred to the legal department for collection. (The Social Aspects of
the Administration of the Double Compensation Law in New York State, p. 77.) In Mary­
land, although there is no specific provision, once the minor has filed claim for compensatlpn u n d ertlle rules oi Practice adopted by the commission, notice is given to the employer
o f the claim and he is told that an order for compensation will be issued on a certain
day unless he requests a hearing.
98 Apparently the insurance companies may insure and become liable for the extra
compensation, since the law does not provide that the employer shall alone be liable
for the additional amount.
125914— 32------- 4


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

eeed at court and would also notify the child-welfare department o f
the case in order that inspectors o f the department might also advise
the child or his parents.
Illinois.

'

The procedure formerly followed in Illinois, when the facts indi­
cated the illegal employment o f an injured minor, was for the bureau
of statistics and research to send a letter, in which was inclosed a
copy o f the State child labor law, to the employer asking for the
payment o f the 50 per cent additional compensation required by law.
Copies o f this letter were sent to the insurance company and to the
injured minor. I f the employer did not respond to the second or
third requests for payment, the child was informed that he might
file a claim with the industrial commission; or if he lived in Chicago,
that he might go to the legal aid bureau o f the Chicago United
Charities for advice. The Industrial Commission o f Illinois having
no authority to collect the extra compensation itself, the most it
could do was to report the case to the attorney general for prosecu­
tion. The bureau has discontinued the correspondence described
above, and at the present time there is no follow up of such cases to
see that extra compensation is paid.
Maryland.

I f a minor under 16 has been reported by the office o f the com­
missioner o f labor and statistics to have been employed at the time
o f the injury without a certificate or at an occupation other than
that for which his certificate was issued, the industrial accident com­
mission sends a> letter to his employer stating that unless proof is
furnished that he was legally employed or unless a request for a
hearing is received by a certain day, an order requiring the em­
ployer to pay double compensation will be issued on that day. A
disputed case may, at the employer’s or the employee’s request, be
set down for hearing. The case is then heard and the commission
makes its determination after due consideration o f the testimony
presented.
As no investigation is made regarding the legality of employment
o f minors between 16 and 18 (see p. 37), extra compensation is
awarded in such cases only i f it develops at a hearing that the
minor has been employed at a prohibited occupation.
Michigan.

In cases in which violations are found, letters are sent the em­
ployer asking for a “ full and complete statement ” o f the facts in
connection with the case, in order that the commission may deter­
mine whether or not the injured employee is entitled to double
compensation. I f it is found that the occupation is illegal, an
agreement for double compensation is demanded; and if refused, the
case is set for hearing before one o f the deputy commissioners in
order that the facts may be determined. In cases in which an
agreement for compensation is approved or an award is made re­
quiring double compensation, the department o f labor and industry
checks receipts for compensation as they come in to see that the
payments are actually made in accordance with the terms o f the
agreement or award and writes insurance carriers or employers if
receipts for payments are not received or adequate payment is not
made.

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Missouri.

Double compensation has not up to the present time been awarded
in Missouri, so that no procedure has been developed to obtain pay­
ment from employers in such cases.
New Jersey.

The bureau o f women and children o f the State department o f
labor takes up with the employer the cases o f minors injured while
illegally employed and issues orders for the correction o f the viola­
tions noted. The department reports that some employers have
been prosecuted for violations of the child labor law in cases in
which children have been injured while illegally employed. The
workmen’s compensation bureau advises the employer with ref­
erence to the amount o f additional compensation due the injured
minor and follows up the case until this is paid. I f liability is
questioned, a hearing, formal or informal, may be had at the request
o f either party, after which a decision is made.
New York.

Up to the year 1929 no special procedure had been followed by
the New York State Department o f Labor in insuring the payment
o f extra compensation. In the study of extra compensation recently
made by the department it was found that o f the 152 cases in which
employers were liable for the payment o f extra compensation 34 em­
ployees had not received the additional amounts due them. As a
result o f this study a routine was established under which letters are
sent to employers in all cases in which the award is not paid within
30 days, the legal time limit for filing an appeal. I f the employer
still fails to pay, the case is turned over to the legal department for
collection. In commenting on this procedure the report states:
The present procedure is an improvement, but it is not entirely satisfactory.
N o effort is made to collect the award by means of visits to employers as could
be done in many cases. Long delays may occur after the case has been
referred to the legal department.89

In this New York study, an effort was made to ascertain the reasons
fo r nonpayment and also to collect the extra compensation in as
many cases as possible. Some action was taken in 13 cases. Eight
o f these cases involved only small amounts for which payment in
f ull was made at once. In 3 other cases involving larger amounts
installment payments were agreed to, and two employers are known
to have begun making small weekly payments. In the 2 remaining
cases judgments were issued against the employer.
Pennsylvania.

Wherever it is found that injured minors were at the time o f in­
jury employed in violation o f any provision of the child labor law,
adjusters are sent out by the bureau of workmen’s compensation of
the State department of labor to investigate the case and obtain a
settlement for additional compensation as provided by the act. I f
the employer refuses to sign an agreement for the additional com­
pensation, the minor and his parents or guardian are informed of
their rights and advised to file a claim petition, which brings the
matter before a referee who considers the claim and either grants
“ The Social Aspects of the Administration of the Double Compensation Law in New
Vork State, p. 77.


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an award or dismisses the claim. I f the minor for any reason fails
to file a claim petition, the department can go no further in obtain­
ing the payment o f additional compensation as the Pennsylvania
act contains no provision permitting the department to initiate upon
its own motion a formal inquiry into the matter and to determine
the facts and make awards as it may do upon application o f either
party.
The bureau of workmen’s compensation gives the bureau o f women
and children a report of the final settlement o f all cases that have
been referred to it as cases o f illegal employment.
Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin when the child-labor department of the industrial
commission, which makes the investigation as to legality, finds that
the injured minor is entitled to extra compensation, a letter is sent
to the employer in which the law is quoted and his responsibility for
the extra payment is explained. Except in cases in which the com­
mission enters a formal award it continues to follow up the case
until payment is made. In all such cases the commission requires
the injured minor to sign a release, distinct from that filed for the
primary compensation paid by the insurance company, stating that
he has received from his employer the specified sum due him under
the extra compensation law, and the case is closed only when the
commission has received receipts for both the primary and the extra
compensation. In the vast majority o f cases, the extra compensation
is paid and the receipts filed promptly after the employer is notified
o f his liability. When an award is entered in disputed cases, the
minor is almost always represented by an attorney, who sees to it
that the award is collected. I f the employer does not pay, the insur­
ance company is liable for the extra compensation. Cases in which
both the employer and the insurance company lack funds to pay are
very rare. I f the employer is unusually delinquent in paying, or
has been a frequent and flagrant offender o f the child labor law,
prosecution under the child labor law may be started, but this has
been found necessary in very few cases, and the commission is
o f the opinion that in most cases the penalty imposed on the em­
ployer by the payment of the extra compensation is sufficient to
serve as a deterrent to future violations o f the law. (F or further
details, see pp. 71-76.)
MEASURES FOR CONSERVING EXTRA-COMPENSATION FUNDS PAID TO MINORS

When the law provides for the payment o f double or treble com­
pensation for injuries to illegally employed minors the amount o f
compensation may be large. I f the additional amount as well as the
primary compensation is paid to the minor in the form of weekly
payments, it may, especially in cases of permanent and other serious
disabilities, amount to considerably more than the wages the minor
was receiving at the time o f injury or than he is likely to receive
when he returns to work, and considerably more than may be neces­
sary for his support in the manner in which he has been accustomed
to live. The temptation to persons o f the immaturity o f most in­
jured minors to waste the money, and frequently the temptation
to the parents to spend the money other than in a way to benefit

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the minor himself, is very great. One State, Wisconsin, frequently
follows the practice when the awards are considerable, especially
in the case o f minors permanently disabled, o f placing in trust
until the minor is 21, or even older in some cases, the entire amount
o f the additional award, and sometimes also all or part of the pri­
mary compensation as well, permitting no payment o f interest or
capital except with the approval o f the State industrial commission.
(F or further details, see pp. 76-79.) In other cases the commis­
sion orders the total amount of compensation due to be paid to a
guardian appointed by the court who is charged with the responsi­
bility o f seeing that the money is properly spent or invested until
the minor reaches his majority. The money is thus saved until a
time when the injured minor is capable o f using it to better ad­
vantage than during his minority, or all or part o f it is used to
procure education or training.
What may happen when the minors’ compensation funds are not
protected in this way is shown by a recent study o f the operation of
the extra compensation law in New York, where compensation pay­
ments are relatively high and are usually made on a weekly basis.
In this study it was found that few, even of the minors who were
permanently injured and who had been awarded large amounts o f
compensation, had saved a substantial part o f their compensation or
had spent it for education or in other profitable ways. In this New
York study information was obtained from 145 children who had
received a total o f $134,590.26 as to how they used their money. The
findings o f this investigation are as follow s: 1
Four out of five children who sustained permanent partial disabilities spent
some part of their compensation on living expenses. The total thus expended
equaled 52 per cent of the amount received. H a lf of the 68 permanently
injured children who made some expenditure for current living expenses dis­
posed of all or practically all (a t least 85 per cent) of their compensation in
this way. Bight of these children had had very serious injuries. * * *
Y e t at the time these children were interviewed they had spent practically
their entire awards for living expenses without making any provision for the
future. One boy, whose right index finger had been amputated, turned the
whole award over to his mother. * * *
Only seven boys and girls who were permanently injured used any of their
compensation for vocational training at a total cost of less than $400. * * *
The parents of eight minors availed themselves of the compensation money
to purchase a house or to pay taxes and assessments on property which they
owned. The total spent was $14,831.56, or 11 per cent of all compensation
received by the children who had permanent partial injuries. * * * In
only one case did the parents “ borrow ” the money. The others assumed, as
a matter of course, that it might be used for the welfare of the fam ily group.
The parents of one Italian boy in New York City appropriated the entire award
to pay off a mortgage on the 3-family house which they owned at the time of
the accident and to purchase another house. This boy had had four fingers
of his left hand amputated, and although hisl parents have supported him since
the accident, none of the money has been definitely set apart for securing his
future. Another boy up-State, who had been awarded 90 per cent loss of use
of his arm, had consumed part of his compensation in living expenses, in
buying an automobile, and in pleasure trips. H is mother invested more than
half of the $8,232 received in a 2rfamily house. * * *
Six children used part of their awards as business investments or loans.
Three boys, who had had very serious injuries and had lost from 60 to nearly
100 per cent of their hands, invested part of the compensation money in a
1 The Social Aspects of the Administration of the Double Compensation Law in
New York State, pp. 51—54, 85—86.


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business. One started a restaurant, another purchased an interest in a dress'shop, and the third financed his venture in vaudeville. A ll three were un­
successful. Two boys loaned some of their compensation money to their fam­
ilies and the sixth spent part o f his award for necessary expenses in connection;
with his work as pianist in an orchestra.
Four children spent $1,425.86 to purchase automobiles. * * *
Forty-one, or only half of the permanently injured minors reporting, hadany savings at the time o f the interview; their savings amounted to only
29 per cent o f the total which the group had received. The sum saved by
12 boys and girls was quite small and must be regarded as chance tem­
porary savings which would soon be consumed for living expenses, clothes^
or possibly a pleasure trip. * * *
Some of these children and also some of those who spent everything on living:
expenses had begun by saving the compensation payments, but only 29 had
been able to save a substantial part of their awards. Twenty-one of the
twenty-nine children had saved half or more than half o f the compensationreceived, and were chiefly responsible for the total of $37,304.15. Six minors
had saved the entire amount received. Some of the savings were due to the
initiative of the parents, some to the children themselves. Apparently thefamilies of these 29 minors had a greater sense of responsibility and consid­
eration for the future needs of their childen than the majority of the families.
However, few children or their families had definite plans for the use of the
money which they were saving. It was merely kept on deposit in a savings
bank, or in some cases was invested in stocks or bonds. W hen the purpose o f
the saving was expressly stated, it was most frequently for some future emer­
gency such as unemployment or illness. * * * Five boys intended to use
their compensation for high-school or college expenses. The father of one
permanently injured girl was saving the compensation as a dowry for his
daughter’s marriage. Another boy, who was still at school, intended to invest
his money in a business.
It is of the utmost significance that only half of these handicapped children
had saved even a fraction of their awards and that in 12 cases the savings
were haphazard and would probably be spent for current needs. Foremost
among other expenditures was the money spent by parents toward the pur­
chase of houses. Next most important were legal fees, followed in order by
loans and business ventures, purchase of automobiles, medical expenses, and
vocational training.
It will be noticed that the savings equaled 47 per cent of the total amount
received up-State but only 20 per cent in New York City. This is due to the
fact that guardians had been appointed for 4 up-State minors. These 4
minors, two boys and two girls, had saved approximately $17,000, or 88 per
cent of the total of $19,346.65 saved by the 13 permanently injured minors
reporting up-State.

The beneficial results o f the appointment o f guardians in double­
compensation cases where awards are large is recognized by the
authors o f this report and the extension of the practice is recom­
mended, as follow s:
* * * Three o f these four permanently handicapped children had been
able to keep intact practically their entire awards as insurance for the future,
while the fourth,^ who had spent almost two-thirds of her award, had used it
for necessary living expenses and as tuition for a business course which pre­
pared her to earn her own living.
Although four cases would, in general, be considered somewhat limited
evidence, the facts here are striking enough to deserve careful attention. Not
only had these four children saved or put to good use the funds which they had
received, but their savings constituted 46 per cent of the entire amount saved
by the 81 permanently disabled children who reported how they used their
money. In other words, 4 children were responsible for almost half the
savings, 77 children for the other half.
These facts in themselves seem to point definitely toward the necessity of
extending the practice of appointing guardians. * * *
There has never been an established policy in regard to the appointment
o f guardians in double-compensation cases. The four appointments came about
really by chance. A ll were made in connection with large awards. In two
cases, the children’s attorneys were responsible and in another a social worker,


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WORKMEN" ’ S COMPENSATION" L A W S — U N IT E D STATES

49

who was interested in the child, brought about the appointment of a guardian.
The fourth case happened to be in an up-State county where it is the generally
accepted practice to appoint guardians for all minors receiving compensation
awards of $150 or more.
It is apparent, in view of the very few cases in which guardians have been
appointed, that it would be necessary to establish some definite procedure
in order to have the practice widely accepted.

As a result o f the facts brought out in this study the division of
workmen’s compensation o f the New York State Department of
Labor now makes it a practice to refer to its bureau o f aftercare serv­
ice for investigation all cases in which there is under consideration
the awarding o f a large sum to an injured minor, in order that the
referee, before whom the case comes for hearing, may be informed
as to whether or not it seems desirable to have a guardian appointed
who can look after the best interests o f the child in the use o f this
money. This is done not only in cases in which a double-compensa­
tion award is involved but also in other cases when deemed advisable.
Whenever, in the judgment of the aftercare bureau and the referee,
the appointment of a guardian would appear to further the child’s
interest, it is required that such appointment be made before the
amount o f the award can be paid over. No fixed sum has been
stipulated as requiring the appointment o f a guardian, as the divi­
sion o f workmen’s compensation believes that with varying circum­
stances it may be desirable to vary the practice in this regard.


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Part 2.— SPECIAL STUDIES OF ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED
MINORS UNDER THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
LAWS OF WISCONSIN AND INDIANA

WISCONSIN
INTRODUCTION

Wisconsin was selected as one o f the States for the Children’s
Bureau study of minors injured while illegally employed because it
is one in which extra compensation is given under the workmen’s
compensation act, and because as the first State to enact extra-com­
pensation legislation its experience and its records extend over a
number o f years. The study was concerned primarily with the
administrative procedure that has been evolved in carrying out the
extra-compensation provision and the methods o f dealing with the
various problems that have arisen in the course of its administration,
as shown by the records o f extra-compensation cases. The study o f
the records with this objective yielded also, however, important in­
formation in regard to the injured minors themselves, especially as
to the causes o f their injury and the amount o f compensation they
received, and this information has been analyzed and presented as
part o f the study.
As a basis for conclusions, information was obtained regarding all
cases recorded in the files o f the Wisconsin Industrial Commission,
which administers the workmen’s compensation law o f the State, o f
compensable accidents occurring to illegally employed minors from
September 1, 1917, when the law providing for the payment o f in­
creased compensation in such cases went into effect, through Decem­
ber 31, 1928. The latter date was selected to terminate the period
covered by the study because it was desired to have as complete a
record as possible o f all the cases included—preferably, so far as
possible, closed cases. Reports o f practically all injuries to illegally
employed minors occurring in 1928 and previous years that will ever
be reported to the commission should have been in its hands1 and the
cases closed by March, 1931, when the records o f the commission were
given a final search for the purposes o f this study.
Only cases definitely known to have been closed were included in
the statistical analysis, as conceivably some doubt might exist as to
whether or not any open case was actually an extra-compensation
case, even though there appeared from the record to be no question
as to the injured person’s eligibility for extra compensation. In the
final tabulation 5 cases were excluded because they had not been
1 Of the 948 cases in this study for which information was available as to both the
date of injury and the date on wnich employer’s report of accident was received by the
Industrial commission, reports of injuries were received in 27 cases one year or more,
in 1 case two years, and in 1 case three years after the date of injury.
51


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T H E IL L E G A L L Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

closed,2 7 because the records and correspondence were incomplete,
and 4 because the courts reversed the decision o f the commission that
extra compensation was due.8 Information was tabulated for 962
cases. For 698 (73 per cent) o f these the information was complete,
and for most o f the other 264 the information most necessary for the
purposes o f this inquiry (that is, the actual ages o f the injured
minors, the nature o f the legal provisions violated, the cause, extent,
and duration o f disability, and the amount o f compensation paid)
was available.4
THE WISCONSIN WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAW AND THE
INJURED MINOR
GENERAL PROVISIONS

The workmen’s compensation law 6 o f Wisconsin is in its general
features rather more liberal than similar laws in the majority o f the
States.6 It is not only very broad as to the type of injury for which
it provides compensation, applying to all accidental injuries grow­
ing out o f or incidental to employment which cause disability for
more than one week 7 or which result in death, but it applies also
to certain cases o f disfigurement and is one o f the few laws that
provide compensation for occupational diseases generally.8 Practi­
cally all employments are covered by the act, the only exceptions
being such employment as is almost universally exempted in the

w u uieu aim uu aummisirator oi ms estate Had been appointed; and in 1 the
nnnor s mother refused to permit the minor to accept extra compensation, as she herself
had asked the employer to hire him.
3 A . F .P o t t e r v. Industrial Commission and Joseph Matter, Circuit Court of Dane
County, W isconsin; Schanen v. Industrial Commission, 228 N. W. 520 (1930) ; Zurich
General Accident and Liability Insurance Co. v. Industrial Commission, 220 N. W 377
Jgee P- 6 ! ) ; Calvetti et al. v. Gasbarri, 230 N. W. 130 (see p. 64). A fifth case
(Hotel Martin Co. v. Industrial Commission, 195 N. W. 865 (see p. 122). was included
in the tabulation because extra compensation appears to have been due under the
, ':ile court s decision that the commission’s award for extra compensation could
not be sustained being based solely on the fact that it had been made after the time
had expired for reopening the case. The case had been settled some time before, at a
time when the commission had not known the injured person was a minor illegally
employed.
° J
4 The, employer’s report of the injury was missing in 126 (13 per cent) of the cases;
most of these cases occurred in the first year or two after the extra compensation law
became operative, many of the records for which had been officially destroyed. In 12
per cent of the cases no releases or receipts for compensation were on file and
in1 1
per cent only one release, but, as approximately half of the cases for which releases
were not available had occurred before 1920, they had probably also been destroyed.
Laws o f 1911, ch. 50. Amendments have been made by each subsequent session of
the legislature. (Wis., Stat. 1929, secs. 102.01 to 102.41.)
For _a general discussion of the provisions of workmen’s compensation laws, see
Comparison o f Workmen’s Compensation Laws of the United States as of Jan. 1, 1925
(U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 379, Washington, 1926) ; Workmen’s
Compensation Legislation o f the United States and Canada as of July 1, 1926 (U. S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 423, Washington, 1926) ; Workmen’s Compensa­
tion Legislation o f the United States and Canada as of Jan. 1, 1929 (U. S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 496, Washington, 1929.) Statements on pp. 52 to 55
regarding the provisions of other laws as compared with the Wisconsin law are based
In part on the last-named publication, and are limited to the 44 States having work? e?rio-iC0i?*iei?sa“ 0ri ^aws an^ the District o f Columbia. These statements are of Jan.
L 1P?1> but important legislative changes made in the Wisconsin law in 1931 have been
added in footnotes.
7 Since the date o f the study and the writing of this report, the legislature has amended
the workmen s compensation act to provide compensation if the disability extends for
more than three days. (Wis., Laws of 1931, ch. 66.)
'O n ly 5 States— California, Connecticut, Massachusetts (by court decision diseases
contracted through employment under conditions not, as yet, definitely defined), North
Dakota, and Wisconsin— and the District of Columbia allow compensation for occupa­
tional diseases generally and only six additional States— Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota,
New Jersey, New York, and Ohio— provide compensation for specified occupational dis­
eases or for occupational diseases arising out of designated employments.


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compensation laws o f the United States; namely, farm labor and
domestic service.9 Employers o f less than three employees are ex­
empted, but the Wisconsin law in this respect also is more liberal
than the compensation laws o f many States.10 During the period
o f the study, the act was compulsory for the State and its political
subdivisions and was optional for all private employers,11 but its
acceptance was presumed in the case o f all private employers having
three or more employees in the absence o f the filing of written
notice to the contrary with the State industrial commission,12 and
those rejecting it were denied all the usual common-law defenses in
damage suits.18 A large number o f employers had elected to come
under the act. The State industrial commission estimated that from
85 to 90 per cent o f the employees in the State, exclusive of agricul­
tural and domestic workers, came under its operation, and in addition
a considerable number o f agricultural and domestic workers are
covered through the voluntary acceptance o f the act by their
employers.
Compensation was payable during the period of the study for a
disability lasting more than one week,14 which is the waiting period
provided by most compensation laws.15 I f the disability lasted more
than three weeks, compensation was paid from the date o f injury.14
A comparison of total benefit costs under the compensation laws
o f the various States, compiled as of January 1, 1931, by the National
9 Farm labor is exempted from the workmen’s compensation law in the District of Co­
lumbia and in all States except New Jersey and California, but in Arizona agricultural
workers employed in the use of machinery, in Kentucky operators of threshing machines
used in threshing or hulling grain or seed, in Minnesota employees of commercial threshermen or of commercial balers, and in South Dakota operators of commercial threshing
machines are covered by the acts, and in Wisconsin the exemption of farm work does not
cover work for a commercial thresher man, clover huller, silo filler, corn shredder, or
“ other employer whose employees work along with farmers or farm laborers.”
Domestic service is exempted in the District of Columbia and in all States except New
Jersey.
10 In 23 States employers are exempt who have less than a specified number of em­
ployees, the number being less than 2 in Oklahoma; less than 3 in Arizona, Kentucky,
Ohio, Texas, Utah, and W isconsin; less than 4 in Colorado, New Mexico, and in New
York for nonhazardous employments; less than 5 in Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, New
Hampshire, North Carolina, and Tennessee; less than 6 in Maine and Rhode Island; less
than 10 in Georgia; less than 11 in Missouri (for nonhazardous employments), Vermont,
and Virginia; and less than 16 in Alabama. The Wisconsin act also exempts an employee
“ whose employment is not in the course of a trade, business, profession, or occupation o f
his employer * *
the latter exemption being somewhat similar to the exclusions
found in many State laws of employees whose employment is only casual.
n Since the writing of this report the act has been made compulsory for all private
employers except farmers, including public-service corporations, who usually employ three
or more employees. Employers of domestic servants are likewise exempted from the
compulsory provision of the act. (Wis., Laws of 1931, ch. 87.)
12 In the case of a railroad company operating a steam railroad engaged in intrastate
commerce, however, both employers and employees engaged in “ operating, running, or rid­
ing upon, or switching * * * trains ” were required to file written notice with the
commission in order to obtain the benefits of the act. See footnote 11, above, for 1931
amendment making the act compulsory as to public-service corporations. A t the time of
this study acceptance was presumed in the case of employees of accepting employers who
did not give written notice that they did not wish to be covered by the terms of the act.
In 1931, by ch. 87, the legislature removed the right of an employee to reject the act
except in case o f epilepsy and total blindness.
13 That is, such an employer could not defeat the employee’ s suit for damages for a
personal injury on the ground that the accident was due to contributory negligence of
the employee, or to a risk assumed by the employee, or to the fault of a fellow servant.
These defenses, however, were restored to employers operating under the act in a suit by
an employee rejecting the act. Acceptance was optional with employers exempted from
the act, but they did not lose their common-law defenses, except that employers (other
than farmers) o f less than three employees lost the common-law defense of assumed risk
if they did not come within the act. Under the 1931 amendment making the act com­
pulsory (see footnote 11) the position of employers as to whom acceptance is still optional
is unchanged.
14 Since the date of this study and the writing of this report, the waiting period in
Wisconsin has been reduced to 3 days and compensation is also made payable for the first
3 days if the employee is disabled longer than 10 days. (Wis., Laws of 1931, ch. 66.)
16
On January 1, 1931, only two States (Oregon and South Dakota) had no waiting
period, and only five States had a shorter waiting period than W isconsin: Maryland, Mis­
souri, Utah, and Washington, 3 d a ys; Oklahoma, 5 days.


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

Council on Compensation Insurance,16 indicates that the benefits
under the Wisconsin act, when costs for all classes o f injuries are
combined, were at that time more liberal than those in all other States
except 3,17 and at least 50 per cent higher than those in more than
half the States. A t the time of this comparison the rate for com­
puting compensation for all disabilities except death was 65 per
cent o f the average weekly earnings,18 higher than that provided
in 23 States for temporary total disability.19 The range of weekly
payments, also, from a maximum o f $19.50 to a minimum of $6.83
was liberal when compared with other states.20 The total compen­
sation for temporary total disability may not exceed four years’
earnings (a maximum of $6,000),21 but this is greater than the maxi­
mum amount that may be paid in 21 States ; 22 moreover, no limita­
tion is placed by the Wisconsin law upon the period during which
compensation may be paid. For permanent total disability the
maximum period for which compensation may be paid is 1,000 weeks,
a period longer than that fixed in the laws o f 24 States,23 resulting,
if maximum weekly compensation had been paid, in a maximum total
possible payment o f $19,500.24 The provision for medical aid is
also relatively generous and elastic. No limitation is placed on
the amount that may be expended, and, although the period during
which aid may be required to be given is limited to 90 days, the
industrial commission may extend this period in special cases, not
to exceed, however, the period for which compensation is payable.
16 This comparison of costs (which are “ weighted ” averages) is stated to be correct in
a general way only, as the distribution of accidents by type of injury varies in the dif­
ferent States. The figures are also subject to many limitations because so many elements,
the effect o f which can only be surmised, enter into the computations.
17 The three States were Arizona, New York, and North Dakota. The benefit costs
under the United States longshoreman’s act and the District of Columbia act were also
classified as exceeding those of Wisconsin.
18 Since the writing o f this report Wisconsin has raised its compensation rate to 70 per
cent of the average weekly earnings of the employee, a rate higher than is provided in
any other State. (Wis., Laws of 1931, ch. 101.)
“ Only 13 States and the District of Columbia fixed a higher rate (66% per cent), and
23 fixed a lower rate; 5 fixed a rate equal to that in Wisconsin. (In 4 of the 23
States, however— Idaho, Illinois, Montana, and Oregon— the rate was as high or higher
than in Wisconsin at that time if the employee had a certain number of dependents and
in one o f the five (Arizona), although the rate was the same as that of Wisconsin, a flat
sum was added in the case of certain dependents.) Two States did not base compensa­
tion on the amount of wages earned but specified a flat sum.
20 Since the date of this study and the writing of this report the maximum and mini­
mum weekly payments have been increased to $21 and $7.35, respectively. (Wis., Laws
of 1931, ch. 101.) On Jan. 1, 1931 (using maximum and minimum weekly compensation
payment for temporary total disability as a basis for comparison), 1 State, among the
jurisdictions that based compensation on wages, fixed no weekly maximum and only 12
and the District of Columbia provided a higher maximum than Wisconsin, whereas 28
States provided a lower weekly maximum. Twenty States and the District of Columbia
fixed a higher weekly minimum, but in only 9 of these jurisdictions was the minimum
absolute as in Wisconsin, the remainder permitting the payment of actual wages in lieu
of such minimum if wages were less than minimum. Twenty-one States fixed either no
weekly minimum or a lower minimum than Wisconsin. The 2 States not basing compensa­
tion on wages but providing a set monthly amount varying with the number of dependents,
provided a higher maximum and minimum than Wisconsin.
21 The act provides that the average annual earnings of employees shall be taken at not
more than $1,500. (Wis., Stat. 1929, sec. 102.11.)
22 California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York,
Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia, in which the specified maximum is less
than $6,000, and Alabama, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
Tennessee, and West Virginia, in which the term provided for payments combined with the
maximum weekly payment prevents the total possible payment equaling $6,000.
23 The remaining 20 jurisdictions having a maximum period exceeding that of Wis­
consin are Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South
Dakota, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
24 Since the 1931 amendment, which resulted in raising the maximum weekly com­
pensation to $21 (ch. 101), a maximum of $21,000 is possible. Thirteen States, however,
provide compensation in permanent total disability cases for life, without limiting the
total paym ent: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Nebraska, Nevada, New
York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.


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This standard is exceeded only by a few jurisdictions, those that
limit neither the total cost nor the total period of medical a id 25
and one that places no limitation on the amount and requires medical
aid to be given for a longer period than in Wisconsin.26
In fatal cases burial expenses up to $200 are allowed, and total
dependents may receive an amount equaling four times the em­
ployee’s annual earnings. I f the employee leaves no one totally
dependent on him, the law has provided since 1929 for a payment of
$1,200 to an “ unestranged surviving parent or parents residing
within * * * the United States,” and in all other cases o f par­
tial dependency, for the payment of such sum as the commission
shall determine, not exceeding twice the average annual earnings or
four times the employee’s contribution to his dependents in the pre­
ceding year, whichever is greater. I f there are no total dependents,
the employer or insurer is required to pay into the State treasury
the difference between the amount payable if the employee had left
such total dependents and the amount due partial dependents, such
payment not to exceed $1,600.
Administration o f the workmen’s compensation law is lodged with
the State industrial commission, which enforces all the labor laws
o f the State, including the child labor law, and is charged with the
arbitration and conciliation of disputes and the collection o f indus­
trial statistics. The commission consists o f three members, each o f
whom is appointed by the governor with the consent o f the senate
for a term o f six years; its employees are selected under State civilservice regulations.
PROVISIONS RELATING ESPECIALLY TO MINORS

Specific provisions concerning minor employees found in the W is­
consin law relate to (1) the power o f a minor to contract for the
purposes o f the act in the same way as if he were an adult em­
ployee,27 (2) the requirement that a minor’s compensation for per­
manent disability shall be based on his probable earnings after
majority,28 and (3) the requirement that if a minor is injured while
employed in violation of specified provisions o f the child labor law,
he (or in cases o f fatal injury his dependents) shall receive in com­
pensation an amount in addition to the primary or regular compen­
sation provided in the act.29
'Power of minor to contract.

The provision giving minors power to contract is similar to that
of a number o f compensation laws and is intended to facilitate proceedings with respect to minor employees. It endows a minor with
legal capacity to act for himself in proceedings under the act, replac­
ing the common-law rule that in general a minor, for his own pro­
tection, has not the capacity to bind himself absolutely by contract
but must act through a guardian. The minor “ becomes for the pur­
poses o f the act an adult, or at least on the same plane ” 80 and is
«* California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North
Dakota, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
28 Nevada. In this State medical aid is required to be furnished for six months and
¿may be extended for an additional period of one year.
» Wis., Stat. 1929, sec. 102.07. (For text, see p. 133.)
28 Wis., Stat. 1929, sec. 102.11 (1) (e).
28Wis., Stat. 1929, sec. 102.09 (7) and (8 ). (For text, see p. 133.)
»«Borgnis et al. v. Falk Co. (147 Wis. 327, 133 N. W. 209 (1911)).


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permitted to represent himself in proceedings before the commis­
sion.31 During the period o f the study, the act was presumed to
apply to a minor as to an adult in the absence of written notice to
the contrary; in addition, a minor could, just as if he were an adult,
reject the act, accept and receipt for weekly compensation payments,
and enter into agreements for compensation or compromise settle­
ments, and make any other contracts permitted under the act to
adults.®
Basis of computing compensation to injured minors.

Under the act compensation to a minor for any temporary disability
is based on the minor’s average weekly earnings. I f he is perma­
nently disabled, however, the law requires that compensation for the
permanent disability must be determined on the basis o f the earnings
which he, if not disabled, would probably earn after the age o f 21
years,82 and unless otherwise established such earnings are to be taken
as equivalent to the amount upon which maximum weekly indemnity
is payable.33 The future earnings that are to be considered are
those that the minor would probably earn within a reasonable time
after reaching his majority and not either the amount which he
might earn immediately upon arriving at majority or the highly
speculative amount which he might earn at an indefinite time there­
after.34 The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a decision more liberal
than that given by the courts o f certain other States, upheld the com­
mission’s consideration o f future earnings in an industry or occupa­
tion other than that in which the employee was hurt, and did rot
require that such probable future earnings be limited to those that
the minor might earn after majority in the same industry or occu­
pation in which he was injured.85
“ Menominee Bay Shore Lumber Co. v. Industrial Commission o f Wisconsin et al.
(162 Wis. 344, 156 N. W. 151 (1916)).
« See footnote 12, p. 53, for amendment enacted in 1931 removing the right of an
employee to reject the a c t ; other contractual rights of minors remained the same.
88 For methods used in computing compensation to minors under other workmen’s
compensation laws, see Child Labor— Facts and Figures, pp. 77, 78 (U. S. Children’s
Bureau Publication No. 197, Washington, 1930) ; Child Labor; report of the subcom­
mittee on child labor of the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection,
pp. 354—358 (Washington, 1932). Since the writing of this report the Wisconsin pro­
vision has been made to apply to persons under the age of 27 years instead of only to
minors, and the probable future earnings to be considered are those which the employee
“ if not disabled probably would earn after attaining the age of 27 years.” (Wis., Laws
o f 1931, chs. 42 and 403.)
83 In Town of New Holstein v. Daun et al. (209 N. W. 695 (1926)) it was urged that
the provision placing upon an employer the burden of proving that the minor would
probably not earn after majority an amount equal to that upon which the maximum
compensation was payable was unconstitutional. The court, after saying that under
the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Booth Fisheries Co. et al. v.
Industrial Commission (46 Sup. Ct. 491, 271 U. S. 208 (1926)), employers who vol­
untarily accept the act can not question its constitutionality, held that subdivisions
o f the State (in this case a town, which was the employer), which come under the
law by force of statute, are subject to reasonable regulations prescribed by the legisla­
ture as to their liabilities and that the burden of showing that a minor would not
earn this amount after majority is not so unreasonable as to be unconstitutional.
84 Badger Carton Co. et al. v. Industrial Commission of Wisconsin et al. (218 N. W.
190 (1928)).
86 Badger Carton Co. et al. v. Industrial Commission of Wisconsin et al., supra. This
case involved a minor o f 19 who was a high-school graduate, employed as a machine
operator at $12.50 a week in a paper-box factory. She was awarded compensation based
on probable future earnings of $22.50 a week, which, under the evidence produced, was
substantially the mean between the maximum and minimum earned by high-school
graduates one year after graduation. The evidence showed that at the job in which
she was working she would probably have earned only $17.50 after arriving at the age
of 21 years, and the employer contended that compensation should be based upon that
amount. Upon appeal to the circuit court for a reversal of the commission’s award,
that court upheld the employer’s contention, but the supreme court reversed the circuit
court and sustained the commission’s award.


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Payment of additional compensation to illegally employed minors.

H istory of extra compensation in Wisconsin.—Wisconsin was the
first State to enact legislation providing additional compensation for
the minor injured while illegally employed. (See p. 17.) Indeed, the
theory o f such legislation originated in Wisconsin.
Prior to 1917, when the additional compensation amendment was
passed, the term “ employee ” was defined in the Wisconsin compen­
sation act to include “ minors who are legally permitted to work
under the laws o f the State.” In administering the law the industrial
commission ruled 38 that under this definition minors injured while
working under any one of the following illegal conditions were not
covered by the act: (1) Minors under 16 working with a permit but
at a prohibited employment; ( 2 ) minors 16 or over working at
prohibited employments; (3) minors under 16 working without a
permit. The commission’s position was upheld by the State supreme
court as to minors in the third group on the ground that such minors
working without a permit were not legally authorized to enter an
employer’s service and were not, therefore, “ employees ” within the
terms o f the compensation act.37 The ruling o f the commission with
respect to minors in the first two groups, however, was reversed.
The supreme court held as to the first group that a minor employed
on a proper permit but working at a prohibited occupation was sub­
ject to the compensation act, on the ground that as he had a permit
he was “ legally permitted to work ” and therefore included among
the employees subject thereto.38 Although no case involving minors
in the second group reached the supreme court, the same reasoning
obviously would apply to them, as they were over permit age and,
therefore, “ legally permitted to work.” Illegally employed minors
who could sue their employers found themselves m a very favorable
position, because, as under many child labor laws, their employment
in violation o f the law constituted a misdemeanor (that is, a criminal
act) and, under the court decisions in Wisconsin ,39 as in a number
o f other States, an employer is not permitted to set up any o f the
usual common-law defenses (see footnote 46, p. 18) in order to avoid
the consequences o f his criminal act. Consequently the minor needs
only to prove his illegal employment and injury in such employment
to establish the employer’s liability. It is then simply a matter of
the jury deciding the amount of the damage, and the minors fre­
quently were awarded comparatively large amounts.40
8« Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1927 edition, p. 24. Published by Wisconsin Indus­
trial Commission.
87 Stetz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co. (163 Wis. 151, 156 N. W. 971 (1916)).
88Foth v. Macomberand Whyte Rope Co. (161 Wis. 549, 154 N. W. 369 (19 1 5 )). See
also Lutz v. Wilmanns (166 Wis. 210, 164 N. W. 1002 (1917)).
89 Pinoza 1?. Northern Chair Co. (152 Wis. 473, 140 N. W. 84 (1913)) ; Green 17. Appleton
Woolen Mills (162 Wis. 145, 155 N. W. 958 (1916)) ; Stetz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co.,
supra.
40For instance, in Foth v. Macomber and Whyte Rope Co. (see above), in which it was
held that a minor working on a proper permit but in a prohibited occupation was limited
to the compensation act for relief, the injured minor had obtained a verdict for $1,500;
under the compensation act he received $135. In Stetz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co. (see
above), in which it was held that minors working without a permit were not subject to
the act, a verdict for $985 was returned as damages for injuries received on a heel-press
machine. The nature of the injury is not indicated in the decision, but the facts show
that a settlement had previously been entered into under the compensation act for $287.84
“ as the maximum allowed.” In Pinoza v. Northern Chair Co. (152 Wis. 473, 140 N. W.
84 (1913)), in which a boy between 14 and 16 lost four fingers of his right hand in a
planer and “ was also injured otherwise,” the jury found he had been damaged to the
extent o f $1,200. In Green v. Appleton Woolen Mills (162 Wis. 145, 155 N. W. 958
(1916)), a boy of 15 suffered an injury to his left arm on a carding machine and the jury
found that the boy had been damaged to the extent of $4,500, an amount said by the
supreme court to be high but not excessive.


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58

T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O B

The following excerpt from an article that appeared in the
American Labor Legislation Review for June, 1923,41 indicates the
way in which this situation led to the passage of the provision bring­
ing illegally employed minors under the compensation act, at the
same time providing for the payment o f extra compensation in cer­
tain o f these cases:
Prior to 1917, Wisconsin excluded most minors who were injured while ille­
gally employed from its compensation act * * *. A supreme court de­
cision 42 making it very clear that at common law the employers were without
g defense, however, alarmed the employers’ organizations and made them seek
some method for getting away from such indefinite liability. An attorney for
one of the leading employers’ associations proposed the plan of treble compen­
sation, after figuring out that three times the amount recovered under com­
pensation was about what minors illegally employed had gotten in the commonlaw actions in which the outcome was most favorable to the injured minors.
The treble-compensation plan was then written into the Wisconsin law, in the
thought of making definite and certain the liability of the employers, while
guaranteeing to the minors injured while illegally employed the same amounts
which they could expect to get if successful in suits at common law, without
all the trouble and expense o f litigation.

The law passed in 1917 amending the workmen’s compensation
la w 48 changed the definition o f “ employee ” so as to include minors
o f permit age and over, thereby bringing under the act all minors
except those under permit age. In addition, the act provided treble
compensation in the case o f minors o f permit age who at the time of
the accident were working without a written permit issued in ac­
cordance with the provisions o f the child labor law and in the case
o f minors o f permit age or over who at the time o f the accident were
working at a prohibited employment. The employer was made
primarily liable and the insurance carrier secondarily liable for the
increased compensation, and any provision in an insurance policy
guaranteeing primary liability or avoiding secondary liability was
declared void. A permit “ unlawfully issued ” or one “ unlawfully
altered after issuance, without fraud on the part of the employer ”
was to be deemed a permit within the provisions of the compensation
act.
In 1919 the extra-compensation provision was amended so as to re­
quire payment o f actual wage loss if the total compensation is less
than that amount.44 Underlying this requirement that compensation
should at least equal the minor’s loss o f wages is the same theory
on which the general principle o f extra compensation was based,
that minors injured while illegally employed who are included within
the provisions o f the compensation act shall be compensated in a
sum somewhat comparable to what they might receive in suits at law,
in which they are entitled to be compensated for the entire damage
that they have suffered. This amendment has been interpreted by
the commission to require that minors injured while unlawfully em41 Treble Compensation for Injured Children, by E. B. Witte, chief, Wisconsin Legisla­
tive Reference Library, and formerly secretary o f the Industrial Commission of Wisconsin,
in the American Labor Legislation Review, vol. 13, No. 2 (June, 1923), pp. 123-129.
42 See the following decisions by the Supreme Court o f W isconsin: Pinoza v. Northern
Chair Co., Green v. Appleton Woolen Mills, Stetz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co., cited
previously.
43 Wisconsin, Laws of 1917, ch. 624.
44 Wisconsin, Laws of 1919, ch. 680, effective Aug. 1, 1919. A subsequent amendment
(Laws of 1927, ch. 517) provided that this liability for loss of wage should exist in the
case or temporary disability only, but it could not have been applied to other than tempo­
rary disabilities even previously, as in all cases of permanent disability primary and extra
compensation together would certainly have exceeded the wage loss.


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C O M PEN SATIO N L A W ---- W ISC O N SIN

59

ployed be paid compensation equal to their loss of wages, even if
the duration o f their disability does not exceed the waiting period
provided by the Wisconsin compensation law.
In 1925 the act was further amended to reduce the extra compensa­
tion from treble to double when the violation consists only in the
minor’s working without a permit issued pursuant to the child labor
law and to provide that the extra-compensation provision should
apply only when the minor was “ illegally employed.” (See p. 62.)
Treble compensation, however, still applies to cases o f minors of
permit age who were injured while working without a permit in
any place o f employment or at any kind of employment in or for
which the commission has adopted a written resolution that permits
shall not be issued and to cases of minors of permit age or over
who were working at a prohibited employment.45 Minors under per­
mit age were, for the first time, brought within the scope o f the act
in 1929 46 and provided treble compensation if illegally employed.47
Thus, the additional compensation provision of the Wisconsin law
does not extend to every violation o f the child labor law ,48 but is
definitely limited to violations o f the permit provisions and o f re­
quirements as to minimum age, whether in general employment or in
special hazardous occupations.49

Provisions of the child labor law as related to extra compensa­
tion.—Under the Wisconsin child labor law no child under 14 may
work in any gainful occupation except agriculture and summervacation work in a few designated employments which are permitted
to children 12 and 13 years of age.50 Employment certificates or
permits to work are required for all children between 12 and 14 per­
mitted to be employed during the summer vacation and for children
between 14 and 17 in all occupations except agriculture and except
domestic service in cities having no vocational schools, the term used
in Wisconsin for continuation schools. Certificates o f age for minors
above the permit age, which are conclusive evidence of age o f the
minors to whom they are issued in any proceeding under the labor
laws or the workmen’s compensation act, may be obtained from the
issuing officers by employers desiring to avail themselves o f this pro­
tection.51 The State industrial commission has complete control over
the issuance of permits and either issues them itself or appoints the
issuing officers and supervises their work. Duplicate copies o f all
work permits and age certificates issued must be filed with the
commission.
A large number o f specified hazardous occupations and processes
are prohibited by the child labor law to minors under specified ages.
45 Wisconsin, Laws of 1925, ch. 384, effective June 29, 1925.
46 Wisconsin, Laws of 1929, ch. 453.
47 For text of the extra-compensation provision, see p. 133.
48 See p. 20 for discussion of additional compensation provisions of the other States with
respect to violations of the child labor law.
49 For text of the Wisconsin child labor law and rulings here referred to, see pp. 134—141.
“ Work is permitted in stores (not a drug store nor in the delivery of merchandise),
office (not a factory or printing office), mercantile establishments, warehouse (not a fac­
tory or tobacco warehouse), telegraph, telephone, or public messenger service in the town
where he resides. Children of 12 and 13 are also permitted to be employed during school
vacation at work usual to the home of the employer.
61 The provision for age certificates for minors over permit age was inserted in the law
in 1925 (ch. 256). Before 1925 a provision (still in effect) allowed such a minor unable
to present documentary evidence of age to a prospective employer to establish his age by a
proceeding before the county court, the findings of such court to be conclusive evidence of
his age in proceedings under the labor laws or the workmen’s compensation act (Wis­
consin, Laws of 1921, ch. 185).
125914— 32------- 5


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

The prohibitions applicable to minors under 16 relate chiefly to work
on designated dangerous machines, including specified machinery in
metal working, wood working, paper making, printing, rubber manu­
facturing, leather working, textile manufacturing, and in bakeries
and laundries; to the operation o f polishing wheels; to^work in
places involving exposure to certain dangerous or injurious sub­
stances, as in the manufacture of paints or poisonous compositions ;
and to other dangerous occupations, such as work on scaffolding or
heavy work in the building trades, or in oiling or cleaning machinery.
Minors under 18 are prohibited from working in certain specified
hazardous places, such as in or about docks, wharves, blast furnaces,
mines or quarries ; from certain occupations on railroads and boats ;
from work in establishments in which explosives are manufactured
or stored; from operating buffing wheels; from the running or
management of elevators ; from the outside erection or repair of elec­
tric wires ; from oiling or cleaning dangerous machinery in motion ;
from dipping, dyeing, or packing matches. Night messenger service
in cities of the first, second, or third class is prohibited for minors
under 21 . Girls under 18 are prohibited from work in messenger
service, girls under 21 from employment as bell hops in hotels, and
all females from work in or about a mine or quarry.
The child labor law further contains a general provision to the
effect that no minor shall work at any employment dangerous or
prejudicial to his life, health, safety, or welfare. In addition it
gives the industrial commission power to determine what occupa­
tions are hazardous and to prohibit by order the employment of
minors therein, but no rulings have been made under this clause.
Prohibitions of a number o f hazardous occupations, however, have
been made indirectly under the authority given to the commission
in connection with the issuance of permits (see p. 141) which includes
power to refuse to grant permits for employment if in its judgment
the best interests o f the minor will be served by such refusal. Among
these are the prohibition o f the work o f boys under 16 in hotels and
in lumber and logging operations; o f girls under 17 in hotels,
restaurants, clubhouses, and boarding and rooming houses, including
those conducted by industrial plants for their own employees; and
of all minors under 17 in road construction and on threshing crews
and in bowling alleys, poolrooms, and billiard halls.
The child labor law provides that a violation o f any o f these pro­
visions by an employer is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine
of not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each offense or by im­
prisonment in the county jail for not to exceed 30 days, every day
during which such violation continues being a separate and distinct
offense.62 These penalties may be enforced in a criminal action, as
is the procedure in most States for child labor law violations, or the
money penalty may be recovered in a civil action for debt. In a
civil action the State has the right o f appeal, which it does not have
in a criminal case, and the former is generally used by the commis­
sion in prosecuting violations o f the law.
Interpretation of the extra-compensation provision.— The con­
stitutionality of the extra-compensation provision o f the Wisconsin
sa The parent or guardian permitting the illegal employment is also guilty of a misde­
meanor and may be fined from $5 to $25 for each offense or imprisoned for not more than
80 days.


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61

W O R K M E N 's C O M PEN SATIO N L A W — W IS C O N S IN

Workmen’s Compensation law was upheld in 1920, prior to the en­
actment o f similar legislation in any other State. In the first case
in which its constitutionality was questioned, the employer contended
that this provision was a penalty imposed to enforce a criminal
statute (the child labor act) and that it was not germane, therefore,
to the compensation act; also that it deprived the employer o f his
constitutional right to a trial by jury for a violation o f the child
labor law. The Supreme Court o f Wisconsin held, however, ( 1 )
that it was not legally a penalty imposed in the enforcement o f a
criminal statute, but a condition which the legislature has the power
to lay down as a reasonable requirement to permitting minors
illegally employed to be compensated under the compensation act;
and ( 2 ) that as employers under the compensation act are brought
“ in direct contact with the child labor law ” whenever they employ
minors, it is germane to the compensation act; that is, within the
limits of its general scheme;53 and (3) that it is not violative o f any
rights o f the employer, because employers who elect to operate under
the compensation law are bound by all its terms and have waived
all their common-law rights, and that as the act becomes a part o f
every contract o f employment the rights and liabilities o f the parties
must be determined with reference to its provisions.54 In two cases
arising shortly afterwards the court refused to overrule this decision,
holding that a reconsideration convinced the court that it should be
adhered to .55
In addition to passing upon the constitutionality of the general
principle o f extra compensation, the courts have passed upon several
cases involving the construction or application o f this provision and
o f the child labor law as related to it. Some o f these cases were not
settled until 1930, after the period covered by the cases included in
this study.
Under the Wisconsin decisions an employer liable for extra com­
pensation is not relieved o f its payment because he has been led into
employing the minor by the minor’s misrepresentation of his age.
This particular question was determined by the "Wisconsin Supreme
Court some years ago in the case o f a boy o f 15 who had obtained
employment without a permit under an assumed name, claiming to
be 17 years o f age.56 The court based its decision on a case arising
before extra compensation was provided for illegally employed
minors, in which a minor injured while employed without a permit
and who had obtained his employment by falsely representing his
age had sued his employer for damages and the court had held that
the misrepresentation as to his age did not prevent him from obtain-

n ^ ¥ ueller & Son Co. v . Gothard et al. (173 Wis 135 179 N W S7ft Moo'nii

o

i

m S iïn ^ w fs c o n s ife t
h
Li“ ite<1' e f f l.Î^n d u strfa^ C om -’
m isr epresell ta tio n so fa ^ e was not a defLse to th?
the minor’s:
death benefits to the parents of thl minor if t w
to Par double
were not present when the misrepresentations were ^ad e ^Thb? ™ « r w p Sentatl0nf an!l
remanded in 220 N W 377 il9 28 i on t
h
e
i
} T? ls. c.a®e was reversed and
find whether dependency of parents to f a e t ^ r i s t ^ d * ^ 1^ « 1« 'dlpptoria^ conl“ issi?.n should
trial commission dismissed the case.)
i ted’ and upon reconsideration the indus-


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62

T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

ing them. The court in that case pointed out that the child labor
law is intended to protect the health and morals of children and is
aimed at the employer and not at the child, and that to permit an
employer to be relieved of the consequences o f its violation by saying
that he acted on the child’s misrepresentation would restrict the
objects which the legislature intended to accomplish.57
Several important decisions have been handed down relating to the
liability o f employers for additional compensation in cases in which
it was claimed that the terms o f the child labor law were not violated.
The instances that have arisen have been in cases o f employers to
whom, it was claimed, the child labor law did not apply or o f em­
ployment which, it was alleged, was not covered by the child labor

Jaw.
Though it was doubtless the intention of those responsible for the
framing o f the original extra-compensation amendment to the W is­
consin workmen’s compensation law enacted in 1917, that employers
should be liable for the payment o f the additional compensation in
the case o f minors injured while illegally employed, the amendment
did not definitely state this, but was broader in its implications in
requiring that such payment should be made ( 1 ) in the case o f minors
o f permit age or over injured while employed in prohibited employ­
ment, and ( 2 ) in the case of minors o f permit age injured when
employed “ without a written permit issued pursuant to ” the child
labor law—irrespective (impliedly) o f whether or not permits were
required by law in the occupations in which they were employed at
the time o f injury. In 1925, however, when the law was amended
to change the additional compensation from treble to double in the
cases o f permit violations, the extra compensation was made payable
“ when the injury is sustained by a minor illegally employed.” 58
In a case arising before the 1925 amendment, a town that had
employed a minor o f permit age without a permit contended it was
not liable for extra compensation on the ground that the child labor
law did not apply to the State or its political subdivisions.59 The
court held, however, that the town was liable for extra compensa­
tion whether or not it was subject to the child labor law, as towns
were specifically included under the compensation act and that act
required compensation to be treble the amount otherwise recoverable
if the injured employee was a minor of permit age and employed
without a permit “ irrespective o f the legality or illegality o f the
employment.” This decision was not handed down until 1926, and
67 Stetz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co. (163 Wis. 151, 156 N. W. 971 (1916)).
68 Before the 1925 amendment the law read “ compensation * * * shall in the
following cases be treble the amount otherwise recoverable (a) if the injured employee be
a minor of permit age and at the time of the accident is employed * * * without a
written permit issued; * * * (b) if the injured employee be a minor of permit age,
or over, and at the time of the accident is employed * * * at prohibited employ­
ment * *
In differentiating between treble and double compensation the section
was reworded in 1925 to read : “ When the injury is sustained by a minor illegally em­
ployed, compensation * * * shall be * * * (a) double the amount otherwise
recoverable, if the injured employee is a minor of permit age and * * * employed
* * * without a written permit issued pursuant to [the. child labor la v ] (b) treble
the amount otherwise recoverable * *
It should be noted that the case cited
below (Town of New Holstein v. Daun et al., 209 N. W. 695) was not decided until 1926,
and that in 1925 when the amendment was passed no case had as yet been decided by
the Wisconsin Supreme Court involving the question whether an employer might be re­
quired to pay the extra compensation even though he was not violating the child labor law.
69 A political subdivision of the State (that is, town, county, etc.) when performing
governmental functions has the privilege of the State in that general laws apply only
when in its favor, and express provision to that effect must appear to create a liability
against it or a duty upon it. (Sullivan v. School District No. 1, of the city of Toinah, 179
Wis. 502, 507, 191 N. W. 1020 (1923).) The Wisconsin child labor law is not specifically
made applicable to such political subdivisions.


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63

in it the court stated that in view o f the 1925 amendment it would be
necessary in cases arising thereafter to determine definitely whether
or not the minor’s employment was illegal before a decision could be
made as to whether the employer was liable for the extra,
compensation.60
In 1930 a case came before the industrial commission in which the
employer was a county and the injured minor was o f permit age
but employed without a permit, and at a prohibited employment
(in road construction, work prohibited by a ruling o f the commis­
sion). As the child labor law o f Wisconsin does not include among
the employers made subject to the act the State or its political sub­
divisions, the commision held that the child labor law did not
apply to a county (see footnote 59, p. 62), and that since the em­
ployment of the child was not illegal, the county was therefore not
liable for the additional compensation. The commission, discussing
the additional-compensation provision o f the workmen’s compensa­
tion law, said:
Double or treble compensation * * * is payable only “ when the injury
is sustained by a minor illegally employed.” The inquiry in this case, there­
fore, must be pointed to the proposition of whether or not the applicant in
this case was illegally employed. * * * it appears quite clear that the
legislature had definitely intended that the term employer as defined in this
section [section defining “ employer ” for the purpose of the child labor act]
shall not include the State, county, town, city, village, or school district. It
appears, therefore, that the employment of minors under 17 by counties with­
out permits is not prohibited nor is the employment of minors in dangerous
occupations by counties prohibited.61

Another case in which this same question o f whether or not the
injured minor had been employed contrary to the child labor law
arose from a somewhat different angle was one in which a minor o f
16 had been employed without a permit at sewer digging, and the
liability of the employer depended upon whether a permit tva3
required by the child labor law for this occupation. The child
labor law requires permits for the employment o f children between
14 and 17 in a list of enumerated occupations “ or at any gainful
occupation or employment ” except agriculture and except domestic
service in certain cities. Digging a sewer is not specifically men­
tioned in this list, and it was urged by the employer that the legis­
lature in requiring permits for work “ at any gainful occupation or
employment ” did not intend to extend the permit requirement except
to occupations of the same kind and character as it had enumerated
in the law and that sewer digging was not of this same kind and
character. The Wisconsin Supreme Court held, however, that the
general phrase extends the permit requirement to this occupation,
and that the employer was therefore liable for the additional com­
pensation, calling attention to the fact that the word “ employment
is defined by the statute 62 for the purpose of the section under con­
sideration in a sufficiently broad manner to include such work .63
««Town of New Holstein v. Daun et al. (209 N. W. 695 (1926)).
« Nanmann v. Door County et al., decided by the industrial commission June 24, 1930.
*- Wisconsin, Stat. 1929, sec. 101.01.
ooo £,yl^,arA S t alv*- Industrial1 Commission et al. (231 N. W. 599 (June, 1930), reversing
228 N. y t. 133). In 232 N. W. 5'35 (October, 1930), the supreme court refused to modify
its decision requiring additional compensation to be paid. As a result of the interest
aroused by this decision the Wisconsin Industrial Commission appointed a committee to
consider the revision of the regulations regarding the employment of minors in hazardous
trades.


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64

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

An employer is liable for extra compensation if he employs a
minor “ without a written permit issued pursuant to ” the child labor
law. The question whether the employer had employed a minor in
violation o f this provision and thereby incurred liability for the
additional compensation has arisen in two cases that have reached
the supreme court. In one case the employer, although admitting
that he had no permit for the minor’s employment at the time of the
minor’s injury, claimed that he was not liable for the extra compensa­
tion because a permit had been issued to him for a prior employment
o f this same child. The industrial commission found, however, that
the employer was liable on the ground that no permit had been issued
for the employment in which the minor was engaged at the time of
the injury, and that the prior issuance of a permit authorizing the
child’s employment by this employer did not relieve the latter from
the necessity o f requiring a permit for a subsequent reemployment,
especially when the permit issued had been returned to the issuing
officer prior to such reemployment. On appeal to the Wisconsin
Supreme Court, that court sustained the commission’s award. 64
In the second case the question arose as to whether an employer
had become liable for the extra compensation by failing to have a
certificate on file (as is required by the child labor law) at the time
o f the minor’s injury, though one had in fact been issued to this
employer for the employment in which the minor was engaged at
the time o f injury. He had employed the minor on a vacation
permit and the boy, desiring to continue work after school began,
applied for a permit to work after this one should expire. The
new permit was prepared and signed by the county judge, who was
the issuing officer, and the boy was notified to come for it. He
went after it but, finding the judge busy, returned to his work
without it. He never went back for it, and it was still in the
issuing officer’s possession at the time o f the injury. The Wisconsin
Supreme Court held that the permit had been lawfully issued and
that, therefore, the employer was not liable for extra compensation
saying:
* * * penalty provisions are to be strictly construed, and to double the
compensation for failure to have the permit on file is to inflict a penalty of
great severity * * *. The accident and injury would be the same whether
the boy had his permit on file with his employer or not.
The fact was
that he was entitled to a permit, and the permit had been actually lawfully
issued * * *.M

Under this decision an employer incurs liability for such com­
pensation only if his violation falls squarely within one o f the
conditions enumerated in the compensation act.
ADMINISTRATION OP THE WISCONSIN WORKMEN’S COMPENSA­
TION LAW IN THE INTEREST OF THE ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED
MINOR

The administration of the extra-compensation provision of the
Wisconsin workmen’s compensation law, which became operative
in 1917, was recognized from the beginning by the State enforcing
“ Racine Auto Tire Co. et al. v. Industrial Commission of Wisconsin et al. (180 N. W.
124 (1920)) This decision was by an equally divided court, and under the established rule
the judgment of the lower court (which had sustained the commission s award) was
flffiriuftd,
__
65 Calvetti et al. v. Gasharri et al. (230 N. W. 130 (1930)).


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officials as presenting certain special problems. The Wisconsin In ­
dustrial Commission, which was charged with the administration o f
the law, therefore regarded it as its duty to set up such machinery as
was necessary to see that minors injured while illegally employed
obtained their rights. In the view o f the commission, this involved
discovering all persons meeting with compensable industrial in­
juries while employed in violation of the State child labor law, and
seeing not only that they received in full the compensation to which
they were entitled but that it was paid to them in such a way as
to serve their best interests.
The commission is unusually well qualified to undertake these
duties. In addition to administering the workmen’s compensation
law, it enforces the child labor law ; it not only inspects for violations
o f the child labor law but also is responsible for the issuance of per­
mits under the child labor law, a responsibility not often lodged
with a State labor department. Moreover, the commission has been
fortunate in retaining in its service commissioners and staff mem­
bers over a sufficiently long period of years to make possible con­
tinuous and consistent development of policies o f administration.
The present chairman of the commission has been a member since
1912, one year after the workmen’s compensation law went into
operation, and chairman since July 1, 1921.
INVESTIGATION OF LEGALITY OF EMPLOYMENT

In investigating the legality o f the employment o f an injured minor
it is necessary to ascertain, first, the minor’s true age in order to
know what legal restrictions, if any, the law imposes upon his em­
ployment, and then whether, if he was o f the age for which an
employment certificate is required under the law, such a certificate
was on file for him at the time of injury. In many cases investiga­
tion is necessary also to ascertain whether or not he was employed
in an occupation prohibited for minors o f his age. The procedure
described in the following pages has been worked out by the W is­
consin Industrial Commission in its effort to make a thorough in­
vestigation o f the legality of employment o f injured minors.
A ll industrial injuries to employees, both minors and adults, must
be reported by employers subject to the act to the industrial com­
mission. Shortly after they are received by the commission all
reports of injuries of persons reported as under 19 years o f age are
sent for verification o f age and for investigation o f legality o f em­
ployment to the child-labor department o f the commission, which
is responsible for the administration o f the State child labor law.
During the first few years after the extra-compensation law became
operative the ages of all injured workers reported as under 21 were
verified, but the checking of the ages o f those reported as 19 or
over was discontinued, because o f the time required to do it and
because the ages of relatively few minors who were reported as 19
or over were found to have been overstated. This might be expected
from the fact that under the Wisconsin child labor law 19 is three
years above the age up to which the hours o f labor provisions apply,
two years above the age limit for employment certificates, one year
above the highest age up to which practically all prohibitions as to
hazardous occupations apply, and one year above the age limit for
attendance at continuation school.

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Investigation of age and permit status.

As the law requires that duplicate copies of all work permits
and age certificates issued in the State be filed with the industrial
commission (see p. 59), the first step in the investigation consists in
checking the report of an industrial accident to a minor under 19
years o i age with these records. The commission itself in its Mil­
waukee office issues all permits for minors employed in Milwaukee,
nearly half o f those issued in the State; moreover, as was said,
the issuance o f permits throughout the rest o f the State is under
the authority of the commission, and the commission also makes
all inspections under the child labor law. In consequence o f the
effectiveness of the administration of the law, the permit records
on file in the offices o f the commission are unusually complete.68
For this reason in most cases a search of the records is all that is
needed. When the records do not yield the necessary information
as to the minor’s age or certificate status, form letters (see Forms
A and B, printed on p. 226) are sent to both the employer and
the injured minor asking for information as to age and as to the
nature of the documentary evidence on which the statement of
age is based. The employer is also asked whether or not he had
a permit on file in accordance with the law. A query as to whether
a permit was on file is printed on the form on which the employer
reports the accident to the industrial commission, and the employer
is also asked to give the date of birth of all injured persons whose
ages are reported as under 18. I f no duplicate certificate is found,
and the employer has reported that he had a certificate on file, a
letter is sent him for the purpose o f obtaining further information
regarding the certification status o f the minor. The necessity of
this step is shown by the fact that in 120 (80 per cent) of the 151
cases included in this inquiry in which the employer stated on the
accident report that a permit was on file no permit was found.
Sometimes it is found that the minor had had a permit by which
the employer thought he was properly protected, but that this per­
mit was for another employer or was the wrong kind of permit or
had expired before the accident occurred. More often he had not
had a permit at all.
I f after a reply from the employer doubt still exists as to the
minor’s age or certificate status, inquiries are frequently sent the local
certificate-issuing officer.
I f the desired information as to the
minor’s age is not obtained through this correspondence, a request
is made o f the State or county health departments for a birth record.
When these efforts fail, in a further effort to obtain the correct date
o f birth, inquiry is made o f school or church authorities or of other
persons in the locality where the minor was injured. Although
extended and persistent correspondence, interviews, and in some cases,
special investigation are necessary, the commission states that cases
89 That permit issuance is unusually complete in Wisconsin is shown in a study of the
employment of children in canneries made by the Children’s Bureau in 7 States, in which
a much higher proportion of the employed children who should have had certificates had
them? in Wisconsin than in any of the other 6 States included in the study (97 per cent
under 16 as compared with from 14 to 46 per cent under 16 in the other States, respec­
tively). See Children in Fruit and Vegetable Canneries, p. 20 (U. S. Children’s Bureau
Publication No. 198, Washington, 1930). For an account of the measures used by the
Wisconsin Industrial Commission in the supervision of permit issuance throughout the
State, see pp. 203—205.


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are rare in which reliable proof o f age can not be discovered in
the end.
The investigations o f the commission show the necessity o f making
a careful check on the injured minors’ ages. In two-thirds (67 per
cent) o f the extra-compensation cases included in the present inquiry
the minor’s age had been incorrectly stated by the employer in
reporting the accident. In practically every such case (621 o f the
623) his age was given as older than it actually was at the time of
injury. Approximately half (49 per cent) o f these minors were
reported as 2 years or more above their true ages, including many
reported as 3 or 4, and one as 10 years older. Cases like the follow ­
ing were typical o f the variation between the injured minors’ actual
ages and those reported by the employer.
The year of birth of an injured girl was given as 1902 on the employer’s
report of the injury. In answer to a letter from the commission the girl stated
that her father had told her she was born in 1903, but she obtained a baptismal
certificate for the commission which showed her to have been born in 1904.
A ll papers relating to one girl’s employment, and signed by herself, gave her
age as 19. When asked after the accident how old she was she said 18. She
really was 16.
A boy whose age was reported as 21 on his accident report had said he was
20 when employed. He was really only 15.

According to the employers’ reports of the accidents occurring to
the minors who were found by the industrial commission to be
illegally employed, 65 per cent were 17 or more years' o f age and 27
per cent were at least 18. Investigation showed that in fact only
6 per cent were 17, and none was older. Overstatements o f age were
most frequent for those whose actual ages were 15 or 16 years.
Children under 16 were much more likely than the older minors to
be reported as several years older than their actual ages— 37 per cent
o f those under 16 whose ages were stated by employers as 16 or over
were reported as three or more years over their actual ages as com­
pared with only 3 per cent o f those of 16 and 17 whose ages had been
overstated. Ages were more than twice as frequently overstated in
cases o f violations o f the permit law than in those in which the
only violation was employment in a prohibited occupation, doubtless
largely because o f greater familiarity with the permit law.
The explanations given by employers for misstatements appearing
on accident reports as to the ages o f injured minors show clearly the
principal reason why violations o f the child labor law occur; namely,
carelessness in hiring children and young persons without obtaining
reliable proof o f age. Many employers admitted that they had not
even asked prospective employees their age. Sometimes, apparently
the first time the employer thought of inquiring into the minor’s
age was after the accident had occurred. Indeed, in some cases such
an inquiry does not appear to have been made until after the com­
mission wrote to the employer asking for the source o f information
on which his statement of the minor’s age was based.
Some employers had accepted without question the minors’ state­
ments as to their ages or the statements o f their parents or other
relatives. Others had accepted affidavits from parents in lieu o f
birth or baptismal records. Still others had permitted minors to go
to work while waiting for permits or for other proof o f age which

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the minor had promised to get. As there are fewer restrictions on
the employment of older minors and the wages are higher for the
older group, misrepresentations as to age on the part o f both the
children applying for work and their parents are frequent, and the
employer who does not require reliable documentary evidence runs
a great risk.
The following are employers’ explanations of their failure to
require proof o f age, and are typical o f many. A ll minors referred
to were found to be actually 16 years old.
W hen this boy was employed we had no reason to think he was under age as
he was apparently a full-grown man and doing a man’s work, and from our
personal acquaintance with him and seeing him with others about the city we
did not suspicion he was under 17.
He was at least 6 feet tall and smoking a big black pipe.
question his age.
The boy looked 21 or 22.
this age by mostly any one.

No one would

Had a beard and would be taken to be a man of
(H is age had been reported as 18.)

He is a man grown and has belonged to the State guard since they were
organized in this town two years ago.
This boy was very large for his age and stating at the time he entered our
employ that he had served in the Navy, we did not question him any further.
In regard to preventing any further mistakes of this kind we have decided
that hereafter we will attend to the employment of help personally.
This boy had every appearance of a 20-year-old.
mobile and weighs probably 150 pounds.

H e drives his own auto­

Inasmuch as this girl had been employed elsewhere in Waukesha, our super­
intendent took it for granted she was at least over 17 years; she appeared
over 20.
The mother insisted that this boy was 18 and that he ju st had to have work.
The old appearance of the boy completely threw us off.
This boy said he was 17 and looked so old (18 or 19) that the superintendent
did not ask for birth record as he should have.

A case that illustrates the serious consequences which may result
from a failure on the part of the employer or his representatives to
inquire into the ages o f young persons they employ is that described
on page 122, in which the proprietor o f a machine shop had to pay
extra compensation o f more than $2,000 to a boy o f 16 who was
injured the day after he began to work. According to the statement
o f the shop superintendent who had hired the boy, the firm did not
customarily employ boys as laborers, as the work was too heavy for
them. When asked at a hearing on the case how he came to hire
this boy, who all agreed had not been questioned about his age when
employed, he said, “ Well, it never occurred to me that the fellow
was not of age to do the kind of work I hired him for. * * * I
never asked him, for the reason that I just sized him up to be 20 years
old. I should say he was about 5 feet 7. Probably he is better than
that— 5 feet 7 or 8 . He looked to weigh about 160 pounds— 165.”
However, when asked at the time o f the hearing (the boy was then
17) how old the boy then looked to him, the same superintendent
said that he thought he looked “ about 17 or 18.”
O f a boy who had overstated his age by two years, both verbally
and in writing, and on his statement that he was 18 years of age
had obtained work without further investigation and sustained an
injury the following day, the employing company wrote as follow s:

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The man was 5 feet 11 *4 inches in height, weighed 163 pounds, and had every
appearance of being at least 20 years of age. No one encounter.ng the man
would take him to be less than 20 years of age. W e have always been ex­
tremely careful and do not rely upon the statement o f an applicant for work
in respect to his age, unless his physical appearance is such as to remove all
probability of an overstatement by the applicant. In this case, the appearance
o f the applicant could not possibly raise the slightest suggestion that he was
telling us a lie.

On the basis of their experience in this case (the payment of extra
compensation amounting to more than $400) the company raised
the age under which they would require genuine proof of age o f
their employees to 20 years.
Another employer wrote that “ the good-heartedness o f this com­
pany in putting this man to work on the promise that sufficient proof
o f birth would be forthcoming, substantiating his telling us that he
was 18 years o f age, has caused us this poor standing with the com­
mission.” One boy’s explanation o f why he had no permit was as
follow s:
When I started to work they gave me a letter and told me to get a permit
and then I came to this office [the Milwaukee office of the commission where
permits are issued] and was given a blank to take to the principal of the school,
which I did. After he filled it out I took it home and left it there and thought
that was the permit. No one said anything more to me about a permit.

Sometimes the trouble arises not so much from carelessness as
from ignorance or misunderstanding of the permit law. For ex­
ample, some employers had accepted school records or other papers,
such as baptismal records or insurance policies, that they thought
were permits. One employer reported that he did not have a permit
for a child because he had been told by the local issuing officer that a
permit was not necessary, the issuing officer doubtless having merely
informed him that permits were not necessary for minors over 17.
An occasional employer was so ignorant of the provisions of the
child labor law that he thought it was sufficient to obtain the parent’s
consent for the employment o f minors subject to the law.
Several employers who had made a conscientious effort to obtain
proper evidence o f age for applicants claiming to be over permit
age were found to have been taken in by fraudulent or altered birth
or baptismal certificates. For example, an injured boy’s age had
been reported as 18, which was correct according to a birth certifi­
cate brought the employer by the boy when he applied for work.
When the employer, on receiving the special-report form sent out by
the commission, inquired further as to the minor’s age, a baptismal
certificate was brought him showing the boy to be only 16. The boy
when applying for work had used a given name which was not his
own and the birth certificate probably belonged to a brother. Had
age certificates been issued in Wisconsin at the time this boy was
hired (see p. 59) and the employer had asked the boy to get one,
such a deception would not have been possible.
The difficulty the commission sometimes meets in its effort to
ascertain the correct ages of injured minors and the long and per­
sistent work that may be required before this end is achieved is illus­
trated by many cases, o f which the following are typical:
W hen Arthur B was injured in January, 1918, the commission wrote his
mother for verification of his birth date. She returned a signed affidavit
saying that the boy was born July 7, 1899. This was questioned, and she then


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sent the commission a birth record giving July 7, 1900, as the date of birth.
This record, however, was for a boy of a different name than that of the one
reported as injured, but this was explained by the statement that he had in
later years been using his stepfather’s name. The Milwaukee office in check­
ing through its files found that a permit had been issued to two Arthur B ’s,
one of which was issued in 1915 on a birth record giving the birth date of
July 7, 1900, and the other in 1918 on a birth record giving the birth date of
July 8, 1903. A conference was held with the boy in the Milwaukee office of
the commission, and as he gave correctly all the information entered on the
first-named permit without seeing it, July 7, 1900, was finally accepted as the
correct birth date.
A boy’s age was entered as 17 on the report at the time of his accident and
on the special-report form returned to the commission by the employer; on the
latter, however, his date of birth was given as May 8, 1903, which would have
made him 16 years of age, the authority given for this date being “ parent’s
word.” When the accident was investigated by a deputy of the safety depart­
ment, the boy’s father reported to the investigator that he was 16. However,
in a letter to the commission the father and mother gave May 8, 1904, as the
correct date, making the boy 15, and later at a hearing the mother stated that
the boy was born in 1905, this making him only 14 at the time of injury. No
•documentary evidence could be found, but in view of the fact that the boy was
employed without a permit and all the testimony indicated that he was under
17, the commission awarded extra compensation.

During the last few years Wisconsin employers have had an official
means of ascertaining the true ages of minors who claim to be over
permit age and thus can protect themselves against the unintentional
employment of minors illegally. In 1925 a law was passed providing
that the industrial commission and its deputized certificate-issuing
officers be empowered to issue certificates o f age to minors above
permit age. (See p. 59.) When such certificates are obtained, the
employer has no legal responsibility if falsified evidence of age is
presented or if certificates are issued to minors under assumed names,
and the possibility o f such fraud being practiced is greatly lessened
because the permit-issuing officer who passes on the evidence pre­
sented is experienced in determining the validity of such evidence
and therefore much less likely to be deceived than the employer.
As an illustration of the difficulties that employers may avoid by
requiring certificates of age of minors applying for employment and
o f the thoroughness with which the commission investigates, the fo l­
lowing case may be cited.
A boy applied for work in a certain factory stating that his age was 18 years.
The employment manager communicated with a company by which the boy said
he had been employed formerly and learned that it had a birth record on file
showing him to be the age he claimed. Not long afterwards he wras injured. A s
his age was reported as under 19 the case was referred to the child-labor
department of the commission for investigation as to legality of employment.
The amount of trouble taken in this investigation and the facts discovered are
best related by quoting from the following report made by the deputy who had
charge of the investigation:
“ W ith the help of Mr. A [employment manager] of the manufacturing com­
pany where the boy was injured we have been able to get a proof o f the age
o f the above minor.
“A letter to the injured did no good, so Miss C [another deputy of the
commission] went out to the home. They had moved, but the neighbors gave
the new address and incidently stated that the boy was not using his correct
name and age. Miss G then went to the new address. The mother said that
she had no proof of age but filled out a parent’s statement saying that the boy
was born in Michigan. She signed her name Jennie Carr. I was not satisfied
with this so I went out to see Mr. A. After interviewing a brofcHer-in-law
who works at their factory we visited two factories in an endeavor to locate
the boy. He had been fired from the ----------- Candy Co. Tuesday, and the


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brother-in-law said he left the house Thursday morning, but the mother would
not admit this.
The boy’s correct name is James Elton. He was born April 23 1911
He
was using an uncle’s name and birth record (Harry Stanislawski). The mother,
that
aSh0 fc°
? ° the na“ e of Carr- She said that ^ e y just took
that name. She is married the second time now and her correct name is M rs,
Rajmiond W illiam s
Apparently the boy, James, uses any of these names.
The mother not only encouraged the hoy to lie, but also tried in every w ay
to give us the wrong information. The brother-in-law, uncle, and grandfather
«in
f as USing the uncle’s name, for they were working where he
and thl'
H I T ?
f01', the, ----------- Co., the ----------- Manufacturing Co.,
and the
—— Candy Co. under the name of Frank Stanislawski. T h e ----------- Candy Co. did not check up on his age, but the others did ”
The company employing this boy at the time of his injury had previously
been careless about the employment of children and had had to pay extra
compensation m a n earlier case, in which a boy of 16 had been employed with^
a Permit-. J^ver smce this earlier experience the employment manager ha<i
asked for a birth certificate or a baptismal record in all doubtful cases, but h e
had not kept up with legislative changes sufliciently to know that he could;
obtain an age certificate which would protect him fully in such cases "
F o rS a n l7 o h n ^ L e“ Pl? er- thfe am0unt of the Peiialty in the last ¿ T w a s l e i S r th l fk c tfi f
manager ^who had been so cooperative in obtaina *i!n«the above case was much concerned lest through it his company
would lose their good standing with the commission. H e wrote that i f th e
f h f ^TY?rfatra precant<1i0n would be taken in the employment of boys and that
the company would
make it a point to get records of birth direct from the
commission hereafter” ; that is, to obtain State certificates o f age

Investigation as to employment in prohibited occupations.

i .¿^juries that appear to have occurred to minors employed in proiifrlt+dfi?CC-Upatf nS ai? f^qnentty referred for special investigat on to the inspectors o f the safety and sanitation department o f fhe
commission. In such cases the inspector may also make local inquines as to the employee’s actual age and certificate status. In
addition to the investigation of these specially referred cases in
teh^ n i t !en
gnd fCCUPatl° n 18 s.usPect.ed>a11 cases o f severe injuries both
to adults and to minors are investigated by this department to determme the cause o f the accident, the character o f the occupation, and,
m the case o f young persons, the age o f the injured.
Inspectors o f the safety and sanitation department had investi­
gated 21 per cent of the cases o f minors included in this inquTi^for
f 35 1 .1nnformatljonJ,°n this point was available; they had mvestigated 40 per cent o f the cases m which the injured minor was found
to be employed m prohibited occupations. Investigations bv this
department were most common for injuries caused by machinery 48
per cent o f which had been investigated. On the other hand invesw atl?fL
.thls department had been made in only 5 per cent o r
iif w h irW L JUri^S CaUSed b7 vehicles>handling objects, or hand tools
fn f ^ n
mm° r S emPW ment in a prohibited ¿cupation waa
not so likely or was more easily determined.
P
PROCEDURE IN OBTAINING PAYMENT

When the child-labor department o f the commission, which makes
m L o ^ fs entitled t^ *°Jegallty o f employment, finds that an injure«
plover referring to' th ra. c°mpensation, it sends a letter to the employer, referring to the law and explaining his responsibility fo r
approved J u n e ^ 1925^re<3 July 7’ 1927’ and the Provision relating to age certificates wa*


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the extra payment. Following is the type o f letter sent out by the
commission in this connection :
D ecember 10, 1927.
--------------------Co.,
------- , W is.
R e:

Injury to ----------- -----------

G entlemen : Our records show that this boy was injured while in your
employ on November 8, 1927, that he was under 17 years o f age at the time of
his employment and injury, having been bom on August 30, 1912 (public birth
record), and that you had no labor permit on file authorizing you to employ
him, as required by sec tio n -----------of the statutes. The record further shows
that this young boy was injured at work that is prohibited to any minor
under the age of 18 years, in the fact that he was cleaning dangerous and
liazardous machinery in motion. Due to the fact that this boy was injured
w h ile employed in violation of law, he is entitled to treble compensation for
.his injury, formal notice of which you will receive from the compensation
department within a few days.
Apart from the extra compensation, the law provides a penalty o f $10 to
$100 on the employer for each day that a child is employed in violation o f the
law. On the face of this record, you have incurred these penalties in this
case. The commission will be pleased to consider any reasons that you may
desire to offer as to why these penalties should not be enforced against you.
Very truly yours,

I ndustrial C om m ission .

Some employers are found to be unfamiliar with the child labor
law or the provisions o f the workmen’s compensation law relating to
injured minors, so that it is necessary for the commission to inform
them fully in regard to these provisions before they understand their
obligation to pay the extra compensation even in cases in which the
employee has misstated his age. Much correspondence is sometimes
needed in explaining to the employer why he is liable for the pay­
ment. The commission continues to follow up the employer, by cor­
respondence or through interviews if necessary until payment is
made. I f the employer is delinquent in paying, or unusually slow,
or has been a frequent and flagrant violator o f the child labor law,
prosecution under the child labor law may be started, but this has
seldom been found necessary. The commission is o f the opinion that
in most cases the penalty o f the extra compensation is sufficient to
serve as a deterrent to future violations o f the law. The fact that
relatively heavy penalties may be imposed for violations o f the child
labor law, however, doubtless facilitates the collection o f extra com­
pensation in some cases.
The commission is not required by law to approve settlements in
cases in which no dispute is involved and does not formally do so.
In such cases, however, the reports that the law requires to be sub­
mitted to the commission by the insurance company, the employer,
and the employee’s physician are checked against each other to see
that the settlement is in accord with the terms of the law so far as
these reports show, and if it is not, the employer or the insurer, which­
ever is delinquent, is ordered to pay the amount due under the law.
More careful attention is given to cases o f fatalities and serious
permanent disabilities than to temporary injuries. In many cases
the injured parties, or in fatal cases their dependents, are communi­
cated with, inquiries are made of doctors in attendance, and in some
cases deputies of the commission visit the injured parties to obtain
information as to the nature and severity o f the injury and the length

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o f disability. The commission also encourages claimants and em­
ployers to consult its officials informally as to their rights or duties
under the law, not only at its offices but in places where it holds
hearings in different parts o f the State, notices of such hearings
being sent to the local newspapers with the statement that the com­
mission will be glad to be consulted informally at such time.
A ll disputed cases are passed upon by the commission after hear­
ings, which are granted, upon application o f either party, before the
commission or one o f its members or one of its examiners, and which
are followed by formal awards. On the basis o f the records of the
case and the testimony taken at these hearings awards are made by
the commission as a unit. In undisputed cases in which the com­
mission believes it desirable to make a formal award for some special
reason, for example when relatively large sums due minors illegally
employed are commuted and placed in trust during the minority o f
the injured person (see p. 76), the commission also makes an award.
The commission estimates that about 12 per cent of all the cases
in which compensation is due come to the commission for hearing and
decision. An appeal may be taken from the commission’s decision
to the Circuit Court o f Dane County and from that court to the
supreme court o f the State.
It is the aim o f the commission to check up on the actual payment
o f compensation in the case of all persons entitled thereto as effective­
ly as its means will permit. In all cases except those in which the
commission has entered an award a receipt signed by the injured
person, commonly known as a release, must be filed with the com­
mission stating the amount o f compensation received. As awards
are entered chiefly in disputed cases, and as in such cases the injured
party is usually represented by an attorney whose interest it is to see
that the award is collected, it is safe to say that the compensation
awarded is usually paid in such cases if funds are available.68 In
all cases other than award cases in which the necessary releases are
not received, the policy o f the commission is to write for them and to
follow up the cases. Cases are not regarded as closed until the re­
leases are received.
In all extra-compensation cases except those in which awards are
entered, the commission requires two releases signed by the injured
minor, one for the ordinary compensation, which is filed by the
insurance carrier or by the employer if a self-insurer, and a second
for the extra compensation, which is filed by the employer, stating
that the employee has received from the employer the specified sum
due him under the law. It is the policy of the commission to close
the case only when receipts for the primary and for the additional
compensation have been received. I f the employer does not pay,
the insurance company is liable under the Wisconsin law for the in­
creased compensation. Cases in which both employer and insurance
company lack funds to pay are very rare. In only 9 of the 819 cases
included in the present inquiry for which releases were required, and
for which information on this point was available, had no release
69 Although not required by the commission, releases for both primary and extra compen­
sation were received in 42 of the 143 award cases included in this inquiry, and a release
for either the normal or the extra compensation in 34 cases, the numbers together consti­
tuting 61 per cent of the award cases for which a report as to releases was made.


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been received,69 and in 1 of these 9 the money had been sent the com­
mission to pay the boy, making unnecessary the filing o f receipts.
In the 8 other cases the commission had obtained evidence by cor­
respondence or other means that satisfied it that compensation had
actually been paid, so that it felt justified in closing the cases.
Although in 46 o f the 819 cases only one release had been re­
ceived—in 8 cases the missing receipt was that from the insurance
company and in 38 cases that from the employer for the additional
compensation—the records in only a very few cases showed that the
money for which the receipt was missing had not been paid. The
lack o f the receipt was usually due to the fact that after repeated
efforts on the part o f the employer and the commission the injured
minor could not be located. In one other case an employer had
refused to pay the penalty— a relatively small amount— and the
commission wrote the injured boy asking that he make application
for a hearing but never received any reply and finally closed the case.
Most of the records show, however, that the commission had closed
a case only on evidence which it regarded as reasonably conclusive
that the compensation had really been paid. For example, a prop­
erly signed paper or letter from the injured minor, stating that
compensation had been paid but not specifying the exact amount
received, though not regarded by the commission as a proper release,
was regarded, if the amount involved was small, as sufficiently good
proof o f payment to warrant closing the case. Almost all the
other cases were ones in which only small amounts were due, a
number involving the payment only o f wage loss, and the com­
mission had closed the case on the assurance of the employer that
the money had been paid but that he could not get hold of the
injured minor to sign a release.
A.S might bo ©xpoctcd^ it is mor6 difficult to obtain the payment
of the additional sum representing the extra compensation from
the employer than the primary compensation from the insurance
company, and the time needed to close such cases is often relatively
longT Frequently a lengthy correspondence is necessary. In 67
per cent o f the cases payment o f the extra compensation was not
made until after payment o f the ordinary compensation. The release
for the extra compensation was not received in 241 (29 per cent)
o f the cases until six months or more after the insurance company
had paid the ordinary compensation; in 87 cases (10 per cent)
a year or more had elapsed, and in 25 cases (3 per cent) two
to five years.70 Often the delay was due solely to a legitimate cause—
frequently to the length of time required to find out the real age of
the minor, or to establish the fact of employment, or to determine
the identity of the actual employer, as in the case of minors employed
by subcontractors or those who had been given work by some fore­
man or subordinate or those the employer claimed had started to
work without any proper authority; sometimes to the fact that
«9 in addition, releases were missing in 67 of the 143 cases in which Awards had been
made and in which releases had not therefore been required. In 91 (10 per cent) of the
total number of extra compensation cases the information as to releases was not available,
in m o s t o f these cases because the papers relating to this matter had been destroyed before
V^27°oerhcentqrfirthe cases for which such information is available the last release was
r e c e iv e d and the case closed 1 year or more after the accident occurred; in 8 per cent of
the cases, 2 years or more, and in 20 cases (2 per cent), 3 years or more. (See also foot­
note 4, p. 52.)


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payment could not be made because the minor had moved and could
not be located; sometimes to the fact that settlement of the case
was held up pending a court decision or pending the action o f the
court in a similar case. A few employers had gone out o f business
or were unable to pay and time was consumed in getting a settle­
ment, which in some cases finally came from the insurance com­
pany. Other delays that could not be charged to willful neglect
on the part of the employer were due to changes in management.
In a good many cases, however, it was only after persistent efforts
on the part of the commission that the employer saw the necessity
o f making payment, and had such efforts not been made it is
doubtful whether the injured minor would have received any of the
extra compensation to which he was entitled.
Even the receipt of a properly made out release signed by the
injured employee is not absolute proof that the extra compensation
has been paid by the employer. Occasionally a case is brought to
the attention o f the commission in which an attempt has been made
or at least considered by the employer to obtain a false release in
collusion with the injured minor and his parents. In one case an
officer o f the company concerned called at the office o f the commis­
sion to see if the payment o f the extra compensation (which
amounted to $292.60) could not be avoided in whole or in part.
Among other proposals for settlement he suggested that if satis­
factory to the boy he obtain a release from him without paying him
any money at all. It was explained to him that the payment of
extra compensation was required by law and that the commission
did not have the power to approve any settlement which did not
meet the legal requirements. Not long after this the injured boy
accompanied by his parents called at the office of the commission
and stated that the company had given him a check for the full
amount but had made an agreement with him whereby he should
return half the amount to the company on the understanding that
the company would furnish him with steady employment at good
wages.
In another case the employer’s attorney wrote the commission that
the boy and his father were willing that the $1,014 extra compen­
sation due the boy be returned to the employer on the condition
that the latter apprentice him for three years. In reply, the com­
mission stated that this was the first time it had heard of a case in
Wisconsin in which an apprentice was willing to pay for his ap­
prenticeship—the Wisconsin apprenticeship law in fact providing
for the payment of wages to a minor— and that if the father of the
boy took this attitude the commission would enter a formal order
authorizing the payment of the extra compensation to a bank to
be held for the boy until he came of age (see p. 76).
Another employer, angered with a boy because he had misstated
his age when he applied for work, sent him a check for the amount
due with a letter suggesting that he indorse it and return to the
employer uncashed. In a number o f cases in which the injured
minor or his parents or both had been guilty of overstating his age
at the time he obtained employment, the parents themselves were
reported as having waived all claims or as being unwilling to accept
payment o f the extra compensation. Whenever such a case came to
125914— 32------- 6


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the attention o f the commission every possible effort was made to
get the injured minor to accept the compensation and the case was
kept open and correspondence continued until a release was obtained.
MANNER IN WHICH PAYMENT IS MADE

In cases o f double or treble compensation the total amount paid is
often large. I f the additional as well as the primary compensation
is paid in weekly payments it may amount, especially in cases of
permanent and other serious disabilities, to much more than the
wages the minor was receiving when injured or than he would be
likely to receive if he returned to work, and more than is absolutely
necessary for his support. The temptation to immature persons to
waste the money, and to some parents to spend the money other than
in a way to benefit directly the minor himself, may be great. In a
study o f the operation o f the extra compensation law in New York,
where compensation payments are unusually large and are usually
made weekly ,71 it was found that few, even o f those who were per­
manently injured and who had been awarded large amounts, had
saved any part of the money or had spent it on education or in other
profitable ways. (See p. 47.)
The Wisconsin workmen’s compensation law gives the industrial
commission authority any time after six months from the date of an
injury to order payment o f compensation in gross or “ in such man­
ner as it may determine to the best interest o f the parties.” This
provision has been interpreted as giving the commission power to
conserve the compensation funds due injured persons 72 by placing
them in trust for a period of years under the supervision o f the
commission, and this practice is followed in cases o f both minors and
adults in which awards are large and there is reason to believe that
the money would be unwisely spent or wasted if paid in the usual
weekly installments or in a lump sum.
This procedure is common in the cases of minors injured while
illegally employed, as the total amount o f compensation awarded
may be considerable. The commission frequently orders the entire
amount o f the additional award, and sometimes all or at least the
unaccrued part o f the primary compensation as well, to be paid
in a lump sum to a guardian appointed by a court o f competent
jurisdiction and responsible to the court. The guardian is respon­
sible for seeing that the money is properly spent or invested until the
minor reaches his majority. In the appointment o f guardians the
court usually follows the recommendation of the commission, which
prefers banks or officers of banks in this capacity, but it sometimes
appoints disinterested persons in the community in which the in­
jured minor resides who are of good general reputation and willing
to take the responsibility; for example, in Milwaukee County the
n The section of the New York act (Consolidated Laws, ch. 67, sec. 25, as last amended
by Laws of 1930. ch. 316) providing that the industrial board may whenever it shall so
deem advisable commute the periodical payments due the injured person or, in case of
death, his beneficiaries to a lump sum “ provided the same shall be in the interests of justice.” has been interpreted by the New York courts to permit the board to commute payments only in particular and exceptional cases and does not permit the board to make a
sweeping rule applying to all or even a certain class of cases. Each case must be con­
sidered by itself. (Adams v. N. Y. Ontario & Western Ry. Co., 175 App. Div. 714 (1916).
Affirmed 220 N. Y. 579 (1917).)
_
,
^ .,
_
.
. .
..
72AlIegrini v. Industrial Commission of Wisconsin and Kohler Co., decided by the Cir­
cuit Court of Dane County (Dec. 6, 1927).


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public administrator73 who has consented to serve as guardian
without pay has been named in a number o f cases. Although par­
ents or other relatives may serve as guardians, the commisison
believes it is usually best not to have them appointed.
The commission may also order the money placed in trust with
some specified bank or trust company, to be “ invested in good inter­
est-bearing securities,” or it may order it paid to the account o f the
injured minor at a bank named in the award and placed in a savings
account or invested in securities selected with the approval o f the
bank and placed in this bank as though in trust. In order that the
injured minor’s money may be conserved properly, the commisison
sometimes makes an award ordering the disposition o f the money
by one o f the above methods even in cases in which an agreement for
compensation between the parties would otherwise be entirely accept­
able.
I f the money is placed in the care o f a bank or guardian, the
commission orders that it be held in trust at least until the minor
reaches his majority and in some cases longer, that is, for a specified
term o f years (usually five), no payment, at least o f the principal,
being permitted until the termination of this period, except with
^ the approval o f the commission. In some instances no time limit is
fixed for the period o f the trust. Usually when the bank is in­
structed to invest the inoney and sometimes also when money is
held in a savings account, the bank is ordered to pay the injured
minor the interest, on his money as it accrues, but in a few cases this
provision is not specifically included in the award. Although the
chief responsibility for the selection or approval o f investments is
placed upon the bank or guardian, the commission frequently indi­
cates the type o f investment that it considers appropriate.
As the object o f this procedure is to insure that compensation
which is not needed for current living expenses be conserved to
procure education or training for the injured minor or for his use
when he is capable o f using it to better advantage than during his
minority, great care is taken by the commission to see that the
money is not spent in unprofitable ways. A ll requests for funds
must be submitted to the commission. Correspondence, conferences,
and frequently investigations by members o f the staff are made the
basis o f the commission’s decision as to whether the money should
be paid the minor. Advances needed to pay living expenses or doc­
tors’ or dentists’ bills are inquired into carefully. Money is some­
times advanced to help pay expenses o f education or training 5 but
the progress o f such training is watched and the funds are withheld
if it is discontinued or if the minor is found to be neglecting it or not
giving his best efforts to it.
The commission does not usually permit the money to be used in
loans to members o f the minor’s family, even when secured by mort­
gages on the family’s property, or to ’be used for the purchase o f a
house or a business for them, though in rare instances such requests
may be granted if after careful investigation it seems to the best
The public administrator of Milwaukee County is an appointee of the Milwaukee
County Court who is authorized to take charge of the estates of certain persons dying
without a will and who may be appointed to act as administrator of such estates in certain
of f l V l /^

471, and h°yCLawsWoSf


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advantage o f the minor. In such cases the commission requires that
the transaction be in accordance with the regular legal practice in
making any other loan and that interest be paid. Special caution is
also used before approval is given to requests for money for use by
the minor himself in some business enterprise o f his own, and such
requests are frequently refused on the ground that the enterprise is
too risky, or the minor too young to undertake it, or on both these
grounds.
No study o f the way in which compensation money was spent was
made by the Children’s Bureau, but correspondence in the files o f
the commission in some cases indicates the purposes for which pay­
ments had been approved or refused, as well as the care taken by
the commission to see that requests were not granted in the absence
o f reasonable assurance that the money would be used profitably.
The following cases have been selected as illustrative:
A boy of 16 lost an eye through an industrial accident. This was in 1918,
but as the claim for extra compensation was not settled for five years, the
boy had passed his twenty-first birthday when the award was made. Although
he had reached his majority, the commission ordered the employer— on the
ground that it was “ to the best interest of the parties ” involved to do so— to pay
the total amount of increased compensation ($3,347.54) to a bank to hold for
the injured minor “ until such time as the commission may otherwise order.”
About four months later the injured person asked for $500 to start an ice-cream
business. His request was not granted. Three months later he wanted $3,000
to enable him to go into a second-hand automobile business. The commission
believed that the business relations involved in this undertaking were too
indefinite to warrant their approving it. Two months later, however, he was
allowed $300 to buy accessories to repair automobiles, and a little more than
a year after that he was allowed $500 to go into a garage business with his
brother. Nothing further is recorded for more than three years when he was
allowed $197 to pay a board bill and buy some clothes, indicating that his
business ventures had not been successful. A t the time of the entry with
reference to this payment, which was the last recorded at the time the record
was read, the injured party was 27 years of age, and $2,350.54 of his principal
remained in the bank.

A boy of 14 lost part of his finger while working in a leather factory.
Payment of several weeks’ accrued compensation by the insurance company
resulted in the boy and his uncle, with whom he lived, stopping work for
several days in order to spend the money. The uncle expressed the wish
that the money be paid to the boy in a lump sum. After the accident the
boy’s mother, who had never taken any interest in him, wanted him to come
to live with her, apparently to get control of the money. A s the boy had
regular employment and was said to be earning more than before the acci­
dent, the insurance adjuster recommended that the weekly payments be
stopped as “ any payments we make now merely result in the squandering
of the money,” and that the balance of the money be put in trust until
the boy reached his majority. The commission therefore ordered that $1,329.68
(the residue of a total award of $1,404.52) be paid to a bank to be held for
his benefit. Two months after the award the boy’s grandmother, who lived
with him and his uncle, wrote to the commission asking for $100 to pay a
dentist’s bill and to buy an overcoat for the boy, who was not working
because of another accident for which he was not entitled to compensation.
After a conference with the boy and his grandmother the commission author­
ized the bank to advance $50. A few months later the commission authorized
the payment of another $50 to pay for groceries and provisions, as the boy
had not worked for six weeks. A half year later application was made for
$1,000 to put into a second mortgage on real estate owned by another uncle.
The commission approved this on condition that the uncle give the boy a
second mortgage note and also deposit as collateral security with the bank
$2,000 worth of a specified issue of stock which the uncle owned. This $1,000


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was repaid in about two years’ time. A little later the boy was allowed $15
to pay a doctor’s bill and a year later $50 for current expenses, as he had
been laid off from work for five weeks. Two years later, when he was about
20 years old, he asked for $75 to defray current living expenses and to buy
a suit of clothes, claiming that his salary was too small to do more than
pay for rent and food. Next he asked to have all of his remaining compensa­
tion money paid to him, and later again asked for money for a suit. None
o f these requests was granted, as the boy said he had been working steadily
since the accident and the commission therefore judged that he had no real
need for the money requested. Actually the boy had been a drifter ever since
the accident and had been frequently out of work. The final record in the
case was a written request from the boy the day before he was 21 asking
that he be given the money to invest in a building and loan association.

In another case a boy was permitted as a means of saving his compensa­
tion money to invest it in a loan to his mother for use in building a 2-family
house. The boy had not worked since his accident, and the commission be­
lieved his mother would probably have to support him during her lifetime.
As under the terms of the award the money would have to be released to
him in a couple of years anyhow, the commission felt that to permit his
lending money to his mother for this purpose would conserve the funds. The
mother was expected to give the boy a mortgage on the property as security,
and the commission suggested that the mortgage when recorded and the notes
which the mortgage secured be filed with the trust company which had
previously had charge of the boy’s money.
EDUCATION OF EMPLOYERS TO PREVENT ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT

Besides making every effort to see that extra compensation is paid,
the commission does what it can to assist employers to avoid becom­
ing liable for such compensation. In a few cases, especially those
involving small or newly established concerns or concerns whose
proprietor or person responsible for the hiring of employees has
recently come from another State, the occurrence of an extra-com­
pensation case finds the employer really ignorant of the provisions
o f the child labor law. F ar more frequently, however, the employer,
although familiar in general with the child labor law, does not
realize that care in obtaining proper evidence of age for young per­
sons applying for jobs is essential if he is to comply with the provi­
sions of the law. (See p. 59.) In order to acquaint employers with
the extra-compensation provisions and assist them in avoiding the
employment o f minors illegally, the commission has adopted a num­
ber o f measures.
Copies o f the child labor law and circular letters explaining its
provisions and the machinery established for its enforcement are
widely distributed throughout the State by the commission, not only
to companies found to be violating the law but to many others. The
following general circular letter addressed to employers o f children
is usually sent to employers of injured minors with whom the childlabor department of the commission corresponds. This circular let­
ter is also distributed generally to employers throughout the State
by the commission and also by the various compensation insurance
companies to their policyholders. The commission states that scores
o f thousands o f these letters have been distributed by insurance com­
panies as, because of their secondary liability in extra-compensation
cases, they are interested in having their policyholders as well


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informed as possible regarding the requirements o f the child labor
law.
To E m ployers

op

C h il d r e n :

W e take this means o f again calling your attention to certain provisions o f
the law relative to the employment of minors and to the dangers incident to
their employment in violation of law.
Labor permits.
Section
of the statutes forbids the employment of a child under 17
years o f age unless the employer first has on file a labor permit issued by the
industrial commission, or some person designated by it, authorizing him to
employ the child. A permit authorizing the employment of the child by some
other employer is not sufficient. This provision of the law applies to the
employment o f minors at any time during the year, whether school is in sesSion or not. The permission o f the parents of the minor or of any other
unauthorized person for the employment o f the minor, is not sufficient and
does not protect the employer against the penalties and liabilities provided
for violation of the law.
Prohibited employments.
l eCti0^ --------r also contains lists of employments which, because of their
F ° v<e<J hazardous character, are prohibited to minors o f different ages regardminor® have labor permits or not. You should familiarize
W1*h these prohibited employments and never allow a minor under
the legal age to engage in any o f them.
Double and treble compensation.
The following provisions are contained in the workmen’s compensation act:
(a) I f a minor of permit age is injured while employed without the required
permit in otherwise lawful employment, he shall be entitled to double com­
pensation for the injury.
(b) I f a minor of permit age is injured while employed without a permit
in any place o f employment for which permits may not be issued under written
resolution o f the industrial commission, he shall be entitled to treble com­
pensation for the injury.
,
a minor of permit age or over is injured in prohibited employment,
he shall be entitled to treble compensation for the injury.
The employer must pay the extra compensation, which in a maximum case
is $dP,ouo.
He can not insure this risk. This provision for extra compensa­
tion was suggested by employers to relieve them of the uncertainties o f com­
mon-law liability in these cases, while at the same time allowing the injured
minor such a sum of money as the records indicated he would be likely to
get in a suit at common law ; minus attorney’s fees and other expenses.
Statutory penalties.
The penalty for violation of the law is $10 to $100 for each day and each
instance of violation. These statutory penalties must not be confused with
the provision for extra compensation for injured children.
H ow the employer can protect himself.
To protect yourself against the danger of incurring these losses, (1) never
employ a minor under 17 years of age without first having on file the required
labor permit authorizing you to employ him and (2 ) never allow a minor to
work at employment prohibited to a minor of his age. The further suggestion
is offered, that our records clearly show that those employers who have placed
the hiring of minors in the hands of some one competent person, holding him
responsible for results, are making the best records and traveling the safest
road.
Representations of minors or others regarding the ages of minors.
There is no safety in the practice of employing minors who claim to be
over 17, on their representations o f age, or the representations of others, whether
oral or written, or in the form of affidavits; nor is there any safety in the
practice of employing such minors on the strength of their size and appearance
as proving them to be over 17. Genuine proofs of age, such as copies of birth
or baptismal records, should be required. Documents submitted in proof of
7aa $42,000 since 1931.

See footnote 24, p. 54.


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age should be carefully scrutinized to make sure that they are genuine and
have not been tampered with. Bogus documents are of no value. I f the
employer allows himself to be deceived regarding the age of a minor, no matter
how, and employs him in violation of law, the employer is liable. Subsection
6a of section -----------provides a procedure by which the age of a minor, who
claims to be over 17 and unable to furnish a documentary proof of his date of
birth, may be established by the county court. Furthermore, subsection 6b of
said section provides that the industrial commission shall have power to issue
certificates of age of minors which shall be conclusive evidence of their ages
in any proceeding under any of the labor laws and workmen’s compensation
law. Permit officers are authorized to issue these age certificates. In con­
clusion. let us urge upon you that you do not take chances in the employment
of minors.
If you are uncertain about your rights in the employment of
minors, write to the commission for information. All the information and
help possible will be gladly furnished you.

In addition circular letters addressed to operators of mines and
quarries, lumber and logging companies, canneries, proprietors of
bowling alleys, hotels, and golf clubs (that is, places in which
children are likely to be employed or which offer some special prob­
lem in child employment) have been distributed at various times to
all the firms and individuals known to the commission to be engaged
in such businesses in the State. Copies o f these special circular let­
ters are frequently inclosed also with dictated letters sent to em­
ployers in the industries concerned in cases in which evidence o f vio­
lations o f the child labor law appears. Following are samples of
circular letters addressed to employers in different industries.
To A ll P ersons W ho H ave to D o W it h E mployment of H elp in H ig h w a y

Construction , G reeting :
1. Law ful age for employment.
No minor under 17 years of age is permitted to work in road building in any
capacity. Violations of the law not only subject the employer to a forfeiture
of $100 per day for each day of unlawful employment, hut in case the minor is
injured the compensation payable to him is trebled. The insurer, if any, is
prohibited from paying more than one-third of the compensation in such a case.
The remainder must be paid by the employer * * *. Special care should be
exercised to see that patrolmen, construction superintendents, and others having
to do with road building * * *, do not permit any minor under 17 years
of age to discharge any service on the job at the instance of anyone, whether
parent, guardian, or other person. It is not necessary to a violation of the law
that the underage minor shall be on the pay roll. It is sufficient if he is
expressly or impliedly permitted to work either on his own account or as a
substitute for some one else on the job.
2. Proofs of age.
There is no safety in the practice of employing young people who claim to be
over 17, on their representations of age, or the representation of others, whether
oral or written, or in the form of affidavits; nor is there any safety in the
practice of employing such minors on the ground that their size and appearance
prove them to be over 17. Genuine proofs of age, such as copies of birth or
baptismal records, should be required. Copies of birth records may be obtained
from the register of deeds in the county of birth. They may also be obtained
for children born in Wisconsin from the State board of health at Madison.
Copies of baptismal records may be obtained from the pastor of the church in
which the baptism took place. Documents submitted in proof of age should be
carefully scrutinized to make sure that they are genuine and have not been
tampered with. Bogus or altered documents are of no value. I f the employer
allows himself to be deceived regarding the age of a minor, no matter how,
and employs him in violation of law, the employer is liable. In a maximum
case involving treble compensation, the extra compensation is $39,000.
S. Certificates of age.
Every State in the Union has a child labor law and has had for many years.
A ll civilized nations of the world and most of the so-called heathen nations and


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semicivilized nations have such laws for the protection of their young. All
have had to struggle with the problem arising from misrepresentation of age
by the children or others interested in getting them into unlawful employment.
Wisconsin has had its troubles on that score. In order to assist employers
in their efforts to comply with the law, a statute was enacted in 1925 authorizing
the commission and persons designated by it to issue certificates of age to
minors who apply for them and who prove their ages to be between 17 and 21.
These certificates of age are conclusive proofs of the ages of the minors to
whom they are issued under the labor laws and compensation laws of the State.
The employer who will take advantage of this age certificate law need not
take chances that the young person whom he employs and who claims to be
over 17 is in fact under 17. To make certain, the employer may require the
minor to file with him a certificate of age issued by the industrial commission,
or some person appointed by it. The certificate of age can be secured by the
minor by sending to the proper person a copy of his birth or baptismal record
as a proof of his age and the statutory fee of 25 cents. There are more than
200 persons appointed by the commission and authorized to issue labor permits
and certificates of age. It is the aim of the commission to have at least one of
these officers located in each county. In many counties of the State there are
several. A line to the commission can get information regarding the location
o f any of these oflicers. Sincerely trusting that this information will help the
persons to whom it is addressed to keep the employment of minors in high­
way work within the law * * *.

To M anagers and P roprietors of H otels, I ncluding Summer -R esort H otels :
For your information and protection, as well as the protection of minors who
might be involved, we are taking the liberty of calling your attention to certain
restrictions on the employment o f minors in h otels:
First. It is unlawful to employ any girl under 17 or any bog under 16 years
of age, or to permit them to work, in any hotel in Wisconsin, including summerresort hotels.
Second. Boys between 16 and 17 may be employed in hotels, but the employer
must first have on file the labor permit authorizing the employment as pro­
vided in section 103.05 of the statutes.
Third. It is unlawful to employ or permit any minor under the age of 18
years to operate an elevator in any hotel, or to employ or permit any girl under
21 years of age to act as a bell hop.
Fourth. Under ^ the statutes, violations of the child labor law are mis­
demeanors— criminal offenses— punishable by imprisonment or by money pen­
alties of $10 to $100 for each day that the violation continues in the case of
each child involved.
Fifth. The employer must himself make sure that the minor whom he em­
ploys is of lawful age. The best way to do this is to require the minor to
furnish a genuine proof of age such as a certified copy of his birth or baptismal
record. I f the employer accepts false statements of age by the minor or his
parents or anybody else, or judges the age of the minor by his size and appear­
ance, only to find after the employment has taken place that the minor is in
fact under lawful age, the employer is liable.
Sixth. In addition to the penalties noted in number four above if a minor
is injured while employed in violation of law, he is entitled to three times
as much compensation for his injury as would otherwise be recoverable and
the employer must himself pay the additional compensation. H e can not insure
against this hazard.
Seventh. Managers as well as proprietors are liable for violations of the
child labor law which occur under their management.
For your further information, we are inclosing a copy of the child labor
law and trust that we may have your cooperation in securing an observance
o f its provisions. Our great desire is that these laws shall be obeyed and
not that people shall be punished for violating them. However, it should be
understood that we shall insist upon the enforcement of the statutory penal­
ties when such action appears to be warranted by the facts and necessary to
secure results.


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To P roprietors and M anagers op B owling A lleys , P ool and B illiard R ooms.
G entlemen : For your own benefit, as well as for the benefit of the children
who may be involved, we call your attention to the following proposition:
1. Are you employing or permitting minors under 17 years of age to work
in your place of business? I f you are, you are committing a misdemeanor—
a criminal offense— and incurring a maximum penalty of $100 a day for every
day that each individual minor under 17 is so employed or permitted to work.
2. Are you employing minors and accepting their word or the word of
some one else as a proof of their ages? I f you are, how do you know that
they are telling the truth? I f they are not telling the truth and the minors
are in fact under 17, you are committing the offense and incurring the penalties
pointed out in No. 1. The misrepresentation of age is no defense for yon.
3. Are you requiring minors whom you employ to furnish you a genuine
proof of their ages, such as a certified copy of the birth or baptismal record,
so that you may be sure that they are more than 17? I f you are not, you
are taking long chances on having your bank account seriously reduced one
of these days.
4. Do you know that if a minor is injured while employed in violation of
law, he must be paid treble compensation and that his employer must himself
pay the extra compensation? This has been the law for many years. During
that time employers have paid more than $200,000 in extra compensation.
Do you want your name to be added to this list? I f you do not, then heed
the advice in this letter.
5. W ill you kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter, and request further
information on any point not clear to you? I f not, do you want the commission
to understand that you do not care for its help and that you will be satisfied
if the commission simply enforces the statutory penalties against you if
violations of the law occur in your place?

In the course o f such correspondence and conference as the com­
mission may conduct with employers relating to extra-compensation
cases every effort is made to show how important it is that care be
taken to obtain proper evidence o f age, and the commission also in
many cases advises employers as to readjustments in employment
methods which might be expected to prevent the occurrence of viola­
tions in the future. The necessity o f obtaining reliable documentary
evidence o f age, or preferably (since 1925) of age certificates (see
p. 59 ), for minors claiming to be over permit age, is also emphasized
by the commission. Moreover, having learned from its experience
that violations are almost impossible to avoid in establishments in
which employees are hired in a haphazard fashion by individual
foremen, the commission advises centralization o f the hiring of all
employees in the hands of one person or department as a necessary
step if violations are to be avoided. To quote from letters sent em­
ployers by the child-labor department of the commission :
A s long as persons who are responsible for the hiring of minors indulge in a
practice of * * * accepting their mere representation of age or the repre­
sentation of others as to their ages, violations of the child labor law will
continue. * * *
It is fairly safe to say that the certainty of death and taxes does not exceed
the certainty that the child labor law will be violated wherever such a practice
is indulged.
Great numbers of employers have found that the only way to prevent these
violations is to put the hiring into the hands of one individual, insist upon
his thoroughly informing himself and then hold him responsible for results.

In order to bring home to employers the fact that far more often
than not violations are due to avoidable carelessness on the part of
the employing company, the child-labor department o f the commis­
sion in its correspondence with the companies which have had to
pay extra compensation frequently asks to be informed what the

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company proposes to do to avoid such experience in the future. The
following are representative replies to this inquiry:
W here there is any question of age now, the company is compelling them to
furnish birth records.
You ask what steps we have taken to prevent the illegal employment of
minors hereafter, and would say that our plan from this time on will be to
require a birth certificate, no matter i f the applicant is gray haired and tooth­
less ; in other words we do not intend to ever take a chance and hope this will
be entirely satisfactory to the commission.
So that we might be sure that all our present minors were lawfully employed
and had proper permits, our employment department has been required to
check carefully and verify the ages of all employees 21 years of age and
under, and we are demanding in cases where we do not have permits for
employees under 21 years of age, their certified birth certificates, and further
instructions have been issued to our employment department in the future to
demand such birth certificates in case proper permits are not forthcoming at
the time of employment. In this manner we believe that any possible further
difficulty will be eliminated and there will not be any recurrence of the case
we have just passed through.

A contractor who had had to pay extra compensation in two cases
stated “ no boy will get on one of our jobs without a permit, as we
realize that it makes trouble for all concerned.” The proprietor o f
a bowling alley who had been obliged to pay extra compensation
because o f allowing a bystander to act as pin boy on a busy evening,
reported to the commission: “ Now that our season will open again
shortly, it is our intention to have signs posted on each floor pro­
hibiting loitering o f lads under 17 years o f age as well as the employ­
ment o f the same.” The management of a lumber company, after its
second extra-compensation case, discharged the foreman who had
hired the injured boy, and informed the commission that it was their
intention to discharge any foreman who employed boys under 18
without first obtaining proper evidence o f age. One manufacturing
company, which out o f only 15 compensable accidents had had two
cases o f illegal employment, one o f which had cost the company
almost $1,700, reported to the commission after the second o f these
cases that it had taken the hiring of its help away from individual
foremen and put it in the hands of one person. A lumber company,
after three such cases, decided that in future it would have its fore­
men select the men wanted and then send them to the chief account­
ant, who would be responsible for verifying their ages and would
require birth certificates for all applicants stating that they were
under 24. Another company after two accidents to illegally em­
ployed minors, for which it had to pay extra compensation, made a
rule that the foreman could hire a boy under 20 only i f the latter
could produce a birth certificate or a labor permit, otherwise the
applicant must be sent to the main office.
O f the 836 employers represented in the present inquiry, 79 had
had more than one extra-compensation case as the result o f injuries
to illegally employed minors; 9 had had three such cases, 9 had had
four, 4 had had five, and 2 had had six. Some of these were very
large concerns, others relatively small. A large proportion were
manufacturing concerns— 80 per cent as compared with 53 per cent
o f the concerns having only one case—and a relatively large pro­
portion were engaged in the manufacture o f lumber products, paper
or paper products, or in metal industries. A ll the establishments

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having five or six extra-compensation cases were paper mills or
lumber concerns.74
Employers having relatively large numbers o f cases usually had
most o f them concentrated in a few years, after which they ceased or
became very infrequent, showing how care in avoiding the possi­
bility o f violations may be learned after several experiences in pay­
ing extra compensation.
One large company had a case of illegal employment in each of the years
1918, 1920, and 1923. This company, although it employed a high-salaried
employment manager, had prior to these injuries been found by the com­
mission to be careless in requiring minors to furnish any genuine proof of
their ages and had frequently been warned by the commission of the dangers
o f this procedure. However, the information furnished by the employment
manager with regard to each of these three accident cases shows that the
practice of employing boys who claimed to be 17 or over without requiring any
proof of age had not been discontinued.
The following were the kind of
excuses given : “Above claimed to be 17. Looked like a 19-year-old.” “ Boy
was large, weighed 180 pounds.” In the first two cases the injury was not
serious— extra compensation amounting to $35 and $29, respectively.
The
third accident, however, cost the company more than $8,000. A 15-year-old
boy had obtained a job with the company several months prior to the accident,
giving his age as 17, and his birth date as January 21, 1906. Five days later
it was discovered that he had misstated his age, and he was discharged.
Not three months later he reapplied for work, using a different name and
address and stating that he was born April 4, 1904, and was 18 years old.
Again he was hired without further investigation of his age. Three days
later he lost his right foot in an elevator accident. The boy and his father
then gave his correct age and his birth date, April 4, 1907. The employment
manager in writing to the commission regarding the “ many extenuating, cir­
cumstances ” in the case winds up with the following inquiry, somewhat sur­
prising in view of the company’s previous record : “ I f your commission has
had any previous experience in like cases, we would appreciate your advice
regarding same.” In consequence of this case, the employment manager
lost his position and the company has never had another case of illegal
employment.
Another lumber company, after three extra-compensation cases and much
correspondence with the commission, decided to turn over a new leaf and “ not
rely on the appearance of young persons in future.” The next year this com­
pany had three more cases, but none of them involved permit violations. Since
that time (1923) no extra-compensation cases have been reported for the
company. One large company, having in good times about 2,000 employees,
after three extra-compensation cases in the period 1918-1920, although com­
plaining bitterly of the “ flagrant injustice of the law which not only permits
but sanctions and encourages the minor in evading the requirements of the
law itself,” promised that in future it would take every precaution to see that
no violations occurred. No further extra-compensation cases are reported for
this company except one in 1925, which, it was claimed, was due to the fact
that the boy had been employed by a new man who was not wholly informed
as to the law. In general, however, the company stated, the strictest orders
had been given regarding the employment of minors without proof of age.
74 Commenting on the fact that a relatively large number of lumber concerns had so
many extra-compensation cases the director of the child-labor department of the commis­
sion stated : “ The factors entering into a proposition of this kind while perhaps not
endless are at least numerous. For example, the character of the hazards, the number of
employees per establishment, the attitude of young people toward the employment.
* * * In general, the work furnished by lumber companies and paper mills is rather
more strenuous than work in stores and many other kinds of factories. * * * The
fellow who is small for his age, or of average size, and who is, in fact, underage would not
be so likely to seek employment as one who is large for his age and yet is underage.
* * * Much of the business of lumber companies is carried on by contractors. Some
at least of the companies have men who travel from camp to camp among the con­
tractors, advising them with reference to the laws relating to the employment of young
people. Of course, their problem is complicated by the far-Bung character of their organi­
zations and doubtless that condition has a bearing on the number of extra-compensation
cases. Some, at least, of the lumber companies and some very large ones require em­
ployment records to be sent every day to the central office where they are followed up
by the personnel director. One very large company comes to mind which has made a very
excellent record in the matter of employment of young people by following this plan.”


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One manufacturing company, which claimed that it was its policy never to
employ children of permit age, had cases of illegal employment occurring
in February, March, and April of 1920, as a result of accepting the boys’
statements that they were 17 or older without requiring evidence of age.
After these cases, the company informed the commission that its employment
office had been given very strict instructions on this point, and no later cases
were recorded.

The following cases illustrate the way in which an inadequate
employment system may be responsible for violations of the child
labor law:
A paper-manufacturing company had to pay extra compensation for the
injury of four illegally employed minors in a 12-month period (1 91 8-19).
Notwithstanding the commission’s correspondence and advice regarding these
cases, about a year and a half later another minor was injured while illegally
employed by the same company. After the commission had taken the matter
up again, threatening prosecution to the limit of the statutory penalties provided
for violation of the child labor law, the company reorganized its employment
system, centralizing it in one office instead of permitting each department to do
its own hiring. A s a result, during eight years (1920-1928) only one case of
injury to an illegally employed minor was recorded against this company.
Another paper mill had three boys injured while illegally employed in the
month of August, 1918. Although all had been employed as 17, one was
under 14. No permits or evidence of age had been required of them. As a
result of these cases, the company informed the commission that in future
it would require birth certificates, baptismal records, or war records for all
applicants under 21. Two further cases were reported, however, one in 1919
and one in 1923, in which statements as to age had been accepted without
investigation, indicating that the company had not followed up its good
intentions with the greatest care. After the accident in 1923, the company
again reported that “ Since this accident all employees between 17 and 21
must prove their ages,” and no further cases of illegal employment were
reported.
A lumber company, after paying extra compensation for injuries to four
illegally employed minors in 1918-1922 and after a warning by the commission
that in view of the company’s record it would be obliged to consider taking
action to enforce the statutory penalties for violation of the child labor law,
the company issued an order to all its foremen to require evidence of age for
all minors and warned the foremen that they would be called upon to answer
for any cases in which minors were employed in their departments in viola­
tion of the child labor law. A later accident requiring payment of extra com­
pensation was reported for this company, but it occurred five years later.
That experience does not always teach the necessary caution is shown in
the case of a newly established paper-manufacturing company which hired
a boy who said he was 17 and took his word for it, as the company “ did not
know the law very well.” After his injury the boy was found to be only 16.
Following this accident the company asserted that it had “ learned the law,”
but less than a year later it employed another boy of 16 who said he was 17
and would bring a birth certificate the next day. The second day of his em­
ployment the boy was killed.

THE INJURED MINORS

In studying the operation o f the workmen’s compensation law as
it affects illegally employed minors, considerable information was
obtained from the records o f the industrial commission as to the in­
jured minors, the circumstances o f their accidents, the nature of
their injuries, the amount of compensation they received, and so
forth. This information is presented in the following pages. The
group can not be regarded as a true sample of young workers sus­
taining industrial accidents, o f course, as the fact that they were
illegally employed affects their age distribution, their occupations,

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the causes of their accidents, and probably also the seriousness of
their injuries, as in many cases the illegal employment was in an
occupation in which the employment o f young persons was pro­
hibited, generally because it was known to be dangerous.
NUMBER, SEX, AGE, AND OCCUPATION

The Children’s Bureau study included 962 illegally employed
minors. (See p. 52.) The total number of injured minors in W is­
consin, legally as well as illegally employed, and their ages are not
known for the same period (July 1, 1917, to December 31, 1928),
but information available for the years 1923-1928, the only period
for which comparable information is available, indicates that of all
minors under 18 suffering compensable injuries approximately 14
per cent were illegally employed. Included among the illegally
employed were 31 per cent of the total number o f injured who were
under 16, 36 per cent o f those who were 16, and 2 per cent o f those
who were 17. The fact that a larger proportion of the 16-year-old
injured minors than o f those who were under 16 years o f age were
illegally employed is o f special interest in view of the removal at
16 o f many o f the occupational prohibitions. It points to the
conclusion that the 16-year-age group is especially likely to be em­
ployed without the required permit, as was actually found to be the
case in the present study (see p. 90). The small proportion of in­
jured 17-year-old workers who were illegally employed results from
the fact that at 17 a permit is not required and a number of the
occupational restrictions apply only to those under this age.75
A ll except 86 (9 per cent) o f the 962 illegally employed minors
included in the present study were boys. (Table 1.) As almost
half o f the nonagricultural workers under 18 in Wisconsin are girls,
this small proportion o f girls means that employers do not hire
young girls for dangerous illegal employment to anything like the ex­
tent that they do boys. Ninety-four per cent of the minors were of
permit age—that is, under 17 years. None was 18 or over. This
is no doubt because few occupations are prohibited to minors who
have reached the age o f 18.
Table 2 shows the industries in which illegally employed minors
were working and also the industries in which all compensated
minors under 18 years o f age in Wisconsin were working in 1919-20,
as given in an earlier Children’s Bureau study, the only fairly com­
parable information available on all injured minors, legally as well
as illegally employed. The proportion of the illegally employed
minors engaged in manufacturing industries (59 per cent) is consid­
erably less than the proportion o f all injured minors in manufac­
turing (82 per cen t); on the other hand, workers in trade, transpor­
tation, and personal and domestic service are far more numerous in
the illegally employed group. The predominance o f employment in
trade and other nonfactory work among the illegally employed
group is due partly to the fact that children are generally more fre­
quently hired without permits for work in stores, hotels, bowling
alleys, etc., especially in small establishments employing only one
or two children, than in most factory work, and partly to the fact
76 Wisconsin Labor Statistics Bull. No. 25 (Mar. 14, 1930), pp. 4—7.


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that all work in hotels, bowling alleys, and a number o f other non­
factory employments is prohibited to certain minors.
T able

1 . — Ages

of illegally employed boys and girls sustaining industrial
injuries; Wisconsin, July 1, 19 tf-D ecem b er SI, 1928
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Girls

Boys

Total
Age of minor

Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Number distribu­ Number distribu­ Number distribu­
tion
tion
tion
Total....... ...........- ............................

962

Age reported..............................................

937
2
12
54
190
627
52

86

876

0

ÎÔÔ"

853

1
6
20
67
6

2
12
49
176
567
47

0

100

84

100

1
6
21
66
6

5
14
60
5

6
17
71
6

2

23

25

1 Less than 1 per cent.
T able 2.— 'Number of illegally employed minors sustaining industrial injuries
in specified industries or occupational groups, July 1, 1917-Decem ber 81,
1928, a/nd number of minors under 18 years of age sustaining industrial
injuries in these industries or occupational groups during the year ended
June SO, 1920; Wisconsin
Illegally employed
minors sustain­
ing industrial in­
juries, July 1,
1917-Dec. 31,
1928

Industry or occupational group

Minors under 18
years of age sus­
taining industrial
injuries d u rin g
the year ended
June 30,19201

Per cent
Per cent
Number distribu­ Number distribu­
tion
tion
627

962
Industry or occupational group reported....................................

956

100

627

63
15
560
88
139
81

7
2
59
9
15
8

10

1

15
1
514
26
34
13
22
2

100
0

2
M
82
4
5
2
4

0

6
i Unpublished figures.

* Less than 1 per cent.

LEGAL PROVISIONS VIOLATED

In Wisconsin employment without the work permit required by
law for minors under 17 was the most common type of violation for
which the penalty o f increased compensation had been imposed; this
type o f violation was found in 854 cases (90 per cent o f those for
which information was obtained as to the nature o f the violation).

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W O R K M E N 'S COMPENSATION LA W ---- WISCONSIN

(Table 3.) In 697 (73 per cent) o f the cases, failure to have the
requisite permit was the only type o f violation appearing on the
records. In some o f these 697 cases the injured minor, though o f
legal age for general employment, was also employed in a prohibited
occupation. Violations of the regulations as to prohibited occupa­
tions are harder to prove than violations of the permit requirement
(see p. 71), and as prior to June 30, 1925, the additional compensa­
tion employers had to pay was the same (200 per cent) for both
types o f violation it was not necessary before that time to prove
that the injured minor was employed in an illegal occupation if in
fact his employment was illegal because o f the absence of the re­
quired permit. Hence in cases occurring before June 30, 1925, in
which the minor was o f permit age but had no permit, it may not
always have been definitely ascertained whether or not his occupa­
tion was illegal. However, it is known that 253 (27 per cent) o f the
minors illegally employed were injured while working in a pro­
hibited occupation, 96 (10 per cent) having been employed in
violation o f this provision only.
T able 3.— Type of legal violation in cases of industrial injuries to illegally
employed boys and girls of specified a g es; Wisconsin, July 1, 1911-D ecem ­
ber 31, 1928
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Type of violation reported
Age and sex of minor

Permit only

Total
Total

Num­
ber

Occupation only

Per
Num­
cent1 ber

Permit and
occupation

Per
Num­
cent 1
ber

Per
cent *

Type of
viola­
tion
not re­
ported

Total______ ________

662

950

697

73

96

10

157

17

12

Under 16 years......................
Under 14 years________
14 and 15 years...... ........

258
14
244

257
14
243

152
4
148

59

38

15

26

J

61

38

16

67
10
57

23

1

16 and 17 years......................
Age not reported............... .

679
25

676
17

532
13

79

58

9

86
4

13

Boys............................

876

865

646

75

89

10

130

15

11

Under 16 years......................
Under 14 years...............
14 and 15 years...............

239
14
225

238
14
224

141
4
137

59

36

15

26

J

61

36

16

61
10
51

23

16 and 17 years......................
Age not reported__________

614
23

611
16

492
13

81

53

9

66
3

11

1
3

60

7

8

27

32

i

Girls............................

86

85

51

Under 16 years......................
Under 14 years...............
14 and 15 years...............

19

19

11

19

19

11

16 and 17 years......................
Age not reported...................

65
2

65
1

40

2

6

2
62

5

6
8

20
1

31

i Per cent not shown where number of boys and girls was less than 50.

The extent to which the illegality for which increased compensa­
tion was awarded was due to lack o f permit or to employment in a
prohibited occupation varied somewhat with the industry or occu­
pational group, as would be expected from the fact that more exten­
sive prohibitions are found in some industries than in others. (Table
4.) Thus, although 27 per cent o f all the minors injured while
illegally employed were found to be in prohibited occupations, only
21 per cent of those in all manufacturing industries, 15 per cent of

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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O K

those in lumbering and logging, and 14 per cent of those in trade
were so employed; on the other hand, 69 per cent o f those engaged
in domestic and personal service (chiefly in bowling alleys or hotels),
39 per cent o f those in transportation (chiefly in road construction),
and 13 of the 15 youths engaged in the extraction o f minerals (all
of whom were employed in or about mines or quarries), were found
in prohibited occupations. Practically all employment of girls or
boys, or both, under 17 or under 18 is illegal in bowling alleys and
hotels, in road construction, and in or about mines or quarries.
T able 4.— Type of legal violation in cases of industrial injuries to minors il­
legally employed in specified industries or occupational groups; Wisconsin,
July 1, 1917-D ecem ber SI, 1928
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Type of violation reported
Industry or occupational group

Permit only

Total
Total

Total---------------------------------Agriculture and forestry............... ......

Manufacturing and mechanical industries..........................- ...............
Metal industries...............-...........
Lumber and allied products____
Food and kindred products..........

962

950

Permit and
occupation

Occupation
only

Num­ Per Num­ Per Num­ Per
ber cent1 ber cent1 ber cent1
697

73

96

10

157

17

1

2

12

19

1

8
4

15

5

8

63

63

50

79

53
10

53
10

45
5

85

15

15

2

560

550

435

79

12

67

12

48

9

10

21
14
5
8
1
4
3
2
5
1

14
12
8
13

14
12
2

9
10
3
8

5
2
2

154
120
67
64
39
23
18
18
16
8
5
28

149
118
65
64
39
23
18
17
16
8
5
28

114
92
58
51
36
18
14
7
11
7
5
22

77
78
89
80

88

88

54

61

7

37
51

37
51

12
42

139
81
10
6

139
81
10
4

120
25
9
2

2
1
1
8

1

3

3
8

27

31

82

2
5

10

23
4

8

86
31

12
4

9
5

1

Type
of vio­
lation
not re­
ported

7
52
1
2

5
64
2

1 Per cent not shown where number of minors was less than 50.

Almost all (95 per cent) o f the injured minors of employmentpermit age were employed without permits. O f those who were
16 years o f age, 99 per cent were employed without permits, for at
16 it is easier for the young worker to represent himself as past
permit age than it is at 14 or 15 (see p. 67). On the other hand,
the younger workers were more extensively employed in prohibited
occupations— 41 per cent of those under 16, as compared with 15 per
cent of the 16-year-old workers. And this, too, is easily understood,
in view o f the fact that many o f the prohibitions as to occupation
apply only to children under 16.

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O f the 253 minors injured while employed in prohibited occupa­
tions, 171 (68 per cent) were engaged in types o f employment
specifically prohibited by statute for minors of their ages, and 81
(32 per cent) were engaged in employments which had been made
illegal for minors o f their ages through ruling o f the industrial com­
mission that certificates could not be issued for such work. Girls
more often than boys were employed in prohibited occupations in
violation o f rulings. A ll the girls working in violation o f rulings
were employed in hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses, employ­
ment in which is prohibited for girls under 17 as morally hazardous.
The principal operations specifically prohibited by statute in which
the injured minors were employed are given below in the order o f
their numerical importance:

Total Boys Girls
Running or management o f elevators * * * (prohibited un­
der 1 8 )----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
26
7
Oiling or cleaning dangerous or hazardous machinery in motion
(prohibited under 1 8 )_____________________________________________ 2 0
18
2
Operating or assisting in operating car taking material from any
circular or band saw, or any crosscut saw * * * or other
cutting or pressing machine from which material is taken from
behind (prohibited under 1 6 )______________________________________ 18
18
W ork in or about mines or quarries (prohibited under 1 8 )________ 16
16
Outside erection and repair of electric wires, including * * *
telephone wires (prohibited under 1 8 )___________________________
12
12
Operating or using any emery, tripoli, rouge, corundum, stone
carborundum, any abrasive or emery polishing or buffing wheel,
where articles of the baser materials or of iridium are manu­
factured (prohibited under 1 8 )_____________________________________ 12
12
Operating cylinder or job press, * * * or drill (prohibited
under 1 6 ) ____________________________________________________________ 9
9
Operating wood shaper, wood jointer, planer * * * or wood­
7
7
turning machine (prohibited under 1 6 )__________________________
W ork on scaffolding or on ladder * * * in building trades
(prohibited under 1 6 )_______________________________________________ 4
4
Running or management of * * * hoisting machines (pro­
hibited under 1 8 )_______________________________________
4 4
W ork in or about docks (prohibited under 1 8 )______________________
4
4 II
* * * Cleaning any machinery in motion (prohibited under
1 6 ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
3
1

The principal operations and occupations prohibited by rulings
were as follows:
W ork in bowling alleys (prohibited under 1 7 )_______________
Road-onstruction work (prohibited under 1 7 )_______________
W ork in hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses (prohibited
under 17 for girls, under 16 in hotels for b o y s)___________
Lumbering and logging operations (prohibited for boys
under 1 6 )_________________________________________________________
W ork on threshing crews (prohibited under 1 7 ) ________________

Total Boys Girls
27
27
22
22
20

119
7

7

4

4

In addition, 10 boys o f 12 and 13 years o f age were employed in
occupations for which the law prohibited the issuance of permits
to children under 14.76 O f these, 4 were engaged in operations pro­
hibited for children under 16 (in 1 case for minors under 18) and
have been included in the numbers listed above.76a Seven boys and one
78 The Wisconsin law provides that during school vacation children between 12 and 14
may be employed on permit in store (not a drug store, nor in delivery of merchandise)
office (not a factory or printing office), mercantile establishment, warehouse (not a factory
or tobacco warehouse), or telegraph, telephone, or public messenger service, and during
school vacation without permit, in work usual to the home of the employer, (Stat 1929
sec. 103.05, subdiv. (4) (b) and (4 a ).)
'
. 7aaAt the time o f this study children under 14 years who were injured in occupations
for which the issuance of permits was not required were not subject to the extra compen-


125914— 32------- 7
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92

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

girl were employed in violation of the general provision o f the child
labor law prohibiting the employment o f minors under 16 and
under 18 in occupations dangerous to life and limb.
The relationship between the nature of the violations and the
causes o f the injuries is discussed under the specific causes of injury,
where also will be found accounts o f cases involving violations o f
different kinds.
NATURE AND LOCATION OF INJURY

Cuts, punctures, or lacerations constituted 46 per cent o f all injuries.
(See Table 13, p. 101.) These involved amputations for 9 per cent
o f the injured minors and, in general, resulted in permanent disabil­
ity more often than other injuries. The next most important types
o f injury were fractures, bruises, contusions, and abrasions. The
leading types of injuries were the same as those occurring among all
injured minors, as found in the Children’s Bureau study o f com­
pensated accidents to minors in Wisconsin in 1919-20,77 though cuts,
punctures, and lacerations and fractures (that is, the more serious
types) occurred somewhat more frequently among the illegally
employed minors in the present inquiry.
O f all the injuries to the illegally employed, 65 per cent were to
the arms or hands, consisting chiefly o f injuries to one or more fin­
gers. Ninety-three per cent of the amputations affected the arms
or hands. The lower extremities, chiefly the legs, were injured in
24 per cent of the cases, the trunk in 5 per cent, and some part of the
head in 5 per cent; in about one-fourth o f the last the eye was
affected. These figures correspond closely with those reported in
the study o f all compensated industrial injuries to minors in W is­
consin in 1919-20.78
EXTENT AND DURATION OF DISABILITY

Fatal injuries had occurred in 13 cases (1 per cent o f the 962 in
which the extent of disability was known) and permanent injuries
in 142 cases (15 per cent). (Table 5.) Permanent injuries were
more frequent among this illegally employed group than among all
minors under 18 compensated for industrial accidents in Wisconsin
from 1919 to 1928 (15 per cent as compared with 11 per cent).79 The
proportion receiving permanent injuries was exceptionally high
among the illegally employed who were under 16 years o f age; 22
per cent of the illegally employed under 16, compared with 11 per
cent o f all minors under 16 receiving compensation from 1919 to
1928, were permanently injured. The proportion of those whose
injuries, though temporary, were relatively serious was somewhat
greater among children under 16 than among the older illegally
employed minors, 35 per cent o f the former being disabled 4 weeks
or more as compared with 31 per cent o f the total number. (Table
6.) These figures show that the protection offered by the child labor
law is greatly needed, for when this protection fails to operate the
results are particularly disastrous.
77 Industrial Accidents to Employed Minors in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New Jersey,
p. 7. U. S. Children’s Bureau Publication No. 152. Washington, 1926.
79 Wisconsin Labor Statistics Bull. No. 25 (Mar. 14, 1930), p. 6.


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93

W O R K M E N S COMPENSATION LA W — WISCONSIN

T able 5.— E xten t of disability from industrial injuries to illegally employed
boys and girls o f specified a g es; Wisconsin, July 1, 1917-D ecem ber 31, 1928
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability
Age and sex of minor

Death

Total

Number

Permanent partial

Per
cent1 Number

Temporary

Per
cent1 Number

Per
cent1

Total............

962

13

1

142

15

807

84

Under 16 years......
Under 14 years.
14 and 15 years.

258
14
244

3

1

22

1

198
11
187

77

3

57
3
54

16 and 17 years___
Age not reported—

679
25

10

1

83
2

12

586
23

86

22

77

Boys............

876

12

1

137

16

727

83

Under 16 years___
Under 14 years.
14 and 15 years.

239
14
225

3

1

23

1

182
11
171

76

3

54
3
51

16 and 17 years......
Age not reported__

614
23

9

1

81
2

13

524
21

85

1

1

5

6

80

93

Girls_______

86

Under 16 years___
Under 14 years.
14 and 15 years.

19
19

16 and 17 years____
Age not reported—

65
2

23

3

16

3
1

2

76

16

2

3

62
2

95

1 Per cent not shown where number of boys and girls was less than 50.

T able 6.— Duration of temporary disability from industrial injuries to illegally
employed boys and girls o f specified a g es; Wisconsin, July 1, 1917-D ecem ber
31, 1928
Minors sustaining temporary industrial injuries
Duration of disability
4 weeks or more

Age and sex of minor
Total

Less than 4
weeks
Num­
ber

4 weeks, less
than 12

Total

Per
Num­
cent1
ber

Per
Num­
cent1
ber

12 weeks or
more

Per
Num­
cent1
ber

Per
cent1

Total...........................

807

558

69

249

31

223

28

26

3

Under 16 years............... ......
Under 14 years...............
14 and 15 years...............

198
11
187

129
5
124

65

69
6
63

35

61
4
57

31

8

4

16 and 17 years....................
Age not reported____ ______

586
23

413
16

70

173
7

30

156
6

66

34

30

6

3

27

17

3

Boys............................

727

492

68

235

32

212

29

23

3

Under 16 years.....................
Under 14 years...............
14 and 15 years____ ____

182
11
171

114
5
109

63

68
6
62

37

60
4
56

33

8

4

33

6

4

16 and 17 years......... ............
Age not reported...................

524
21

364
14

69

160
7

31

146
6

28

14

3

83

14

18

h

14

3

4

16

3

Girls............... ............

80

66

Under 16 years...................
Under 14 years...............
14 and 15 years...............

16

15

16

15

16 and 17 years................
Age not reported.................

62
2

49
2

64

36

1

1

1
79

1

13

____

21

1

1 Per cent not shown where number of boys and girls was less than 50.


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10

94

THE ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

Girls are usually employed at occupations potentially less dan­
gerous than those in which boys engage, so that it is not surpris­
ing that girls less frequently than boys sustained serious injuries.
Comparison on this point can not be made with all minors compen­
sated from 1919 to 1928, for information as to sex is lacking for
this group, but in the study o f compensated minors in Wisconsin
in 1920 made by the Children’s Bureau fatal and permanent in­
juries constituted a smaller percentage of the injuries occurring to
girls than to boys in the group under 18 years o f age.80
Illegally employed minors met with more severe injuries in manu­
facturing and mechanical industries than in other groups. (Table 7.)
The proportion permanently injured was highest for the minors
employed in the manufacture o f lumber and allied products (24
per cent) and in the metal industries (19 per cent). Temporary
injuries, however, were apparently o f somewhat slighter character
in the manufacturing industries. (Table 8.)
T able 7.— E xten t o f disability from industrial injuries to minors illegally em­
ployed in specified industries or occupational groups;
1917-D ecem ber 31, 1928

Wisconsin, July 1,

Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability
Industry or occupational group

Number

Total.......- ............
Agriculture and forestry.

Permanent partial

Death

Total

962
63

13
2
1
1

Lumbering and logging.
Agriculture.----------. . . .

Per Number
cent ®
1
3
2

Per
cent®

Number

Per
cent °

142

15

807

84

7

11

54

86

8

48
6

91

4
3

13

2

Extraction of minerals........................

Temporary

¡*JS

Manufacturing and mechanical in­
dustries----- ------------------- ---------—
Metal industries___ ____ —
Lumber and allied products.
Food and kindred products..
Paper and paper products...
Building trades.....................
Leather manufacturing........
Printing and publishing.......
Electrical supplies....... ........
Textiles------------ -------------Rubber products..................
Clothing...............................
Miscellaneous____________

5
154
67
64
39
23
18
18
16

Trade............................... .
Domestic and personal service.
All other....... .—......................
Not reported_______________


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456

81

19
24
13
13

123
91
58
54
35
19
12
15
14
5
5
25

80
76
87
84

2

3

2

2

8

9

78

89

6

31
47

92

8
15

8

5
28

29
29
9
8
3
4
6
3
2
3

18

1

3

37
51

1

2

5
3

139
81

2
2

1
2

11
12

10
6

« Per cent not shown where number of minors was less than 50.
80 Unpublished data.

99

2

120

Transportation.
Road construction.
Other........... .........

1

3

126
67
10
3

91
83

.

95

W O RKM EN S COMPENSATION" LA W — WISCONSIN

T able 8.— Duration of temporary disability from industrial injuries to minors
illegally employed in specified industries or occupational groups: Wisconsin,
July 1, 1911-D ecem ber 81, 1928
Minors sustaining temporary industrial injuries
Duration of disability
4 weeks or more

Industry or occupational group
Total

Less than 4
weeks

4 weeks, less
than 12

Total

12 weeks or
more

Num­ Per Num­ Per Num­ Per Num­ Per
ber cent1 ber cent1 ber cent1 ber cent1
Total......................

807

558

69

249

31

223

28

26

3

Agriculture and forestry.............

54

31

57

23

43

16

30

7

13

Lumbering and logging........... .
Agriculture...................................

48
6

26

Extraction of minerals..........
Manufacturing and mechanical industries........... ............

13

7

466

338

74

118

26

107

23

11

2

Metal industries_________
Lumber and allied products____
Food and kindred products..........
Paper and paper products______
Building trades___
Leather manufacturing.......
Electrical supplies______
Textiles....................
Printing and publishing...............
Rubber products__________
Clothing_____
Miscellaneous............

123
91
58
54
35
19
15
14
12
5
5
25

96
63
40
41
23
16
10
12
7
5
5
20

78
69
69
76

27
28
18
13
12
3
5
2
5

22
31
31
24

24
27
18
11
12
2
5
1
3

20
30
31
20

3
1

2
1

2

4

59

Transportation................
Road construction...........
Other_____ ______
Trade............... ......
Domestic and personal service.........
All other .................
Not reported....................

78

46

31
47

19
27

126
67
10
3

83
45
7
1

22
1

5

6

5
32

43
22
3
2

1

1
1
2
1

4
41

12
20
66
67

7

15
1

31

40

1

31
30

4
2

12
19
34
33

39
20
3
2

1

1
3
3

1 Per cent not shown where number of minors was less than 60.

As injuries to the illegally employed were in general more serious
than injuries to other minors, so injuries to minors employed in
prohibited occupations were more serious than those to minors the
illegality o f whose employment consisted solely in the violation o f
the permit law. This would seem to offer proof, i f proof is needed,
that the prohibited occupations are more dangerous than others.
Fatal or permanent injuries occurred to 27 per cent of those employed
in prohibited occupations but to only 12 per cent of those employed
merely in violation o f the permit law.81 (Table 9.) Injuries to
minors only temporarily disabled also tended to be somewhat more
serious among those employed in prohibited occupations, judging
from the number of weeks’ disability. (Table 10.)
** The corresponding percentage of all minors under 18 meeting with compensable acci­
dents in the period 1919-1928 who suffered fatal and permanent injuries was 11 (Wisconsin
Labor Statistics Bull. No. 25 (Mar. 14, 1930), p. 6).


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96

the

il l e g a l l y

em ployed

m in o r

T able 9.— E xtent o f disability from industrial injuries to illegally employed
boys and girls according to the type of legal violations Wisconsin, July 1,
1917-D ecem ber SI, 1928
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability
Type of violation

Temporary

Permanent partial

Death

Total

Per
Per
Per
Number cent
Number cent1
Number cent1
*
Total---------------- -------------------

Boys............................................

13

062

1

142

15

807

84

11
32
20

613
63
122
9

88
66
78

697
96
157
12

7
2
4

1
2
3

77
31
31
3

876

12

1

137

16

727

83

646
89
130
11

7
2
3

1
2
2

77
30
27
3

12
34
21

562
57
100
8

87
64
77

86

1

1

5

6

80

93

51
6
22
1

100

Girls............................................

51
7
27
1

1
4

1

1Per cent not shown where number of boys and girls was less than 50.

T able 10.— Duration of temporary disability from industrial injuries to illegally
employed boys and girls according to the type of legal violations Wisconsin,
July 1, 1917-D ecem ber SI, 1928
Minors sustaining temporary industrial injuries
Duration of disability
4 weeks or more
Type of violation
Total

l^ess man s
weeks

4 weeks, less
than 12

Total

12 weeks or
more

Num­ Per Num­ Per Num­ Per Num­ Per
ber cent1 ber cent1 ber cent1 ber cent1
Total..........................................

Boys........................................ -

G irls........................................

807

558

69

249

31

223

28

26

3

613
63
122
9

429
42
82
5

70
67
67

184
21
40
4

30
33
33

167
17
35
4

27
27
29

17
4
5

3
6
4

727

492

68

235

32

202

28

23

3

562
57
100
8

384
39
65
4

68
68
65

178
18
35
4

32
32
35

162
15
31
4

29
26
31

16
3
4

3
5
4

80

66

83

14

18

11

14

3

4

45
3
17
1

88

6
3
5

12

5
2
4

10

1
1
1

2

51
6
22
i

1 Per cent not shown where number of boys and girls was less than 50.


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____ 1

w o r k m e n 's

COMPENSATION LA W ---- W ISCONSIN

97

COMPENSATION AND PENALTIES FOR INJURIES

The amount o f compensation payable for any injury is to some
extent an index to its severity, although it is affected by the wage
scale on which it is based and by other factors. In the case of
illegally employed minors who are injured the amount o f the extra
compensation that is payable by the employer is also significant, as
it shows the extent to which the employer was penalized for his
violation o f the law.
The average primary compensation payable to the minors included
in this study was $136.08; for those employed in prohibited occupa­
tions it was $181.88, and for those employed in violation of the .per­
mit law alone it was $115.99. Compensation in 807 o f the 949 nonfatal accidents had been based on the minors’ actual wages (a median
o f $15), which is the basis o f compensation for minors as well as
adults under most workmen’s compensation laws. But under a
provision o f the Wisconsin workmen’s compensation law (this or a
somewhat similar provision occurs in the laws o f about one-third
o f the States) compensation for permanent disability is based on
probable adult earning capacity (see p. 56), and in 97 o f the 142 cases
o f permanent disability in this study it amounted to more than would
have been possible if it had been based on the minors’ actual wages.
Extra as well as primary compensation was larger for those found
in prohibited occupations, as treble compensation has always been
payable in such cases, whereas an amendment to the workmen’s com­
pensation law, effective June 30, 1925, reduced the penalty payable
by the employer in cases in which only the permit law was violated
from 200 to 100 per cent of the amount of the primary compensation.
The average extra compensation payable by the employer was
$241.58. Seven hundred and eighty two of the 962 minors received
treble compensation and 147 (employed in violation o f the permit
law alone in which the injuries had occurred since June 30, 1925)
received double compensation. Besides the cases in which double
or treble compensation was paid, 25 minors who had been disabled
for seven days or less had received from their employers, in ac­
cordance with another amendment to the law, effective August 1,
1919, an amount equivalent to the wages they had lost as a result o f
their injuries. The total extra compensation payable by employers
in the 962 cases was $232,404.57. In comparison with the suffering
and misery entailed, this or any other amount seems negligible.
But from the standpoint o f employers, payment out o f their own
pockets in a relatively short period o f close to a quarter o f a million
dollars in extra compensation represents a severe penalty for viola­
tion o f the child labor law, especially as in case after case they were
called upon to pay heavy indemnities for serious accidents occurring
within a few days or a few weeks o f the illegal employment o f the
minors who were injured.
Table 16 (p. 104) shows the average amount o f total, primary, and
extra compensation and Table 17 (p. 105) the total amount o f com­
pensation received by the injured minors in the study, according
to the cause o f the injury. Although more than half the injured
minors had received less than $100, 72 (7 per cent) had received
$1,000 or more, including 17 who had received $5,000 or more, and
1 who had received more than $10,000.

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98

T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

CAUSES OF INJURIES 82

Machinery was by far the most common cause of injury, being
responsible for 258 (37 per cent) of the 890 injuries of which the
cause was known. (Table 11.) Handling objects, the next most
common cause o f accident, was responsible for 166 (19 per cent),
and vehicles, mostly automobiles, for 111 (12 per cent).83
Six o f the thirteen fatalities were caused by machinery— 4 by eleva­
tors, 1 by paper-making machinery, and 1 by farm machinery. (Table
15.) The remaining were caused by automobiles, falling objects,
falls o f persons, and contacts with electric current. In one case the
cause was not ascertained as the papers relating to the case had been
destroyed. (See footnote 4, p. 52.) Permanent injuries also re­
sulted more frequently from machine accidents than from any other
cause— 32 per cent o f the machine injuries as compared with 15 per
cent o f the total had caused permanent disability. The seriousness
o f machine accidents was shown in the Children’s Bureau study of
all compensable injuries to minors in Wisconsin in 1919-20 in which
23 per cent o f the machine injuries resulted in permanent disability
as compared with 11 per cent of all injuries.84 The present inquiry
showed also the serious nature o f vehicular accidents, for these not
only included two fatal cases but also the largest proportion of
cases resulting in temporary total disabilities of relatively long
duration. As compared with 31 per cent o f the total number of
illegally employed minors who were temporarily disabled, 59 per
cent o f those injured in vehicular accidents were disabled 28 days or
more, but the same proportion in both groups (3 per cent) were
disabled 12 weeks or more. (Table 16.)
Tables 11 to 19 show, according to the cause of injury, the sex of
the injured minors (Table 11), the legal provision violated (Table
12), the nature o f the injury (Table 13), the per cent distribution of
injuries o f different types (Table 14), the extent of disability (Table
15), the duration o f temporary disability (Table 16), the amount of
compensation (Tables 17 and 18), and the per cent distribution of
total compensation (Table 19). Aji analysis o f the information con­
tained in these tables is presented in the following discussion of the
injuries resulting from specific causes.
82 The classification of causes of Injury is that used hy the Wisconsin Industrial Com­
mission in coding accident statistics from its official records.
88 Comparable information as to the cause of injury o f all injured minors o f the same
ages in Wisconsin in this period is not available. In the study of all compensated injuries
to minors occurring in Wisconsin in 1919—20 made by the Children’s Bureau, a somewhat
larger proportion of the minors under 18 than in the illegally employed group were injured
by machinery (45 per cent as compared with 37 per cent) and about the same proportion
by falls (6 per cent as compared with 7 per cent). On the other hand, vehicles were re­
sponsible for a smaller proportion. As vehicular hazards were undoubtedly less in 1919—20
than in the entire period 1917-1928, which the extra compensation study covers, this
comparison is probably not of great value.
.
, __
84 Industrial Accidents to Employed Minors in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New Jersey,
p. 95.


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99

W O RKM EN S COMPENSATION LA W ---- WISCONSIN

T able 11.— Number of illegally employed boys and girls sustaining industrial
injuries, according to specified ca use; Wisconsin, July 1, 1917-Decem ber SI,
1928
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Boys

Total

Girls

Cause of injury
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Number distribu­ Number distribu­ Number distribu­
tion
tion
tion

962

86

876

Cause reported--------- ------- ----------- --------------

890

100

807

100

83

100

Accidents due to machinery_____ ________

326

37

289

36

37

45

Machines other than working machines.

11
9

1
1

11
7

2

2

Working machines.................................

258

29

230

29

28

34

W oodworking............ .....................
Metal working...............................
Paper and paper products________
Baking and confectionery--------------

9
7
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
2

76
51
24
15
15
9
9
6
8
17

9
6
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
2

2
7
5
1

2
8
6
1

4
1
3

5
1
4

Other__________________________

78
58
29
16
15
13
10
9
8
22

5

6

Hoisting apparatus............. ..................

48

5

41

5

7

8

Elevators.........................................

39
9

4
1

32
9

4
1

7

8

Accidents not due to machinery__________

564

63

518

64

46

55

Handling objects....................................

166
111

19
12

143
111

18
14

23

28

78
64
14

9
7
2

78
64
14

10
8
2

2
1

21
5
4
2
1

Prime movers and transmission appa-

Leather working.................. ............
Meat products............................ .
Textile___ _____________________

21
5
4
2
1
Hand tools......... ..................... ..............
Falls of persons_____________________
Stepping on or striking against objects..
Electricity, explosions, and hot and
corrosive substances_______________


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3
1
0)
(»)
(!)

70
64
62
33

8
7
7
4

67
54
59
33

8
7
7
4

3
10
3

4
12
4

31
7
6
14

3
1
1
2

24
7
6
14

3
1
1
2

7

8

72
Less than 1 per oent.

(1)
(1)
(l)

1
1-

69

3

100

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

T able 12.— T ype of legal violation in cases of industrial injuries to illegally
employed minors, according to specified cause; Wisconsin, July 1, 1917December 8 1 ,1 9 2 8

Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Type of violation reported
Cause of injury
Permit only

Total

Occupation
only

Permit and
occupation

Total
Num­ Per Num­ Per Num­ Per
ber cent i ber cent1 ber cent i

Type
of vio­
lation
not
re­
ported

Total.............................................

062

950

697

73

96

10

157

17

12

Accidents due to machinery__________

326

323

187

58

74

23

62

19

3

Prime movers and transmission apparatus___ ______ ___________
Machines other than working machines...........................................

11

11

7

9

9

5

W orking machines____ __________

258

255

163

64

47

18

45

18

3

Woodworking_______________
Metal working___ ; ...................
Paper and paper products____
Printing and bookbinding____
Baking and confectionery..........
Leather working......................
Meat products______________
Textile.... ..................................
Farm................... .....................
Other........................................

78
58
29
15
16
13
10
9
8
22

77
57
29
15
16
13
9
9
8
22

49
34
21
6
11
g
9
5
6
13

64
60

12
16
4
3
2
4

16
28

16
7
4
6
3

21
12

1
1

Hoisting apparatus..........................

48

48

12

25

11

Elevators...................................
Cranes and derricks..................

39
9

39
9

7
5

22
3

10
i

Accidents not due to machinery______

564

563

452

80

19

3

92

16

Handling objects_________ ______
Vehicular accidents______ _______

166
111

166
111

135
100

81
90

5
i

3
i

26
10

16
9

• Autos.........................................
Cranking........................... .
Other......................... ........

78
64
14

78
64
14

72
62
10

92
97

6
2
4

g
3

Animal-drawn vehicles_______
Bicycles____________________
Miñe and quarry cars________
Cars and engines____________
Motor cycles..............................

21
5
4
2
1

21
5
4
2
1

19
4
2
2
1

Hand tools............ ....... ................
Falls of persons____ ____________
Stepping on or striking against objects..._______ ______ ________
Falling objects........... ....................
Electricity, explosions, and hot and
corrosive substances.......... ...........
Infections.........................................
Rafting and river driving........ .......
M iscellaneous............ .....................

70
64

70
64

60
47

86
73

1
3

1
5

9
14

13
22

62
33

61
33

38
26

62

2
4

3

21
3

34

1

31
7
6
14

31
7
6
14

23
7
6
10

72

64

58

5

8

Not reported.................. ......... ..............

1Per cent not shown where number of minors was less than 50.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4
2

2

4

1

2
7

2

1

2
1
i

i

5

3

4
91

3

5

3

i
T able 13.

Nature of industrial inju ry to illegally employed minors, according to specified cause; Wisconsin, July 1 , 1917-December SI, 1928

Cause of injury

2
3

3
3
1
1
13
12
1
26
16
1

5
16
16
7

4
1
3
1

1

1
57
11
36
5

1
53
10
35
5

4
1
i

75
5
3

2 11

i

Fatal
13
6

Not
re­
ported
4
..............

2
1

1
i
i
63
24
8

4
11

6

L A W ----- W IS C O N S I N

1
6
16
12
4
91
26
17
7
3
4
7
1
1
1

Sprain
or
All other
strain

C O M P E N S A T IO N

1Includes fractures, 159; dislocations, 7.

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

962
326
11
9
258
78
58
29
16
15
13
10
9
8
22
48
39
9
564
166
111
78
64
14
21
5
4
2
1
70
64
62
33
31
7
6
14
721

Bruises,
contu­ Crushed
sions,
or
abra­ smashed
sions
156
64
46
35
3
1
2
26
20
5
3
2
4
7
5

2

2
1
1

29

5
14

2
4

g
1
4
1
i
3
4
19
24
3
20
4
4
7
10
2Includes occupational diseases, 8; freezing, 2; concussions or shock, 1.

1

W O R K M E N 'S

Total___ ____ ______________________
Accidents due to machinery.................................
Prime movers and transmission apparatus. .
Machines other than power-driven machines..
Working machines___________________
Woodworking____________________
Metal working______________ ____ ____
Paper and paper products.........................
Baking and confectionery..................... .
Printing and bookbinding____________
Leather working..................... ...............
Meat products____________________
Textile___ ______________________
Farm________________ ________ ______
Other.............................................................
Hoisting apparatus.............. .........................
Elevators__________________ ______ _
Cranes and derricks......................... ....... ...
Accidents not due to machinery____ ______ _____
Handling objects................ .................................
Vehicular accidents_________ ____ ______
Autos____________________________
Cranking________________________
Other............... ...................................
Animal-drawn vehicles_______________ .
Bicycles______________ _______
Miñe and quarry cars...........................
Cars and engines........ ................ .............
Motor cycles__________________ .
Hand tools____ _____ ______________
Falls of persons.....................................
Stepping on or striking against objects______________ ____
Falling objects...............................
Electricity, explosions, and hot and corrosive substances____
Infections_________________
Rafting and river driving...................................
Miscellaneous_____________________
Not reported........................................

Total

Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Nature of injury
Cuts, punctures, 1:icerations
Frac­
Burn
tures
Minor Ampu­
or
and
Total
cuts
tations
scald disloca­
tions
436
352
84
37
1166
209
137
72
2
23
1
1
3
3
1
5
3
2
196
129
67
13
1
69
39
30
2
14
50
36
4
2
14
10
5
1
15
10
8
6
2
2
1
6
4
2
4
6
10
1
6
6
7
3
4
11
9
3
2
5
5
1
8
4
4
i
i
3
203
195
8
133
31
2
83
81
10
10
73
6
6
1
1
5
3
5
1
1
11
1
1
3
1
1
1

1

2
1

4
i—

102
T

THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D M I N O R

14.— Per cent distribution of industrial injuries due to specified causes
sustained by illegally employed minors, according to nature o f in ju ry; W is­
consin, July 1, 1917-D ecem ber 31, 1928

able

Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Cause of injury
Accidents due to
machinery

Nature of injury
Total

Accidents not due to machinery

Not
Falls,
re­
stepping
Han­
ported
All
Vehic­ Hand on or
dling
Other
Total Work­
Total
ing
other
objects ular tools striking
against
objects

Total......................

100

100.

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Bruises, contusions, abra­
sions __ .........................
Crushed or smashed........

16

14
11

10
8

29
22

16

16
10

15
1

6

25
3

12
1

28
4

Cuts, punctures, lacera­
tions ............... ............

46

64

76

19

36

50

9

81

37

7

35

Minor cuts......... ......
Amputations.......... .

37
9

42
22

50
26

12

35
1

49
1

9

76
6

36
2

7

29
6

3

5

1

1

32

6

5

15
6

10
14

66
7

25
9
11
3

15
10

6

3
1
1

15
17

1

24
11
2
1

Burn or scald________...
Fractures and disloca­
tions ________________
Sprain or strain________
Fatal_________________

4

1

17
8
1
1

7
2
2

0)

2

1

1

1 Less than 1 per cent.
T able 15.— E xtent of disability from industrial injuries to illegally employed
minors, according to specified cause; Wisconsin, July 1, 1917-D ecem ber 31,
1928
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Exteiit of disability
Cause of injury
Total

Permanent
partial

Death
Num­
ber

Num­
Per
ber
cent1

Temporary

Num­
Per
ber
cent1

Per
cent1

Total........ .......... ........................ ........

962

13

1

142

15

807

84

Accidents due to machinery............................

326

6

2

104

32

216

66

Prime movers and transmission apparatus.
Machines other than working machines...

11
9

Working machines............... ......... ..........

258
78
58
29
16
15

2
1

Printing and bookbinding.......... .......
1 Per cent not shown where number of minors was less than 50.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

8
6

3
3
1

90

35

166

64

33
18
5
7
6

42
31

45
40
23

58
69

9

W O R K M E N S C O M P E N S A T IO N

103

L A W — W IS C O N S IN

T able 15.— E xten t of disability from industrial injuries to illegally employed
minors, according to specified cause; Wisconsin, July 1, 1911-D ecem ber 31,
1928— Continued.
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability
Cause of injury

Total

Number
Accidents due to machinery—Continued.
Working machines—Continued.
Leather working______________ . . . .
Meat products___________________
Textile___________- _____
Farm___________________________
Other___________________________

13
10
9
8
22

Permanent
partial

Death
Per
cent

Number

1

Temporary

Per
cent

Number

3
7
2
4
6

10
3
7
3
17

Hoisting apparatus...................................

48

4

8

36

Elevators________________________
Cranes and derricks............................

39
9

4

5
3

30
6

Accidents not due to machinery.......... ..........

664

6

Handling objects------------------- ----------- -

166

Vehicular accidents...-------------------------

111

2

2

Autos__________________ .----------Cranking_____________________
Other________________________

78
64
14

2

3

Animal-drawn vehicles------------ -----Bicycles_________________________
Mine and quarry cars.........................
Cars and engines_________________
Motor cycles_____________________

21
5
4
2
1

Hand tools----------- ------ --------------------Falls of persons................. .......................
Stepping on or striking against objects---Falling objects..........................................
Electricity, explosions, and hot and corro­
sive substances________________ ____
Infections______________________ _____
Rafting and river driving— .....................
Miscellaneous---------- -------------------------

70
64
62
33
31
7
6
14

1

Not reported..................... .............................

72

1


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1

29

5

529

94

10

6

156

94

3

3

106

95

76
64
12

97
100

2
0

19
4
2

1
1

2

2

Per
cent

4
1
4

10
6
2

63
59
61
27

SO92
98

30
6
14
1

9

13

62

86

104

THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D M I N O R

T able 16.— Duration o f temporary disability from each specified cause of indus­
trial injury to illegally employed m in ors; Wisconsin, July 1, 1917-December
SI, 1928
Minors sustaining temporary industrial injuries
Duration of disability
4 weeks or more
Cause of injury
Total

weeks

4 weeks, less
than 12

Total

12 weeks or
more

Per Num- Per Num- Per
cent1 ber cent1 ber cent*

Num- Per Num
ber cent1 ber
Total_______________

807

658

69

249

31

223

28

26

3

Accidents due to machinery.

216

157

73

69

27

60

23

9

4

g

Prime movers and transmission
apparatus___________________
Machines other than working ma­
chines___________ __________
Working machines.
Woodworking___________
Metal working--------------Paper and paper products.
Leather working________
Printing and bookbinding.
Baking and confectionery..
Textile ________________
Meat products__________
Farm__________________
Other__________________

5

3

2

g

4

2

2

166

126

45
40
23
10
g
g
7
3
3
17

34
32
17
g
7
7
6
1
2
12

11
8
6
2
2
2
1
2
1
5

76

40

24

37

1

22

11
8
5
1
1
2
1
2
1
5

3

2

1
1
1

36

22

14

9

5

30
ß

17
5

13
1

8
1

5

Accidents not due to machinery.

620

364

67

176

33

159

30

16

Handling objects__________

166

125

80

31

20

30

19

1

1

Vehicular accidents___ ____

106

44

42

62

68

59

56

3

3

Autos....... .....
Cranking.
Other___

76
64
12

31
22
g

41
34

46
42
3

59
66

44
41
3

68
64

1
1

1
2

Animal-drawn vehicles.
Bicycles_____________
Mine and quarry cars...
Cars and engines_____

19
5
4
2

g
1
1
2

63
69

51
36

81
61

12
23

19
39

12
22

19
37

. 1

2

61
27

48
11

79

13
16

21

10
12

16

3
4

5

30
7
ß
14

24
7
1
7

62

47

Hoisting apparatus.
Elevators_________
Cranes and derricks.

Hand tools______________
Falls of persons___________
Stepping on or striking against
objects____ ___________
Falling objects.....................
corrosive substances___
Infections.............. ...........
Rafting and river driving.
Miscellaneous__________
Not reported.

i

.

76

1 Per cent not shown where number of minors was less than 60.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

g
4
2

10
4
3

1
1

6

6

1

5
7

2
7

3

15

24

14

3

'23

1

2

105

W O RKM EN S COMPENSATION LA W ---- WISCONSIN

T able 17.— Total and average amount of compensation payable to illegally
employed minors sustaining industrial injuries, according to specified causes;
Wisconsin, July 1, 1917-Decem ber SI, 1928

Cause of injury

Total......................................
Accidents due to machinery............
Prime movers and transmission
apparatus_________________
Machines other than working
machines_________________
Working machines.................
W oodworking.................. .
Metalworking___________
Paper and paper products..
Baking and confectionery__
Printing and bookbinding..
Leather working_________
Meat products....................
Textile_________ ________
Farm.______________ ____
Other__________________

Amount of compensation
Min­
ors
sus­
tain­
Total
Single
Penalty
ing
indus­
trial
injur­ Amount Aver­ Amount Aver­ Amount Aver­
age «
age 1
age 1
ies
962 $363,318. 67 $377. 67 $130,913.75 $136.08 $232,404.57 $241.58
326 190,938.80 585.70

70,404.67 215.97

11

9,150.46

3,112.83

9

3,076.34

1,277. 88

253 138,782.11

537.92

51,675.21

120,534.13 369.74
6,037.63
1, 79S 4«

200.29

87,106.90 337.62

78
58
29
16
15
13
10
9
8
22

37,799.97 484. 62
19,947. 64 343. 92
19,576. 26 675.04
4,285.04
4,134. 24
4,379.73
2i; 349. 75
1,855.95
13,757.82
11,695. 71

13,498.86 173.06
7,336. 20 126.49
6,579.78 226.89
1,452.21
1,528. 86
1,461.70
10; 683. 88
629. 86
4,585. 94
3’ 917. 92

24,301.11 311. 55
12,611.44 217.44
12,996.48 448.15
2,832.83
2,605.38
2 918 0.3
in) 6fiS 87
1 22fl no
0, 171 88
7 777 79

Hoisting apparatus__________

48

39,929. 89 831.87

14,338.75 298.72

25,591.14

Elevators_______________
Cranes and derricks............

39
9

35,297.12 905.05
4, 632. 77

12,788.21 327.90
1,550.54

22,508. 91 577.15
3,082. 23

Accidents not due to machinery___

564

151,818.14 269.18

533.15

53,677.47

95.17

98,140. 67

174 01

Handling objects.................. .

166

17,892.96

107.78

6,649. 62

40.06

11,243.34

67.73

Vehicular accidents__________

111

29,261.62 263. 62

10,249.03

92.33

19,012. 59 171.28

Autos..................................

78

16,344.23

209.54

5,788. 90

74.22

10,555.33

135.32

Cranking.......................
Other............................

64
14

8, 510.36
7,833.87

132. 97

3,106.36
2,682.54

48.54

5,404.00
5 151 33

84.44

Animal-drawn vehicles___
Bicycles...........................
Mine and quarry cars.........
Cars and engines_________
Motor cycles____________

21
5
4
2
1

10,565.38
685.39
1,480.41
89. 64
96.57

Hand tools..................... ..........
Falls of persons___ __________
Stepping on or striking against
objects___________________
Falling objects________ _____
Electricity, explosions, and hot
and corrosive substances____
Infections._________________
Rafting and river driving..........
Miscellaneous______ ________

70
64

36,180. 68 516. 86
24,498.15 382.78

12,222. 68 174. 61
8,284.52 129.45

23,958.00 342.25
16,213. 63 253.34

62
33

4,467. 91 72.06
29,351. 91 889.45

1,449.66 23.38
11,276.89 341.72

3,018. 25 48.68
18,075.02 547. 73

31
7
6
14

5,973.76 192. 70
469. 80
2,189. 68
1,531. 67

Not reported__________________

72

20,561.38

1Average not shown where number of minors was less than 25.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3,655.95
' 248.96
493.47
29.56
32.19

2,000. 22
200. 94
819.06
524.85
6,831. 61

6,909.43
080 04
00 08

64 52

3,973.54
1, 370 R9.
13,729. 77

128.18

106

THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D

M IN O R

T able 18.— Amount of total compensation payable to illegally employed minors
sustaining industrial injuries, according to specified ca use: Wisconsin. July 1
1917-D ecem ber SI, 1928
,

Minors sustaining industrial injuries

Prime movers and trans­
mission apparatus. .
Machines other tt
working machines. .
Working machines..

145 156

20

46

28

12

11

4

16

1

J 19

9

27

24

8

6

3

6

1

48

46

11

2

3

2

9

3

1

1

1

i

. 258

!

i

1

2
1

1

89

39

37

15

12

6

20

23

7

5

26

25

6
8

12
8

3
2

5
3

4
1

8
5

10
4

2

2
2

29

9

11

2

1

1

2

2

16

2

4

4

2

15
13
10
9
8
22

7
8
1
3
1
7

1
1
3
1
4

48

17

5

6

2

5

2

5

1

39
9

14
3

3
2

6

2

3
2

2

4
1

1

Accidents not due to ma­
chinery________________ 564 274

85

104

43

15

8

15

2

4

166 100

26

24

5

5

4

1

1

Woodworking__ .
Metal working...
Paper and paper
products_______ .
Baking and confec­
tionery________
Printing and book­
binding_____
Leather workinj
Meat products.
Textile............
Farm............ .
Other________
Hoisting apparatus.
Elevators_____
Cranes and derricks.

Handling objects.........

78
58

2
1
2
6

1
2
2
2

1

3

3

1

2
1

2

1
1
2

1

1
1

2

2

1

1

1

1
1

1
1
1
4

1

3

1

3

1

9

30

19

30

19

5

2

4

2

78
64
14

21
14
7

15
14
1

22
20
2

14
13
1

2
1
1

2
2

1

1

1

1

21
5

7
1

1

6
2

3
2

1

2

1

4
2
1

1

1
1
1

2

1

70 140
64 25

12
11

7
12

4
8

2
2
1

Animal-drawn ve­
hicles....................
Bicycles...................
Mine and quarry
cars.......................
Cars and engines___
Motor cycles............
Hand tools___________
Falls of persons_______
Stepping on or striking
against objects............
Falling objects...............
Electricity, explosives,
and hot and corrosive
substances__________
Infections____________
Rafting and river driv­
ing..............................
Miscellaneous_________
Not reported.......................

62
33

42
10

7
3

8
6

2
3

31
7

19
4

5

4
3

1

6
14

4

2

3
7

1

72

36

12

6

6

1Includes 1 who did not receive any compensation.


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3
2
1
3

1

1

1

1

2

3

4

2

1

1

2

4
i
1

2

1

2

1

1

Vehicular accidents____ 111
Autos.................. .
Cranking_____
Other_________

$10,000 or more

35

67

111

18

1

I $300, less than
i
$400
$400, less than
$500
$500, less than
$1,000
$1,000, less than ^
$2,000
$2,000, less than
$3,000
$3,000, less than
$4,000

$5,000, less than
$10,000

. 326

$4,000, less than
$5,000

. 962 421

Total -

$50, less than
$100
$100, less than
$200
$200, less than
$300

1

Total

Cause of injury

Less than $50

Amount of total compensation

1

i

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W O R K M E N *S C O M P E N S A T IO N L A W — W IS C O N S IN

T able 19.

P er cent distribution of amount of total compensation received by
illegally employed minors sustaining industrial injuries, according to each
specified cause; Wisconsin, July 1, 1917-D ecem ber 31, 1928

Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Cause of injury
Accidents due to
machinery

Amount of total
compensation

Accidents not due to machinery

Total
Not
Falls,
re­
Han­ Vehic­ Hand stepping
ported
Work­
on
or
All
Total ing Other Total dling
objects ular tools striking other
against
objects
Total.....................

100

100

Less than $50..... ..........
$50, less than $100........... .
$100, less than $200...........
$200, less than $300.........
$300, less than $400...........
$400, less than $500..........
$500, less than $1,000____
$1,000, less than $2,000___
$2,000, less than $3,000___
$3,000, less than $4,000....
$4,000, less than $5,000___
$5,000, less than $10,000__
$10,000 or more_________

44
15
16
7
4

34
15
14
6
6
3
8
7
2
2
1
2
(>)

2
5

3
1
1

(')
2
(')

100

100

100

100

100

100

34
32
15
13
14
13
6
4
5
10
2
4
8
10
9
1
3 , 1
2
1
1
1
1
6
(0

49
15
18
8
3
1
3
0)
1
1
(>)
■ 2

60
16
14
3
3

27
17
27
17
5
2
4

57
17
10
6

2
1
1

4

100 .100
53
14
16
8
3
2
1
2
1

2

6

i

41
11
25
1
1
7
1
1
3
1
2

100
50
17
8
8
1
4
6
3
i
i

1Less than 1 per cent.
ACCIDENTS DUE TO MACHINERY

Prime movers and transmission apparatus were responsible for
11 o f the 326 machine injuries; machinery other than working ma­
chinery (such as electric fans, pumps, conveyors) for 9; and elevators
and other hoisting apparatus tor 48. (Table 11.) The remaining in­
juries were due to working machinery (that is, machinery directly
manufacturing a product, such as wood and metal working or textile
machinery). Almost three-fourths (168) o f the machine accidents
on which a report was made as to the manner o f occurrence had oc­
curred in operating or feeding the machines; the next largest number
(25) had been in adjusting the machine, a tool, or the work; and the
next largest (20) in cleaning or oiling; the remaining (20) had
happened in starting or stopping the machine, in accidental starting,
or in breaking o f machine or work, or had resulted from flying par­
ticles, throwbacks, or being caught by loose clothing.
Prime movers and transmission apparatus.

Two injuries resulted from prime movers—motors, engines, etc.—
and 9 from transmission apparatus. The accidents caused by prime
movers, which were not serious, were both due to cranking—in one
case the motor of a launch, in the other the engine on a pump used
in road construction. The accidents due to transmission apparatus
were caused by belts, pulleys, chains, and shafts. The most serious
o f these injuries was that o f a boy of 16 employed without a permit
as sawyer for a lumber company who caught his left hand in the
gears on a shaft, resulting in such serious lacerations of all the
fingers and thumb that amputation at the proximal joint was neces125914— 32-------8


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

sary. Primary compensation payable in this case by the insurance
company amounted to $2,328.57, and extra compensation by the em­
ployer $4,507.96,85 making a total o f $6,836.53.
Machines other than working machines.

O f the 9 cases o f injuries caused by machines other than working
machines, 7 were due to conveyors; in the other 2 cases to fans, one
electric and one air. The circumstances in the only one o f these
cases in which the injury was serious were as follow s:
A boy reported by his employer as 21 years o f age, but who was
actually only 17, was working for a road-construction company at a
gravel pit, employment which is prohibited for minors under 18.
He had his arm broken by catching it in a belt conveyor while
cleaning the machinery, an occupation also prohibited for minors
under 18. A number o f hearings were held regarding this case and
the commission twice amended its original award o f $2,492.40 total
compensation—$830.80 from the insurance company and $1,661.60
from the employer. As the facts in the case were disputed a com­
promise agreement was finally approved under which the insurance
company paid $830.80 and the employer paid $1,000 (including the
boy’s lawyer’s fee o f $160), a total o f $1,830.80.
Working machinery.

Accidents from woodworking and metal-working machines were
the most important causes o f injuries in the group o f injuries caused
by power-working machines, being together responsible for 40 per
cent o f such accidents. (Table 11.) Those injured by woodwork­
ing machinery included the largest proportion permanently disabled
(42 per ce n t); about one-third of the injuries caused by metal-work­
ing machinery also resulted in permanent disability. Seventy-two
per cent o f the injuries due to power-working machinery occurred
in the actual operation o f the machine, 11 per cent occurred while
the machine or work was being adjusted, and 9 per cent occurred
while the machine was being cleaned or oiled. In its study o f all
compensable injuries to minors occurring in Wisconsin in 1919-20,
the Children’s Bureau86 found that the proportions of injuries
occurring from the actual operation of the machine and while the
machine was being adjusted were almost the same as in the present
study (74 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively), but that the pro­
portion occurring while the machine was being cleaned or oiled
was somewhat less (4 per cent), which is explained by the fact that
oiling was prohibited as dangerous, so that a larger percentage
injured in oiling might be expected among the illegally employed.
Woodworking machines.—Woodworking machines 'ranked first
among the machines causing accidents, being responsible for 78 cases
(including 2 girls), or 9 per cent o f the total number for whom
cause o f injury was known. (Table 11.) Approximately threefourths (59) were engaged in the manufacture o f lumber and allied
products, 30 being employed in saw and planing mills, 16 in the
manufacture o f wooden boxes, box shooks, pails, etc., 7 in furniture
factories, and 6 in related industries. O f those not engaged in the
lumber industry 5 were employed in shops engaged in the manu® This accident occurred when treble compensation was payable to minors employed in
violation o f the permit law (see p. 581).
89 Unpublished figures.


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109

facture or repair of auto bodies or wagons, B in pattern shops con­
nected with machine shops or foundries, 2 in building construction,
1 by a wood dealer, and the rest in miscellaneous manufacturing
industries. Besides the accidents attributed to woodworking ma­
chinery 5 others resulted from work in connection with such ma­
chinery, such as taking material away from saws, but were classified
under other causes, such as handling objects.
The hazards of woodworking machinery are recognized in the
Wisconsin child labor law, which prohibits the employment o f minors
under 16 in connection with the operation o f a considerable number
o f such machines, including circular and band saws, crosscut saws
or slashers or “ other cutting or pressing machines from which mate­
rial is taken from behind,” and on planers, wood-turning, jointing,
or shaping machines. O f the 78 accidents occurring to the illegally
employed minors injured on woodworking machines 51 were caused
by saws, 44 o f which were circular, crosscut, or band saws, and 7 by
planers. The fact that only 28 o f the 78 minors were engaged in
a prohibited occupation (Table 12) was due to the majority being
16 years o f age or over, and therefore not subject to the regulations
which apply specifically to employment on such machines. The
number o f accidents in connection with woodworking machinery
to minors o f 16 and 17 years o f age suggests the necessity o f raising
the prohibited age.87
Six minors of 16 and 17 injured by woodworking machines were
found to have been engaged in prohibited employment. In each
case, however, the violation consisted not in operating the machine
but in the cleaning or oiling of dangerous machinery in motion.
O f the 26 children under 16, all but 4 were definitely found to have
been engaged in prohibited employment. And it is possible that in
some of these 4 cases an occupational violation existed.88 The pro­
hibited employments in which the children under 16 were engaged
were as follows: Operating circular saws (4 ), planers (3 ), wood
jointer (1 ), other cutting machines (in 6 cases saws) from which
material is taken from behind (11), pressing machine from which
material was being taken from behind (1 ), wood shaper or turner
(1 ), and occupations generally dangerous to life or limb (1 ).
Eighty-eight per cent o f the accidents from woodworking machines
resulted in cuts, punctures, and lacerations. (Table 13.) Thirtynine per cent resulted in amputations, compared with only 9 per
cent o f all accidents to illegally employed minors. Members were
crushed or smashed in 4 per cent of the cases. Although no fatali­
ties resulted from injuries caused by woodworking machines, 33 o f
the 78 minors thus injured (42 per cent; a higher proportion than
w The prohibited age is not higher than 16 in any State in which these occupations are
specifically prohibited by law. The most usual prohibitions are on circular or band saws
or on circular saws alone (25 States), planers
fta tes), sand-paper or woc^polis ing
machinery (21 States), wood joiners or jointers (25 States), wood shapers (23 States),
and wood turning or boring (22 States). Maryland and Wisconsin add crosscut saws,
slashers, and other cutting machines. The Wisconsin prohibitions as to saws
only to operating but to “ taking material from behind, an important dause not found
in all laws, and adds “ or other cutting or pressing machines from which material is
taken from behind.” In Pennsylvania and Michigan a minimum age .o f 18 for such
machines has been fixed by rulings of the State labor departments, applying to all powerworking machinery in woodworking shops. In Pennsylvania duly authorized apprentices
unâ eThreeCofiSthese rfour6m?nors were injured before June 30, 1925» so that they were
entitled to treble compensation whatever the nature of the illegality, and the question ot
whether their employment was or was not prohibited was not raised.


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THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D M I N O R

in any other group), were permanently disabled. (Table 15.)
Including 17 o f the 28 employed. in prohibited occupations, all
except 2 o f the permanently disabled had had all or parts o f one
or more fingers amputated, and 1 had lost 4 toes as a result of his
accident. The 45 temporary disabilities were not so serious; only
11 lasted 4 weeks or more. (Table 16.)
Because of the large number of accidents that resulted in perma­
nent disability the average amount o f compensation payable for
injuries due to woodworking machinery was relatively high. The
primary compensation payable averaged $173.06, as compared with
$136.08 for all who had been injured while illegally employed, and
the average amount payable by employers in the form of extra
compensation was $311.55, as compared with $241.58. (Table 17.)
Only 32 per cent, as compared with 59 per cent o f the total num­
ber o f injured, received less than $100 in total compensation, whereas
28 per cent, as compared with 12 per cent of the total number,
received $500 or more, and 18 per cent as compared with 8
per cent received $1,000 or more. (Table 18.) In tw o eases the
total amount o f compensation payable was between $2,000 and
$3,000, and in two cases it was between $3,000 and $4,000.
Among the cases typical of the more severe injuries caused by
woodworking machines are the follow ing:
A boy of 15 who, according to the employer, “ represented his age as 18 and
looked it,” was employed without a permit by a lumber company feeding the
“ h o g ” (a cut-off saw with revolving knife cutters for grinding up slabs), an
illegal occupation for a minor under 16. In cutting an edging the saw jumped
and amputated the boy’s left thumb. Extra compensation (double the single
indemnity) of $2,028.20, payable by the employer, was awarded by the
commission.
A boy o f 15, working on an expired permit, was employed by an electricsupply company. His occupation, according to the employer’s report, was to
assemble boxes and crates. On the day o f the injury, however, he was taking
away from a ripsaw, an illegal employment for a child of 15. In the absence
of the operator of the saw, thinking the exhaust pipe was clogged, he inves­
tigated, his hand coming in contact with the running saw, which cut off his
middle, third, and little fingers below the second joint. The cost to the em­
ployer, who was obliged to pay twice the amount of the primary compensation,
was $651.30.
A boy of 14, who was said to have stated when he applied for the job that
he would be 17 in a week’s time, was given a job without a permit. The day
after his employment began he was injured. Unknown to the office, according
to the statement o f the employer, someone in the veneer department o f the
establishment allowed him to work in that department, apparently on a ma­
chine cutting veneer. The knife of the machine cut off the tops of two middle
fingers of the right hand so that the fingers had to be amputated at the first
joint. H is occupation was found by the commission to be illegal for a child
of his age. Additional compensation paid by the employer (double the single
indemnity) was $437.04.
A boy of 16, employed by a company manufacturing truck bodies in “ clean­
ing shop, oiling, and truck driving,” lost the end of his left thumb on a hand
saw, a bone amputation being necessary. The boy was employed without a
permit although the employer originally reported that he had one. The em­
ployer later said he had thought he had one as “ they had told the boy to get
one when they employed him.” The penalty imposed upon this employer as
extra compensation was $585.
A boy of 16, employed on permit, was injured only one and one-half hours
after he was put to work taking material away from a dowel saw. The injury
occurred when he was oiling the machine while it was in motion, an illegal
operation for a boy of his age. According to the boy’s statement, he had been


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W ORKM ENS

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111

instructed to do the oiling by the operator of the machine. H is thumb had
to be amputated at the distal joint. The employer had to pay as additional
compensation $627.55.
One of the most serious injuries caused by a saw resulted in the amputation
of four toes at the proximal joint. A boy of 16, employed ^without a permit,
in removing waste from under the saw had used his foot instead of a stick
as the employer said he had been instructed to do. Primary compensation pay­
able in this case was $877.27 and the employer’s penalty was $1,754.54 (see
footnote 85, p. 108), total compensation amounting to $2,631.81. The employer
(a farmer and small dealer in wood) was not insured and had no property
which could be taken by legal process to satisfy this claim, so that at the last
report the boy had recovered nothing, though a lawyer retained by the boy
expressed the belief that a few hundred dollars might be obtained.
A boy o f 15, whose age was reported by the employer as 18 at the time of
injury, and who had no permit, was employed by a company manufacturing
packing boxes on a trimmer, a machine similar to a circular saw. The gears
of the machine were unguarded. The boy drew his hand back in such a way
that it was caught in the gears, resulting in partial loss of use o f the index
finger and necessitating the amputation of the thumb at the distal joint. The
commission did not decide whether or not this boy was in an illegal occu­
pation (see p. 89 ), but as the injury occurred in 1922 treble compensation was
awarded, the employer’s share amounting to $1,407.76.
A boy of 16, employed, without a permit, as marker in the pattern-making
department o f a company manufacturing automobile bodies, had to have the
index finger of his left hand amputated between the second and third joints as
the result o f an injury from a band saw. According to the statement of the
employer, the boy was not permitted to operate the saw, but came in at 7 a. m.,
before the factory opened, and started it while the operator was absent.
Whether or not he was actually employed to do this work, he had no permit,
and the employer was obliged to pay $1,274 in extra compensation.
One of the two girls whose injuries occurred at woodworking machines was
employed on a stapling machine in the manufacture of wooden boxes for a
fruit-packing company. W hile wiping the shaft of her machine when it was
in motion her thumb was pulled into the gears and had to be amputated.
Because she was only 17 and the cleaning of hazardous machinery in motion
is prohibited in Wisconsin to minors under 18, her employer was obliged to
pay additional compensation amounting to $1,092.

Metal-working machines.—Metal-working machinery caused 58
accidents (51 to boys and 7 to girls), 7 per cent o f all those for which
the cause o f injury was known. Only 11 o f this group were under
16, and 9 were 17 years old. A ll but 2 were in manufacturing indus­
tries, chiefly (42) in metal-working factories, but 1 was employed in
retail and 1 in wholesale trade. Presses, chiefly punch presses,
caused the largest number o f injuries, and emery wheels caused the
next largest number. Milling machines, lathes, shears, riveters, and
buffers and polishers each caused a few o f the accidents.
Average compensation was smaller than in the case o f certain
other types o f machine accidents, but somewhat larger than the aver­
age in the case o f accidents due to causes other than machinery.
(Table 17.)
.
.
. . 1
Metal-working machines, the operation o f which is prohibited to
children under 16 under the Wisconsin child labor law, are as fo l­
lows: Corrugating rolls in roofing and washboard factories; emery
or polishing wheel for polishing metal; iron and steel, wire or iron
straightening machinery, punchers or shears; boring or drill presses;
and stamping machines in sheet-metal and tinware manufacturing
and in washer and nut factories.89 The employment o f minors under
89 Wisconsin, Stat. 1929, sec. 103.05 (3) (c).


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18 is prohibited “ in the operating or using o f any * * * abra­
sive or emery polishing or buffing wheel where articles o f the baser
materials or o f iridium are manufactured.” 90 In addition, the pro­
visions o f the child labor law prohibiting the employment ox children
under 16 in operating lathes or in operating or taking material from
any cutting or pressing machine from which material is taken from
behind may apply directly to some metal-working machinery.91
Two-fifths (23) o f all the injured minors employed on metal­
working machines were in prohibited occupations. Fifteen of the
boys were 16 or 17 years old, and seven boys and the one girl who was
injured were under 16. O f those 16 or over, 12 were illegally em­
ployed in operating emery, buffing, or abrasive wheels, 2 in cleaning
or oiling dangerous machinery in motion, and 1 in working on or
about a dock. The 8 who were under 16 were in miscellaneous pro­
hibited occupations; 1 was operating a wire or iron straightening
machine; 1 was operating shears; 1, a metal lathe; 1, a circular saw;
1 (a girl o f 15), a punch press; 1 was adjusting a belt in motion; 1
was working on a milling machine, which was found by the commis­
sion to be an “ occupation dangerous to life or limb,” employment in
which is prohibited to children under 16; and 1 was operating a drill
press.
A ll but 8 o f the accidents due to metal-working machines resulted
in cuts, punctures, or lacerations; 14 necessitated amputations o f all
or parts o f one or more fingers. No fatal injuries occurred, but 18,
or about one-third o f the minors injured by these machines, were
permanently disabled. Eight o f the 40 who were temporarily dis­
abled were laid up 4 to 10 weeks.
Following are accounts o f three o f the more serious o f these
accidents:
A boy of 16, who had given his age as 18 when hired, was employed without
a permit as a punch-press operator. W hen the accident occurred, the boy had
had only about five days’ experience on a punch press and according to the
safety inspector who investigated the case was “ practically ignorant o f the
dangers of the machine and had not been warned not to reach in from the back
o f tiie guard.” Finding that some washers were sticking to the die and believ­
ing that he had seen the die setter wipe off the dies, he reached around the
guard to brush them off and at the same time stepped on the pedal. Parts o f
three fingers were amputated; he was totally incapacitated for 5 weeks, and
was awarded compensation o f $884.85 from the insurance company and the
same amount from the employer,, a total o f $1,769.70.
A boy of 17, who had given his age to the shipbuilding concern by which he
was employed as 2 1 , had had his left thumb amputated when operating a
reamer. When the boy’s father heard about the accident several months after
it occurred, he wrote to the commission asking for advice, and it was then
learned that the boy was really 17. H is employment was therefore found to
be illegal, as working on oi about a dock is prohibited under the Wisconsin
law to minors under 18. The boy was totally incapacitated about 4 weeks and
80 Ibid., (3) (b).
81 The types of metal-working machines on which the work of minors is prohibited in
Wisconsin include those most commonly prohibited in State regulations. The operation
o f corrugating rolls is prohibited to minors under 16 in 19 States, of metal-cutting ma­
chines or shears in 27 States, of wire or iron straightening machinery in 24 States, and
o f stamping machines in metal manufacturing in 26 States. Work on punch presses is
fairly generally prohibited to children under 16, such a prohibition being found in 28
States, but only 2 States (Michigan and Pennsylvania) have extended the prohibition to
Ip and 17 year old minors. The operation of abrasive polishing or buffing wheels is one
o f the few machine operations prohibited not only for minors under 16 but for those 16
and 17 (10 States), and the prohibition of work on emergency or polishing wheels used in
polishing metal applying to children under 16 in Wisconsin is likewise found in 17 States.


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113

received compensation as follow s: $1,024.10 from the insurance company and
$2,048.20 from the employer, a total of $3,072.30.
A girl o f 15 applied for work at an enameled tin and sheet-iron ware factory,
stating that her age was 17. When told that she must get a birth certificate,
she said she had to write for it to the town where she had previously lived.
Pending the receipt of the certificate the girl was put to work operating a punch
press. This machine was not properly guarded. After only a few hours at
work her finger was caught in the press, so that part of her thumb and index
finger were amputated. The girl was disabled 10 weeks and received com­
pensation of $1,230.26 from the insurance company and $2,460.52 from the
employer, a total of $3,690.78.

Paper and paper-products machines.— Machines used in the manu­
facturing o f paper or paper products caused the injuries o f 29 o f the
minors injured while illegally employed. Of these 16 (all boys)
were employed in paper or pulp mills, 7 (3 o f whom were girls) in
paper-box factories, and 4 (including 2 girls) in the manufacturing
o f other paper products. Seven boys and one girl were employed in
prohibited hazardous occupations, the regulation violated in most
cases (6) being the provision of the child labor law prohibiting the
employment o f minors under 16 in cleaning machinery in motion or
under 18 in cleaning dangerous or hazardous machinery in motion.
One other, a boy o f 15, was employed on shears, a prohibited occupa­
tion for children under 16, and still another boy o f 13 was employed
in an occupation prohibited under 14. O f these 8 minors, 3 boys
and 1 girl who were injured by paper or paper-making machines were
under 16 and all of these were in illegal occupations.
The only occupation connected specifically with the paper and
paper-products manufacturing industries, in which the employment
o f minors is subject to special regulation in Wisconsin, is the op­
eration o f stamping machines in lace-paper manufacturing, pro­
hibited to minors under 16. Occupations common to other indus­
tries as well as to the manufacture o f paper or paper products in
which the employment o f minors is regulated are the operation o f
cylinder presses and of punchers or shears.92 Five o f the 29 minors
injured on paper or paper-products machinery were working on
paper-machine calendars, 2 were on corner-staying machines, and 1
on a lacing machine in a paper-box factory, work on all o f which is
prohibited in some o f the other States.
Cuts and amputations had resulted in 14 of the 29 injuries caused
by these machines. Five o f those injured were permanently dis­
abled and one was killed. Four o f these, all resulting in amputa­
tions, occurred to boys in prohibited occupations. In 6 o f the 23
cases in which the injuries caused temporary disability the period
was at least 28 days. The number o f cases is too small to indicate
the relative severity o f injuries— as, for example, the proportion re­
sulting in permanent disability or in long-continued disability—
caused by paper and paper-products machines, as compared with
other kinds o f machinery.
In regard to compensation, the averages are so affected by the
inclusion o f 6 cases in which very large amounts were payable that
“ The operation of stamping machines in lace-paper manufacturing is prohibited to
minors under 16 in 11 other States besides Wisconsin. Operations regarded as hazardous
in other States which are not specifically named as prohibited by the Wisconsin child labor
law include operating corner-staying machines in the manufacture of paper boxes (regu­
lated in 11 States), calender rolls in paper manufacturing (regulated in 7 States), and
paper-lacing machines (16 States).


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they are not significant. Excluding these 6 cases, the average
primary compensation was only $26.82, instead of $226.89. Twenty
o f the 29 injured received less than $100 in total compensation.
The facts regarding the six most serious cases were as follow s:
A boy of 16, employed without a permit in a paper mill, had part of one
finger amputated by the set screws of a rewinder machine. The amount of
single compensation payable was $265.78 and the amount payable by the
employer was $531.56 (see footnote 85, p. 108), a total of $797.34.
A boy o f 15, employed on a permit but injured while cleaning a corrugating
slitting machine while it was in motion (prohibited minors under 1 6 ), had
his index finger amputated at second joint and 50 per cent disability to thumb
at distal joint. H e was awarded $541.31 in primary compensation, and
$1,082.62 payable by the employer, a total o f $1,623.93.
A boy o f 16 employed without a permit at the sulphite plant of a papermanufacturing company was assisting in putting a belt on moving machinery
when lie was drawn into the shafting and killed. The compensation paid
to the parents was $700 from the insurance company and $1,400 from the
employer, a total of $2 ,100 .
A boy o f 17 was hired as a screen hand in a paper mill. A week before
the accident he had been assigned by the gang foreman to the job o f oiling,
though oiling and cleaning hazardous machinery in motion is prohibited minors
under 18. W hile removing pulp from a roller, the boy used his hand; although a
hose was provided for the purpose, and his body was drawn into the roller. He
was totally incapacitated for 52 weeks and was permanently disabled to the
extent of about 33 per cent loss o f use of leg at the hip and loss of use of
the other leg at the knee. Numerous hearings were held on this case. The
commission finally approved a compromise settlement of $ 9 ,000 — $3,000 to be
paid by the insurance company and $6,000 by the employer. Full penalties
were not imposed as some doubt existed as to whether the accident “ arose
out of and because o f his unlawful employment.”
Two boys relatively seriously disabled as a result o f injuries from ma­
chinery used in the manufacturing o f paper products were also found to have
been injured while cleaning dangerous and hazardous machines in motion,
which is prohibited to minors under 18. Both were employed in paper-box
making factories. One, a boy of 17, slipped on the floor, having his hands
caught in the rolls o f an ink m ill; his right hand was badly torn, one finger
was amputated and partial loss of use of two other fingers resulted. Primary
compensation payable in this ease was $607.33, and the employer was liable
for $1,214.66 in addition, making a total of $1,821.99. In the other case, that
o f a boy of 16 employed without a permit, parts of several fingers were
amputated by a box-corner cutter which the boy was cleaning. Total com­
pensation amounted to $2,545.62, of which $1,697.08 was payable by the
employer.

Printing and bookbinding machinery.—Machinery used in con­
nection with printing and bookbinding caused the injuries of 15
boys, o f whom 14 were injured on cylinder, job, or other press, and
one on a binder. Six were 16 years old, and the remaining nine
were younger.
Wisconsin prohibits the employment of minors under 16 on all
kinds of job and cylinder presses but has no other regulations in its
child labor law which specifically relate to occupations pertaining
to the printing and publishing industry.93 Nine of the 15 boys in­
jured were found to be employed in prohibited occupations. These
cases consisted o f 1 boy o f 14 and 5 boys o f 15 operating cylinder
or job presses, prohibited to children under 16; 2 boys o f 16 clean98 Nineteen other States prohibit the employment of minors under 16 on job and cylinder
presses ; in 4 States this prohibition extends to all job or cylinder presses, in California to
all kinds of printing presses, and in 14 other States to job or cylinder printing presses
operated by power other than foot power.


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ing dangerous or hazardous machinery (in one case a press) in
motion; and 1, a boy o f 13, cleaning machinery in motion and also
engaged in work for which no permit could be issued for a child of
his age.
H alf the injuries were cuts, punctures, and lacerations. Six re­
sulted in permanent disabilities, in 4 o f which the minors had been
employed in illegal occupations. Temporary disabilities were of
relatively short duration except that of the boy of 13 listed above,
who lost 17 weeks as a result o f having a finger crushed in a cylinder
press causing a bone fracture.
Total compensation was less than $50 in 7 o f the 15 cases, but in
2 cases it exceeded $1,000. One was a 14-year-old boy who had just
started to work without, the employer claimed, having been regu­
larly hired and without a permit; he had parts o f three fingers
crushed in a cylinder press and was awarded $365.42 in normal com­
pensation, and $730.84 in extra compensation, a total o f $1,096.26.
The other, also a 14-year-old boy working without a permit, had his
fingers caught in the gears o f a cylinder press, resulting in an ampu­
tation of a finger. He received a total o f $1,010.72 in compensation.
Baking and confectionery machinery.— Fifteen boys and one girl
were injured by baking and confectionery machinery. Six o f the
16 were employed in bakeries, 4 in candy factories, 2 in ice-cream
factories, 1 in a restaurant, 1 (the girl) in a hotel, 1 in the manufac­
ture of macaroni, and 1 as bus boy in a billiard and bowling club.
Wisconsin prohibits work on dough brakes or cracker machinery of
any description for minors under 16,94 but has no other specific
prohibition of work on bakery or confectionery machinery applicable
to minors. The law also contains a provision prohibiting minors
under 16 from operating or taking material from any cutting or
pressing machine from which material is taken from behind. Five
o f the injured minors were found to have been employed in prohib­
ited occupations. One, a boy o f 14, was injured while employed as
helper in a candy factory and fancy bakery, and was found by the
commission’s inspector to have been engaged in work on a dough
brake. In addition, he was cleaning the machine in motion, which
was also illegal. Another boy had two fingers amputated in a
dough brake, but the prohibition as to dough brakes did not
apply to him, as he was 17 years of age. He was found to have been
employed, however, in the cleaning o f dangerous or hazardous
machinery in motion, which under the Wisconsin child labor law is
prohibited to minors under 18. The girl who had her finger
injured in a bread cutter was 16 and employed as waitress in a
hotel; she was held to have been illegally employed, as work in
hotels is prohibited in Wisconsin for girls under 17. The boy
employed in a bowling alley was under 17, the age at which the
prohibition o f work in bowling alleys ceases to apply. A boy o f 13
was hurt by a bread-cutting machine in the restaurant in which he
was employed. His occupation was illegal as he was too young to
obtain a permit for such work. Cuts, lacerations, or amputations
resulted in all except one case. Seven o f the minors, including four
91 Twenty-four other States have this prohibition. Pennsylvania and Michigan pro­
hibit the employment of minors under 18 on mixing machines in bakeries.


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o f the five illegally employed, suffered permanent disabilities. O f
the 9 temporary disabilities only 2 lasted as long as 4 weeks. In 13
o f the 16 cases the total compensation amounted to less than $400.
Leather-working machinery.—Machines used in the manufacture
o f leather products were responsible for 13 of the accidents, of which
11 (including 2 to girls) were to minors employed in the shoe
industry, and 2 (bom to girls) were to minors employed in the
manufacture o f gloves.
The employment o f minors under 16 in Wisconsin is specifically
prohibited in the operation of two types of machinery used in the
manufacture o f leather goods, namely, stamping machines and bur­
nishing machines.96 The records of the Wisconsin Industrial Com­
mission showed one case of a child under 16 injured while illegally
employed on a stamping machine, and 3 others o f the 13 injured
minors had been engaged in employment prohibited by law—one,
a boy o f 17, in cleaning dangerous machinery in motion; and two,
both boys under 16, in employment dangerous to life and limb, which
is prohibited children under 16 under a general clause pertaining to
dangerous occupations.
Most o f the 13 injuries caused by leather-working machines (cuts
in 6; bruises, etc., in 3; crushed members in 3; and a fracture in 1)
were slight, resulting in brief temporary disabilities, compensation
for which amounted to only a few dollars. Three children, how­
ever, received permanent injuries; a 15 and a 14 year old boy em­
ployed on unguarded or improperly guarded machines and a 16-yearold boy on a splitting machine. The first two, therefore, were
awarded treble compensation under the general dangerous-occupa­
tion clause, and the employer had to pay relatively large penalties in
the form o f extra compensation. The 14-year-old boy had been hired
as a general worker less than a week before the time o f the accident,
but the foreman o f the shop, who was his uncle, had permitted him
to operate various machines when he had nothing else to do. When
operating an unguarded skiver machine, which he had worked on
only once before, he reached in to catch something in the machine,
cutting off his left index finger. The cost to the employer in this
case was $936 in extra compensation. The 15-year-old boy had been
even more seriously injured, all the fingers o f one hand having been
cut off. His regular occupation had been to take away leather pieces
from the blocking machine, a safe employment, but at the time of
the accident he was feeding a stripping machine at the request of
the foreman or o f the operator of the machine. In this case the
extra compensation paid by the employer was $1,556. In both
these cases the employer had to pay for the careless actions o f
subordinates in instructing or permitting children to work on unsafe
or unguarded machinery.
Textile machinery.—Nine o f the illegally employed injured minors
(3 o f them girls) had been hurt by textile machinery. A ll were
under 17, including 2 who were 15 and 2 who were 14 years o f age.
Five were employed in knit-goods factories, the principal textile
manufacturing industry in Wisconsin; 1 in the woolen industry; 1
in an establishment making hammocks; and 2 in rug factories.
86 Employment of minors under 16 on leather-burnishing machines is prohibited in 13
States besides Wisconsin and on stamping machines in leather manufacturing in 11 other
states.


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Carding machines were responsible for injuries to 4 of them (all
b o y s); looms for injuries to 1 boy and 1 girl; a knitting machine
for the injury o f a girl o f 15; and spooling or winding machinery
for injuries to a boy o f 16 and a girl o f 14.
Work on carding machines or machines used in picking wool, cot­
ton, hair, or any upholstering material is prohibited for minors
under 16 in Wisconsin.96
Four o f the nine minors injured on textile machines were found
to have been engaged in employments prohibited by law. Two were
injured while cleaning machinery in motion (prohibited to children
under 1 6); 1, in oiling dangerous machinery in motion (prohibited
to minors under 1 8); and 1, a girl o f 14 employed on a spooling
machine, was found to have been illegally employed under the
general clause prohibiting the work of children under 16 in any
employment dangerous to life or limb. The deputy who investigated
the case o f the 14-year-old girl stated in his report: “ In my opinion
it is not reasonable to place a permit child on this machine, or on
any machine with winding, twisting, or pinching parts.” One o f the
children injured while cleaning machinery in motion, a girl o f 15,
had her hand caught by the unguarded friction drive o f her machine
which she was cleaning. The employer stated that the girls were
instructed not to touch the friction drive, but it was necessary for
the operator’s hands to come close to the drive in cleaning and the
power was not turned off. According to the report of the deputy
who investigated the case:
This knitting machine is one o f those which are reasonably safe in them­
selves, but which in their operation are hazardous not only to permit children
but to grown up persons as well when the line shaft and its appurtenances,
such as friction drives, clutches, etc., are not guarded. * * * A machine of
this sort, and the shaft from which it derives its power, should by all means
be considered as one unit. A s we recall, there have been three very serious
accidents on machines of this type. In one instance a woman of mature age,
by picking up her handkerchief, caught her hair on an unguarded shaft, and
her entire scalp, from her neck to her eye's, was taken off. That confirms my
contention that it is fully as important, if not more so, to determine if the
line shaft and its appurtenances are properly guarded, as it is to look into
the condition of a machine before a permit is issued for children to work on
this type of machine. * * * The shaft in question and also the friction drive
were not guarded at the time this accident occurred, nor have they been
guarded since, although an order had been made from this office to have this
line shaft and other similar shafting guarded, for the last five years.

Cuts, punctures, lacerations, and amputations resulted in six of
the nine cases. Although none of the minors was very seriously
injured, two suffered permanent disabilities and one a slight dis­
figurement. In these cases the employer had to pay extra compen­
sation o f $100 or more; in one case $720. This case was that o f a
boy o f 16 employed as “ card boy ” in a hosiery mill. In placing
an end from the creel into the feed o f the carding machine the sleeve
o f his shirt caught in the feed and his arm was drawn into the
machine. Several o f his fingers were injured, and the skin o f his
arm was torn off halfway around between the wrist and elbow. He
was awarded compensation for temporary disability o f 25 weeks, and
also for permanent injury to hands and arm.
Wisconsin is 1 of 8 States having a similar prohibition for work on carding ma­
chines and 1 o f 20 with a similar prohibition for work on picker machines.


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Meat-products machinery.— Machinery used in the preparation of
meat products, in nearly every case cutting, grinding, or chopping
machines, caused the injuries o f nine boys and one girl. None of
those injured was found to have been employed in an illegal occupa­
tion, though the serious nature o f the injuries sustained suggests
the advisability o f prohibiting such employment as hazardous.97
Cuts, lacerations, or amputations resulted in all cases. In three
cases only temporary disability resulted, lasting, however, a month
or longer in two o f the three. The seven remaining minors, all
boys, were permanently disabled, most o f them being relatively
seriously injured.
O f the minors injured by meat-products machinery the following
were awarded the highest compensation:
A boy of 16 was employed without a permit stuffing sausages in a restaurant.
The fingers of his right hand became caught in the sausage machine and
parts o f three fingers and the thumb had to be amputated. Normal compensa­
tion payable by the insurance company was fixed by the commission at $925.64,
the extra compensation payable by the employer being double that amount,
or $1,851.28. (See footnote 85, p. 108.) The employer, however, refused to pay
and was found to be execution proof (that is, to have no property on which a
judgment could be collected), so the insurance company was obliged to pay
the entire compensation of $2,776.92.
A boy of 14, not regularly employed but “ helping out for a few days ” a
retail meat dealer, without a permit, had four fingers of his right hand am­
putated in a meat-chopping machine. The employer claimed that he had in­
structed all his employees never to use the meat chopper without the stamper, a
safety device, and that “ the only way to avoid such accidents is not to employ
children, as one can not watch them every minute of the day.” The occupation
is not one specifically prohibited in the child labor law, and the commission held
that it was not prohibited under the general clause prohibiting employment dan­
gerous to life and limb. The various parties agreed that the insurance company
should pay $1,569 and the employer a similar amount, and this agreement was
approved by the commission.
A boy of 14, employed without a permit in a general store and meat market
of which he was himself part owner and which was managed by Tiis mother,
had his right hand amputated at the wrist by a sausage grinder. The pri­
mary compensation payable by the insurance company was $5,281.96, and an
equal amount was awarded by the commission as payable by the employer.
In addition, the employer and insurance company were ordered to furnish
the boy an artificial member. As his regular occupation was that of clerk
it was not pronounced illegal by the commission. I f it had been or i f the
injury had occurred before June 30, 1925 (see p. 5 9 ), the award would
have been higher and the employer alone would have been required to pay
more than $ 10,000 in compensation.

Farm machinery.— Farm machinery was responsible for injuries
to 8 boys, 3 o f whom were under 16 years o f age. Except for a pro­
hibition o f the employment o f minors under IT on threshing crews
(in effect since July 12,1923, see p. 60), Wisconsin has no direct and
specific prohibition o f work on dangerous agricultural machinery
for minors.98 Five of the boys were employed on threshing crews,
81 The only specific prohibition of work on meat-grinding machines by any State is
found in Pennsylvania, where under a ruling of the State industrial board the minimum
age is placed at 16 years.
88 No State has a specific prohibition of work on dangerous agricultural machinery.
The Missouri law even specifically exempts agricultural machinery from its prohibition
o f the employment of children under 16 in the operation of any power machinery.
Wisconsin is the only State even to prohibit the employment of minors on threshing
crews. In Indiana, in an informal opinion of the industrial board, it was stated that
work on a clover huller, corn shredder, or threshing machine should be classed as dan­
gerous to life and limb and therefore came under the general dangerous-occupations
prohibition applicable to minors under 18.


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but as three o f these accidents occurred before July 12, 1923, occu­
pational violations were found by the commission in only two cases.
Permits had previously been required for such work, however, and
as none o f these boys had permits they were all subject to the extra
compensation law on that violation alone. A ll were entitled to
treble compensation as their injuries occurred when treble compen­
sation was assessed for any kind o f illegal employment. The three
injuries due to farm machinery other than threshing machines were
caused by a tractor, a corn crusher, and a hay press. Cuts, punctures,
lacerations, or amputations resulted from all but one o f the accidents
due to farm machinery. One boy was killed, and four suffered per­
manent disability. Total compensation amounted to $500 or more in
half o f the cases, in two being more than $1,000 and in one amount­
ing to $9,927.45.
The circumstances under which the fatalityl^ccurred were as
follow s:
A boy of 15 years was employed by a commercial threshing concern without
a permit, operating the blower on a threshing machine. Apparently he slipped
from a platform and fell on the handle which operates the blower, the point
of the handle penetrating his rectum. H e died several days later. - ’The em­
ployer stated that he had no permit for the boy, as he dpderstood that the
permit law did not apply to farmers, nor did he carry insurance as he under­
stood that the kind of threshing work they did was farm wbyk and,' as such,
exempt from the provisions o f the workman’s compensation act«'. The father
of the boy agreed to settle with the employer for $300, but th e, commission
was not willing to approve settling the case for so small an amoufit. Finally a
settlement for $1,800 ($600 primary compensation and $1,200 extra compen­
sation) was approved by the commission and was paid.

Examples o f other serious permanent injuries were as follow s:
A boy of 16 employed as blower tender on a threshing machine started a
weighing machine which, according to the employer, he had been instructed
repeatedly not to touch, and caught his finger in the gears. The employer,
a farmer, also claimed that he had obtained a “ proper permit from the boy’s
father ” before he put him to work. The boy was totally disabled eight weeks
and suffered some permanent disability. Compensation of $543.18 was awarded
($181.06 normal compensation and $362.12 penalty). The employer was not
insured and claimed that he could not afford to pay the compensation. The
commission finally entered an award, ordering him to pay.
A boy under 17, who was employed tending the blower on a threshing
machine, had part of his feet amputated and was totally incapacitated for 48
weeks.
H e received a total of $9,927.45 in compensation ($3,309.15 and
$6,618.30).

Other working machinery.—Cases o f serious injury resulting from
working machinery o f other kinds include the follow ing:
A boy of 14 employed without a permit in a cheese factory had his hand
caught in a cheese-cutting machine. The commission held that he was em­
ployed in an occupation dangerous to life or limb, prohibited for a child
under 16, and awarded him, for permanent disability for 50 per cent loss
o f the use of his right hand, $1,631.72, payable by the insurance company,
and $3,263.44, payable by the employer, a total o f $4,895.16.
Several boys were injured by cement or concrete mixers. One of these,
aged 17, was awarded $1,337.31 ($445.77 primary compensation, and $891.54
extra compensation) for a permanent injury to his hand, the commission
finding that he had been oiling dangerous machinery in motion, an occupation
illegal for minors under 18.
A boy of 15, employed as a teamster for a combined dairy farm and sand
and gravel company, was hauling gravel when he stepped on a temporarily
unguarded belt of a stone crusher, suffering a dislocation o f his shoulder and
a broken leg. These injuries resulting in permanent disability, the commis-


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sion awarded compensation amounting to $1,577.22, of which $1,051.48 was
payable by the employer as double indemnity, as the boy was employed not
only without a permit but also in or about a quarry, an occupation prohibited
for boys under 18.
A boy of 15 was employed in the rubber industry on permit but suffered
permanent disability from an injury to his fingers in a calender roll, on which
work is illegal in Wisconsin for children under 1 6 ." The total amount of
compensation payable in this case was $432.90, of which $288.60 was payable by
the employer.
A girl of 15, employed without a permit to operate laundry machinery, which
in Wisconsin is prohibited for minors under 16, lost the first two fingers
o f her left hand on a flat-work ironer.1 In addition to working on a prohibited
machine, she was cleaning machinery in motion, which is also prohibited for
minors under 16. The compensation awarded was $2,144.01, o f which $1,429.34
was payable by the employer.
A boy o f 16, employed without a permit by a large machine-manufacturing
concern, had his head and arm caught and crushed in the machinery and was
killed. A compromise settlement of $3,000 was approved— $1,000 to be paid by
the insurance company and $2,000 to be paid by the employer.
(See foot­
note 85, p. 108.)
Hoisting apparatus.

Hoisting machinery was responsible for 48 injuries, 89 were caused
by elevators, and 9 by cranes and derricks.
Elevators.— Accidents directly caused by elevators occurred to 32
boys and 7 girls. A ll the girls and 21 o f the boys were 16 or 17
years o f age; but 7 boys were 15, 3 were 14, and 1 was only 13.
Seventeen injuries resulted from the workers being caught between
the platform and the floor. Three were caused by falls down the
elevator shaft.
The Wisconsin child labor law prohibits the operation or manage­
ment o f elevators by minors under 18 years o f age.2 Although 25
boys and 7 girls were actually operating elevators at the time o f the
injury, the regular occupation ot only 9 o f the 39—3 boys employed in
office or apartment buildings, and 6 girls, 1 employed in a hotel and
the rest in retail stores—was that o f elevator operator. Most o f the
workers injured in elevator accidents were employed as helpers or
general workers, in order filling, errand, messenger, or delivery work,
or in trucking and the like, which require the worker to go from one
floor to another. Some employers claimed that the injured minor
had been instructed not to operate the elevator, or that general
orders to that effect had been issued applying to all minors in an
establishment. A number o f the minors, however, had been in­
structed in the operation o f the elevator by some foreman or other
workman or were in the habit o f operating it occasionally or o f sub­
stituting when the regular operator was absent. Other employers
claimed that the minor had given his age as 18 or older when he had
99 Employment on calender rolls in rubber manufacturing is prohibited for minors under
16 in 19 States in addition to Wisconsin, and on all calender rolls in 1 additional State.
The work of minors under 16 years of age in 26 States, including Wisconsin, is prohibited
on “ washing, grinding, and mixing machines ” or on “ grinding and mixing machines.”
1 Operation of any laundry machinery is prohibited for minors under 16 in 25 States,
including Wisconsin, and a still broader prohibition of all employment of such minors in
laundries is found in 4 States.
2 Under State child labor laws, the minimum age for operation of any elevator (some­
times also in “ assisting” in operation) is 16 in 16 States and 18 in 13 States, though in
some o f the latter States the minimum age is lowered to 16 for freight elevators or ele­
vators running at less than a specified speed. These prohibitions as to employment of
minors on elevators do not represent the entire protection which the law extends to such
employment, as both State safety codes and municipal regulations contain provisions re­
garding licenses for operators of elevators, particularly passenger elevators, which fix a
minimum age, usually at least 16 and often 18.


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applied for work and that he had been hired without an investigation
o f his age; this was true in most o f the cases in which the minors
were actually employed as elevator operators. One employer main­
tained he did not know the law.
Twelve o f the accidents resulted in crushed or smashed members,
12 in bruises and contusions, and the remaining in fractures, cuts,
burns, and sprains. Four fatalities and 5 permanent disabilities
resulted; in 5 o f the remaining cases (2 o f them injuries to girls),
temporary total disability o f 12 weeks or more resulted. One boy
and one girl were each temporarily totally disabled for approxi­
mately 20 weeks.
The cost o f elevator injuries in terms o f compensation paid is
relatively high. Whereas the average amount payable for ordinary
compensation in all the cases included in this inquiry was $136.08
and the average amount payable by the employers in extra compensa­
tion was $241.58, the average amounts payable in the elevator acci­
dent cases were more than twice as much—$327.90 and $577.15,
respectively. In 5 cases the total amount of compensation payable
to the injured minor or his heirs was $2,000 or more; in 4, $4,000 or
more, and in 3, $5,000 or more, the maximum sum awarded amount­
ing to $8,626.35. The fact that four fatal cases are included in this
relatively small group of 39 means that the average amount o f
compensation payable is less than it might have been in view o f the
severity o f the cases as the amount of compensation in fatal cases
is reduced in accordance with the extent to which those entitled to
receive compensation for the injured minors death are dependent
upon him.
The facts in the most serious o f the elevator accidents were as
follow s:
A boy of 16, employed as an order clerk in the wholesale distribution plant
o f a large manufacturing concern, attempted to jump on a moving elevator and
fell down the shaft from the second floor to the basement, a distance of
approximately 22 feet, suffering injuries from which he died a few hours later.
He had no permit for this job but had had one for a previous job. When
employed, he had told the manager that he had a perm it; and the latter, not
realizing that he was supposed to have the permit in his possession before
letting the boy go to work, did not require him to produce it. A settlement
for $5,000 was made between the employer (a self-insurer) and the boy’s
mother, and was approved by the commission.
A boy o f 17, employed as warehouse assistant by a wholesale produce and
grocery concern but at the time of the accident illegally operating an elevator,
was caught between the moving elevator and the gate. H is head was crushed,
causing instant death. The insurance company paid compensation of $1,452,
and a compromise was effected and approved by the commission whereby the
employer paid $1,500.
A boy of 15, a student in high school, was employed in an apartment house
after school hours— from 4.30 p. m. until midnight— to operate an elevator.
In closing the door of the elevator he got caught between the door and the
car and was killed. Three provisions of the child labor law were violated in
this case: (1 ) The employment of a minor under 18 as an elevator operator,
(2 ) the employment of a minor under 17 without a permit, and (3 ) the employ­
ment o f a minor under 16 after 6 p. m. The manager of the apartment house
claimed ignorance o f all of these. A settlement for $7,250 compensation
($2,416.65 payable by the insurance company and $4,833.35 by the employer)
was approved by the commission.
A girl whose age was reported as 19, was killed while operating an elevator
in a hotel in which she was employed as a domestic. A s only cases in which
the age of the injured worker is reported as 18 or younger are referred to the


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child-labor department of the commission for special investigation as to legality
of employment, the fact that the girl was only 16 years of age did not come to
the attention of the commission until some time after the occurrence o f the
accident and after a compromise settlement had been made by the insurance
company, with the approval of the commission. More than one year after
this settlement had been approved, the commission awarded death benefits equal
to double the amount which had already been paid because the girl had been
employed in a prohibited employment. The case was appealed to the courts.
The circuit court affirmed the commission’s action, but the supreme court
reversed the award on the ground that the commission was without jurisdic­
tion, because by the express language of the act the settlement previously
approved by it had become absolute after the expiration of one year.8
A boy of 15, employed without a permit as errand boy in a candy store, met
with a severe permanent injury to his left leg while operating an elevator
the day after he began to work. According to the boy’s statement he had been
instructed by a foreman to go to the first floor and bring the elevator down to
the basement. The employer’s wife, who had hired him, said that she had been
told that a permit was not required for work during summer vacation and
that was why she had not procured a permit for this boy (the injury occurred
on June 2 7 ). The cost o f the omission to this employer was $2,882.12, and
the total compensation payable was $4,323.18.
A boy of 15, who was employed without a permit as a trucker by a large
tire-manufacturing concern, was riding with his truck on a freight elevator
when his right foot was crushed between the elevator and the second floor sill.
The foot was severed above the ankle. Primary compensation of $2,875.45
and extra compensation of $5,750.90, a total of $8,626.35, was awarded. This
boy had formerly been employed by the same company and had been dis­
charged when he was found to be only 15 years o f age, but later he had
returned, giving an assumed name and a new address and stating his age
as 18 and had been reemployed.

Cranes and derricks.—Nine boys were injured by hoisting machines
other than elevators— cranes, derricks, and the like. The only pro­
hibited employment in connection with hoisting machinery is limited
to “ the running or management o f elevators, lifts, or hoisting ma­
chines,” which is illegal for minors under 18,4 and only 4 o f the 9
minors were held as employed in violation of this prohibition. The
remaining 5, although injured by hoisting machines, were not operat­
ing the machines so were not employed in a prohibited occupation,
but as they were under 17 and employed without permits their em­
ployers were liable for extra compensation. Permanent injuries
resulted in 3 of the 9 cases. Average primary compensation payable
in these cases was $172.28. In 5 cases total compensation (including
extra as well as primary) amounted to less than $70; in the remaining
4, to $300 or more.
The most serious case in this group was as follow s: A boy o f 16,
employed as laborer in a machine shop, had worked only one day
when a machine casting weighing about 700 pounds, which he was
helping to move along on a chain hoist, fell upon him. His hip was
fractured and he was totally incapacitated for 71 weeks, and in addi­
tion suffered some permanent disability (20 per cent loss o f use o f leg
at the knee). He had no permit, and as he was actually operating
the hoist the commission held that he was employed in a prohibited
occupation. The compensation awarded totaled $3,106.35 ($1,035.45
in primary and $2,070.90 in extra compensation).
8 Hotel Martin Co. V. Industrial Commission, 195 N. W. 865 (1923).
* Except that under a ruling of the industrial commission dated November, 1927, minors
over 16 employed as apprentices nray operate hand hoists in machine shops for the purpose
of bringing and removing material.


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ACCIDENTS NOT DUE TO MACHINERY

Handling objects and vehicles were the principal causes, other
than machinery, of the injuries to the illegally employed minors;
hand tools, falls, and stepping on or striking against objects caused
a number, and falling objects, contacts with electric currents, explo­
sions, infections, and skidding or dragging logs in the logging in­
dustry, were responsible for some. The accidents that were not
caused by machinery (though the children in some instances may
have been working on a machine) occurred in a variety o f illegal
occupations including: Working in bowling a lleys;5 working in
hotels or restaurants or in boarding houses conducted by an industrial
plant for its own employees;6 lumbering and logging operations;7
outside erection and repair o f electric wires; 8 work in connection
with road construction; 9 working on threshing crews; 9 operating
elevators;10 operating or taking material from a saw, planer, or
other cutting m achine;10 working on a job, cylinder, or drill
press; 10 working in or about docks or quarries; 11 and working on
scaffolding or on ladders in the building trades.12
Handling objects.

Next to machinery the principal single cause o f injury was the
handling o f objects. There were 166 accidents, 23 to girls, due to
this cause among the total included in this study. The largest num­
ber had occurred in dropping or being caught under or between
heavy objects or from strain in lifting, but the handling o f such
articles as glass and nails, or slivers, had caused almost as many o f
the injuries. A few had been caused in the handling o f wheel­
barrows, rollers, and other hand trucks.
Thirty-one o f the injured minors were employed in prohibited
occupations at the time o f the accidents caused by handling objects,
o f which one resulted in permanent disability. The prohibited
occupations were as follows:
Work in bowling alleys (prohibited under 17 by ruling)__________________
Lumbering and logging operations (prohibited to boys under 16 by
ruling)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Outside erection and repair of telephone wires (prohibited under 18 by
l a w ) ___________________________________________________________________________

Boys
8
2
3

5 Wisconsin prohibits the employment of minors under 17 in bowling alleys and 21 other
States prohibit the employment of minors under 16 in bowling alleys. Pennsylvania pro­
hibits this employment under 18.
«Wisconsin and 5 other States prohibit the employment of boys and girls under 16 in
hotels
(For girls m Wisconsin the minimum age is 17.) Virginia and the District of
Columbia prohibit this employment for girls under 18. Washington prohibits the employment of all females as bell hops in hotels and of girls under 18 as bus girls. Wisconsin
prohibits the employment of girls under 17 in boarding houses in lumber camps, and is
the only State having a prohibition of this type.
7 Wisconsin is the only State that prohibits the employment of boys under 16 in lumber­
ing and logging operations, although Oregon prohibits the employment of minors under 18
as logging engineers.
, f Wisconsin and 6 other States prohibit the employment of minors under 18 in the out­
side erection and repair of electric wires.
9 Wisconsin is the only State that prohibits the work of minors in road construction or
- t h r e s h in g crews. The minimum age in Wisconsin for both these types of work is 17
10 State prohibitions relating to employment of minors in the operation of elevators and
oniiS™ s or cuttinS machines and on presses have been listed on pp. 109, 112 120
11 Wisconsin and 3 other States (Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio) prohibit the employ“ e° t ° f minors under 18 in or about docks. Work in quarries is prohibited under 16 years
and the D fe tr lc t ^ ’ Colum bil m 1 St&te’ and under 18 ln 3 States ( includlnS Wisconsin)
^ , Wisconl inu and 15 °,thf r States prohibit the employment of minors under 16 on scaf­
folding or at heavy work (and in a few cases at any work) in the building trades.
1 2 5 9 1 4 -3 2 -9


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Boys

Road construction work (prohibited under 17 by ruling)----------------------------Running or management of elevators (prohibited to minors under 18
by la w )_______________________________________ ______________________ _________
W ork on planer (prohibited under 16 by la w )--------------------------------------------Operating or taking material from cutting machine from which material
is taken from behind (prohibited under 16 by la w )-------------------------------Working in or about a dock (prohibited under 18 by la w )--------------------------Working in or about a quarry (prohibited under 18 by la w )------------------Working at employment for which permit not granted children of that
age by law (age, 12 or 13 y ears)----------------------------------------------------------------W ork in hotels or restaurants or in a boarding house conducted by
industrial plant for own employees (prohibited to girls under 17 by
r u lin g )________________________________________________________________________

2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Girls

9

Cuts, punctures, and lacerations resulted in 50 per cent o f these
accidents ; bruises and sprains constituted 16 and 15 per cent, respec­
tively, o f the number ; and crushed members and fractures each con­
stituted 10 per cent. None o f the injuries resulted fatally, and only
10 (6 per cent) resulted in permanent disability, as compared with
one-third (35 per cent) o f the injuries due to working machinery.
Only 20 per cent o f the temporary disabilities lasted four weeks
or more as compared with 24 per cent o f the temporary disabilities
resulting from accidents caused by working machinery.
The average amount of primary compensation payable to minors
whose injuries were caused by handling objects was relatively low—
$40.06, compared with $200.29 for working-machine injuries and
with $136.08 for all injuries sustained by the illegally employed
minors. One hundred (60 per cent) received less than $50 in total
compensation, compared with 34 per cent o f those injured by work­
ing machinery and 27 per cent o f those injured by vehicles. Only
6 (4 per cent) received as much as $500 in total compensation, com­
pared with 23 per cent o f those injured by working machinery and
12 per cent o f the total number; and only 2 (1 per cent) received
$1,000 or more, compared with 16 per cent of those injured by
working machinery. One o f the two receiving $1,000 or more was
a boy o f 16 employed without a permit by a milk-products company.
He got a sliver in his thumb in feeding a labeling machine, which
resulted in blood poisoning. He was totally disabled for 30 weeks
and suffered permanent injury to a thumb and finger. The insurance
company and the employer were each required by the commission
to pay $874.85, a total o f $1,749.70.
Vehicles.

The third largest group o f injuries resulted from vehicular acci­
dents. Vehicles were responsible for 111 accidents, all to boys, and,
on the whole, to the younger boys—36 per cent, compared with 27
per cent o f all the injured, were under 16, all but 1 were under 17, and
4 were under 14.
Automobiles caused the majority (78) of these injuriesj 64 were
due to cranking cars, 4 to overturning o f cars, 6 to collisions, 2 to
falls from trucks, 1 (a fatality) to being struck by a car, and 1 to
being caught between a backing truck and a building. Accidents
were due to animal-drawn vehicles in 21 cases (in 7 o f which the
accidents resulted from falls from the vehicles) ; to bicycles in 5
cases; to a motor cycle in 1; to cars in mines or quarries in 4 ; to

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trucks or tracks in factories in 2; and to a train in 2. O f the four
13-year-old children, 2 were injured in cranking cars and 2 in falls
from bicycles when delivering papers.
O f the 78 minors injured by automobiles, 42 were employed as
truck drivers or helpers on trucks, 8 as mechanics or in repair work
in garages, 4 in cleaning or washing cars or sweeping in garages,
and 11 in clerical or general work in garages, automobile agencies,
or filling stations. But 3 were clerks in retail establishments, 9 were
laborers or other general workers, all o f whom were injured in
cranking cars for their employers, and 1, who was killed, was struck
by an automobile while working on a highway. O f the 5 children
(all o f whom were under 16) injured by bicycles 3 were employed
regularly in delivering papers or packages; but 1 was a hotel bell
boy, and another a water boy in a factory, both o f whom were en­
gaged in outside errands in connection with their jobs. O f the
21 injured by animal-drawn vehicles, 9 were reported as teamsters,
5 as laborers, 4 in various occupations connected with the lumber
industry, and 3 in miscellaneous loading or unloading.
Wisconsin has no regulations prohibiting the work o f boys on
or about vehicles, such as are in effect in a few States (see below),
so that a relatively small proportion o f the minors injured by ve­
hicles (10 per cent (11 boys) as compared with 27 per cent o f all
those injured whille illegally employed) were employed in pro­
hibited occupations. Three o f these boys (one 17 years o f age, one
16, and one 15) were employed as laborers in or about quarries, an
occupation prohibited by law to minors under 18. One, a boy o f 15,
was employed as laborer in the outside erection or repair of tele­
graph wires, also prohibited by law to minors under 18. The fifth
was a school boy o f 12 employed by a bakery to deliver bread in the
early morning in violation o f the minimum age provision o f the
child labor law ; his wrist was fractured in cranking the delivery
truck. The 6 others found in prohibited occupations had been em­
ployed in violation o f rulings made by the commission. One o f them
had been working in a hotel, work which was prohibited for boys
under 16 (while on an errand he had fallen from his bicycle and
°ut his le g ; being disabled for a little more than four w eeks); all
the others had been engaged in road-construction work, prohibited
for minors under 17.
in the case o f elevators (see p. 120) the child labor law prohi­
bitions do not represent the entire legal protection o f children en­
gaged in work on automobiles and other motor vehicles in W is­
consin. Although employment on motors is not prohibited as a
dangerous occupation by the child labor law or by rulings, the State
and city licensing regulations fix a minimum age for operators o f
automobiles. As shown above, however, the actual operation o f
automobiles was not the cause o f most o f the injuries occurring
to minors in this study, nor has it been found to be in other studies!
In Indiana in the present study (see p. 180) practically one-half the
injuries caused by motor vehicles occurred while the minor was
cranking the machine, and in the Children’s Bureau study o f indus­
trial accidents to employed minors in Wisconsin, Massachusetts,


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and New Jersey the proportion was 53 per cent.13 A study of
industrial accidents to children under 16 in California14 showed
that motor vehicles were the most important single cause o f acci­
dents among the children under 16 and were a far more serious
danger to the younger than to the older group of workers (causing
23 per cent of the accidents to those under 16 but only 15 per cent
to those under 18) and that o f the 91 accidents caused by motor
vehicles to minors under 16, 83 were sustained by minors employed
in delivering goods from such vehicles.
As a result o f this study California, by ruling of the department
o f industrial relations, now prohibits the delivery o f goods o f any
kind from motor vehicles by children under 16. Illinois also pro­
hibits the employment o f minors under 16 in cranking motor cars
or trucks.15
Fractures and dislocations were the principal types o f injury.
Sixty-six per cent of the boys injured by vehicles sustained fractures
and dislocations; 15 per cent, bruises; 9 per cent, cuts; and 7 per
cent, sprains. Two o f the accidents, both caused by automobiles,
were fatal, but only three others (one caused by a motor cycle and
two by animal-drawn vehicles) had resulted in permanent injuries.
Thus, only 3 per cent o f those who met with vehicular accidents had
suffered permanent injuries, as compared with 15 per cent of all
minors injured while illegally employed and 35 per cent o f those
wTho had been injured by working machinery. Temporary injuries,
however, were relatively serious, almost two-thirds (58 per cent)
having resulted in disability o f 4 weeks or more as compared with
less than one-third (31 per cent) o f the total number injured
-while illegally employed. One boy was disabled 24 weeks, 1, 25
weeks, and 1, 29 weeks. Only one other minor in the entire group
suffering a temporary disability was disabled for a longer period.
The average amount of compensation payable in the cases of
vehicular accidents was somewhat lower than the average in the
total number o f cases, $92.33 (primary compensation) and $171.28
(extra compensation), as compared with $136.08 and $241.58, respec­
tively, for the whole group o f injured minors, indicating that in
general these vehicular accidents were less serious. In only two
cases (one a fatality) did the total compensation paid amount to
$1,000 or more, compared with 7 per cent o f the accidents of all
kinds for which extra compensation was awarded. In both these
cases the total compensation paid amounted to more than $5,000.
On the other hand, a large number were o f moderate severity— 56
per cent, as compared with 41 per cent for the whole group, were
paid $100 or more.
The circumstances of the two fatalities and one serious case of
permanent disability resulting from vehicular accidents were as
follow s:
13 Industrial Accidents to Employed Minors in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New Jersey,
pp. 16, 42, 56. U. S. Children’s Bureau Publication No. 152. Washington, 1926.
14Monthly Labor Review (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), vol. 26, No. 5 (May,
1928), pp. 53-54).
M On the other hand, Pennsylvania, which has by law a minimum age of 18 for acting as
chauffeur of automobile, has an interpretative ruling to the effect that though no minor
under 18 may assist in operation of an automobile, such minors may ride on automobiles
while engaged in such occupations as delivery of merchandise, etc., but shall not assist in
the operation of the car.


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A boy of 16 was employed without a permit as roustabout and truck driver
by a manufacturing concern. According to the employer he had stated when
applying for work that he was 17 and would bring a birth certificate the fol­
lowing morning. The employer permitted him to go to work without waiting to
see the certificate. The second day of his employment the truck he was driv­
ing was hit by a passenger train and he was killed. A s his parents were only
partially dependent, a compromise settlement was agreed upon between the
parties and approved by the commission that the insurance company should pay
$400 in cash and $200 for funeral expenses and the employer should pay $500.
In addition, as no person was wholly dependent upon the deceased, the in­
surance company was required to pay the State treasury the sum of $1,000.
(See p. 55.)
A boy of 16, who was driving his uncle’s team for a road-construction con­
cern, was hit by an automobile and killed. The boy was not a regular em­
ployee of the company and had not, in fact, been hired for the job, but he
had been brought by his uncle to take the latter’s place while he went away
for a few hours. After hearings, the commission awarded compensation of
$1,920 payable by the insurance company and, as road-construction work is
illegal for minors under 17 and the workmen’s compensation law applies to
helpers as well as employees, of double this amount or $3,840 payable by the
employer, a total o f $5,760. The insurance company and the employer appealed
this award on various grounds, the most important being that the deceased was
not an employee under the terms of the workmen’s compensation law and
therefore not entitled to compensation. Both the circuit court and the supreme
court upheld the commission’s award.
Another boy was totally disabled for 23 weeks and suffered a serious per­
manent disability of his arm as a result of falling from the wagon he was
employed to drive in road-construction work. H e was reported by the em­
ployer as 16 years o f age, but he was actually 15, and had no permit for
work. The commission awarded primary compensation of $2,302.76 and double
that amount in extra compensation, making a total of $6,908.28.

Hand tools.

Hand tools caused 70 of the injuries, 3 of which occurred to girls.
In 20 o f the accidents the tools were axes; in 12 each, knives and
hammers; and in 14, building tools other than hammers.
Ten o f the 70 injured minors were employed in prohibited occupa­
tions, a very small percentage, being but 14 per cent as compared
with 42 per cent of those injured by working machinery and 27
per cent o f all the injured. The regulations violated and the number
o f cases in each group were as follow s:
Road-construction work (prohibited under 17 by ruling)_____________________
Lumbering and logging operations (prohibited boys under 16 by ruling)__
Outside erection and repair of telephone wires (prohibited under 18 by
la w )_____________________________________________________________________________
Working in boarding or rooming house (prohibited girls under 17 by
ruling)___________________________________________________________________________

Boys
4
3
2
Girls
1

Eighty-one per cent of the injuries caused by hand tools resulted
in cuts, punctures, or lacerations; 7 per cent in bruises; and 6 per
cent in crushed members. Seven of the injuries resulted in perma­
nent disabilities and 12 in temporary disabilities o f from 4 to 12
weeks. The average amount o f primary compensation paid for
injuries from hand tools, owing to a few very serious accidents, was
almost as great as for injuries from working machinery—$174.61
compared with $200.29. The proportion receiving less than $50 in
total compensation was relatively greater than among those injured
by working machines— 57 per cent as compared with 34 per cent—

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and the proportion receiving $500 or more was relatively less— 6
per cent as compared with 23 per cent. The four minors awarded
$500 or more, however, received between $5,000 and $10,000.
In each o f these four cases a 16-year-old boy lost an eye as a result
o f the accident. One, employed as a laborer by a drop-forge com­
pany, had his eyeball pierced by a steel chip; another had been a
helper in an auto factory when a flying particle of steel from a
hammer struck his eye; the third was loading stone on a road-con­
struction job; and the fourth was hit by a flying sliver from a steel
chisel when employed in a logging camp. Although only one of
these boys had been employed in a prohibited occupation, none of
them had permits, and as all the accidents occurred before 1925,
when employers were liable for payment o f twice the basic compen­
sation for violation of the permit law, treble compensation was pay­
able in all cases.
Falls of persons.

Sixty-four minors, ten of them girls, were injured in falling, gen­
erally from buildings, scaffolds, loading platforms, stairs, balconies,
benches, poles and trees, machines and boilers, piles, ladders, win­
dows, into floor openings, vats or tanks, etc.; in some cases as a
result o f stumbling, slipping, or jumping.
One-fourth o f the minors, 13 boys and 4 girls, were employed in
prohibited occupations, as follows :
Boys

W ork on scaffolding or ladder in the building trades (prohibited under 16
by l a w ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------W ork in or about mines or quarries (prohibited under 18 by la w )---------------Outside erection or repair of telephone wires (prohibited under 18 by la w )___
Lumbering and logging operations (prohibited for boys under 16 by ru lin g ).
Road construction (prohibited under 17 by ruling)-----------------------------------------W ork in or about a dock (prohibited under 18 by la w )-----------------------------------W ork in bowling alley (prohibited under 17 by ruling)---------------------------------Employed at work for which no permit allowed under the child labor law
for minor of that age (child 13 years of a g e)-----------------------------------------------

4
2
2
1
1
1
1
1

Girls
W ork in hotels or restaurants (prohibited for girls under 17 by ruling)------4

Sprains and strains resulted in 31 per cent o f the accidents in this
group, but bruises, etc., were caused m 25 per cent and fractures in
22 per cent. One minor was killed and 4 (6 per cent compared with
15 per cent o f all the injured minors) were permanently disabled.
On the other hand, 23 (39 per cent as compared with 31 per cent
o f all the minors illegally employed) o f the minors temporarily
disabled were totally disabled four weeks or more.
The average amount o f primary compensation paid in cases in­
volving falls was $129.45 compared with $136.08 for the entire group
o f injured minors in the study. Although in only four cases did
the total compensation amount to $500 or more (6 per cent as com­
pared with 12 per cent of all minors injured), in each o f these four
the total compensation payable was $2,000 or more, in one case more
than $9,000. Excluding these four cases the average amount of
primary compensation paid in this group was only $38.90.
The facts with reference to these four cases are as follow s:
A boy of 14, employed by a construction company, fell 34 feet from a scaf­
folding and died from his injuries four days later. H e was employed at a
prohibited occupation, work in the building trades on scaffolding being pro-


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hibited to children under 16. Under an agreement reached between the parents
of the minor and the employer and his insurance carrier, which was confirmed
by the commission, his parents were awarded $700 from the insurance company
and $1,400 from the employer.
A caddy of 13 stepped into a hole when running to locate a golf ball and was
permanently injured to the extent of 20 per cent loss of use of his foot at the
ankle. He was totally disabled for 87 weeks. A s he was employed at an
occupation for which permits could not be issued to children of his age he
was regarded by the commission as employed in a prohibited occupation. Under
an agreement reached by the parties involved and approved by the commission
he was awarded compensation of $911.99 from the insurance company and
$1,823.98 from the employer, a total of $2,735.97.
A boy of 16, employed by an electric light and power company without
a permit as helper to an electric lineman and at the time of injury engaged in
the outside erection or repair of electric wires, an employment prohibited for
minors under 18, fell from the top of a telephone pole. Both his arms were
broken and his jaw and skull fractured; he was totally disabled 29 weeks,
suffered a permanent disability of 20 per cent loss of use of both hands and feet,
and was badly scarred. Compensation payable amounted to $1,299.17 from the
insurance company and $2,598.34 from the employer, a total o f $3,897.51. H e
was in a hospital for 6 weeks and received compensation for total temporary
disability for 29 weeks. He was not strong enough to attempt work o f any
kind for a year and a half, however, and when visited five years after the
accident by a representative of the Children’s Bureau was found to have been
out of work for much of this time because o f his poor health and to be much
discouraged about the future. H is mother said that he was unable to remem­
ber anything from one day to the next.
A boy o f 16, employed without a permit as laborer for a construction com­
pany, fell off a loading device and fractured his hip, suffering 40 per cent loss
of the use o f his leg at the hip joint. Compensation amounted to $3,039.57
payable by the insurance company and $6,079.14 payable by the employer, a
total o f $9,118.71. The employer was not able to pay the entire penalty at
one time, and it was agreed to permit him to make payments over a period of
time.

Stepping on or striking against objects.

Injuries from stepping on or striking against various objects oc­
curred to 62 minors, 3 o f whom were girls. Twenty-three boys, or
nearly two-fifths o f the total, a relatively large proportion, were
employed in prohibited occupations. Fifteen o f these were minors
under 17 employed in bowling alleys, 3 were working in or about
quarries, 2 in the outside erection or repair o f telephone wires, 1 on
a threshing crew, 1 in road construction work, and 1 in lumbering and
logging.
None o f the injuries sustained were very serious. In only one
case did the injury result in permanent disability, that o f a boy o f
15 employed without a permit in a woodenware factory who struck
his hand against a machine, having part o f one finger amputated and
another finger lacerated by the knives o f the machine. Among the
temporarily disabled were 2 who were incapacitated for 13 weeks
and 1 who was incapacitated for 22 weeks, but a relatively large
proportion as compared with the entire group o f illegally employed
minors were disabled for less than 4 weeks. The average amount
o f compensation paid to the minors included in this group o f injuries
was the lowest o f all—$23.38 in primary compensation, as compared
with $136.08 in all cases o f injuries to illegally employed minors—
and only 3 received total compensation amounting to as much as $300.
One o f these was the boy mentioned above, who was permanently
disabled, total compensation amounting to $351.12. One other was

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a pin boy o f 16, illegally employed in a bowling alley, whose knee
was injured when struck by a pm, and the other was doing general
work in the lumbering industry when he was struck by a tree.
Falling objects.

Falling objects—the collapse of piles or chutes, objects falling from
conveyors, machines, and workbenches, buildings in course o f con­
struction, cave-ins, falling trees, etc.—caused the injuries of 33 boys.
Seven o f these were employed in prohibited occupations; 4 were
employed in or about quarries, 1 in a mine, 1 in the outside erection
or repair o f telephone wires, and 1 as a rewinderman in a paper
mill, an occupation not specifically prohibited but apparently re­
garded as prohibited under the general clause prohibiting minors
under 18 from working at employment dangerous to life and limb.
Fatalities resulted from two of the accidents in this group, and
permanent disability o f a serious nature from four. The average
primary compensation, therefore, was relatively high—$341.72 as
compared with $136.08 for all the injured minors. In 10 cases total
compensation o f $500 or more was payable; in 7, $1,000 or more; in
5, $3,000 or more; and in 2, between $5,000 and $10,000.
The circumstances o f the two fatal injuries were as follow s:
A boy of 16 employed by a sewer-construction company was killed by a
cave-in. He had no permit, having, according to the employer, stated that
he was 18 when he applied for work. The commission held that the boy was
employed illegally. The employer appealed the case, and it was finally carried
to the State supreme court, which sustained the commission’s contention that
a permit was required.
Compensation payable in this case amounted to
$1,400 payable by the insurance company and $1,400 payable by the employer,
a total of $2,800. (This case is discussed on p. 63.)
A boy of 16, employed without a permit as sawyer by a lumber company, was
killed when a tree limb fell on him, crushing his head. Compensation in this
case was fixed at $1,000 to be- paid by the insurance company and $2,000 by the
employer. (See footnote 85, p. 108.) The case was appealed to the circuit
court having jurisdiction by the employer on the ground that no compensation
could be awarded to the boy’s parents, as they had permitted him to work
without a permit when they knew his age. The court held, however, that
the parents had made no representations as to the boy’s age, that the employer
had not been influenced by the silence of the parents, and that the evidence
did not establish a charge of fraud on the part of the parents which would
relieve the employer from the payment of compensation.

The cases in which serious permanent disabilities resulted were as
follow s:
A boy of 16, who had stated he was 17 when applying for employment cutting
out roads, was hit by a falling tree the day after he began work. H is leg
was broken above the ankle and he was wholly incapacitated for 26 weeks
and partially for 9 additional weeks and suffered some permanent disability.
He was awarded $558.82 payable by the insurance company and $1,117.64
payable by the employer (see footnote 85, p. 108), a total of $1,676.46.
Another 16-year-old boy, a laborer in a cemetery, had his leg broken when
a stone slab fell on it. He had no permit, having represented himself as
19 when he was employed, 9 days before the accident. He was wholly incapac­
itated for 42 weeks and suffered 10 per cent loss of use of his foot at the ankle.
The compensation awarded was $825.13 to be paid by the insurance company
and $1,650.26 to be paid by the employer (see footnote 85, p. 108), a total of
$2,475.39.
Another boy of 16, employed without a permit as sawyer in a logging camp
of a lumber company, had his foot crushed by a tree. Part of the foot had to
be amputated, and the boy was disabled totally for 19 weeks and partially


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for 14 additional weeks. Compensation of $2,714.10 was awarded, payable by
the insurance company and by tbe employer,18 a total of $5,428.20.
A boy of 17, illegally employed as a miner, was struck by a fall of ore
from tbe side wall while cleaning up ore in a drift preparatory to putting
in lumber for a chute. He suffered a compound fracture o f the leg, and his
left arm was broken, lacerated, and contused. H e was totally disabled for
69 weeks and sustained a permanent partial disability equal to a 48 per cent
loss of use of his arm at the elbow and a 15 per cent loss of use of his leg
at the hip. The commission awarded treble compensation. The employer in­
stituted court proceedings for a review of the commission’s findings on the
ground that the boy had represented his age as over 18. After the institution
of court proceedings, the supreme court held in another case that misrepresen­
tation of age did not relieve an employer of liability for extra compensation.
The employer and the boy’s guardian agreed that the case should be settled by
the payment by the employer of $5,500 in addition to the compensation previ­
ously paid of $672.25.
The commission approved this settlement, and the
court proceedings were dismissed.

Electricity, explosions, and hot and corrosive substances.

Thirty-one injuries, twenty-four to boys and seven to girls, resulted
from electricity, explosions, and hot and corrosive substances. H ot
or molten metal caused about one-third o f these accidents; and open
flames or fire, hot water and steam or other hot liquid, and hot fat
or grease account for most o f the rest. Two were due to electric
currents. Five o f the boys and three o f the girls were in illegal
occupations. O f the boys 1 was employed in the outside erection
or repair o f electric wires (prohibited under 18 by law ), 1 in work
in or about docks (prohibited under 18 by law ), 1 on a job cylinder
or drill press (prohibited under 16 by law), 1 in employment danger­
ous to life or limb (prohibited under 16 by law ), and 1 in road
construction (prohibited under 17 by ruling). O f the girls 2 worked
in hotels or restaurants (prohibited for girls under 17 by ruling),
and 1 in packing matches (prohibited under 18 by la w ).
Burns and scalds occurred in 29 o f the 31 accidents. One accident
resulted in a fatality but none in permanent disability. The average
amount o f primary compensation payable was relatively low
($64.52) and in only one case— exclusive o f the fatal injury— did
compensation amount to more than $300. This case was that o f a
boy o f 16 employed without a permit in an iron foundry, whose foot
was severely burned by hot metal; compensation amounted to
$224.46 payable by the insurance company and $448.92 payable by
the employer. The boy who was killed, a 17-year-old youth, was
employed as electrician’s helper by a large manufacturing concern.
He was electrocuted whilfe working on the outside erection or repair
o f electric wires, prohibited for minors under 18. The compensa­
tion payable to his parents was fixed at $1,200 from the insurance
company and $2,400 from the employer, a total of $3,600.
Infections.

Infections were responsible for disabilities to 7 boys, all o f them
resulting in less than 4 weeks’ temporary disability, the total com­
pensation in no case exceeding $120. None o f the boys in this group
was employed in a prohibited occupation. The nature and cause of
these injuries were as follows:
Acute dermatitis from acid on cans (boy of 16 employed in cannery).
Oil pimples on lower arms from getting oil on arms while stacking stamp­
ings (boy of 16 employed in machinery shop).
14 This accident occurred after June 25, 1925, when double compensation was payable
for violation of the permit law.


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“ Poison eczema on a rm s” from dust (boy o f 16 employed unloading cement
by construction company).
Face and hands infected by poison oak or ivy (boy of 15 and boy o f 16
employed in field surveying by a consulting engineer). “ Infection covering
whole body ” caused by cement (boy of 15 employed as laborer handling cement
by road-construction company).
Hands poisoned from paint stain (boy of 16 employed in furniture factory
dipping table legs in stain).

Dragging and skidding.

Six boys employed in the logging industry were injured by skid­
ding or dragging logs. A ll were employed without permits but none
in a prohibited occupation, as all were 16, and work in lumbering and
logging operations is prohibited only for boys under that age. Frac­
tures occurred in 5 cases, a sprain in 1 case. Temporary disability o f
from 3 weeks to 25 weeks resulted in these cases. Total compensation
ranged from $134.40 to $689.40.


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WISCONSIN LAWS AND RULINGS RELATING TO THE PAYMENT OF
EXTRA COMPENSATION
[References are to Wisconsin statutes, 1929. No amendments to these provisions were
passed in 1930 or 1931]
EXCERPTS FROM WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ACT

Employee defined.
S ection 102.07. The term “ employee ” as used in sections 102.01 to 102.35
[the workmen’s compensation act], inclusive, shall be construed to m ean:
(4)
Every person in the service of another under any contract of hire,
express or implied, oral or written, including aliens, all helpers and assistants of
employees, whether paid by the employers or employee, if employed with the
knowledge, actual or constructive, o f the employer, and also including minors
(who shall have the same power of contracting as adult employees) but not
including farm laborers, domestic servants, and any person whose employment
is not in the course of a trade, business, profession, or occupation of his em­
ployer, unless such employer has elected to include such farm laborers, domestic
servants, or other employees under coverage of the act.

Increased compensation for minors illegally employed.
S ection 102.09. (7 ) W hen the injury is sustained by a minor illegally em­
ployed, compensation and death benefits, as provided in sections 102.03 to
102.35, shall be as follow s:
(a ) Double the amount otherwise recoverable, if the injured employee is
a minor of permit age, and at the time of the accident is employed, required,
suffered, or permitted to work without a written permit issued pursuant to
section 103.05, except as provided in paragraph (b ).
(b) Treble the amount otherwise recoverable, if the injured employee is a
minor of permit age and at the time of the accident is employed, required,
suffered, or permitted to work without a permit in any place of employment or
at any employment in or for which the industrial commission acting under
authority of section 103.05, has adopted a written resolution providing that
permits shall not be issued.
(c) Treble the amount otherwise recoverable, if the injured employee is a
minor o f permit age, or over, and at the time o f the accident is employed,
required, suffered, or permitted to work at prohibited employment.
(d ) Treble the amount otherwise recoverable, if the injured employee is a
minor under permit age and illegally employed.
(e) A permit unlawfully issued by an officer specified in section 103.05, or
unlawfully altered after issuance, without fraud on the part of the employer,
shall be deemed a permit within the provisions of this subsection.
(f) I f the amount recoverable under the above paragraphs of this sub­
section for temporary disability shall be less than the actual loss of wage
sustained by the minor employee, then liability shall exist for such loss of
wage.
(8 ) In case of liability for the increased compensation or increased death
benefits provided for by subdivision (h ) of subsection (5 ) o f this section, or
included in subsection (7 ) o f this section, the liability o f the employer shall
be primary and the liability of the insurance carrier shall be secondary. In
case proceedings are had before the commission for the recovery of such in­
creased compensation or increased death benefits the commission shall set
forth in its award the amount and order o f liability as herein provided. Exe­
cution shall not be issued against the insurance carrier to satisfy any judg­
ment covering such increased compensation or increased death benefits until
execution has first been issued against the employer and has been returned
[un] satisfied as to any part thereof. Any provision in any insurance policy
undertaking to guarantee primary liability or to avoid secondary liability for
such increased compensation or increased death benefits shall be void.

133


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EXCERPTS FROM CHILD LABOR L A W 1

Definitions.
S ection 103.05. 1. The terms “ place of employment,” “ employment,” “ em­
ployer,” “ employee,” “ frequenter,” “ deputy,” “ order,” “ local order,” “ gen­
eral order,” “ special order,” “ welfare,” “ safe,” and “ safety,” as used in sec­
tions 103.05 to 103.15, inclusive, shall be construed as defined in section 101.01
o f the statutes.

General provisions.
2. (a ) No employer shall employ or permit any minor or any female to work
in any place of employment or at any employment dangerous or prejudicial to
life, health, safety, or welfare of such minor or such female, or where the em­
ployment of such minor may be dangerous or prejudicial to the life, health,
safety, or welfare of other employees or frequenters.
(b) It shall be the duty of the industrial commission, and it shall have
power, jurisdiction, and authority to investigate, determine and fix reasonable
classifications of employments and places of employment, minors and females,
and to issue general or special orders prohibiting the employment of such
minors or females in any employment or place of employment dangerous or
prejudicial to the life, health, safety, or welfare of such minor or female, and
to carry out the purposes of sections 103.05 to 103.15, inclusive, of the statutes.
(c) The investigations, classifications, and orders provided for in paragraph
(b )
of this section and any action, proceeding, or suit to set aside, vacate, or
amend any such order of the commission, or enjoin the enforcement thereof,
shall be made pursuant to sections 101.01 to 101.28, inclusive, of the statutes,
and every order of the commission shall have the same force and effect as the
orders issued pursuant to sections 101.01 to 101.28, inclusive, of the statutes.
3. Until such time as the industrial commission shall investigate, determine,
and fix the classifications provided for in paragraph (b ) o f subsection 2 of this
section, the employments and places of employment designated in the following
schedule shall be deemed to be dangerous or prejudicial to the life, health,
safety, or welfare of minors or females under the ages specified:

Schedule of prohibited employments.®
[Schedule of employments or places of employment dangerous or prejudicial
to the life, health, safety, or welfare of minors, or children under the ages
specified, or to frequenters, or to females.]
(а) Minors under 21 years of age.— In cities of the first, second, and third
class, before 6 o’clock in the morning and after 8 o’clock in the evening of
any day, as messenger for a telegraph or messenger company in the distribu­
tion, transmission, or delivery of messages or goods.
(б ) Minors under 18 years of age.— (1) Blast furnaces; in or about.
(2 ) Boats and vessels engaged in the transportation of passengers or mer­
chandise; pilot; fireman; engineer.
(3 ) D ocks; in or about.
(4) D u sts; operating or using any emery, tripoli, rouge, corundum, stone
carborundum, an abrasive or emery polishing or buffing wheel, where articles
o f the baser materials, or of iridium, are manufactured [but apprentices inden­
tured under section 106.01 of the statutes may, under supervision, grind their
own tools on emery wheels if all general orders of the industrial commission
relating to such work are observed].®
(5 ) Electric w ires; on the outside erection and repair o f electric wires,
including telegraph and telephone wires.
(6 ) Elevators; in the running or management of any elevators, lifts or
hoisting machines [but apprentices indentured under section 106.01 of the
statutes may use hand hoists or pneumatic hoists in bringing material from
machinery at which they are employed as a part of their training under the
terms of their indenture].3
1 Dates when rulings were made are indicated in parentheses. No changes have been
made in these provisions of the child labor law since 1925. The footnotes are from the
pamphlet, Child Labor Law 1931, published by the Industrial Commission of Wisconsin.
9
A labor permit does not authorize the employment of the minor at the prohibited work.
It is unlawful to employ minors or to permit them to work in prohibited employment under
any and all circumstances.
3 The exceptions in items (4) and (6) relating to indentured apprentices are general or­
ders of the industrial commission which became effective Sept. 27, 1920. It should be
noted that these exceptions apply only to indentured apprentices and only while doing
work necessary to their training. Apprentices, also, may grind their own tools on emery
wheels only if they are guarded and if the apprentices have been furnished goggles.


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(7 ) Explosives; in or about establishments where nitroglycerine, dynamite,
dualin, guncotton, gunpowder, or other high or dangerous explosives are manu­
factured, compounded, or stored.
(8 ) M atches; in dipping, dyeing, or packing.
(9 ) Mine or quarry; in or about.
(10) Oiling or cleaning; in oiling or cleaning dangerous or hazardous machin­
ery in motion.
(11) Railroads, street railways, and interurban railroads; switch-tending,
gate-tending, or track repairing; as brakeman, fireman, engineer, motorman,
conductor, telegraph operator.
(12) W h arves; in or about.
(13) Fem ales; in the distribution or delivery of messages for any telegraph
or telephone company or other employer engaged in similar business.
(c)
Children under 16 years of age.— (1) Bakeries; dough brakes or cracker
machinery of any description.
(2 ) B elts; adjusting belts (in motion) ; sewing belts (in any capacity).
(3) Boilers; operating any steam boiler or steam-generating apparatus.
(4 ) Bowling alleys; as pin boys.4
(5) Building trades; on scaffolding, or on a ladder, or in heavy work.
(6) Burnishing machines in any tannery or leather manufacturing.
(7) Corrugating rolls in roofing or washboard factories.
(8) D u sts; occupations causing dust in injurious quantities.
(9 ) Emery or polishing wheel for polishing metal.
(10) Immoral purposes; manufacture o f goods for.
(11) Iron and steel, wire or iron straightening machinery, punchers or
shears.
(12) Laundry machinery.
(13) Liquors; in or about any store, brewery, distillery, bottling establish­
ment, hotel barroom, saloon, saloon dining room or restaurant, any place in
connection with a saloon or a similar place o f any name, or in or about any
dance hall, bowling alley, pool room, beer garden, or similar place of any
name, in which strong, spirituous or malt liquors are made, bottled, sold, or
given away.
(14) Machinery; oiling or assisting in oiling, wiping, or cleaning any ma­
chinery in motion.
Operating or assisting in operating or taking material from any circular or
bandsaw, or any crosscut saw or slasher, or other cutting or pressing machine
from which material is taken from behind.
(15) Paints and poisons; manufacture of paints, colors, or white lead ;
manufacture o f any composition in which dangerous or poisonous acids are
used ; manufacture or preparation of compositions of dangerous or poisonous
dyes ; manufacture or preparation of compositions with dangerous or poisonous
gases; manufacture or preparation of compositions of lye or in which the
quantity thereof is injurious to health.
(16) Presses; cylinder or job, boring or drill.
(17) Rubber; washing, grinding, or mixing m ill or calender rolls in rubber
manufacturing.
(18) Stamping machines; in sheet-metal and tinware m anufacturing; in.
washer and nut factory ; in lace-paper and leather manufacturing.
(19) Theater or concert hall.
(20) Tobacco; in any tobacco warehouse, cigar or other factory where
tobacco is manufactured or prepared.
(21) Woodworking; wood shaper, wood jointer, planer, sandpaper, woodpolishing. or wood-turning machine.
(22) Wool, cotton, hair, upholstering; carding machine, or machine used! in
picking wool, cotton, hair, or any upholstering material.
(23) Any other employment dangerous to life or limb, injurious to the
health, or depraving to the morals.8
4 No permits are granted for the employment of any minors under 17 in bowling alley»
and in places where liquors are made, sold, or served.
8 Item (23) in the list of employments prohibited to children under 16 (the so-called
blanket provision) recognizes the fact that there are hazardous employments not specifi­
cally named in the first 22 items in the list at which it is unlawful to employ or permit a
child under 16 to work, and places upon the employer the responsibility of seeing to it that
no child under 16 is employed or permitted to work at the hazardous employment even
though the particular employment in question is not named in the list. Reften v. Stearns
Lumber Co. (166 Wis. 605) ; Pinoza v. Northern Chair Co. (152 Wis. 473). A labor permit
does not authorize the employment of a child under 16 in any hazardous employment,
although this employment is not specifically mentioned in the preceding 22 items.


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(d)
Females.— (1 ) Any female under 17 years of age in any capacity where
such employment compels her to remain standing constantly. (2 ) Any female
in or about any mine or quarry. (3 ) No female under the age o f 21 years shall
be employed as a bell hop in any hotel.

Permits.
Children between 14 and 17 years of age.9— 4. (a ) No child between the ages
of 14 and 17 years unless indentured as an apprentice, as provided in section
106.01 of the statutes, shall be employed, or permitted to work at any time in
any factory, workshop, store, hotel, restaurant, bakery, mercantile establish­
ment, laundry, telegraph, telephone, or public messenger service, or the delivery
of any merchandise, or at any gainful occupation, or employment, directly or
indirectly, or, in cities wherein a vocational school is maintained, in domestic
service other than casual employment in such service, unless there is first
obtained from the industrial commission, or from a judge of a county, municipal,
or juvenile court designated by the industrial commission where such child
resides, or from some other person designated by the industrial commission,7 a
written permit authorizing the employment of such child in such employment
within such time or times as the said industrial commission or a judge or other
person designated by said commission may fix ; providing that such times shall
not conflict with those designated in subsection 8 of this section.
Employment between 12 and 14 years of age.9— (b) No child under the age
of 14 years shall be employed, or permitted to work at any gainful occupation
or employment, except that during the vacation8 of the public or equivalent
school in the town, village, or city where any child between the ages of 12
and 14 years resides, it may be employed in any store [not in any drug store
nor in the delivery of merchandise], office [not a factory or printing office],
mercantile establishment, warehouse [not a factory or tobacco warehouse], tele­
graph, telephone, or public messenger service, in the town, village, or city where
it resides and not elsewhere; provided that it shall have first obtained a permit
in the same manner and under the same conditions as prescribed in paragraph
(a ) of subsection 4 of this section. For such vacation permit no proof of educa­
tional qualifications shall be necessary. This paragraph shall not be construed
to authorize the employment of any child under 14 years of age in the delivery
of merchandise.
Exemption.— 4a. Except for employment in domestic service as provided in
subsection 4 of this section, which employment involves the attendance of the
6 For provisions relative to employment of children between 12 and 14, see par. (b) o f
this subsection. The employer must have on file the labor permit here required before he
permits the child to do any work. The permit must be kept on file by the employer during
the entire employment of the child. The permit must specifically authorize the employer
for whom the child is working, to employ the child. A permit authorizing some other
employer to employ the child is not sufficient. The employer is charged with the duty of
ascertaining, at his peril, the age of a minor whom he employs and of employing persons
of lawful age only. Misrepresentation by the minor or his parent regarding the age o f
the minor, is no defense for the employer. Peter Stetz v. F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co. (163
Wis., 151). Arthur Gaudette v. Faust Lumber Co. (179 N. W. 576). Before employing
any minor who claims to be over 17, the employer should require the minor to file with
him a documentary proof of his age, such as a certified copy o f the birth or baptismal
record. The employer should make sure that the record presented is the record of the
applicant, and that it has been issued by proper authority and that it has not been
changed or tampered with. If the employer allows himself to be deceived or misled in
any way regarding the age of the minor he employs, with the result that he violates the
law, the employer is not protected. Subsection 6a of this section (p. 138) provides a
method of determining by court procedure the age of any applicant for employment who
claims to be more than 17 years o f age and that he or she is unable to furnish any
documentary proof o f the date of birth.
7 The industrial commission has designated persons to act as permit officers in the va­
rious parts o f the State. There are one or more such permit officers in every county.
The name o f the permit officer for any community can usually be obtained from the
school superintendent or principal, and can always be secured by writing to the industrial
commission, Madison. These permit officers are without compensation. The industrial
commission has no appropriation to pay for their services. The attorney general also has
held that the statutes of Wisconsin prohibit any charge to the child or to the employer
for issuing permits. (Opinions of Attorney General.)
8 It is unlawful to employ children under 12 years of age at any time. A child between
12 and 14 may be employed during the vacations of school provided the employer has on
file a labor permit authorizing such employment and also provided the employment is
limited to the places named in this paragraph, namely, any store, office, mercantile estab­
lishment, warehouse, telegraph, telephone, or public messenger service.
9 The word “ vacation ” in this law has its usual meaning, as referring to summer and
holiday vacation, and does not include time before and after school and Saturdays during
school terms. No labor permit can be issued to a child under 14 years of age to work
during the school term.


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child at vocational school, the permit provided for in said subsection shall not
be required during school vacations for employment of children of the ages
therein specified in any work usual to the home of the employer, provided that
such employment shall not be in connection with nor form a part of the busi­
ness, trade, profession or occupation of the employer, and provided further that
such employment shall not be specifically prohibited by any provision of this
section nor by any order o f the industrial commission issued under its authority.
Children between 14 and 17 years of age may be likewise employed in any work
usual to the home of the employer without permits during school terms but
not during the daily period of the school session if such children are in actual,
regular, and full-time attendance as provided by law at any public, private, or
parochial school and maintain in such school a passing grade in all studies
pursued by them. This subsection shall not authorize the employment of a child
who is at the time guilty of truancy or deficiency in his studies.10

Requirements for labor permits.
5. The permit provided for in subsection 4 of this section shall contain the
signature o f the vocational school director where the child is to attend and
state the name, the date, and place of birth of the child, the color of hair and
eyes, the height and weight and any distinguishing facial marks of such child,
and that the following evidence, records, and papers have been duly examined,
approved, and filed.
P roof o f age.— (a ) Such evidence as is required by the industrial commission
showing the age o f the child. The industrial commission shall formulate and
publish rules and regulations governing the proof of age o f minors who apply
for labor permits, and such rules and regulations shall be binding upon all
persons authorized by law to issue such permits.
Educational attainments.— (b) A certificate o f the superintendent of schools
or the principal o f the school last attended by the child, or in the absence of
both of the aforementioned persons a certificate of the clerk of the school board,
showing that such child is more than 14 years of age, and stating also the
date of the birth of such child, and the number o f years such child has attended
school. Such certificate shall contain the further statement that such child
has passed successfully the eighth grade in the public school, or in some school
having a substantially equivalent course, or that it has attended school for at
least nine years. Attendance at kindergarten shall not be counted as a part
of the nine years of school attendance. It shall be the duty of such superin­
tendent, principal, or clerk to issue such certificate upon receipt of any applica­
tion in behalf of any child entitled thereto.
Statement of employment.— (c) A letter written on the regular letterhead or
other business paper used by the person who desires to employ the child,
stating the intention o f such person to employ such child and signed by such
person or some one duly authorized by him.

Duplicate permits.
6. (a ) The permits provided for in subsection 4 of this section shall be issued
upon blanks furnished by the industrial commission and shall be made out in
duplicate. One o f such duplicates shall be forthwith returned to the industrial
commission, together with a detailed statement of the character and substance
o f the evidence offered prior to the issuance o f such permit. Such statement
shall be made upon blanks furnished by the industrial commission.

Revocation of permits.
(b)
Whenever it shall appear to the industrial commission that any permit
has been improperly or illegally issued, or that the physical or moral welfare
10
This subsection was enacted during the 1921 session of the legislature. Under this
provision o f the law, children from 12 to 17 years of age may be employed during school
vacations, without labor permits, shoveling sidewalks, throwing in wood, carrying out
ashes, and the like, in and about the home of the employer. It does not authorize the
employment o f such children without permits at any place other than the home of the
employer at any time or under any circumstances. For example, if the child is allowed
to carry out ashes at the home of the employer in the morning and is then employed to
carry out ashes at his store or factory in the afternoon, the law is violated in the afternoon employment. In the words o f the law, the employment of children under 17 without permits must be strictly limited to work usual to the home of the employer. Children
between 14 and 17 years may be employed without permits outside of school hours during
school terms at work indicated above, on condition that they are not guilty of truancy or
deficiency in their studies. It is unlawful to employ children under 14 to do such work
at any time during school terms.


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THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D

M IN O R

of the child would be best served by the revocation of the permit, the said
commission may forthwith, without notice, revoke the same, and shall by
registered mail notify the person employing such child and the child holding
such permit of such revocation. Upon receipt of such notice, the employer
employing such child shall forthwith return the revoked permit to the industrial
commission and discontinue the employment of the child.

Refusal of permits.
(c)
The industrial commission or other person designated under the provi­
sions of subdivision (a ) of subsection 4 of this section, may refuse to grant
permits in the case of children who may seem physically unable to perform the
labor at which they are to be employed.” They may also refuse to grant a
permit if, in their judgment, the best interests of the child would be served by
such refusal.

Exemption of agricultural pursuits.
(d)
shall be
pursuits,
provided

Nothing contained in sections 103.05 to 103.15, inclusive, of the statutes,
construed to forbid any child from being employed in agricultural
nor to require a permit to be obtained for such child, except as
in section 103.055 of the statutes.

Court procedure to establish age.u
(6a) (a ) In case any applicant for employment claims to be more than 17
years of age, and that he or she is unable to furnish documentary proof of
his or her date of birth, the county court of the county wherein such applicant
resides may, by judgment, establish the age and the date and place of birth
of such person.
(b) Proceedings for such purpose shall be had only upon the verified peti­
tion of the applicant, setting forth his full name, his residence during the
five years next preceding the filing of the petition, the date and the place of
his birth, the full names of his parents and the residence of each, the period
of time spent in school and the grade he or she has completed.
(c) A notice stating therein the general nature of the application and the
time and place of the hearing, shall be published at least once in some news­
paper published in the county, to be designated by the court, such publication
to be made at least ten days prior to the date fixed for the hearing. Proof
of publication shall be made by affidavit of the publisher.
(d ) A t the hearing o f the petition, testimony shall be taken as to all
matters contained therein and the same shall be preserved and filed in the
proceeding. I f it shall satisfactorily appear that the applicant is unable
to establish his age by a birth certificate filed or recorded, as required by
law, in the State or country of his birth, or by a verified baptismal certificate
issued under the seal of the church in which the applicant was baptized,
showing that the applicant was baptized at least five years prior to the filing
o f the petition, and the court shall be satisfied as to the age of the applicant
and the date and place of his birth, it shall determine the same and make
findings accordingly.
ii
in Milwaukee, where child-labor permits are issued directly by the industrial com­
mission, children applying for regular permits must furnish a detailed statement, based
upon a physical examination showing the condition o f their health, signed by a physician
o f the city health department or any other competent physician of general practice, lh e
commission does not issue any permit until it is satisfied that the child is physically fit
for employment. Where the child has only slight defects, however—-such as, for instance,
bad teeth— a temporary permit is issued allowing the child to work and earn the money
necessary to have these conditions corrected. When the time allowed has expired, the
child is called in and another physical examination had and a regular permit is then
issued only if the defects have been corrected. This device of temporary permits has
proven an effective method for securing the correction of minor physical defects that
often are of long standing, and which might prove serious if neglected.
Judges and other persons designated as permit deputies in smaller cities are urged to
satisfy themselves that the child who applies for a permit is physically fit for the
employment. To this end they may, in their discretion, require proof of physical fitness
“ This section is a new law enacted in 1921 (ch. 185). Its purpose is to make it
possible for employers to protect themselves in the few cases in which minors who claim
to be over 17 years of age can not furnish satisfactory documentary proofs of their ages.
In such rare cases the age of the minor can be established through proceedings in court,
as here outlined. The findings of the court are conclusive. Usually minors who claim to
be over permit age can present documentary proof, and should not be employed without
being required to do so. Where all documentary proof is lacking, the employer should
insist that the minor establish his age through court procedure.


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(e)
A
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certified copy of such findings shall be conclusive evidence of the
applicant in any proceedings under any of the labor laws and
compensation laws of this State, as to any act or thing occurring
to the date of the judgment.

Certificates of age.
(6b) The industrial commission shall have the power to issue certificates
of age o f minors under such rules and regulations as it deems necessary. ^The
industrial commission shall also have the power to designate persons to issue
such certificates of age. Such a certificate as issued shall be conclusive
evidence of the age of the minor to whom it was issued, in any proceeding
under any of the labor laws and workmen’s compensation act of this State,
as to any act or thing occurring subsequent to the date such certificate was
issued.
.
„ ,
(6c) Any person who knowingly offers or assists in offering false evidence
of age for the purpose of obtaining an age certificate or who alters, forges,
fraudulently obtains, uses, or refuses to surrender upon demand o f the
industrial commission a certificate of age shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not to
exceed three months.
..
, „
(6d) The industrial commission shall have the power and authority to nx
and collect a fee not exceeding 25 centj for the issuance of each certificate
of age under the provisions of this section.

Duties of employer of minors.
(7 ) Every employer employing or permitting a minor to work as provided in
this section sh a ll:

Filing of permit in place of employment.
(a ) Receive and file the permit before the minor is permitted to do any
work and shall keep the same on file during the entire period of the employment
of the minor and subject at all times to the inspection of the industrial
commission or any truant officer.

Posting of list of children employed.
(b) Post in a conspicuous place in each of the several departments in or for
which minors under 16 years o f age are employed a list on a printed form
furnished by the industrial commission stating the names, ages, and hours
required of each child during each day of the week, the hours of commencing
and stopping work, and the hours when the time or times allowed for dinner
or other meals begin and end.

Return of permit.
(c) Upon the termination of employment o f any minor, return within 24
hours the permit for employment of such minor to the person and place desig­
nated by the industrial commission, with a statement of reasons for the
termination of said employment. Any employer who fails to return the permit
of any minor as provided in this paragraph, shall be liable in action to such
minor for $2 for each day during which such failure continues.

Permits for public exhibition.13
S ection 103.12. 1. No child under 16 years of age shall be employed, or per­
mitted to sing, play, or perform in any circus, theatrical, or musical exhibi­
tion, concert, or festival, or in any public place, unless there is first obtained
from the industrial commission, county judge, municipal judge, or the judge
of a juvenile court where the child resides, if such child is a resident of this
State, and from a county judge, municipal judge, or judge of a juvenile court
of this State if such child is not a resident of this State, a written permit
authorizing the appearance of such child at such places, at such times as the
said industrial commission, county judge, municipal judge, or judge of a
juvenile court may fix : Provided, That it appears to the satisfaction of such
industrial commission, county judge, municipal judge, or judge of a juvenile
court, that the appearance of such child shall not be^ detrimental to its morals,
health safety, welfare, or opportunities for education equivalent to those of
the common schools: Provided olso, That a child under 14 years of age shall
13 In Milwaukee all theatrical permits are issued by the judge of the juvenile court.
125014— 32------- 10


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

be accompanied by a parent or guardian, approved by the said industrial com­
mission, county judge, municipal judge, or judge of a juvenile court.

Home-talent exhibitions.
2.
The provisions of this section shall not prevent the education of children
in music nor their employment as musicians or participants in a church, chapel,
or school exhibition, nor in any home-talent exhibition given by the people of
the local community, nor shall permits of any kind be required for such
activities.

Industrialized agriculture.
S ection 103.055. It shall be the duty of the industrial commission and it shall
have power, jurisdiction, and authority to investigate, determine, and fix, by
general or special orders, reasonable regulations relative to the employment
of children under 16 years of age in cherry orchards, market gardening, garden­
ing conducted or controlled by canning companies, and the culture o f sugar
beets and cranberries, for the purpose of protecting the life, health, safety, and
welfare of such children. Such investigations and orders and any action, pro­
ceeding or suit to set aside, vacate, or amend any such order of said commission
or enjoin the enforcement thereof, shall be made pursuant to the proceeding
in sections 101.01 to 101.28, which are hereby made a part hereof so far as not
inconsistent with the provisions o f this section, and every order of the said
commission shall have the same force and effect as the orders issued pursuant
to said sections 101.01 to 101.28.

Inspection.
S ection 103.13. (1 ) The industrial commission and truant officers shall visit
and inspect at all reasonable times, and as often as possible, all places covered
by sections 103.05 to 103.13, inclusive, o f the statutes.
(2 ) Any person, being the owner or lessee of any opera house, theater, or
moving-picture house, or any similar place of any name, or having in whole or
in part, the management or control thereof, shall be responsible for any viola­
tion o f sections 103.05 to 103.13, inclusive, o f the statutes, on the premises o f
such opera house or similar place of any name.
(3 ) The failure of any employer to produce for inspection to the industrial
commission, or truant officers, the permit provided for in subsection 4 of sec­
tion 103.05 shall be prima facie evidence of unlawful employment of the minor.
The presence of any minor in any factory, workshop, or other place of employ­
ment, shall be prima facie evidence of the employment o f such minor. The
presence o f any child under 16 years of age in any factory, workshop, or other
place of employment at any time other than that named on the posted hours
of labor, as provided in subsection 7 o f section 103.05, shall be prima facie
evidence of the unlawful employment of such child.

Penalties for violations.14
S ection 103.15. (a ) Any employer who shall employ, or permit any minor or
any female to work in any employment in violation of any of the provisions
of sections 103.05 to 103.15, inclusive, of the statutes or o f any order of the
industrial commission issued under the provisions of said sections, or shall
hinder or delay the industrial commission or truant officers in the performance
o f their duties, or refuse to admit or lock out any such officer from any place
required to be inspected under the provisions of sections 103.05 to 103.15, in­
clusive, of the statutes, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each
offense, or imprisoned in the county ja il not longer than 30 days. Every day
during which such violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct
offense.
(b ) The penalties specified in paragraph (a ) of this section may be recovered
by the State against any employer in an action for debt brought before any
court o f competent jurisdiction.
u Violation o f the child labor law is a misdemeanor— a criminal offense— punishable by
fine or imprisonment. At the option of the State, the money penalties may he recovered
in a civil action. For example, if a child is employed in violation of the law for 10 days,
the State may sue the employer for $1,000 in penalties— $100 for each day that the
violation continued. I f more than one child is involved, the amount may be increased in
proportion to the number of children.


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Parents’ liability.
(c) Any parent or guardian who suffers or permits a child to be employed
or to work in violation of any of the provisions of sections 103.05 to 103.15,
inclusive, of the statutes, or of any order o f the industrial commission issued
under the provisions of said sections, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than five nor more than twentyfive dollars for each offense, or imprisoned in the county jail not longer than
30 days.

Proof of age in court.
(2 ) Whenever in any proceeding in any court under any of the provisions
of sections 103.05 to 103.15, inclusive, of the statutes, or of any order of the
industrial commission issued under the provisions of said sections, there is any
doubt as to the age of the child, a verified baptismal certificate or duly attested
birth certificate shall be produced and filed with the court. In case such
certificate can not be secured, upon proof of such fact the record of age stated
in the first school enrollment of such child shall be admissible as evidence
thereof.
RULINGS OF INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

In addition to the restrictions placed by statute upon the issuance o f labor
permits, the following restrictions are made by resolution of the industrial
commission: Labor permits may not be issued in the following cases:
I. All minors under 17 years of age to work i n :
1. Bowling alleys— Mar. 11, 1918.
2. Pool rooms— Mar. 11, 1918.
3. Billiard halls— Mar. 11, 1918.
4. Dance halls— Aug. 25, 1922.
5. Dance pavilions— Aug. 25, 1922.
6. Street carnivals or other traveling shows— Aug. 25, 1922.
7. Any place of employment where an active strike or lockout of the
employees is in progress— Aug. 11,1919.
8. Street messenger service for employers operating outside the pro­
visions of the compensation act— June 11, 1921.
9. Road construction— May 16, 1922.
10. Threshing crews— July 12, 1923.
11. W ork given out by factories to be done in homes— Aug. 31, 1920.
12. Mixed cam ps; i. e., camps where males and females are accommo­
dated in the same camp, whether as employees or as guests. (Regu­
lation made after date of study.)
13. On the Great Lakes. (Regulation made after date of study.)
14. Any occupation in or about any woodsawing rig or portable sawmill.
(Regulation made after date o f study.)
II. Girls under 17 years of age to work i n :
1. Any hotel— Mar. 11, 1918.
2. Any restaurant, Mar. 11, 1918.
3. Any club house— 1920.
4. Any boarding or rooming house including boarding and rooming
houses conducted by industrial plants for their own employees—
Mar. 11, 1918, as amended June 29, 1920, and Oct. 19, 1920.
I II. All minors under 16 years o f age to work in :
1. Any drug store which has a Government license to fill physician’s
prescriptions for strong, spirituous, or malt liquors— Mar. 11, 1918.
2. Any fair held by any organized agricultural society, association or
board.
3. On inland waters o f the State. (Regulation made after date of study.)
IY . Boys under 16 years of age to work i n :
1. Hotels (permits may not be issued to girls under 17 to work in
hotels, see No. II, 1 ) — Mar. 11, 1918.
2. Lumbering and logging operations (permits may not be issued to
girls under 17 to work in lumber camps, see No. II, 4 ) — Mar. 3,
1919.
V. A ll minors under 14 years of age to work i n :
1. Any drug store— Mar. 11, 1918.


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INDIANA
INTRODUCTION

This study of the Indiana workmen’s compensation law and the
illegally employed minor was made to ascertain what attempts, if
any, minors injured while illegally employed have made to obtain
redress through the courts in a State in which they are not included
under the provisions o f the workmen’s compensation act, what their
success has been in these attempts, and what has happened in the
cases o f those who failed to seek court aid. Another objective in
the study was to obtain information regarding the nature and causes
of the injuries incurred by this group o f minors and the industrial,
economic, and social consequences of these injuries. In addition to
the fact that Indiana excludes minors illegally employed from the
workmen’s compensation law this State was chosen for study because
the records and the office procedure used in following up reports o f
accidents to minors made it possible to segregate the cases of those
injured in illegal employment over a number of years. Furthermore,
for part o f the period covered by the study illegally employed minors
were included under the workmen’s compensation act, and, in certain
cases, were eligible for double compensation. A study in Indiana,
therefore, offered the possibility of comparing the results of these
two methods of compensating such minors.
Analysis was made o f the records o f the Industrial Board of
Indiana, which administers the workmen’s compensation act, cover­
ing a period of four and one-half years. These records include all
cases of accidents to minors regarded as illegally employed by the
bureau o f women and children o f the Industrial Board o f Indiana
which were reported between October 1, 1924 (records o f accidents
prior to this date had been destroyed)1 and March 31, 1929, the
date on which the copying of the records began. The names and
ages o f minors injured while illegally employed and the type of
legal provision violated were obtained from the records of the bureau
o f women and children to which all injuries reported are referred
for examination and by which those reported as occurring to
minors under 20 and to persons of unspecified age are investigated
as to accuracy o f age reported. (See p. 146.) Other information
relative to each case was then obtained from the compensation
department o f the board where the original and supplemental reports
relating to injuries, compensation agreements, receipts, and general
correspondence relating to all industrial accidents are filed (see p.
146). As many o f the records were not complete, information on one
or another item was lacking for a considerable proportion of the
minors included in the study.
1 The hoard is permitted in its discretion to destroy “ all papers which have been on
file for more than 2 years, when there is no claim for compensation pending, or, when
compensation has been awarded * * *, and more than 1 year has elapsed since the
termination of the compensation period * *
Laws of 1919, ch. 57. The same
provision is found in the 1929 act (ch. 172, sec. 56).


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The study also included interviews with 113 o f the 822 injured
minors found to have been illegally employed, or with their parents
in a few cases in which the minors had died or could not be located.
This 113 included all (so far as they could be located) whose acci­
dents were known or believed to have been fatal or serious enough
to cause permanent disability or temporary disability o f at least 28
days. Visits were made not only to those who were known definitely
from the records o f the industrial board to have received serious
injuries but to all whose injuries, as reported by employers, ap­
peared to be serious, even though the extent and duration of dis­
ability was not specified in the records. A few (20) who were
disabled for a shorter period were also visited in order to learn if
the treatment they had received differed from that received by the
more seriously injured.’
The reported court decisions relating to the status of minors
illegally employed under the compensation act were also studied, and
records o f cases pending in, or finally disposed o f by, the lower
courts were read in the few instances in which information was
obtained as to such cases in the course of the study.
THE INDIANA WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAW AND THE
INJURED MINOR

The first workmen’s compensation act of Indiana was enacted in
1915.8 In its original form it provided for weekly compensation
equal to 55 per cent o f the average weekly wage o f the injured
workman, payable for the period of disability but not to exceed 500
weeks (exclusive o f a 14-day waiting period) in the case of temporary
total disability, and payable for a specified number of weeks de­
pending upon the degree o f impairment in the case o f permanent
injuries. The minimum weekly wage upon which compensation was
to be computed was $10 and the maximum $24. The total compensa­
tion payable was limited to $5,000. Although no limitation was
placed on the maximum cost o f medical aid expended, it was required
to be furnished only for a period o f 30 days. Minors illegally em­
ployed, though not specifically excluded from the application of the
act, were barred by judicial interpretation.4 In 1919, the waiting
period was reduced to 7 days, and medical aid was required to be
furnished for an additional period o f 30 days in special cases in the
discretion o f the industrial board.6 In this same year the act was
specifically limited in its application to minors lawfully in the service
o f another, thus by implication excluding minors illegally employed.8
1 Twenty-seven minors, apparently illegally employed, who were injured when illegally
employed minors were not covered by the workmen’s compensation act for whom (for some
reason not revealed in the records) agreements for compensation had been approved by
the board were not interviewed, as by the adoption of this procedure they had been dealt
with as though they had been legally employed.
* Ind., Laws of 1915, ch. 106.
, „
_
* New Albany Box & Basket Co. v. Davidson, 125 N. E. 904 (1920) ; Mid-West Box Co. v.
Hazzard, 146 N. E. 420 (1925).
®Ind., Laws of 1919, ch. 57.
«Ind., Laws of 1919, ch. 57. For cases arising under the 1919 amendment holding
illegally employed minors excluded, see In re Stoner, 128 N. E. 938 (1920) ; Indiana
Manufacturers’ Reciprocal Association et al. v. Dolby, 133 N. E. 171 (1921) ; In re
Morton, 137 N. E. 62 (1922) ; Driscoll v. Weidely Motors Co. 133 N. E. 12 (1921) ;
Raggi v. H. G. Christman Co.. 151 N. E. 833 (1926).


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

In March, 1923, an amendment was passed which provided that all
persons 14 years o f age or over should be included in the jurisdiction
of the act, whether legally employed or otherwise, and that double
compensation should be paid in the case o f all minors between the
ages o f 14 and 16 years whose employment was in any way illegal
and in the case o f those between the ages o f 16 and 18 who were em­
ployed in prohibited occupations. The insurance company was
made liable on its policy for half the compensation or death benefits;
the other half was to be paid wholly by the employer.7 The indus­
trial board, under the provision o f the act giving it authority on
its own motion to “ certify questions of law ” to the appellate court
for determination,8 referred the question o f the constitutionality of
this amendment to the appellate court for the court’s opinion, and in
May, 1923, about three weeks after the amendment went into effect,
the court advised the board that the amendment was unconstitutional,
as the legislature had failed to set forth and publish all that portion
o f the act as amended by it as required by the State constitution.9
Notwithstanding the fact that authority to decide the constitution­
ality of a statute is vested in the State supreme court and not in the
appellate court,10 administration o f the amendment was suspended
until December 1, 1924, at which time the board determined to en­
force it, apparently on the ground that the opinion rendered by the
appellate court was advisory only and therefore not binding. The
amendment was enforced from that date until February 1, 1926, a
period of 14 months, when the industrial board again discontinued
its administration, this time apparently because the appellate court
had reversed the board’s action in granting compensation in a case
involving an illegally employed minor,11 citing as its authority the
advisory opinion rendered in 1923. Thereafter it was not enforced,
and in the spring o f 1929 the act o f which it was a part was re­
pealed by the legislature and a new workmen’s compensation act
passed, which is in effect at the present time.12 The provisions of
the 1929 act are practically the same as those of the old act o f 1915
as amended in 1919 except that an increase in the minimum weekly
wage base from $10 to $16 and in the maximum from $24 to $30 made
in 1927 was retained.13
The present law is compulsory as to the State and its political
subdivisions and as to private employers engaged in mining and
their employees. It is elective as to all other private employments
7 Ind. Laws o f 1923, ch. 76, effective April 30, 1923.
8 Ind., Laws o f 1915, ch. 106, sec. 61.
8 In re Industrial Board, 139 N. E. 387 (May, 1923). Sec. 21, Art. 4, of the State
constitution which was violated is as follow s: “ No act shall ever he revised or amended
by mere reference to its title ; but the act revised, or section amended, shall be set forth
and published at full length.”
10 Ind., Burns’ Ann. Stat., 1926, sec. 1356.
11 Warren Beattie et al. v. Lester Dean Kimble, 15'0 N. E. 926 (Jan. 27, 1926). See
also Aurora Brick Co. v. Baldry, 151 N. E. 923, decided in March, 1926, in which the
court again reversed the board on authority of its advisory opinion and ordered the board
to dismiss the case.
12 Ind., Laws of 1929, ch. 172, effective May 21, 1929. After the repeal of the act
containing the double-compensation provision, the appellate court, in October, 1929, in
Evans et al v. Watt, 168 N. E. 38, instructed the industrial board to pass on a case
involving the death o f an illegally employed minor on the ground that the double-com­
pensation amendment had never been declared unconstitutional by the State supreme
court and the board therefore had to assume that it was constitutional. The court pointed
out that neither the industrial board nor the appellate court had authority to determine
the constitutionality of a statute, the industrial board being an administrative body and
the appellate court’s authority in this respect being limited to the giving of an advisory
opinion, “ when required so to do by a certified question from the industrial board.”
18 Ind., Laws o f 1927, ch. 34.


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except farm labor, domestic service, casual employment, and em­
ployment in railroad train service, the act applying in the absence
o f rejection by the employer or the employee. An employer who
rejects the act is deprived o f the usual common-law defenses if he
is sued by an injured employee. Farm laborers, domestic serv­
ants, and casual employees may be brought under the act by the
voluntary election o f the employer. Settlement for compensable
injuries is made through voluntary agreements between the injured
workman and the employer or insurer, subject to the approval of the
industrial board or, in case o f dispute, by award o f the industrial
board, following a hearing given at the request o f either party. An
award made by the entire board is final as to questions o f fact, but
questions o f law may be appealed to the appellate court. In fatal
cases the employer is liable for burial expenses (not exceeding $100)
and also for death benefits if the employee leaves dependents, total
dependents being entitled to an amount equal to 55 per cent of the
employee’s average weekly wage for not exceeding 300 weeks and
partial dependents to a proportionate amount. These benefits are
subject to the same limitations on maximum total amount and maxi­
mum weekly payment as apply to compensation payments.
The act contains several provisions relating specifically to the
minor employees subject to its jurisdiction. It is made to apply to
minors lawfully employed in the absence o f rejection o f the act.
Minors illegally employed have the same status that they had under
the original law as amended in 1919; that is, they are excluded by
implication from the benefits o f the act. The law does not give a
minor the legal capacity to bind himself absolutely by his own acts
in all proceedings arising under the compensation law (as is done
in some States) but expressly requires that the minor must in cer­
tain instances act through his guardian or parent. For example,
notice to reject the act must be given by or to the minor’s parent or
guardian. The failure of a minor to make claim for compensation
within two years after the injury, the time given in the act, does
not bar his right to compensation provided he had no guardian, as
no limitation of time provided in the act is operative in the case o f
a minor without a guardian. Compensation payments due a minor
under 18 may be made directly to the minor provided the amount
does not exceed $100 and the board does not order otherwise; but
if the payment due exceeds this sum, the act requires payment to a
trustee appointed by the circuit or superior court or to a duly quali­
fied guardian, or to a parent upon order o f the industrial board. In
practice, when the employee is under 18, the board accepts the receipt
o f a parent, this being authorized on the form prescribed by the
board. Payments due minors 18 or over may be made directly to
such minors. I f a minor sustains permanent injuries the board may
at any time require that his unpaid compensation be commuted to
a lump sum and may require the payment to be paid to a trustee
appointed by the circuit or superior court to administer it for the
benefit o f the minor.
Although an injured minor who is found to be illegally employed
is now denied the benefits provided by the Indiana workmen’s com­
pensation law, such a minor, provided he sues his employer, is given
certain advantages under a section in the State child labor law.
This section apparently intends to make certain in such a case the

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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

employer’s liability for damages for personal injuries occurring to a
minor if he was employed contrary to the age, hour, and certificate
requirements of the child labor law. The employer’s common-law
defenses are specifically denied to him, he not being permitted to
avoid his liability for the minor’s injuries “ upon the ground that
such a minor had assumed any risk of employment, or that the
injury was due to the negligence of a fellow servant or to the con­
tributory negligence of such a minor.” It is further provided that
proof o f the fact o f the minor’s illegal employment and his injury
therein shall be sufficient to establish the employer’s liability. Under
this provision, after proof is made o f the minor’s illegal employ­
ment and his injury therein, the suit would resolve itself into a deter­
mination o f the amount of the minor’s damage. A favorable judg­
ment, therefore, would be practically assured. Collection o f the
judgment given would, of course, depend upon the employer’s finan­
cial responsibility. The effectiveness o f this provision is lessened,
however, because few minors are aware of their legal rights and no
agency advises an illegally employed minor excluded from the com­
pensation law of his position under this section o f the child labor law.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE INDIANA WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
LAW IN RELATION TO THE ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

The compensation law is administered by a board o f five members
that also enforces the labor laws o f the State, including those relating
to minors.
Every employer in the State is required by law to report to the
industrial board on prescribed forms all accidents to employees re­
sulting in death or disability for more than one day,14 and an em­
ployer subject to the act is also required to furnish the following
additional reports in the case o f compensable accidents: 15
(1) Physician’s report.
(2) Compensation agreement.
(3) Receipt for compensation paid.
The employer’s report o f the accident is in two parts—the initial
report, which is required to be filed within one week after the acci­
dent, and the supplemental report, which is required upon the ter­
mination o f the disability or, in any event, at the end of 60 days.
The initial report, when properly filled in, contains information as
to whether or not the proper permit was on file for minors for whom
work permits are required by law.
As they are received by the industrial board all accident reports
are numbered and indexed in the compensation department and are
then referred to the bureau o f women and children for investigation
as to the age o f the injured worker and for examination as to the
legality of his employment. In Indiana to be lawfully employed all
minors between the ages o f 14 and 18 years must have an employ­
ment certificate or a minor’s certificate o f age on file with their
employer during the period o f their employment, and under a
14 See In re Burk, 118 N. E. 540 (1918), in which the court said that the act requires
accident reports to be filed by employers who are not operating under the act.
16 To be compensable in Indiana, accidents must have resulted in death or in a disability
of more than 7 days’ duration and both employer and employee must have accepted the


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specific provision o f the child labor law, local issuing officers through­
out the State must send to the industrial board duplicate copies of
all such certificates issued. The latter are filed in the bureau of
women and children, and daily, as the accident reports are received,
all those in which the age o f the injured is reported as under 20
years are checked to this certificate file and the age verified. I f no
certificate is found, a letter is written the issuing officer in the city
in which the injured minor lives, and an attempt is made to verify
his age through the records o f the school census, which is taken
annually throughout the State and covers all unmarried persons
between 6 and 21 years o f age. I f the census records yield no infor­
mation, no further effort is made to verify the age. Regardless of
whether or not a certificate is found or the age is verified, however,
if in the case o f minors reported or found to be under 18 years o f
age the employer has failed to state whether or not he has a certifi­
cate for the injured employee on file or has indicated that he has not,
a letter is written him calling his attention to the violation, explain­
ing the provisions of the law, and ordering him to comply therewith
and to notify the industrial board that he has done so. I f the
employer has a certificate and has merely failed to state the fact,
this gives him the opportunity to produce it. I f he has stated in
reporting the accident that he has a certificate for the injured minor
and no duplicate is found in the industrial board, he is requested
by letter to forward the name o f the issuing officer. Occasionally,
as when a minor between the ages o f 16 and 18 has moved from the
locality in which a certificate o f age was issued to him,16 this infor­
mation is forthcoming, but usually the employer admits himself in
error as to the existence o f a certificate or fails to reply to the request
which is in itself considered sufficient evidence to discredit his origi­
nal statement. I f, as frequently happens, the age o f the injured
person is omitted from the accident report, a request is sent to the
employer to furnish this information immediately so that if the
injured person is a minor his age may be verified and the employ­
ment-certificate status determined in the regular manner.
The accident reports are further examined in the bureau of
women and children for other violations o f the law; that is, of
those relating to prohibited occupations and illegal hours o f work.
No special inquiry such as is made to determine the age and cer­
tification status is made to discover such violations, however, and
only i f they are self-evident from the information on the accident
report are they discovered.
When the examination o f the accident report is completed, notes
are attached to it calling attention to any possible illegality of
employment. The reports are then returned to the compensation
department where they are held until the agreement between the
employee and employer or insurer as to compensation payable is
received. Upon receipt of this agreement each case is reviewed by
a member o f the industrial board or his representative, and the
terms o f the agreement approved or disapproved in accordance with
the provisions o f the compensation act. I f the agreement is dis18 The duplicate copies of certificates sent to the industrial board are filed by county
and town or city. Consequently unless the accident occurs in the city or town in which
the certificate was issued the latter can not be located in the files until the place o f
issuance has been ascertained.


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T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

approved for any reason, including the fact that the minor’s em­
ployment was illegal, the employer or insurer, whichever has
signed the agreement, is notified o f the action taken. No notice o f
the board’s action in disapproving the agreement is given to the
minor. Nor does the board advise him that even though the com­
pensation act does not apply to him, the employer is liable to him
for damages for his injuries and that the child labor law contains
a provision placing him in a very favorable position i f he sues
his employer. (See p. 145.)
During the 14 months in which the board treated illegally em­
ployed minors as covered by the act, i f disagreement arose as to
the amount o f compensation due, or if compensation was refused
the injured minor, either party had the privilege o f requesting a
hearing before the industrial board. Hearings were usually held
before a single member o f the board, but in case o f dissatisfaction
a review by the full board could be requested. The same procedure
for investigating cases involving minor employees was followed
during this 14 months as is followed now that minors illegally em­
ployed are excluded from the jurisdiction o f the act. (See p. 146.)
The board approved and disapproved agreements in accordance
with the provisions o f the act as amended, but no further attempt
was made to verify the age o f the injured minor when the cer­
tificate and school-census records yielded no information, and no
investigation was made to establish whether the minor was in a
prohibited hazardous occupation. No system o f follow-up was in­
augurated to ascertain whether compensation had been paid or to
insist upon payment, even if extra compensation was due. Sup­
posedly, receipts for compensation signed by the injured minor and
the employer were sent to the industrial board, but these frequently
were never received, and so far as could be learned, no effort was
made by the board to obtain them. Only i f the employer pro­
tested the payment o f the extra compensation to the board were
any steps taken to inform the minor o f his rights under the law.
In such instances a letter was written notifying him o f the stand
taken by the employer, and instructing him as to his rights in the
matter and as to how he should proceed to file application for a
hearing i f the employer continued in his refusal to pay. The
industrial board had no power to take action in cases in which
the employee had not requested a hearing and if the minor failed
to respond to the letter no further action was taken toward urging
him to proceed with his claim.
During this period also all reports required for minors injured
while legally employed were required for those injured while illegally
employed. But for the period o f the study prior and subsequent to
the inclusion o f illegally employed minors under the act employers of
such minors were required to file only reports o f accidents, initial
and supplemental. On examining the records, however, it was found
that the compensation agreement was on file in more than two-fifths
(42 per cent) o f the cases included in the study, regardless o f
whether or not they were required, and the final receipt was on file
in more than one-third (36 per cent). This is due to the fact that
although the initial report was supposed to be filed within one week
after the accident, to be followed, if the injury became compensable,

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CO M P E N SA TIO N L A W — IN D IA N A

149

by the agreement, supplemental report, and receipts for compensa­
tion, in actual practice all reports were frequently received at the
same time— upon the termination of the disability and before the
industrial board had any knowledge o f the accident or had been able
to determine the illegality o f the employment and could notify the
employer that the case did not come under the compensation law.
On the other hand, employers o f illegally employed minors were
sometimes lax in filing the supplementary report o f the accident that
was required in all instances and o f all employers even those not sub­
ject to the act, presumably under the mistaken idea that as illegally
employed minors were not subject to the law none but the initial
accident report was necessary. These supplementary reports were
found in consequence in only 5 per cent of the cases o f illegally em­
ployed minors included in the study.
ïn determining cases o f illegal employment and referring them to
the board for their action in regard to compensation, the depart­
ment o f women and children adheres strictly to the provisions o f
the child labor law and the rulings o f the board as to what consti­
tutes illegal employment (see p. 155) and any minor whose employ­
ment violates these provisions in any way is held to be illegally
employed. Only one exception is made—a vacation-employment cer­
tificate issued prior to the minor’s sixteenth birthday is accepted in
lieu o f a certificate o f age for a minor between 16 and 18 years o f
age, provided it is on file with the employer during the period o f the
minor’s employment, and provided also a duplicate is on file in the
industrial board. This exception is made because the purpose o f the
minor’s certificate o f age, which is merely to furnish evidence o f age,
can be realized equally well by the vacation certificate.
In this study o f illegally employed minors such injured minors
have been included as were held to be illegally employed by the
department o f women and children, regardless of the action taken by
the industrial board, unless subsequent information, establishing the
legality o f their employment, was found in the records. The board
does not apparently always accept the recommendations o f the bu­
reau o f women and children as to the illegality o f employment, and
(as far as records show at least) has not always been consistent in
classifying employment as legal or illegal. In many cases occurring
in the period when illegally employed minors were not compensated
under the compensation act the board took action and approved com­
pensation agreements exactly as though the employment had been
legal, in spite o f the fact that the injured minor was employed in a
prohibited occupation or without an employment certificate or that
his employer had failed to have his certificate on file, each o f which
irregularities, in other instances, had been treated as violations o f the
law. Furthermore, in a number of cases occurring in the double­
compensation period, in which minors between the ages o f 16 and 18
employed in violation o f the certificate requirements o f the law were
involved, agreements providing for double compensation were ap­
proved and some providing for single compensation disapproved
although nothing was found in the records to indicate that the minors
in question had been in prohibited occupations and it would seem,
according to the provisions of the compensation law, that they were
entitled only to single compensation. Likewise, in a few instances


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

during this same period, agreements providing for single compensa­
tion were approved in the cases o f minors between 14 and 16 years
o f age illegally employed who were entitled for any violation to
extra compensation for their injuries. It is possible that in all cases
which seemed to be handled in a manner inconsistent with the usual
policies of the department, additional information had been obtained
by the board which changed the status o f the injured minor ; but, if
such was the case, it was not shown by the records. It is possible
also that some cases occurring just before the double-compensation
provision o f the law began to be administered did not reach the
board until after that time, and similarly that some cases occurring
during the double-compensation period did not come before the board
until the administration had been suspended, in each o f which cases
the action o f the board was not in fact inconsistent at the time it
was taken.
THE INJURED MINORS
NUMBER, SEX, AGE, AND OCCUPATION

Number and sex of minors injured.

According to the records o f the Industrial Board of Indiana, 822
illegally employed minors, T43 boys and 79 girls, had been injured
at work in the State during the period o f the study, o f whom 148
had been injured in the 14 months during which the illegally em­
ployed were compensated under the provisions of the workmen’s
compensation act and 674 in the period during which they were
excluded. This total is a minimum figure. More cases of illegal
employment may have occurred than the records show, for, as has
already been pointed out, violations o f the provisions of the law
relating to hours o f labor were not discovered unless they were selfevident from the information on the accident report, and the indica­
tions are also that the brief reports as to the nature o f the occupa­
tion and the manner in which the accident occurred sometimes
failed to reveal the fact that the occupation was a prohibited one.
Table 20 shows the distribution by calendar year o f the accidents
reported as occurring to illegally employed minors during the period
o f the study. A decided increase in the number o f accidents to
illegally employed minors was reported in 1926 and 1927 over the
number reported in 1925, the year that fell wholly within the 14
months that the double-compensation provision of the law was in
operation (December 1, 1924, to February 1, 1926). Although the
number decreased in 1928 as compared with 1926 and 1927, as com­
pared with 1925 there was still a considerable increase. The de­
crease in 1928 as compared with that in 1926 and 1927 may have
been due largely to industrial conditions, as the total number o f acci­
dents (to both adults and minors) reported in that year, as well as
the number o f accidents to illegally employed minors, decreased ; but
this was not true in 1925 as the total number of accidents reported
in that year, in contrast to the number o f accidents to the illegally
employed, exceeded the number reported in any other year o f the
study.17
17 Annual report of the Industrial Board of the State of Indiana for the fiscal year
ending Sept. 30, 1925, p. 8 ; 1926, p. 7 ; 1927, p. 12; 1928, p. 7 ; and 1929, p. 6.


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C O M PEN SATIO N L A W — IN D IA N A

T able 20.— Number o f illegally employed, boys and girls sustaining industrial
injuries each y e a r ; Indiana, October 1 , 1924-M arch 31 ,19 29
Minors sustaining industrial injuries

Year

Number

Girls

Boys

Total

Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
distri­ Number distri­ Number distri­
bution
bution
bution

Total------- --------------- ----------------

822

100

743

100

79

100

1924_____ ______________ ____________
1925______ ____________ _____________
1926____________ ____________________
1927________ ________________________
1928___________ ____ __________ _____
1929_________________________________

34
128
227
234
172
27

4
16
28
28
21
3

32
117
206
214
155
19

4
16
28
29
21
3

2
11
21
20
17
8

3
14
27
25
22
10

In 1926, 1927, and 1928 reported accidents to illegally employed
minors constituted 5, 6, and 5 per cent, respectively, of all accidents
occurring in the State; in 1925 they composed only 3 per cent. As
the records o f the industrial board prior to October, 1924, were
destroyed, the records of the industrial board do not show the pro­
portion o f illegally employed minors injured in each calendar year
before 1925, by which to determine whether that year was marked
by a decrease in the number o f accidents to illegally employed minors
in comparison with preceding as well as with subsequent years. F ig­
ures from the annual report o f the industrial board, however, show
that from October, 1923, to September, 1924, at least 291 illegally
employed minors were injured at work, and figures for the remaining
three months o f 1924, which are available from the records, show
that in those months the number of minors illegally employed was
34.18 These constituted 5 per cent of all persons injured in these
periods. Thus the indications are that for at least 15 months prior
to 1925, as well as for the three years subsequent to that year, the
number o f injured minors illegally employed was relatively higher
than in that year itself. As there are no other apparent causes to
which this decrease in accidents in 1925 may be attributed, it seems
reasonable to conclude that the double-compensation provision during
the time it was administered, as was intended, did act as a deterrent
to violations o f the child labor law. Comparison o f the accident
reports during the period in which double compensation was payable
with the periods in which no compenation was payable in the case
o f illegally employed minors leads to the same conclusions. During
the 15 months prior to the period in which the double-compensation
provision of the law was administered there was an average of 21%
accidents a month to minors illegally employed. During the 14
months that the double compensation act was in operation the
average dropped to 10% a month and for the 38 months subsequent
to that period rose to 17 a month, although the total.number o f acci­
dents decreased steadily during the entire time.
w Report of the Industrial Board of the State of Indiana for the year ending Sept.


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THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D

M IN O R

Age.

Table 21 shows the ages of the injured minors included in the
study. O f the 483 whose ages it was possible to verify (as many
had never obtained work permits and school-census records did not
supply the information in all cases, the ages o f all could not be
ascertained), 378 (78 per cent) had been reported by the employer
as older than they actually were; 143 (38 per cent) o f these were
reported as 2 or more years older, and 21 (6 per cent) as at least
3 years older. Although 42 per cent had been represented at the
time o f the accident to be 18 years of age or older, only 1 had actually
reached 18. Furthermore, although only 17 o f the 483 were reported
to be under 16 years o f age, 39 were really below that age.
T able 21.— Ages of illegally employed "boys and girls sustaining industrial
injuries, Indiana, October 1, 1924-M arch SI, 1929
Minors sustaining industrial injuries

Age of minor

Boys

Total

Number

Per cent
Per cent
distri­ Number distri­ Number*
bution
bution

Total________

822

Age verified_______

483

13 years............
14 years_______
15 years_______
16 years............
17 years and over

31
136
»308

29
125
274

Age not verified.......

339

307

2
6

Girls

743
100

<*>

436
2
6

(*)

1 Per cent distribution not shown because number of girls whose ages were verified was less than 50.
<Less than 1 per cent.
» Includes one 19-year-old boy.

The Industrial Board of Indiana publishes no figures showing the
age distribution o f all minors injured in industry with which to
compare the age distribution o f the minors injured while illegally
employed, but figures in other States show that accidents to minors
o f 14 and 15 years o f age are fewer than to those of 16 and 17 years
o f age.® This is due not only to the fact that more minors o f the
latter group are actually at work but also, in all probability, in part
at least, to the fact that exposure to accident is greater in the latter
group because o f the removal at that age o f safeguards provided by
the child labor law. It would not be surprising if, in Indiana, the
proportion o f younger children was even smaller, as in this State they
are not permitted to leave school for work at the age o f 14 merely
upon completion o f the legal educational requirements and upon
proof o f physical fitness, as in many States, but only if there is
economic necessity. Parents wishing the financial assistance of
children between the ages o f 14 and 16 must prove satisfactorily to
the school authorities who issue the certificates that such a necessity
exists.
“ See Child L abor; report of the subcommittee on child labor [committee on vocational
guidance and child labor 1, White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, p.
383. Century Co., New York, 1932.


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COMPENSATION LA W ---- IN DIANA

INDUSTRY IN WHICH INJURED

The principal occupational groups in which the illegally employed
minors were injured were manufacturing, trade, transportation, and
personal and domestic service. (Table 22.) Ninety-six per cent
o f all the accidents to this group of young workers (exclusive o f 31
minors for whom the industry in which they were employed was not
known) occurred in these four occupational groups. O f these, manu­
facturing and trade showed the highest percentage o f accidents
among both boys and girls, being responsible for 83 per cent o f the
accidents to the former and for 86 per cent o f those to the latter.
Manufacturing alone was responsible for almost two-thirds (64 and
63 per cent) o f the accidents in each group, a proportion slightly
larger than in Wisconsin, where 59 per cent of the accidents to boys
and 53 per cent o f those to girls illegally employed occurred in this
group. A larger percentage o f the accidents to girls than to boys,
12 per cent as compared with 5 per cent, occurred in personal and
domestic service, but more occurred to boys than to girls in trans­
portation, only 1 girl but 55 (8 per cent) of the boys being injured
in that industry. Among the manufacturing industries the metal
and building trades were conspicuous as those in which accidents
occurred most frequently to boys and the clothing and metal trades
as those in which the largest number o f accidents occurred to girls.
T able 22.— Industry and occupation of all illegally employed l)oys and girls
and of those interviewed sustaining industrial in ju ries; Indiana.
1, 1924-March SI, 1929

Other

Minors sustaining
industrial injuries
Industry and occupation and sex
Total

Inter­
viewed
group

Boys......................... .................... ..........................................................

743

101

Industry and occupation reported___ ______________ ________ ________________

713

101

11
12
453

1
5
51

119
86
65
63
33
20
9
8
6
4
34
6

16
5
10
6
2
4
1
2
i

Transportation____________________ .
Trade_________ _____ ________________
Public service_________________
Professional________________ ____ _____
Domestic and personal service____________ ______ _________________
Other......................................... .............

55
139
7
1
34
1

10
26
i

Industry and occupation not reported........... ........................................................

30

Agriculture_________________________________________ _______
Extraction of minerals_________________ ________________________
Manufacturing and mechanical industries____________________ __
Metal industries___________________________________________
Building trades................................ ....... ..........................................
Food and kindred products_______________________________
Lumber and allied products— .......... -.................................. .........
Clay, glass, and stone...................... _.........................................................
Printing and publishing_________________ ______ _____________
Paper and paper products__ ____________________________
Electrical supplies............. ..................... .........................................
Textiles__________________ __________ _______ ______ . . . .
Clothing____________ ______ _________ _________ .
Other_________________________ _______
Not reported......................................... ....... ........................................


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THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D M I N O R

T able 22.— Industry and occupation of all illegally employed boys and girls
and of those interviewed sustaining ind/ustrial injuries, etc.— Continued
Minors sustaining
industrial injuries
Industry and occupation and sex

Inter­
viewed
group

Total

Girls.

79

12

78

12

Manufacturing and mechanical industries.

49

7

Clothing_________________________
Metal industries..... ...........................
Food and kindred products_________
Lumber and allied products________
Electrical supplies_________________
Printing and publishing____________
Clay, glass, and stone industries...... .
Paper and paper products__________
Textiles........ .....................................
Other...................................................

14
9

1
2
2
2

Industry and occupation reported.

8
6

3
3
1

1

1

3

Transportation.......................
Trade......................................
Professional________________
Domestic and personal service.
Industry and occupation not reported.

1

Somewhat more detailed information on occupations was obtained
for the 113 minors interviewed. The industrial and occupational
distribution o f this group was not very different from that o f the
larger group, and such differences as appear may be due to the small
number interviewed. As was true o f the larger group, the greatest
proportion o f the minors interviewed employed in any one industrial
or occupational group, 58 o f the 113, were in manufacturing indus­
tries in the occupations listed below :
Machine occupations—
Metal-working machines :
Boys
Punch and drill-press operators___________________ 5
Wire-working machine operators__________________ 3
Grinders and buffers________________________________
1
Circular-saw operator_______________________________ 1
Other_________________________________________________
1
Woodworking m achines:
Offbearers_____________________________________________ 2
Wood-lathe operator________________________________
1
Food-products m achines:
Dough-molding machine operator___________________ 1
Printing presses:
Press feeder__________________________________________ 1
Press o iler___________________________________________
1
Textile m achines:
Power-machine operator_______________________ :________
Electric-supplies m achines:
Punch-press operator________________________________
1
Battery grid trimming machine operator_________ 1
Nonmachine occupations:
Unskilled helpers and laborers_________________________ 14
Truck drivers____________________________________________
6
Truck driver’s helper_________________________
1
Milk tester________________________________________________ ___
Automobile mechanic_______________________________
1


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Girls
1
1

l

1

2

1

W ORKMEN^

155

C O M P E N S A T IO N L A W -----I N D I A N A
B oys

Nonmachine occupations— Continued.
Newspaper reporter______________________________________
Messenger (b ic y c le )_____________________________________
Complaint boy (newspaper)_____________________________
Semiskilled factory operative___________________________
W ater b o y ------------------------------------------------------Apprentices____________________________________________________

Girls

1
1
1

1
1
5

The remaining 55 minors interviewed were employed for the most
part in trade and transportation. The occupational distribution o f
this group was as follow s:
T rad e:
BoysGirls
Truck drivers____________________________________________
8
Messengers and delivery boys__________________________
6
Sales boys and girls_______________________________ .____ 4
3
Store helpers______________________________________________ 4
Elevator operators______________________ i_______________ 3
Mechanic’s helper (garage)__;_________________________ l
Transportation :
Laborers__________________________________________________
5
Truck drivers____________________________________________
2
2
W ater boys_____________!_________________________________
Messenger_______________________________
Personal and domestic service:
Helpers in restaurants and hotels______________________
3
Laundry-machine operators____________________________ ___
2
Bundle boy (lau n dry)_____________________________
1
Pin boy (bowling a lle y )_________________________________
1
General helper___________________________________________
1
Truck driver____ _________________________________
i
Extraction of m inerals:
Laborers__,____________________________________________
3
Boiler firer________________________________________
1
1
Weighman (m in e)_______________________________________
Agriculture : Laborer_________________________________________ 1
Public service: Laborer______________________________________
1
LEGAL PROVISIONS VIOLATED

Under the provisions o f the Indiana child labor law and rulings
o f the industrial board,18 no minor under the age o f 14 years may
be engaged in any gainful occupation other than farm labor or
domestic service. Minors between the ages of 14 and 18 must have a
certificate to be legally employed, except in the case o f a minor
between 14 and 16 engaged in farm labor or domestic service out­
side school hours. Those between the ages o f 14 and 16 years must
have a regular employment certificate issued for a specific job or a
vacation employment certificate; and those between 16 and 18 years
o f age must have a minor’s certificate o f age. These certificates
must be on file with the employer during the minor’s period o f em­
ployment, and a duplicate copy must be sent by the issuing officer,
within 5 days after issuance, to the industrial board in Indianapolis,
where they are kept on file in the bureau o f women and children.
Boys under 16 and girls under 18 years of age may not be employed
in any gainful occupation other than farm labor or domestic serv» T h e industrial B oard o f Indiana has power, in cooperation w ith the State board o f
attendance, to m ate rules and regulations fo r the issuing o f em ployment certificates and
to revoke any certificate in the case o f a m inor who was illegally em ployed or if, in the
u °,f either b°ard, it was issued im properly. F or excerpts from the Indiana
child labor law see pp. 212-214.

125914— 32— — 11


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ice more than 8 hours a day nor more than 48 hours a week. Neither
may they work more than 6 days a week, nor before 6 a. m. nor
after 7 p. m., nor may boys under 18 years o f age be employed as
messengers for messenger or telegraph companies before 6 a. m. nor
after 10 p. m. Numerous occupations regarded as hazardous are
specifically prohibited for minors under 16 and under 18 years of
age, and the prohibition o f these enumerated occupations is supple­
mented by a general prohibition o f employment o f minors under
these ages “ in any other occupation dangerous to life or limb or
injurious to the health or morals o f such minors.” The occupations
specifically prohibited under 16 years o f age are for the most part
in connection with specified hazardous machines, both power driven
and otherwise; 20 but they include also any work in connection with
the sorting, manufacturing, or packing o f tobacco, and work in or
about mines, quarries, or excavations, hotels, theaters, and bowling
alleys. Those prohibited to minors under 18 years include the oiling
and cleaning o f machinery in motion; the operation o f emery,21
abrasive, polishing, or buffing wheels; the operation o f elevators,
lifts, or hoisting machinery; work around establishments in which
high explosives are manufactured, compounded, or stored; work in
saloons, breweries, or other establishments in which malt or alcoholic
liquors are made or handled; and work in connection with the dip­
ping, dyeing, or packing o f matches. Any work in a public pool or
billiard room is prohibited to minors under 21 years o f age.
Although the industrial board has not formally ruled any occu­
pation or class o f occupations as prohibited to minors under 18 under
the general clause “ dangerous to life and limb or injurious to the
health or morals,” it has stated, informally, that although “ this is
a matter, o f course, to be finally determined by a jury or a court
* * * in each particular instance,” it believed that work on a
threshing machine, clover huller, and corn shredder falls within this
classification.22 Also under the authority of the same clause,
although, so far as can be determined, no specific ruling to this effect
has been made by the board, the department of women and children
considers work on a printing press by minors under 16 as prohibited
and in one instance, at least, during the period of the study questioned
the legality of such work for a minor under that age so employed in
referring his case to the board for action as to the compensation
agreement. Under the Automobile Licensing Act it is illegal for a
minor under 18 to operate a motor vehicle as a chauffeur on the public
highways,23 and employment o f a minor contrary to this provision is
sufficient to exclude him from the compensation act.
The most frequent violations of the law found in the study of the
records, as shown by Table 23 were failure to comply with the
20Namely, oiling, wiping, or cleaning machinery or helping therein; operating or
assisting in operating, or off-bearing at any of the following machines or apparatus
whether power driven or n o t: circular or band saw s; wood shapers, wood Joiners,
planers; stamping machines used In sheet-metal or tin-work manufacturing; stamping ma­
chines in washer or nut factories or any other stamping machine used in stamping
m etal; boilers or other steam-generating apparatus; dough brakes or cracker machinery
of any description ; wire or iron straightening machinery ; rolling-mill machinery; punch;
shears; drill press; grinding or mixing m ills; calendar rolls in rubber manufacturing;
laundry machinery; corrugated rolls of the kind used in roofing and washboard manu­
facture ; metal or paper cutting machines; corner-staying machines in paper-box factories.
21 Except for the sharpening of tools used by an apprentice in connection with his
own work.
22 Information from Industrial Board of Indiana.
23 Burns’ Ann. Stat. 1926, sec. 10105. In passing a new automobile licensing act in
1929 (ch. 162) a similar provision was incorporated.


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certificate requirements and employment in prohibited occupations.
Violations o f the sections of the law relating to the issuing of work
certificates occurred much more frequently than any other. Viola­
tions other than certificate and occupational violations were few, but
5 minors were working at night as well as without certificates; 2 were
only IB years old and, therefore, not yet o f legal working age; and 4
had altered their certificates and been reported to the board by its
department o f women and children as illegally employed. In 14
instances in which minors were working without certificates, it was
uncertain whether or not they were also working in a prohibited
occupation, as the decision depended upon their ages, which could
not be verified. In seven instances, held to be cases of illegal
employment by the bureau of women and children, it did not seem
from the evidence on hand that the illegality had actually been
proven, though it was more than probable. In these instances
vacation certificates were found in the industrial-board files, but all
requests for information as to whether or not the employers had
them on file had been ignored by the latter. Their failure to reply
to the inquiries was probably negative evidence that they did not
have them, and presumably was accepted as such by the department
o f women and children.
T able 23.— T ype of legal violation in cases of industrial injuries to illegally
employed minors of specified a ges; Indiana, October 1, 192

arch 81, 1929

Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Age of minor

Type of violation
Total

Under 16
years

17 years Not veriand over
fled

Total______________ ____ _________________

822

39

136

«308

339

Certificate only_______________ ___________ ____
Occupation only............................ ....... ....................
Certificate and occupation______ _____ _______ _
Other ........................................................................
Not reported_____________________________ ____

696
16
97
i7
7

23
5
4
3
4

110
3
19
2
2

248
5
54
1

315
2
20
1

1Includes one 19 years old.
1Includes 2 minimum ago (14 years), 1 hour alone, 3 hour and permit, and 1hour, permit, and occupation.

O f the 822 minors included in the study, 797 (97 per cent) were
working in violation o f the certificate provision; 85 per cent were
working in violation o f this provision only. Certificate violations
consisted of (1) employment without a certificate in 499 instances,24
(2) failure on the part of the employer to have a certificate on file,
although the records showed that certificates had been issued to the
minors in question, in 270 instances, and (3) failure on the part o f
the issuing officer to send a duplicate copy o f the certificate to the
industrial board in 22 instances. Although this last requirement
would seem to be unfair to both the employer and the injured minor
who must suffer the consequences o f the negligence of an issuing
officer for whom they are not responsible, the industrial board holds
24
Included in this number are tw o cases in w h ich the injured minors had presented
their employers w ith certificates issued outside the State, hut which according to the
industrial hoard did not legalize their em ployment in Indiana.


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that as this is a specific provision o f the child labor law its violation
constitutes illegal employment for the minor concerned.
Occupational violations o f the law, though much less common than
certificate violations, were still comparatively frequent. One hun­
dred and thirteen (14 per cent) of the minors illegally employed
were engaged in occupations prohibited them by law at the time
they were injured; 2 per cent were working in violation of the
occupational requirements o f the law only; and 12 per cent were
working in violation o f both certificate and occupational require­
ments. O f the 91 minors reported as employed in prohibited occu­
pations whose ages were known, 10 were under 16 years o f age, 80
were between 16 and 18, and 1 was 19 years. O f the 10 under 16
years, 8 were in occupations prohibited minors under 16 and 2 were
in occupations prohibited those under 18. O f the 80 between 16
and 18 years o f age, all were in occupations prohibited minors
under 18.
More than half (67) o f the 113 injured minors violating the occu­
pational provision o f the law were held illegally employed because
they were employed at driving motor vehicles—usually trucks— either
ignoring the State regulation requiring a driver’s license or mis­
representing their ages to obtain one. Several of these were not
actually driving a truck at the time they were injured, but they were
all engaged in some work directly relating to this occupation and
thus were held to be illegally employed in the same manner as
though they had actually been driving. A little less than one-fourth
(27) o f the group were operating prohibited power-driven machinery
when injured. Most o f these were working at their regular occupa­
tions, but several who were usually employed in legal occupations
had been assigned to a prohibited job. O f the remainder, 7 were
injured while operating elevators, 3 while working in pool rooms
and bowling alleys, 2 in connection with work on threshing machines,
1 while working around excavations, 1 in the course o f work in a
quarry, 1 while working underground in a mine, and 2 were oiling
machinery in motion. Four o f the 6 girls working in prohibited
occupations were operating elevators when injured, and 2 were work­
ing on buffing machines in a silverware factory. Two o f these, an
elevator operator and a buffer, were 16 years o f age; the other 4
were 17. A ll these girls were injured in the course of work for
which they were hired.
Although there was practically no difference in the proportion of
occupational violations among minors known to be 16 years o f age
and those known to be 17 years of age— 17 per cent and 19 per cent
o f each group, respectively, were employed in prohibited occupations—
among the 35 who were known to be under 16 years o f age, almost
one-half (16) were in prohibited occupations. The larger number
o f occupations prohibited for children under 16 than for older boys
and girls accounts for this.
In general, the facts as to violations o f the child labor law in the
case o f the minors who were interviewed merely corroborate the
findings for the larger group. Employment in prohibited occupa­
tions was more common, however, as might have been expected as
this group was selected for interviewing because o f the more serious
nature o f their injuries. O f the 113 minors visited more than onefourth (28 per cent) were injured in the course o f work prohibited

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them by law as compared with about one-seventh (14 per cent) of
all those included in the study. As among the larger group, driving
motor vehicles, especially trucks, was more frequently than any other
the prohibited occupation in which the minors interviewed were
employed. Most o f the other accidents occurred during work in
connection with machinery—chiefly hoisting machinery, buffing
and grinding machines, and wood lathes. Several boys injured in
illegal occupations, all 16 or 17 years o f age, were regularly employed
at legitimate work, but, as a part of their duties, were either specifi­
cally assigned to or allowed to perform tasks legally prohibited them.
One boy, employed as a water boy for a road-construction company,
was injured while driving a truck, a job to which he was frequently
assigned by the foreman under whom he was working. Two other
boys—one a bell boy in a hotel and the other a bundle boy in a laun­
dry— were injured while operating elevators. One o f them at least
had been taught by his foreman to operate the elevator in order that
he might use it to go from floor to floor in the course o f his work.
Other examples are as follow s:
A boy, employed as a bookbinder, was injured while oiling a printing press
which was in motion. According to this boy’s statement, the press feeders
were girls and not expected to oil their own machines. Therefore in addition
to his regular duties he had been instructed to oil all the presses. Although
he had never been told not to stop the machinery while working on it, neither
had he been instructed to do so, and for two or three months prior to his
accident he had been oiling the machines while they were in motion to the
knowledge o f everybody around.
Another boy interviewed was regularly employed at one prohibited occupation
and injured while temporarily working in another. Engaged to work as a
truck driver he also acted as general helper around the feed store in which he
was employed. Among other duties he often operated a power-driven corn
shelter, an occupation, like truck driving, held by the industrial board to be
prohibited minors under 18 years o f age under the general clause of the child
labor law with reference to occupations “ dangerous to life or limb.” ( See p.
156.) W hile so employed, he caught his hand in the machine, amputating his
right index finger at the first joint.
A 17-year-old boy regularly employed on a wood lathe, an occupation not pro­
hibited him under the law, was injured while attempting to oil the machine
in motion. He stated, when interviewed, that although the foreman had
never told him not to stop the machine while oiling it, it was generally under­
stood among the employees that to do so was not desirable as a number of lathes
were operated by one motor and if one was stopped, all stopped. H e reported
that about 15 minutes after his accident a hand-written sign was posted above
the machine to the effect that machinery was not to be oiled while in motion.

In view of the fact that in Indiana no special inquiry such as is
made to establish the certificate status is made to determine whether
injured minors are employed in prohibited occupations or contrary to
the hours o f labor or night work laws, it is not surprising that many
more violations o f these provisions o f the law were discovered in
the course o f personal interviews than was apparent from the
accident reports. Among the 113 minors visited 12 were found
who had been injured in prohibited occupations, although the in­
formation given on the accident reports indicated that they were
working only in violation o f the certificate requirements o f the law.
O f these, seven had been reported by the employers as “ helpers on
trucks,” “ laborers,” and “ delivery boys,” when in fact, as was
learned later, they were driving trucks at least a part o f the time.

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Two, one 16 and one IT years of age, were reported as operating
machines that were not prohibited (a report correct so far as it
went), but no mention was made of the fact that they were injured
while attempting to oil them in motion. Two others, one 14 and
one 17 years o f age, were employed at more than one kind o f work
and though the work in the course o f which the accident occurred
was illegal, the legal job, which was in each instance the primary
job, was the only one mentioned on the accident report. Another
boy, only 16 years o f age, injured while working in connection with
hoisting machinery, was merely reported as a day laborer, no de­
scription being given o f the actual type of work at which he was
employed. On the other hand, two cases were found in which the
industrial-board records indicated illegal employment, but investi­
gation proved that such was not the case. Though reported as truck
drivers, both boys stated when interviewed that they had never
worked in that capacity but were always employed as truck-drivers’
helpers only. Both were injured during the period in which minors
illegally employed were covered by the compensation act. In one
instance the board failed to award double compensation, perhaps
learning that the occupation had been incorrectly reported (the in­
dustrial-board records do not show the reason); in the other instance,
although the industrial board awarded the minor double compensa­
tion for his injuries, the employer refused to pay his share o f the
compensation, so in fact he received the same amount as he would
have received had an investigation o f the occupation been made.
As was the case with occupational violations, several violations of
the hours and night-work provisions o f the law were found in the
course o f personal interviews with the injured minors which were
not apparent from the accident reports. One boy and one girl, both
only 15 years o f age, were working after 7 p. m., and one girl, only 17
years of age, was employed nine hours a day, the latter in addition
to being employed in a prohibited occupation.
Many o f the illegally employed minors acknowledged that they
had deliberately misrepresented their ages when applying for the
job at which they were later injured, giving as a reason that it was
easier to obtain work i f they could say they were at least 18 years
o f age. One boy working at a prohibited occupation had his cer­
tificate in his pocket when injured. He had been working during
the summer without it, but with the opening o f school in the fall
both he and the firm by which he was employed had been notified
by the school-attendance officer that he must obtain a certificate or
return to school. A t the time of the accident he had had the certifi­
cate for several days, but he had not had the courage to present it
to his employer lest he lose his job when it was discovered that he
had falsified his age. A considerable number, however—30 o f the
101 boys and 3 o f the 12 girls—reported that they were never ques­
tioned as to their age when employed. Furthermore, of 55 boys and
8 girls who reported that they were questioned in this respect, 40
o f the former and 5 o f the latter insisted that they had given their
correct ages, although in the case of 26 of the boys and o f 1 o f the
girls the employers’ statements on the accident reports were to the
contrary. Some minors reported that although they had falsified
their ages it was done with the knowledge o f the employer. One
boy told o f applying for work at a machine shop and being refused

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because he was only 17 years o f age. Being desperate for a job
because his earnings were needed at home, he replied that he had to
have work and had walked everywhere looking for it, so he would
say that he was 21; he was then allowed to go to work. Another
boy, only 15 years o f age, reported that at the time o f his accident
his employer approached him before he was taken to a doctor saying,
“ Y ou’re a friend of mine, aren’t you? Well, then, when you get to
the doctor, tell him you are 16.” In return the employer promised
to report the boy’s wages to the insurance company as $15 a week
instead o f the actual $8. In another instance the mother o f an
injured minor made the following statement: Her son had obtained
a job as delivery boy for a local feed store and in order to make
his deliveries it was necessary for him to drive a truck. He was
only 14 years o f age, and consequently could not get a driver’s license,
but his employer told him that he would take care o f that matter.
Several days later he approached the mother with the request that
she come to his office and sign a paper that he had prepared relative
to getting a license for the boy. The mother realizing that this
meant falsifying the boy’s age did not go to the office, but the boy
continued to drive the truck until one year later, when he was injured.
Another boy reported that when he applied for a position as elevator
operator the employer said, “ Say you are 18 and you can have it.”
Thus because their employers had failed to accept the responsibility
put upon them to safeguard young workers by complying with the
child labor law, many minors were obliged to suffer tne consequences
o f illegal employment when they met with accidents. In a few cases
the injured minors reported that they did not know that they were
required to have certificates o f age (these were usually boys who had
spent their school lives in rural communities); but usually, not
realizing the possible consequences, the boys took the attitude “ why
bother to get a certificate i f you can get by without one.”
NATURE AND LOCATION OF INJURIES

The largest number o f injuries were cuts and lacerations. (See
Table 33, p. 172.) Next in importance numerically were bruises and
abrasions, followed in the order named by fractures and dislocations,
sprains, crushes, and burns. Girls suffered to an even greater extent
than boys from cuts and lacerations, which caused 57 per cent o f their
injuries compared with 41 per cent o f the injuries to boys. Many
o f the most serious injuries were o f this nature. O f the 23 injuries
to boys and 2 to girls resulting in permanent disability, all but 3
were cuts and lacerations. O f these 20 were amputations, 1 was a
severe cut to the index finger that affected the tendon and resulted
in a stiff joint, and 1 was a puncture o f the eye ball that completely
destroyed the sight. A ll amputations but one occurred to boys, and
with the exception o f a boy who suffered the loss o f two toes, all
amputations were to fingers. The majority involved one finger or
a part o f a finger, but 2 boys and 1 girl lost part o f both index and
middle fingers, and 1 boy lost part of the third and fourth fingers.
Two boys, both injured on power-driven meat grinders, were even
more seriously handicapped. One o f them lost the first three fingers at
the second joint and the fourth finger just below the first joint; the
other lost the first, second, and fourth finger at the second joint and

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the entire third finger. Cuts and lacerations were responsible also
for the more serious temporary injuries (so far as they were known),
19 per cent o f those occurring to boys and 4 o f the 7 occurring to
girls resulting in a disability o f 28 days or more.
Bruises and abrasions were not responsible for any o f the per­
manent disabilities, but they caused 12 per cent o f the temporary
disabilities lasting 28 days or more to boys, and 7 o f the 45 occurring
to girls. One o f the three minors who were killed was crushed to
death by an elevator door, and crushing also caused 9 per cent o f the
more serious temporary injuries to boys. Fractures resulted in one
permanent disability and a larger proportion o f serious temporary
disabilities than any other type o f injury, 48 per cent o f all injuries
to boys resulting in a disability o f 28 days or more and one o f the
few such injuries to girls lasting this long being o f this nature.
Sprains, which were for the most part o f wrists or ankles but in
nine instances resulted in hernia, caused 6 per cent of the temporary
disabilities to boys lasting 28 days or more, and 1 o f the 7 to girls.
Burns caused 7 per cent o f the cases o f such serious temporary
disability occurring to boys, but none o f those occurring to girls.
In 58 cases, almost all resulting from cuts and bruises, it was
known that infection developed from the injuries. Infection was
probably much more common than this figure indicates. In the course
o f the interviews it was found that infections, which caused some of the
most severe suffering and resulted in some o f the most serious dis­
abilities, occurred more commonly than the records showed, as fre­
quently they did not develop until after the accident report had been
filed and were therefore not recorded.
EXTENT AND DURATION OF DISABILITY

Physicians’ reports were not required during the period o f the
study in the case o f minors injured in the course o f illegal employ­
ment except during the 14 months that such minors were com­
pensated for their injuries, and even during that period very fre­
quently they were not received, as the physicians were lax in sending
them in. Only 31 such reports were on file in the industrial board
for the cases included in the study. However, other records and
correspondence yielded information regarding additional cases, so
that, in all, information as to the extent o f the disability sustained
was obtained for 495 o f the 822 injured minors included in the study—
447 boys and 48 girls. (Table 24.) One-third o f the accidents to
this group were noncompensable, the period o f disability not having
exceeded the 7-day waiting period. O f the 334 compensable acci­
dents, 3 were reported to have resulted in death, 25 in permanent
partial disability, and the remaining 306 in temporary disability. I f
information as to the extent o f their disability could have been
obtained for all the minors included in the study, there probably
would have been a much larger percentage o f permanent injuries.
As these figures now stand, they include only those injuries occurring
during the period when illegally as well as legally employed minors
were treated as being covered by the compensation act, plus those
occurring outside that period and for which information was pre­
sumably filed before the employer was notified o f the illegality of the
employment o f the injured minor. It would seem reasonable, there­
fore, to suppose that the latter group would include a relatively

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larger proportion of the less serious injuries, as in the case o f the
more serious ones in which the disability would last relatively longer
the employer would more than likely have been notified of the
illegality of employment before the disability was terminated and
the full extent of the injury determined. In Illinois, New Jersey,
New York, and Wisconsin, where figures for illegally employed
minors are available and where more complete reports are required,
the percentage of permanent and fatal injuries was found to be much
larger than in Indiana—29, 49, 55, and 16 per cent, respectively, as
compared with 4 per cent in Indiana. (See p. 222.)
T able 24.— E xten t o f disability from industrial injuries to illegally employed
boys and girls; Indiana, October 1, 1924-M arch 81, 1929
Minors sustaining industrial injuries

Extent of disability

Number

Total....................................... ................. .......
Extent reported..................................

Boys

Total

Girls

Per cent
Per cent
distri­ Number distri­ Number
bution
bution

822

79

743

495

100

447

Death................................................................
Permanent partial ........................... ..................
Temporary."................................. ....... ...............

3
25
467

1
5
94

2
23
422

Extent not reported...................................................

327

296

100
(*)

5
94

48
1
2
45
31

1Per cent distribution not shown because number of girls for whom extent of disability was reported
was less than 50.
J Less than 1 per cent.

Two o f the three fatal accidents in Indiana occurred to boys and
one to a girl. O f the 25 known to have resulted in permanent dis­
abilities, 23 were to boys and 2 to girls. Most of the permanent
injuries consisted of crippled hands due to amputation o f fingers,
or to stiff joints resulting from severe cuts and bruises, but one boy
suffered a 45 per cent loss of use o f his right arm; another a 30 per
cent loss o f use of one le g ; a third lost two toes by amputation; and
a fourth lost the sight o f one eye. Temporary disabilities frequently
involved long periods o f convalescence, causing serious hardships.
According to the reports sent to the industrial board, almost onefifth o f the boys and 7 o f the 45 girls reporting temporary injuries
were known to have been totally incapacitated for periods varying
from 4 to 23 weeks. As a matter o f fact, however, this is a minimum
statement. (Tables 25 and 26.) The period of disability in many
cases may have been much longer than the records showed. In the
course of personal interviews with a number o f the injured minors
it was found that frequently the duration o f disability as given on
the accident report did not cover the entire period that the injured
minor was incapacitated, but only that part for which he had hap­
pened to have received compensation, the employer or insurance
company probably not having discovered that the minor was illegally
employed until after a portion o f the compensation had been paid.
Table 26 shows the extent o f disability and duration o f temporary
disability o f the injured minors classified according to age. Reliable

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conclusions can not well be drawn from this information, as the
facts as to age are available for only a relatively small number.
T able 25.— Duration of temporary disability from industrial injuries to illegally
employed boys and g irls; Indiana, October 1, 192^-March 81, 1929
Minors sustaining temporary industrial injuries
Girls

Boys

Total
Duration of disability

Per cent
Per cent
Number distribu­ Number distribu­ Number1
tion
tion
Total.................................................................

467

100

422

100

45

161
129
95
76
6

34
28
20
16
1

144
113
90
69
6

34
27
21
16
1

17
16
5
7

i Per cent distribution not shown because number of girls was less than 50.

T able 26.— E xten t of disability and duration of temporary disability from indus­
trial injuries to illegally employed minors of specified a g es; Indiana, Octo­
ber 1 , 1924-M arch 81, 1929
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability
Temporary
Age of minors
Total
Death

822

Total...................

2
6
31
136
1308
339

3

1
2

Perma­
nent
partial

Duration

Not re­
ported

Total

Less
than
8 days

25

467

161

129

95

82

327

2
11
12

2
5
18
87
168
186

2
3
8
20
54
74

2
4
25
53
45

3
24
30
38

3
18
32
29

1
13
47
127
139

8 days, 15 days., 28 days
less
less
or more
than 15 than 28

>Includes one 19 years old.

The three fatal accidents to illegally employed minors occurred
to a boy employed in the delivery service o f a retail store, to a
delivery boy employed by a commercial messenger firm, and to a
girl employed as an ironer in a laundry. The 25 accidents known to
have resulted in permanent injuries occurred in the following in­
dustries or occupational groups :
r

Number of
accidents

Manufacturing industries------------------------------------------------------------------15
Trade--------------------®
Mining industry-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Personal and domestic service---------------------------------1
Industry not reported----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1


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W O R K M E N S C O M P E N S A T IO N L A W — I N D I A N A

They constituted o per cent o f all the accidents for which the extent
o f disability was reported as occurring to illegally employed minors
in manufacturing, 7 per cent o f those in trade, 1 o f the 30 in personal
and domestic service, and 2 o f the 6 in mining. Among the accidents
that resulted in temporary disabilities, those that were known to
have caused comparatively serious injuries appeared to have oc­
curred most frequently in three particular manufacturing groups—
food and kindred products, the metal trades, and the lumber
industries. (Tables 27 and 28.)
T able 27 — E xten t of disability and duration of temporary disability from indus­
trial injuries to boys illegally employed in specified industries or occupational
groups; Indiana, October 1, 1924-M arch 31, 1299

Boys sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability

Temporary
Duration

Total.................................. 743

1Less than 1 per cent.


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13 265

____

....

1
1

—

75

Not reported

Number

I
90

Per cent dis­
tribution

Number

Per cent dis­
tribution

Number

Per cent dis­
tribution

Number

I Per cent dis­
tribution

Per cent distribution

Total

1
1

296

100 74 100 284

3

2

63

79

72 50

57 52

70 175

17
10

21
12

19 14
11 11

16 14
12 9

19
12

10 il

1

1

1
2

1
2

1
1

1
1

6
6

65

84

72
45

18
11

23
13

2

42

10

11

8

11

10

9

15

21

4

32
18
14

8
4
3

11
5
9

8
4
7

11
9
2

10
8
2

3
3
2

3
3
2

7
1
1

9
1
1

27

7
5

1
2

1
2*

2
2
1

2
2
1

1
1
3

1
1
3

4
1

1
20
3

2
1
1
(ijf
5
1

8
1

6
1

6
2

5
2

3

3

1
3

5
1
6
1
4

6

28
76
3
1

7
19
1
(1)

11
28
2
1

8
21
2
1

3
19

3 9
17 20

10
23

5
9
1

7
12
1

26
56
4

1

23

6

4

3

8

7

5

7

10
1

1

17

5

Transportation...................... 55
Trade..................................... 139
Public service_____________
7
Professional_______________
1
Domestic and personal serv­
ice....................................... 31
Other____________________
1
30

5
4

2

Manufacturing and mechani­
cal industries____________ 453

Industry or occupational group
not reported..............................

113

2 22 405 100 133 100 110 100 88

11
12

Metal industries_______ 119
Building trades.......... .
86
Food and kindred prod­
ucts.............................. 65
Lumber and allied prod­
ucts.............................. 63
Clay, glass, and stone___ 33
Printing and publishing.. 20
Paper and paper prod­
ucts.............................
9
Electrical supplies...........
8
Textiles_______________
6
Clothing........................ I
4
Other.............................. 34
Not reported__________
6

L ess than 8 days, less 15 days, 28 days
8 days
than 15 less than or more
28

144

2 23 422

Industry or occupational group
reported........_.......................... 713
Agriculture_______________
Extraction of minerals______

I Permanent partial

Total

Death

Industry or occupational group

2

11

3

7

6

2

'

]

1

42

4

3

12

166

THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D

M IN (L i

T able 28.— E xten t of disability and duration of temporary disability from indus­
trial injuries to girls illegally employed in specified industries or occupational
groups; Indiana, October 1, 1924—March SI, 1299
Girls sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability
Temporary
Industry or occupational group

Total

79
Manufacturing and mechanical in­
dustries___________________

Duration
PerDeath nent
28
8 days, 15 days,
partial Total Less less
days
less
than than than
or
8 days 15
more
28
1

49
14
9
8
6
3
3
1
1
1
3

Not reported.................................... -

1
18
1
9
1

Not
report­
ed

2

45

17

16

5

7

31

2

29

11

11

5

2

18

7
6
4
3
2
2

3
2
1
2
1
1

1
3
2

2
1

1

7
2
3
3
1
1
1

1
1
3

1

1
2

1
9

3

1
3

5
1

3

i
1

1

1

1

1
1

1

3
2

1

9
1
3

Temporary injuries were somewhat more serious among minors
working in prohibited occupations, as might have been expected
from the presumably hazardous nature o f such occupations, than
among those employed in violation o f the certificate requirements o f
the law. A little more than one-fourth in the first group as com­
pared with slightly less than one-fifth in the second had injuries
resulting in disabilities o f 28 days or more. Nevertheless, the pro­
portion of fatal and permanent injuries in the two groups was prac­
tically the same—7 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. (Table 29.)
T able 29.— Extent of disability and duration of temporary disability from indus­
trial injuries to illegally employed minors, according to type of legal violation;
Indiana, October 1, 1924-M arch SI, 1929
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability
Temporary
Type of violation

Per­
Duration
NotreniaTotal
Death nent
ported
8
days,
par­ Total Less
15
days,
28
days
less
tial
less or more
than than
8 days
15 than 28

Total______________________

822

3

25

467

161

129

95

82

327

3

20

392
11
55
4
5

139
2
13
4
3

109
5
14

80
3
11

64
1
17

Not reported____________________

696
15
97
l7
7

1

1

281
4
37
3
2

5

1Includes 2 minimum age (14 years), 1 hour alone, 3 hour and permit, and lhour, permit, and occupation.


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W O RKM EN S COMPENSATION LA W — INDIANA

167

The interviews brought out some significant facts in regard to both
the extent and the nature of the injuries sustained. A t the time the
minors were interviewed, from 6 months to 6 years had elapsed
since the occurrence o f the accidents that had caused their injuries.
^ or considerably more than four-fifths the period elapsing was at
least 1 year, and in all but one instance it was sufficient to allow the
actual extent o f their disability to be determined. Twenty minors
were interviewed or whose parents were interviewed were dis­
abled for a comparatively short period—less than 28 days: of the
remainder, 3 (2 boys and 1 girl) met with instant death; 30 (among
them 2 girls) received permanent injuries; and 58 received tem­
porary injuries resulting in a disability o f from 1 month to 1 year.
In one instance, although more than 4 years had passed since the ac­
cident, it was impossible to determine whether or not the injury
was permanent. The boy in question was hurt when an automobile
collided with a bicycle on which he was riding while employed as a
messenger boy for a gas and electric light company. He suffered a
concussion o f the brain and severe injuries to his back. Immediately
following the accident he was disabled for 5% months and after that
periodically was bothered with infections at the base o f the spine, at
first at intervals of 3 or 4 months and then less frequently. These
were severe enough to confine him to his bed for several weeks, and
each time caused him to lose his job. A t the time of the interview
he had undergone several operations and had not had any trouble
snme the last, which had taken place about 9 months previously.
The largest proportion o f the permanent injuries among the in­
terviewed minors were to hands and fingers, most o f them resulting
in amputations either at the time o f the accident or as a result o f in­
fections that developed later. The loss o f even one finger is a senous handicap to a young person who must earn his living with his
hands, but m several instances the loss was even greater. One boy
lost the ends o f the third and fourth fingers of his left hand; another
lost the first and second fingers o f his right hand at the second joint
and the entire third finger; a third lost the first three fingers o f his
left hand at the second joint and the fourth finger at the middle of
the second phalange; and a fourth boy lost the second finger of
Ins right hand at the second joint and the third finger at the third
jom t bix o f the permanent injuries affected parts o f the body other
than hands and fingers. One boy had his foot crushed so severely
that he was obliged to wear special supporting pads and even with
a6
of
,ese lnnped and was handicapped in getting around
Another, caught between the couplers of two empty freight cars
which he had been unloading, was so badly crushed that his pelvic
bone was broken m five places. A t the time o f the interview he still
fimped badiy had difficulty m getting around, tired easily, and was
unable to do hard work o f any kind. A 16-year-old girl was badly
burned on her arms, side, and chest from the explosion o f a gas
heater When interviewed, she could get around only with great
dimculty, and her right arm was twisted and completely useless. A
lG-year-old boy suffered gasoline burns that became infected, totally
disabling him for two years and leaving him with a 45 per cent
impairment o f use o f the right arm. Another boy, o f the same age,
empioyed in. a stone quarry lost the sight o f one eye when he was
struck by a flying piece o f stone, and a sixth boy, also 16 years of

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168

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

age, had two toes amputated when his foot was caught under the
roller of a steam shovel.
The temporary injuries, although less grave in results in many
instances, caused longer periods o f total disability than did many
o f the permanent injuries, and they were often extremely serious
from the point o f view o f the suffering endured and the financial
loss entailed. O f the 58 minors interviewed who received injuries
resulting in a disability o f at least 28 days, 22 were totally disabled
for 2 months or more and 5 for from 4 to 7 months.
In comparing the extent o f their injuries as reported by the minors
interviewed with that indicated on the accident reports, it was
found that a number o f these had been more seriously hurt than
was reported at the time o f the accident. O f the 30 receiving per­
manent injuries, 8 were more seriously injured than the records
indicated. In most o f these instances the full seriousness o f the
injury was not realized until after the report had been filed, but in
some cases the discrepancies were due to careless reporting on the
part o f the employers. In one case, according to the only report
made o f the accident, the minor in question had received “ an injury
to the left forefinger,” when actually the middle finger of the left
hand had been amputated at the first joint. In a second case the
injured worker was reported to be “ badly bruised about the abdomen
but no bones appear broken,” when in fact the pelvic bone was
broken in five places and the boy was seriously crippled for life.
Discrepancies were also found between the statements o f the minors
and the information found on the reports regarding the length of
time they were incapacitated in the case o f temporary injuries. O f
the 79 minors visited suffering temporary injuries, reports as to
the duration o f disability were on file with the industrial board for
43. O f these 43, 10 stated that they had been incapacitated for at
least two weeks longer than the reports showed. In 8 cases the
difference was one o f three weeks or more, and in 3 cases it was more
than two months. For example, the mother o f an injured minor
complained, when discussing the amount o f compensation received
by her son whose hand was permanently crippled as a result of
having been crushed in a dough-moulding machine, that nine weeks
after his accident he received a lump sum o f $53 and was told that
was all he had coming to him.” The boy was under a physician’s
care and unable to work for five months and both he and his mother
wondered why he was not entitled to further compensation.
In 6 o f the 10 cases in which there was a discrepancy in the rec­
ords, the accident occurred during the period prior or subsequent to
that in which illegally employed minors were compensated under
the workmen’s compensation act. In all but one o f these the minor
received some payment from the employer as indemnity for his in­
juries. It seems probable that this indemnity was paid these minors
under the impression that they were entitled to compensation, but
that it was discontinued when it was discovered that they were not,
and that the period of disability as indicated on the records in all
likelihood covered not the entire period but only that part for which
compensation was paid. But even in cases o f accidents occuring to
minors injured during the 14 months in which illegally employed
minors were compensated for their injuries under the act, complaints
were sometimes heard that injured minors were discharged by at
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w o r k m e n 's

169

COMPENSATION LA W — INDIANA

tending physicians and deprived o f compensation before they were
able to return to work, and that for no explainable reason compensa­
tion payments were sometimes discontinued a week or two before
they should have been. One boy who received a badly broken arm
while cranking a truck reported that he was discharged by the doctor
and his compensation discontinued when the cast was removed from
his arm (at the end o f two months), although his arm was so weak
that he was unable to work for a considerable period after that.
CAUSES OF IN JU RY 28

Handling objects and machinery were the most frequent causes
o f injury to minors illegally employed in Indiana. (Table 30.)
Together they were responsible in about equal proportions for almost
one-half (47 per cent) o f the injuries to this group o f workers.
More than two-fifths (45 per cent) o f the injuries occurring to boys
and practically two-thirds (49 out o f 76 reporting the cause o f in­
jury) of those occurring to girls were due to these two causes alone.
Among the boys, injuries caused by handling objects were somewhat
more common than machine injuries, 25 per cent being due to the
former and 20 per cent to the latter; but among the girls machinery
was responsible for slightly more than twice as many, 34 as com­
pared with 15. Next in importance as a cause of accidents, as far
as boys were concerned, came vehicles^ which caused 16 per cent o f
all injuries to boys. No vehicular accidents occurred in the case of
girls. W ith them dangerous and harmful substances ranked next to
handling objects and machinery, being responsible for 9 (12 per
cent) o f the injuries. Stepping on or striking against objects, falls
o f persons, hand tools, dangerous and harmful substances, and fall­
ing objects followed in the order o f their frequency as the causes of
injuries to boys; and falls o f persons, hand tools, stepping on or
striking against objects, and falling objects, to girls. None o f these
causes was responsible, however, tor more than 11 per cent o f the
total number o f injuries to either group o f workers.
T able 30.— Number of illegally employed boys and girls sustaining industrial
injuries, according to specific causes; Indiana, October 1, 1924-March 31,
1929
Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Cause of injury

Girls

Boys

Total

Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Number distri- Number distri- Number distribution
bution
bution
79

743

Total_______ ______ ___________

822

Cause reported................ ....... ..................

802

100

726

100

76

100

181
196

23
24
15
10
9
7
6
3
2

147
181
117
77
67
53
43
24
17

20
25
16
11
9
7
6
3
2

34
15

45
20

3
8
5
9
1
1

4
11
7
12
1
1

Machinery...........................................
Handling objects...............................—
Vehicles____ _____________________
Stepping on or striking against objects.
Falls of persons- - ............................... .
Hand tools...........................................
Dangerous and harmful substances__
Falling objects....................................
Miscellaneous____ ________________
Cause not reported.

80
75
58
52
25
18
20

17

3

» T h e classification of causes of accidents In this report is that recommended by the
committee on statistics and compensation insurance cost of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. See Standardization of Industrial Acci­
dent Statistics (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 276, Washington, 1920).


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170

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

Not only was machinery one o f the most common causes o f injury
to young workers in Indiana, but it was also more frequently
than anything else, so far as the available information shows, the
cause o f serious injuries as measured by the extent o f the resulting
disability. (Tables 31 and 32.) One of the three fatal accidents
reported within the period of the study and 17 of the 25 accidents
known to have resulted in permanent disability were due to ma­
chinery. On the other hand, only a little more than one-fifth (22
per cent) o f the injuries reported to have caused only temporary
disability were the result o f machine accidents. Fifteen per cent
o f the machine injuries in which the extent o f disablity was known
were known to have caused death or permanent disability, whereas
less than 7 per cent o f the injuries due to any other one cause were
reported to have resulted so seriously. Likewise a considerable
proportion o f the temporary injuries known to have resulted in dis­
abilities o f a relatively long duration were due to machinery. A l­
though vehicular accidents caused the largest proportion (46 per
cent) o f those resulting in temporary disability o f 28 days or
more, slightly less than one-fourth, considerably more than was due
to any other cause except vehicles, were the result o f machine
accidents. Injuries due to handling objects, though important as
far as numbers were concerned, were of little importance from the
standpoint o f severity. None o f the injuries from this cause resulted
fatally, and only 2 per cent were known to have caused permanent
disability. Temporary injuries from this cause, also, were com­
paratively slight, only 10 per cent resulting in disabilities of 28
days or more as compared with 46 per cent o f those due to vehicles,
23 per cent o f those due to machinery, and 18 per cent o f those
due to all causes.
T able 31.— E xten t of disability from industrial injuries to illegally employed
minors, according to specified causes; Indiana, October 1, 1924-M arch SI,
1929

Minors sustaining industrial injuries
Extent of disability

Cause of injury
Total
Death


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Perma­
nent par­ Tempo­
rary
tial

Not re­
ported

822

3

25

467

327

181
196
117
80
75
58
52
25
18
20

1

17
3

101
124
65
36
39
34
37
14
5
12

62
69
51
44
36
22
13
10
12
8

1

1

2
1
1
1

171

W O R K M E N 's COMPENSATION LA W ---- INDIANA

T able 32.— Duration o f temporary disability from industrial injuries to ille­
gally employed minors, according to specified ca uses: Indiana, October 1
1924-March 31, 1929

Minors sustaining temporary industrial injuries
Duration of disability

Cause of injury
Total

8 days, 15 days,
Less than less
than less than 28 days or
8 days
more
15
28

Total_______________________

467

161

129

95

82

Handling objects____________ ____
Machinery...___________ ______~~~
Vehicles_______
IIIZII"
Falls of persons____________ IIIIIIII'
Dangerous and harmful substances__
Stepping on or striking against objects.
Hand tools_______________________
Falling objects___________ I.IIIIIIII!
Miscellaneous..._____ ___
Not reported____________ IIIIIIII!

124
101
65
39
37
36
34
14
5
12

42
30
13
19
8
20
18
8
1
2

37
30
12
10
12
11
6
4
2
5

33
18
10
5
11
3
8
1
2
4

12
23
30
5
6
2
2
1
1

Accidents from machinery, handling objects, vehicles, and stepping
on or striking against objects were responsible, practically equally,
for all but 8 o f the 39 injuries to illegally employed minors under
16 years o f age. Among those 16 years o f age, however, injuries
due to vehicles and handling objects were more common than injuries
from other causes, and among those 17 years o f age injuries due
to machinery and handling objects predominated. O f the injuries
to 16-year-old minors illegally employed, 24 per cent were due
to handling objects, 22 per cent to vehicles, and 19 per cent to
machinery; in the 17-year-old group, 28 per cent were due to ma­
chinery, 24 per cent to handling objects, and only 15 per cent to
vehicles. Stepping on or striking against objects caused 11 per cent
of the injuries to minors 16 years old, but no other one cause was re­
sponsible for more than 7 per cent o f the injuries to minors o f either
16 or 17 years o f age. As might be expected, a larger proportion o f
the injuries due to vehicles and to machinery than to other causes
were sustained by minors employed in prohibited occupations. A l­
though only 14 per cent o f all minors illegally employed were found
to be engaged in prohibited occupations, 40 per cent o f those injured
by vehicles and 22 per cent of those injured by machinery were so
employed. Injuries from these two causes constituted almost threefourths (74 per cent) o f all injuries to minors working in prohibited
occupations.
Table 33 shows the nature o f the injuries sustained by the minors
included in the study, according to the different causes.
125914— 32------- 12


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172

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

T able 33.— Nature of industrial injuries to illegally employed minors, according
to specified causes; Indiana,, October 1, 1924-March 31, 1929
Minors sustaining industrial injuries

Not reported

Sprain or strain

fracture and disloca­
tion

Burn or scald

822

128

73

5

366

346

20

81

»8

8

181
196
117

18
45
16

27
28
7

2

110
86
17

95
84
17

15
2

2
2

18
7
50

2
27
21

1
2

2

80
75
58

14
9
10

1
1

60
20
44

60
20
43

1

1
1
1

2
16
1

3
27

52
25
18
20

6
5
5

5
1
3

1
9
8
11

1
8
7
11

4
1
1

1

falling objects....................

2

1

1
1

53 » 100

46

All other

Total........................
Machinery______________
Handling "objects_________
Vehicles!...."......................
Stepping on or striking
against objects.... ............
falls of persons__________
Hand tools..... ....................
Dangerous and harmful

Total

Minor cuts

Amputations

Cuts, punctures,
lacerations

Total

Concussion or shock

Crushed or smashed

Cause of injury

Bruises, contusions,
abrasions

Nature of injury

1
4

2

1
1
2

1 Includes fractures, 96; dislocations, 7.
1 Includes nicotine, acid, or gas fume, 3; lead poisoning, 1; multiple injuries, 3; eye injury, 1.

Among the 113 minors interviewed machinery and vehicles were
the principal causes of injury. They were responsible for two-thirds
o f the accidents to this group of workers, and they occurred in all
age groups alike. No vehicular accidents occurred to girls, but ma­
chine accidents were common among both boys and girls. The pro­
portion o f accidents due to these two causes was considerably larger
among the interviewed minors, who represented (for the most part)
the more seriously injured, than among the total number included
in the study. Whereas in the larger group 23 per cent o f the acci­
dents occurring to boys and 45 per cent o f those occurring to girls
were due to machinery, in the interviewed group 33 per cent o f those
to boys and 6 o f the 12 occurring to girls were due to this cause.
Likewise, only 16 per cent of the accidents to boys in the larger
group were due to vehicles as compared with 33 per cent o f those
in the interviewed group. (No vehicular accidents occurred to girls
in either group.) Accidents due to handling objects, which together
with those due to machinery were responsible for such a large num­
ber o f the injuries in the larger group (25 per cent of those occurring
to boys and 20 per cent of those occurring to girls), were responsible
for only a small percentage o f injuries to those interviewed (12 per
cent o f those to boys and 1 of the 12 occurring to girls).
An even larger percentage o f accidents due to machinery and
vehicles occurred to the boys and girls engaged in occupations pro­
hibited because o f their hazardous nature in the group interviewed
than to those so employed in the group as a whole. Or the 32 occu­
pational violations discovered, 10 were in connection with machine
accidents and 18 were in connection with vehicular accidents. Ma­
chine accidents, however, if it is assumed that in general injuries
resulting in permanent partial disability are more serious than those

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173

W O R K M E N » COMPENSATION LAW ---- INDIANA

resulting in temporary disability, were the cause of more serious
injuries than vehicles, although vehicles led all other causes except
machinery in severity o f injuries. O f the 39 machine accidents oc­
curring to both boys and girls, 1 was fatal and 19 resulted in per­
manent partial disability. O f the 33 vehicular accidents, 1 was fatal
but only 2 resulted in permanent disability.
ACCIDENTS DUE TO MACHINERY

Machinery was responsible for 147 injuries to boys and 34 to girls.
(Table 34.) Hoisting apparatus, elevators, cranes, and derricks
were responsible for 22 o f the injuries to the boys and elevators- for 4
o f the injuries to the girls. The great majority o f the injuries in each
group, however, were caused by working machines. Most o f the ac­
cidents on working machines among the interviewed minors occurred
while the worker was operating the machine, but some were due to
the accidental starting of the machine either by the injured work­
man himself or by a fellow employee. A few occurred from the
breaking o f machinery, and a few when the worker was oiling it
while it was in motion. In almost all instances the accident occurred
at the point o f operation, but in several cases the injured workman
was caught in the gears or other such parts. Although the Indiana
accident report forms call for information as to whether or not the
machines on which the accidents occurred were guarded and, if not,
whether guards were possible, the majority of the employers o f the
interviewed minors failed to give any information on these points.
When the injured minors were questioned, however, with the excep­
tion o f several who were unable to give reports, they stated in each
instance that the machines had not been guarded at the time of the
accident although in several instances guards were installed after the
accident. Complaints were also made in a number o f cases that the
machine upon which the minor was working when injured was de­
fective and that after the accident had occurred, or (as was occa­
sionally reported) after several accidents had occurred on the same
machine, it had been repaired or replaced by a new one.
34.— Number of illegally employed boys and girls sustaining industrial
injuries from specified type of m achinery; Indiana, October 1, 1924-March
31, 1929

T able

Type of machinery causing injury

Minors sustaining industrial
injuries from machinery
Total

Boys

Girls

Total___________________________
Working machinery___________________
Metalworking_____________________
Woodworking__________________;___
Textile..................................................
Printing and bookbinding....................
Baking and confectionery____ ______
Paper and paper products__________
Meat products____________________
Canning................. .......... ....... ...........
Laundry......................... ...................
Farm....______ ____________ _____
Other...............................................
Type of working machine not reported.

181
155
52
30
18

147
125
47
30
3

34
30
5

7
7
5
4

6
6

1
1

Hoisting apparatus.......
Elevators................
Cranes and derricks.

26
"l9~l
7


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11

2
2

13
4

9

5
4

15
2

1

1

9
3

4

2

1

22
4
15
4
7 ...............

174

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

Among the girls in the record study, one-half o f the accidents
resulting from machinery, other than hoisting apparatus, occurred
on textile machines, but among the boys the large majority were
caused by metal and woodworking machines— almost two-fifths
(38 per cent) by the former and slightly less than one-fourth (24
per cent) by the latter. Textile machines were responsible for onefifth o f the injuries from all causes to girls, and metal and wood­
working machines for one-tenth of those from all causes to boys.
There was little difference in the kind o f machinery responsible for
injuries to minors in the different age groups, as far as the limited
figures on hand showed, but metal-working machines were responsi­
ble more often than any other kind of machine for injuries to
minors engaged in prohibited occupations. Hoisting apparatus was
responsible for the next largest number, but for only slightly more
than one-half as many as metal-working machines.
W orking machines.

Metal-working machines.—The metal-working machines responsi­
ble for the greatest number o f accidents were buffing and abrasive
wheels, punch presses, and drill presses. O f the 47 boys injured on
metal machines, 15 were operating buffing and abrasive wheels; 8;
punch presses; and 9, drill presses. Eleven different metal-working
machines were responsible for the remaining injuries to boys.
O f the 5 girls who were injured on metal machines, 3 were operat­
ing punch presses and 2 were working on buffing machines. Most
o f the injuries caused by metal-working machines were to hands
and fingers, although in several instances eye injuries caused
by emery dust or other flying particles were reported to minors
employed on abrasive wheels. A ll the girls and all but 5 o f the
boys injured on metal-working machines were employed in manu­
facturing industries— largely in metal trades. O f the 5 minors em­
ployed in other than manufacturing industries, 2 boys were in
transportation industries and 2 in trade; the industry in which the
fifth was employed could not be ascertained from the records. Three
o f these were injured on emery wheels, 1 on an arbor press, and 1 on
what was reported as a cutlery machine. None o f the injuries
occurring on metal machines proved fatal, but 7 o f the 52, a higher
proportion than was due to any other type o f machinery, were
known to have resulted in permanent disability; all 7 resulted in
amputations o f fingers. Furthermore, o f the 23 injuries known to
have resulted in temporary disability o f definite duration, 5 were
known to have incapacitated the worker for 28 days or more.
Punch presses were responsible for the permanent injuries in three
instances; grinding machines in two; and a bushing press and drill
press in one each. A larger proportion o f the illegally employed
minors injured on metal-working machines than o f those injured on
any other type o f machinery, except farm machinery, as to which
no conclusions can be drawn,26 were found to have been engaged in
occupations prohibited them because o f their hazardous nature.
Slightly more than one-fourth o f the illegally employed minors
injured on metal-working machines during the period o f the study
were included among those interviewed. From the standpoint o f
•»Oniy 2 accidents to illegally employed minors on farm machinery were reported in
the course o f the study, and in each instance the employment was prohibited.


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W O RKM EN S COMPENSATION LA W — INDIANA

175

both frequency and severity o f accidents metal-working machines
were the most important of all machines upon which this group of
interviewed minors were injured, being responsible for 15 o f the 39
machine accidents and for 8 o f the 19 accidents that resulted in per­
manent disability. The proportion of machine injuries due to metal­
working machines was a little larger in this group o f minors chosen
for interviewing than in the group included in the study as a
whole— about one-third as compared with approximately one-fourth.
The largest number of injuries due to any one kind of metal machine
(5) occurred on pnnch presses, although nearly as many (4) occurred
on buffing and grinding machines. The remainder were distrib­
uted— 1 to a drill press, 2 to foot-power machines, 1 to a milling
machine, and 1 each to a wire-crimper and wire-winding machine.
O f the foot-power machines, 1 was a battery-grid-trimming machine
and the other a sheet-metal cutter. O f the two accidents to girls
on metal-working machines, 1 occurred on a punch press and 1 on a
buffing machine. As would be expected, almost all the minors in­
jured on metal-working machines were employed in the metal indus­
tries, but one boy injured on an emery wheel was a member o f an
electric-railway construction gang; another, suffering a similar in­
jury, was employed at grinding tools in a furniture factory; and a
third, injured on a battery-grid-trimming machine, was working in
an electrical-supplies factory. A ll but 1 o f the 15 injuries occurring
on metal-working machines were to hands or fingers, but one girl,
working on a buffing machine, suffered a broken wrist when loose
threads on the glove which she was wearing caught on the spindle
of the machine and drew her hand over the wheel. Seven of these
15 injuries resulted in permanent partial disability— 5 in amputa­
tions of fingers and 2 in stiffened joints.
The majority o f the boys and girls interviewed reported that they
had been employed at the machines on which they were hurt, or sim­
ilar ones, for at least two months prior to their accident and were,
therefore, thoroughly familiar with them. But one boy reported
that he had been employed only two days and another that he had
been working only a day and a half when his accident occurred. Nei­
ther felt that he had failed to receive proper instructions regarding
the operation o f the machine or sufficient supervision. One girl and
one boy claimed that they had been put to work on defective ma­
chines. The girl was working on a punch press, and according to
her statement the hammer was insecure and descended before she had
pressed the pedal and while she was adjusting her material. This
girl reported that previous to her accident another worker had re­
ceived a minor injury in the same manner, and several months later
a third worker lost a finger on the same machine. When the girl
interviewed was injured, the manager refused to accept responsibility
and accused her o f looking out of the window while operating the
machine, but after the third accident the machine was discarded and
a new one installed. The second machine in question was a buffing
machine, and according to both the injured boy’s and his employer’s
report o f the accident the spindle that holds the wheel as it revolves,
and which is hollow, was not capped as it should have been. In some
manner the boy’s fourth finger was caught in it as it revolved and
wrenched off.

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176

T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

Among the minors included in the study as a whole, slightly more
than one-fourth of those injured on metal-working machines were
employed in occupations prohibited them by law, but among those
interviewed only 2 of the 15 so employed were working in prohibited
occupations; both were boys— one 16 and one 17 years o f age— and
both were employed on abrasive wheels.
Woodworking machines.—A ll accidents due to woodworking ma­
chinery (30) occurred to boys. O f these the largest number (10)
occurred in connection with saws and the next largest number (7)
in connection with sanders. Three o f the injuries sustained on
woodworking machines were known to have resulted in permanent
disability. O f the 18 injuries due to this type of machinery known
to have been only temporary, 3 incapacitated the worker for 28 days
or more. For the most part injuries due to woodworking machines
occurred to hands and fingers, and consisted largely o f lacerations,
cuts, and crushes. Only 2 o f the 30 minors injured on woodworking
machines, as compared with a little more than one-fourth o f those
on metal-working machines, were held by the industrial board to
have been engaged in prohibited occupations. One boy, only 15
years o f age, was operating a milling machine, and another o f the
same age was off-bearing from a sticker machine.
Four o f the 30 minors injured on woodworking machines were
injured seriously enough to be included among those interviewed.
The cause and nature of their accidents were as follow s:
A boy, 16 years o f age, employed as off-bearer on a drum sander in a fur­
niture factory, caught his left hand in the gears of the machine when a fellow
employee started it while the boy was oiling it. H e was injured so seriously
that it was necessary to amputate his second and third fingers just above the
second joint.
Another boy, 17 years of age, also employed in a furniture factory, was
injured while attempting to oil a wood lathe while it was in motion— a hazard­
ous operation prohibited minors under 18 years of age. H is hand slipped and
was caught in the lathe tool, with the result that the left index finger had
to be amputated at the third joint.
A third boy, also 17 years o f age, employed in a machine shop, was injured
while operating a circular saw. H e got his hand too near the saw and his
right index finger was cut. A few days after the accident infection set in,
and the finger became permanently stiff. No information as to whether this
machine was guarded was given in the report received from the employer,
but according to the minor it was not.
A fourth boy, 17 years of age, lost the tips of the second and third fingers
of his left hand while operating a joiner.
Fortunately the bone was not
affected, so the injuries were less serious than the others due to this cause,
but the boy was totally incapacitated 52 days. The machine, according to the
minor’s statement, was not guarded.

Textile machines.— Textile machines were the cause o f injuries
to 18 minors, all but 3 o f whom were girls. A ll the girls and 1 of
the 3 boys were employed on power sewing machines.27 The second
boy was operating a strip machine in the cutting room o f a clothing
factory, and the third was a spinner in a hosiery mill. None o f
the minors employed on textile machines, so far as actual ages
could be determined, was under 16 years o f age, and all but 3 were
17. Injuries from textile machines were less serious than those
caused by metal and woodworking machines. None, so far as the
27 According to the Standard Cause Code (see footnote 25, p. 169) clothing machines are
classified under textile machines.


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w o r k m e n 's

COMPENSATION LAW — IN DIANA

177

records showed, resulted in permanent disability, and only 2 in
temporary disability of 28 or more days. A ll illegally employed
minors injured on textile machines were working in violation of
the certificate provisions of the law ; none was found in a prohibited
occupation.
Other working machines.—Machines other than metal working,
woodworking, and textile caused 55 of the 155 accidents due to work­
ing machines. The most important among these in severity o f the
accidents caused were baking and confectionery and meat-products
machines.
Although baking and confectionery machines were responsible
for only 7 injuries to the minors included in this study, 2 were
known to have caused permanent disability and 8 to have resulted
in temporary disability o f 28 days or more duration. One girl,
reported to be 17 years o f age, caught her right hand in the rollers
o f a dough moulder, mashing the second and third fingers, the
latter so severely that a 15 per cent loss o f use resulted; a boy,
reported to be 16 years o f age, lost the little finger o f his right
hand while operating a bread-cutting machine; another boy meeting
with an accident similar to that o f the 17-year-old girl after having
been at work only one day suffered a lacerated and fractured hand
that incapacitated him for 52 days and caused severe suffering.
Still another boy, 17 years o f age, was disabled 29 days, due to
bruised and fractured fingers incurred when he caught his hand
in a pie-crust roller while employed in a bakery.
Likewise, o f the 5 injuries caused by meat-products machines, 4
were sufficiently serious for inclusion in the number interviewed;
3 o f the 4, all due to power-driven meat grinders, had resulted in
serious permanent disabilities, and the fourth had resulted in tem­
porary disability o f 35 days. The 4 boys injured in this manner
were employed in retail stores, 2 as regular meat cutters and 2 as
delivery boys and general helpers. Three were 17 years old and
the other was 16 years. A ll accidents on meat-products machines
occurred on power-driven meat grinders and were occasioned by
the worker attempting to force the meat into the worm gear with
his fingers. To prevent such accidents wooden paddles should be
used, but the temptation to press the meat down with the fingers
is great. Furthermore, the lour minors interviewed reported that
they had never been instructed to use a paddle. Only one escaped
permanent injury. The ends o f his fingers were badly mashed, in­
capacitating him for five weeks, but the bones were not injured and
eventually he recovered completely. O f the other three, one lost the
second finger o f his left hand at the second joint; another the index,
second, and fourth fingers of his right hand at the second joint and
the third finger at the base; and the third lost four fingers on his
left hand, the first three at the second joint and the fourth just
above that joint.
So far only one State, Pennsylvania, has recognized the danger
o f serious accidents on power-driven meat grinders by prohibiting
the employment o f minors under 16 years o f age on them. That
the danger is not generally recognized is probably due to the fact
that such accidents have been few in comparison with those due to
other causes. But the severity of those occurring in Indiana, and

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178

THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D M IN O R

the almost certain chance o f their resulting in permanent disability,
would seem to demand some sort o f precautionary provisions not
only for workers under 16 years o f age but also for those under 18
years, as is evidenced by the fact that all but one of the minors
injured on such machines in Indiana were 17 years o f age.28
O f the 43 remaining accidents caused by working machines, those
sufficiently serious to make it desirable to interview the injured
minors occurred on a printing press, a kraut cutter in a cannery, a
collar press in a laundry, a power corn sheller in a retail feed store,
a knotting machine in a spring-cushion factory, and a subgrader in
use by a road-construction company. Most of these accidents oc­
curred while the injured minors were operating the machinery, but
one was the result o f machinery being started accidentally by a fellow
employee and one was caused by the minor attempting to oil the
machinery while it was in motion. Two— one in the kraut factory
to a 15-year-old boy and one in the spring-cushion factory to a
16- year-old girl— were relatively slight. The other accidents were
more serious, resulting either in permanent disabilities or in tempo­
rary disabilities o f from 7 to 12 weeks. The operator of the power
corn sheller (a 15-year-old boy), putting his hand in the hopper to
clear it when it became clogged, got his fingers too near the worm
gear and lost his right index finger at the first joint. The accidents
on the printing presses in which one worker (a 15-year-old boy)
got his hand caught in the press while operating it, and the other
(a 16-year-old boy) got his hand caught in the gears while oiling
the machine in motion, resulted in two permanently flexed fingers
in the first instance and in the amputation o f the left index finger
in the second. O f the temporary disabilities, the most serious was
that occurring on the subgrader; this occurred not to the operator
o f the machine but to a fellow laborer, aged 16, in the gang who was
assisting in turning it. While he was so employed the operator
lowered the scraper without warning and it fell on his foot, cutting
through his shoe to the bone. He was disabled for 12 weeks. A
17- year-old girl, employed in a laundry as operator o f a collar press,
was disabled for 7 weeks when the press descended accidentally and
crushed her left index finger.
There were two cases o f prohibited employment in this miscel­
laneous group o f machine workers. A 16-year-old boy was hurt
while oiling a printing press while it was in motion—hazardous
work that is specifically prohibited minors under 18 years of age
under the provisions of the child labor law; and a 15-year-old boy
was injured while operating a corn sheller—an occupation infor­
mally held by the State industrial board to be in violation o f the
law for minors under 18 years, under the general clause “ dangerous
to life and limb.”
Hoisting apparatus.

Hoisting machinery caused 26 accidents, 4 to girls and 22 to boys.
Nineteen were due to elevators and seven to cranes and derricks.
28 R ecent m odels o f this machine, built so as to make it less likely fo r the fingers to
reach the worm gear and prevent such accidents as described, are now on the market.
The life o f a machine is relatively long, however, and em ployers w ill not readily scrap a
usable model that can be operated w ith safety provided proper precaution is taken. So,
until the old m odel has been universally discarded and the new one proven to be satis­
fa ctorily safe, minors should be protected from any possible risk o f such accidents.


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w o r k m e n 's

COMPENSATION LAW — IN DIANA

179

Injuries occurring in connection with cranes and derricks were
usually the result o f the worker being struck by the cable or load,
and those in connection with elevators, with his being caught between
the car and floors or doors. Although minors under 18 years o f age
are specifically forbidden to operate hoisting machinery o f any
kind, a 17-year-old boy was operating a crane, and five boys and
four girls, all 16 or 17 years o f age, were operating elevators, either
as their regular occupation or as a necessary means o f performing
other assigned duties. The remainder injured on elevators were
riding as passengers when hurt. None o f the accidents from hoist­
ing machinery resulted in permanent disabilities, but elevators were
responsible for one o f the three fatalities and for three injuries
involving a comparatively long period o f convalescence.
Six o f the twenty-six illegally employed minors injured on hoist­
ing machinery during the period o f the study were included among
those interviewed. A ll were boys, and all were 16 or 17 years o f age.
Five were injured on elevators and one was injured while employed
around a derrick. The latter, a 16-year-old boy, working as a
laborer with a bridge-construction company, was struck by a steel
bar that fell against him when the hoisting chain with which it was
being raised broke. Two bones in his right leg were broken mid­
way between knee and ankle, and he was totally disabled for 10
weeks. O f the five boys injured on elevators, four were operating
them when hurt, although only one was doing so as a regular occu­
pation. The other three were employed in occupations that required
them to go from floor to floor and were operating the elevators for
their own transportation. One o f the five elevator accidents, that
o f a boy whose hand was injured when the cage door fell in, was
comparatively slight, disabling the worker for a period o f only
three weeks; but o f the other four, one caused instant death, one tem­
porary disability for a period of six weeks, another temporary disa­
bility for slightly morp than four weeks and the fourth temporary
disability lasting between two and three months. The fatal accident
occurred to a 17-year-old boy employed as a messenger for a com­
mercial messenger company. He was caught in some unknown way
in the door o f an electric elevator while attempting to deliver a
package to the upper floor o f an office building and killed instantly.
The second accident occurred to a bell boy in a hotel who fell
through the elevator shaft to the basement (one flight below) when
attempting to enter the elevator that he had left but which had
been taken to another floor in his absence. The hall in which the
elevator stood was not well lighted and the door to the elevator
shaft, though closed, was not provided with a lock as it should have
been. The third accident occurred to a boy who was carrying
merchandise from one floor to another in a department store. He
slipped and had his arm drawn in between the elevator floor and
the wall o f the shaft, suffering injuries that incapacitated him for
about three months. The fourth o f these accidents occurred to a
bundle boy in a laundry who used the elevator as a means o f carry­
ing heavy bundles o f laundry from one floor to another. It was an
open-shaft, elevator without doors or guards o f any kind, and with­
out realizing it, the boy was standing with his right foot protruding
over the edge o f the platform. As the elevator rose his foot was

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180

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

caught between the elevator and the floor above and was badly
crushed.
ACCIDENTS NOT DUE TO MACHINERY
Vehicles.

More than four-fifths o f the 117 vehicular accidents, all o f which
occurred to boys, were due to motor vehicles— automobiles, trucks,
and motorcycles. (Table 36.) Fifteen were due to bicycles, 5 oc­
curred in connection with steam cars, and 2 occurred in connection
with mine and quarry cars. Injuries due to bicycles were the result
o f falls and collisions, and those in connection with steam cars were
caused by the worker being caught between and under the cars. In
the case o f motor vehicles, cranking was the most frequent cause of
injury, causing practically one-half o f all such injuries. Forty-six
per cent o f the vehicular accidents occurred to boys in manufactur­
ing industries, 30 per cent occurred to those employed in trade, and
18 per cent occurred to those employed in transportation. A little
more than half o f the minors injured by vehicles were employed as
drivers of trucks or other automobiles or as helpers on trucks. As
would be expected, as such a large number o f the accidents were due
to cranking, fractures and sprains, chiefly o f arms, wrists, and
shoulders, were the most common injuries resulting from accidents
due to motor vehicles, but 1 of the 3 fatal accidents occurring to
illegally employed minors in the period o f the study occurred to a
17-year-old boy who was driving a delivery truck for a neighbor­
hood grocer and instantly killed by a passenger train at an unpro­
tected crossing. None of the vehicular accidents resulted in perma­
nent disability, but the proportion resulting in a comparatively long
period of temporary disability was exceptionally high. O f the 65
injuries in which the period o f disability was known, almost half (30)
incapacitated the worker for at least 28 days. Moreover, 2 of the 6
accidents occurring within the period o f the study that were known
to have resulted in disabilities o f 3 months or more were caused by
motor vehicles.
T able 35.— Number of illegally employed boys sustaining industrial injuries
from specified type of vehicles; Indiana, October 1, 192Jj-March 81, 1929
Boys sustaining
industrial injuries
from vehicles
Type of vehicle causing injury
Per cent
Number distribu­
tion
Total....................................................

117

100

Automobiles and other motors......................

95

81

Cranking............................... .................
Collisions............. - .................................
Struck by or run over by................ .......
Overturning............................................

47
14
10
9
15

40
12
9
8
13

15

13

Falls from...............................................
Collisions________ _________________

10
5

9
4

Steam and electric cars..................................
Mine and quarry cars....................................

5
2

4
2


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WORKMEN" S COMPENSATION LA W — INDIANA

181

Eight o f the thirty-nine illegally employed minors included in the
study known to have been under 16 years o f age—the same proportion
as were injured by machinery—were injured in vehicular accidents.
Among those 16 years o f age the proportion injured by vehicles was
slightly higher (22 per cent as compared with 19 per cent), whereas
among those 17 years o f age it was lower (15 per cent as compared
with 25 per cent). As employment to drive a motor vehicle on the
public roads is considered illegal for minors under 18 years o f age
(see p. 156) and as this occupation can not easily be given on the
accident report in such a way that the illegality o f the employment
is not self-evident, a larger proportion o f the minors (38 per cent)
from this cause than from any other one cause were found
t o b e employed in an occupation prohibited them when injured.
Thirty-three o f the minors interviewed were injured by vehicles.
Motor vehicles (chiefly automobiles, but in two instances motor
cycles) were responsible for 27 of these accidents. Bicycles were
responsible for injuries in only 3 instances, steam cars in 2, and elec­
tric cars in 1. Fourteen o f the accidents in connection with motor
vehicles were due to cranking, 7 to collisions, 2 to overturning, 3 to
the worker being caught between a building and a moving truck, and
1 to the worker falling from a truck. Bicycle accidents were due to
falls in two cases and to a collision in one. Those in connection with
steam cars were due^ in the one instance to the worker falling from
a moving train, and in the other instance to his being caught between
the couplers o f two cars. The one accident caused by an electric train
occurred when the worker got his foot caught between the guard
rail and a moving car.
More than half o f the minors in this group injured in connection
with motor vehicles (10 o f the 12 employed in trade, 4 of the 10
connected with manufacturing industries, and 3 o f the 5 in other
kinds o f employment) were driving trucks or other motor cars at the
time they were injured. O f these, one was not regularly employed
as a truck driver but was driving in an emergency; the remainder
however, were regularly so employed. O f the minors injured in con­
nection with motor vehicles but in occupations other than driving 4
were helpers on trucks, 2 were passengers on their way to assign­
ments of work, 1 was a mechanic in a garage, and the others were
laborers working around cars and trucks. A large proportion of the
minors injured on motor vehicles (11 o f the 18 employed as truck
drivers, 3 o f those employed as laborers, and the 1 garage worker)
were hurt while attempting to crank the car. The three minors in­
jured on bicycles were all messenger or delivery boys. The three
in connection with steam and electric cars were laborers.
Among the minors interviewed, permanent disabilities did not
result so frequently from vehicular accidents as from machine acci­
dents— only 2 o f the former as compared with 18 o f the latter being
o f that serious a nature—-but temporary disabilities due to vehicular
accidents appeared considerably more serious and involved longer
periods o f disablement than did those due to machinery. None&of
the machine accidents causing temporary injuries were serious enough
to lay up the worker for as long as three months, whereas 6 o f the
vehicular accidents resulted in periods of disability ranging from
three months to one year. The less serious ones— incurred for the
most part while cranking—consisted largely o f sprains and fractures,

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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

to arms and wrists in particular. The more serious ones, which re­
sulted from automobile collisions, except for the B accidents due
to steam and electric cars, consisted chiefly of bruises and fractures
to all parts o f the body, concussions o f the brain, and internal in­
juries. Among the more serious accidents were the follow ing:
A 17-year-old boy, a laborer in the employ of the city, was caught between the
couplers of two coal cars which he was unloading and was so badly crushed
that his pelvic bone was broken in five places and his internal organs severely
injured. H e was totally disabled for a long period and suffered permanent
partial disability.
Another 17-year-old boy, employed as a laborer in a brick and tile plant,
caught his left foot between the guard rail and the electric transfer car used
for hauling clay from the clay pit. It was so badly crushed that he was
completely incapacitated for 96 days and permanently crippled.
A messenger boy, 16 years of age, collecting mail from various offices belonging
to the company by which he was employed, was knocked from his bicycle by
an automobile. H e suffered a concussion o f the brain, a wrenched back, and
body and head bruises. He was incapacitated for five months, and in the
next few years was obliged to return to the hospital twice for corrective
operations.
A 17-year-old boy, a helper on a truck, was assisting in unloading bottles onto
a platform. A s he stood on the ground between the platform and the truck,
the driver backed his machine and pinned him in. Both his hips were badly
bruised, and he was injured internally. H e was incapacitated for three
months.
A 17-year-old newspaper reporter was riding with a friend on his way to
cover a football game for a local newspaper. The car in which he was riding
collided with another that had failed to obey traffic signals. The boy suffered a
broken rib, a punctured lung, a dislocated knee, and many cuts and bruises.

There was little difference among the minors interviewed in the
proportion o f each age group injured in vehicular accidents, onethird o f those 16 and 17 years o f age and 2 of the 9 under 16 years
o f age having been injured in this manner. As was to be expected,
a larger proportion o f the interviewed minors suffering vehicular
accidents than o f those suffering accidents from other causes were
employed in occupations prohibited them.
Handling objects.

Accidents due to handling objects were frequent, 181 occurring to
boys and 15 to girls. (Table 37.) The majority (63 per cent) were
caused by heavy objects, and were the results of strain in lifting or
o f the objects falling on the worker while they were being lifted,
loaded, or unloaded, or o f the worker getting jammed between such
objects. Almost one-half o f the injuries resulting from these acci­
dents were cuts and bruises, but 14 per cent were strains. The cuts
and bruises, as a rule, were not serious in themselves, but because of
their apparent insignificance they were apt to be neglected and in
numerous instances infections developed that caused serious compli­
cations. Although accidents from handling objects were not, in
general, so serious as machine accidents, 3 o f the 196 injuries sus­
tained from this cause resulted in permanent disability and 12 in
temporary disability o f 28 days or more. A ll the permanent in­
juries, two of which resulted in amputation o f fingers and the third
in a crippled leg, occurred in connection with the lifting or loading
o f heavy objects. Injuries caused by handling objects occurred in
about equal proportions to minors o f all age groups and were not con
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W O RKM EN *S COMPENSATION LAW — INDIANA

fined to any one industry or occupation. Only a small number of
those suffering such injuries (6 per cent) were found in prohibited
occupations; most of these were truck drivers.
T able 37.— Number of illegally employed boys and girls sustaining industrial
injuries from handling specified ob jects; Indiana, October 1, 1924-March
SI, 1929

Objects handled

Minors sustaining industrial
injuries from handling objects
Total

Boys

Girls

T otal-................................. ..........

IQfi

181

15

Heavy objects........................ ..................

123

118

5

61
40
22

59
39
20

2
1
2

60

51

Dropped in handling....... ..................................
Caught between objects........................
Strain in handling.....................................
Sharp objects............. _.................................
Glass...................................
Slivers............. .............. .
Sheet metal and sheet-metal objects___ _
Nails or tacks.....................................
Wire..................... ....................
Others.............. . .. . ..
Hand trucks.................................
Others...........................................

19
ID

6
4
5
16
3
10

7
6
4
12
3

1

O f the 181 boys and 15 girls injured as a result o f handling
objects, 12 boys and 1 girl were included among the minors inter­
viewed. Only 8 of these suffered serious injuries, none o f the others
having been incapacitated for as long as 28 days. Infections fre­
quently resulted from accidents due to this cause, and 3 cases of
hernia were reported. The former developed from bruises and punc­
tures; the latter were caused by the strain of lifting heavy objects.
Two o f the three cases of permanent partial disability occurring
among the minors in this group were due to infections. A 17year-old boy working his way through school as a delivery boy
for a meat market dropped a heavy keg o f pickles on his right
thumb. The bruise was slight but infection developed and amputa­
tion at the second joint became necessary. Another boy, 16 years
o f age, employed after school hours as a helper in a neighborhood
grocery, bruised his right index finger when he caught it between
two boxes while loading a wagon. Within a few days infection
developed, and the bone had to be removed at the third joint. Two
o f the three cases o f hernia were reported by boys and one by a
girl. One o f the boys, a salesman in a store, was injured in lifting
a heavy box from a shelf. The other, employed on a wire-stranding
machine in a wire and rubber company, was hurt when attempting
to lift a filled reel from the machine. The girl, a waitress in an ice­
cream parlor, received her injury from lifting an ice-cream freezer.
As in the group as a whole, injuries from handling objects
occurred to minors o f all age groups among those interviewed and
were not confined to any special industries. One 15-year-old boy
was in a prohibited occupation, being employed in a bowling alley,
an employment that is specifically prohibited minors under 16 years

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THE

IL L E G A L L Y E M P L O Y E D

M IN O R

o f age. The others were violating the certificate requirements of
the law only.
Stepping on or striking against objects.

Injuries due to stepping on nails or other sharp objects and to
striking against objects were relatively frequent, 80 such occurring
in the period covered by the study—77 to boys and 3 to girls. Only
5 o f the illegally employed minors injured in this manner were
included among those interviewed. Although a large proportion of
these injuries were not serious, 20 o f the 39 (all for which the
resulting disability was known) not having exceeded in duration
the 7-day waiting period, 1 resulted in permanent disability, and
4 resulted in temporary disability of 28 days or more. As would
be expected from the manner in which they occurred, the greater
number o f the injuries were cuts, punctures, and lacerations, and
they occurred most frequently to feet and toes. Some of them were
slight in themselves but became serious as infection developed. One
such case is particularly to be noted. A 17-year-old boy hurrying
to get into a truck, in order to drive it out o f the way o f an
approaching train, struck his shin on the running board o f the
machine and bruised the bone. Several days later blood poisoning
developed, and he was totally disabled for five months. A t the time
he was interviewed, a little more than three years later, the injured
spot still festered from time to time.
Injuries from stepping on or striking against sharp objects ap­
peared to be somewhat more common among the younger workers
than the older. Seven per cent o f those known to have been 17 years
o f age were injured in this manner as compared with 11 per cent
o f those known to have been 16 years o f age and with 8 of the 39
known to have been under that age. Almost all workers are exposed
to accidents o f this nature in the course o f the day’s work, so that,
as would be expected, injuries o f this kind were not concentrated
in any one industry or occupation but were scattered through
many.
Falls of persons.”

Falls were responsible for injuries to 75 o f the illegally employed
minors included in the study. They caused approximately one-tenth
o f all the accidents to boys included and about the same proportion
o f those to girls; and they occurred in all age groups indiscrimi­
nately. A large number, almost one-third, were falls from scaffolds,
ladders, and stairs. The injuries resulting were most frequently
fractures or sprains of arms and legs, but three cases of hernia were
reported. So far as the records in the industrial board show none
o f these caused permanent disability, but 5 of the 39 for which
information as to the extent o f disability was on file in the industrial
board, and 3 others for which information was obtained through
interviews with the minors themselves, resulted in the minor being
temporarily disabled for at least 28 days. In four instances the
injuries were particularly serious. A 16-year-old boy employed as
a water boy for a building contractor was incapacitated 59 days with
a broken ankle, the result of a fall from a scaffold. Another boy,
28 Other than falls from vehicles o r into elevator shafts, which have been classified under
injuries due to vehicles and to hoisting apparatus.


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reported to be IT years old, working independently as a carpenter,
suffered a hernia from a similar accident, and was obliged to undergo
an operation that incapacitated him for 68 days. A third boy, IT
years o f age, was confined to his home eight weeks with a fractured
ankle when, employed as a general laborer for a building contractor,
he fell from an inclined plank along which he was pushing a wheel­
barrow filled with concrete. A fourth boy, also IT years of age,
employed as a pipe-fitter’s helper in a wholesale house, was confined
to the hospital six weeks and to his home an additional three weeks
with a fractured vertebra and a broken ankle incurred when he fell
from a scaffold on which he was working.
o
Other causes.

The remaining injuries to minors illegally employed were caused
chiefly by hand tools, which were responsible for 58 accidents;
dangerous and harmful substances, responsible for 52 accidents; and
falling objects, responsible for 25 accidents. O f these three causes,
dangerous and harmful substances (which included flames, chemicals,
molten metals, hot compounds, and other hot fluids) were the cause
o f the most severe injuries, some o f which were the most serious o f
all those reported in the course o f the study. Seven o f the minors
injured in this manner and the parents o f an eighth were included
among those interviewed by the bureau representative. From the
records on file in the industrial board and the information obtained
in the course o f the interviews, it was ascertained that at least 1 of
the accidents from dangerous and harmful substances resulted in
death, 2 in serious permanent disability, and at least T in temporary
disability, varying in duration from 4 to 14 weeks. The one fatality
was reported to the industrial board as the result o f the explosion
o f a flat-work ironer in a laundry, but it was stated by the parents
that the accident was in reality due to the explosion o f a steam
boiler. One o f the accidents resulting in permanent disability was
caused by a gasoline explosion; a 16-year-old truck driver attempting
to draw some gasoline from the tank o f his truck was badly burned
on hand, arm, and side when the gasoline became ignited in some
unknown way. Blood poisoning developed, and he was incapacitated
for a period o f two years and left with a 45 per cent loss o f the use
o f his right arm. The second accident o f this kind was that o f a
16-year-old girl who was badly burned on her side and arms when a
gas heater at a soda fountain where she was employed exploded
as she was attempting to light it. She was under the care o f a
physician for three years, and at the time of the interview her right
leg was crippled and one arm was completely useless. A ll the T
serious temporary injuries were burns—4 caused by hot compounds,
1 by gasoline, 1 by acid, and the other by hot metal. Two o f these
cases were grave. One was that of a roofing helper, 16 years of age,
W^
ky a bucket of hot asphalt, dropped by a fellow worker,
and knocked from the roof on which he was working; he was so
badly burned on the arms and legs that he was unable to work for
more than 14 weeks. The other was that of a 14-year-old boy who
was helping to install cables for a telephone company. As he was
crossing a ditch with a bucket of hot compound the bank of the
excavation caved in, carrying him with it, and he was so severely

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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

burned on the hands and arms from the compound that he was
incapacitated for nine weeks.
Injuries from hand tools, the majority o f which were caused by
knives or other implements glancing or slipping, and occasionally by
flying particles set loose by tools, resulted in two cases o f permanent
disability and in two cases o f temporary disability that were known
to have lasted four weeks or more. O f the two boys permanently
injured, one, 16 years of age, employed in a quarry, lost the sight
of an eye when hit in the eyeball by a flying piece of rock, and an­
other, 17 years o f age, employed in a meat-packing plant, lost one
phalange o f the middle finger o f his left hand from an infection
that developed from a knife cut.
Injuries from falling objects, so far as could be learned from the
records o f the industrial board and from interviews with three of
the injured minors, resulted in one case o f permanent disability and
in two cases o f comparatively serious temporary disability. The first
case was that o f a 17-year-old boy who was working for a newspaper
firm. A discarded shaft o f a printing press jarred loose as he was
passing and fell on him, knocking him to the floor and crushing two
fingers so seriously that they had to be amputated at the third
joint. The second case was that o f a boy of the same age, employed
with a forging company, who was disabled for five weeks as the re­
sult o f a “ tote ” box falling on his foot and fracturing his toe. In
the third case a 16-year-old boy was employed as a general helper
around a fruit store. An iron door in the sidewalk fell on his foot,
disabling him for four weeks.
The majority of the injuries from these three causes occurred to
minors employed in manufacturing industries—slightly more than
one-half of those due to hand tools and falling objects and threefourths of those due to dangerous and harmful substances. One
minor injured by hand tools and five injured by dangerous and harm­
ful substances were employed in prohibited occupations. The former,
who was 17 years o f age, and two o f the latter, who were 16 and 17
years o f age, respectively, were truck drivers. O f the others, one,
17 years o f age, was employed on a grinding machine; one, not more
than 14 years o f age, was a laborer employed in connection with
excavation operations; and the other, 17 years o f age, was cleaning
moving machinery while in the employ of a construction company.
A somewhat larger proportion o f the boys than of the girls included
in the study were injured by falling objects; the proportion that
was injured by hand tools was practically the same in the two
groups; but twice as many of the girls as o f the boys received injuries
from dangerous and harmful substances.
INDEMNIFICATION OF INJURED MINORS
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM RECORDS

Although minors illegally employed were excluded from the bene­
fits o f the workmen’s compensation act in Indiana, except from
December 1, 1924, to February 1, 1926 (see p. 144), a considerable
number o f the minors included in the Children’s Bureau study who
were injured before and after this period received at least some
indemnity. Sometimes this was paid and the receipts forwarded

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187

to the industrial board at the same time as the initial report o f the
aeeident and the compensation agreement, so that the fact that the
board had disapproved the agreement on the ground that the minor
was illegally employed did not come to the knowledge o f the em­
ployer until after the payment had, in fact, been made. Frequently,
however, even though notified by the industrial board o f the ille­
gality o f the minor’s employment and his exclusion from the com­
pensation law the insurance company or the employer, if self-insured
chose to indemnify the minor just as if he had been covered by the
act and to obtain a common-law release from liability. Presumably
the employer paid this indemnity to avoid the possibility o f incur­
ring heavier damages in a civil suit, and the insurance company did
so either because it carried the employer’s liability, as well as his
workmen’s compensation, insurance, or because it hesitated to an­
tagonize the employer by turning the responsibility back to him.
Moreover, in a considerable number of cases the compensation agree­
ment between the injured minor and the employer or insurance
company was approved by the industrial board just as though the
minor had been legally employed, although so far as the records on
file in the industrial board showed the employment was illegal. Not
being notified of any illegality o f employment, the insurance com­
pany or employer paid compensation believing that the minor was
legally employed.
One hundred and forty o f the 674 minors included in the study,
exclusive o f those injured during the period in which minors ille­
gally employed were entitled to compensation, received injuries that
were noncompensable, the period o f disability not having exceeded
the 7-day waiting period. Receipts on file in the industrial board
showed that o f the remaining 534 minors, 221 (almost two-fifths)
received something by way o f indemnity from the employer or in­
surance company. More may have received something, as it was
learned later, in the course of interviews with the injured minors, that
m some cases in which no receipt had been filed with the industrial
board payments actually had been made. O f those minors from
whom compensation receipts were on file, 10 who were injured prior
to the 14 months in which illegally employed minors were compen­
sated under the act, and 83 who were injured subsequent to that
period, received compensation as though they were entitled to it
under the act, the agreements between the employers and the minors
having been approved by the board as if the employment had been
legal. It is possible in the cases o f the 10 minors injured prior to
the time that illegally employed minors were compensated that the
agreements ; did not come before the board for approval until after
that provision was in effect, when, consequently, the minors would
have been entitled to compensation. But the records give no evi­
dence as to why the board took this action in the cases o f the minors
injured subsequent to that period. The remainder o f the 221 minors
from whom receipts were on file apparently received compensation
•either because the employer or the insurance company were in ig­
norance o f the illegality o f the employment or because they elected
pay it in the hope o f avoiding the possibility of civil suits.
Whether or not the injured received as much or less than they would
have been entitled to under the law could not be determined from the
information available. With a few exceptions, the amount for which
125914—52-------13


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

th.6 injured, minor receipted was pra.ctico.lly the amount to which he
would have been entitled under the law for the period o f disability
reported, but there was no way o f determining whether the reported
duration o f the disability covered the entire period and not merely
that part o f it for which compensation was paid before the illegality
o f employment was discovered.
During the period that the provision covering illegally employed
minors was administered, 148 accidents to illegally employed minors
were reported to the industrial board. O f these, 21 were noncompensable as the period o f disability did not exceed the 7-day waiting
period, and 38 had never received the attention of the board, in most
cases because the agreement between the injured minor and his em­
ployer had never been submitted. O f the 89 remaining cases, the
board in approving or disapproving the compensation agreements
submitted, signified that normal compensation was due to the injured
minor in 47 instances and extra compensation in 23 ; in 19 instances
it failed to recognize the minor’s right to either. The reasons for the
last action are not always clear, but in several instances at least, and
perhaps in all, the case did not come to the attention o f the board
until after the administration of the provision o f the law compen­
sating minors illegally employed had been discontinued; at which
time, o f course, the board took no jurisdiction o f such cases. O f the
23 minors for whom double compensation was approved, 9 were
under 16 years o f age and 10 were between 16 and 18 years and
employed in prohibited occupations. The other 4 would seem to
have been entitled to the single compensation, as they were between
16 and 18 years o f age and violating the certificate requirements of
the law only, but for some reason, not apparent in the records, the
board approved extra compensation for them. Not all the minors
for whom extra compensation was approved actually received it,
however; the records showed that seven had received only primary
compensation, and one only his full salary during the period that he
was incapacitated. The latter amounted to more than primary com­
pensation, but it did not equal double compensation. The boy’s fail­
ure to receive the full amount, according to the statement of his
employer, was due to the fact that he had become incensed when the
employer discharged him after his recovery and had refused to sign
a receipt for the extra amount when it was offered him.
The amount o f compensation approved in the case of illegally em­
ployed minors included in the study by the industrial board during
the 14 months that the extra-compensation provision o f the law was
in operation was $6,057.50, o f which $1,235.19 was extra compensa­
tion. The largest amount granted any one minor was $1,423.13, that
being double compensation for a 45 per cent impairment o f the use
o f his right arm. During this period only one hearing involving a
minor illegally employed was held before the industrial board. A p ­
plications for hearings were filed in two other instances, but before a
date was set the administration of the double-compensation provision
o f the act had been discontinued.
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM INTERVIEWS

Minors excluded from the workmen’s compensation act.

Information obtained in interviews with minors illegally employed
in Indiana showed that few minors excluded from the benefits o f the

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W O RKM EN S COMPENSATION LAW ---- INDIANA

189

workmen’s compensation law availed themselves o f their right to sue
for damages. O f the 83 80 whose cases came before the industrial
board prior or subsequent to the period in which illegally employed
7rt C^in?ldf
b® ??vered by the workmen’s compensation
instituted civil suits or taken steps to institute such
J - 0thef S had employed lawyers who effected a compromise
indemm'tf°nv?. ^ \ court* Sixtv-two o f the 83 had received some
r e d r ^ A t ^ i bad been paid their regular wages; 20 had received no
I ltb o n ^ ^ w
heii
Up tp the time th&y were interviewed,
5
contemplating suing; and 1 injury was noncomp . , * ^ J h e 62 receiving some indemnity or regular wages 21
received less than they would have been entitled to had they been
Wb,lle legallJ c^picyed, 23 received about the same, and only
11 receded more; for 7 the amount was not reported. Surprising
ignorance o f their rights was revealed on the part o f the minors and
^ p a r e n t s . Almost one-third (36) o f the minors interviewed
stated that not until after their accident did they know anythin«*
about the workmen s compensation law or their right to institute
« t somethinl ” 6 T L eigh‘
that § they ought to
S !! ® T th^
remainder, except for two from whom no inrelation was obtained, were familiar with the provisions o f the law
f i w - 67 ap|)1^ d to .^ b y c m p i o y e d workers, but only one knew at
underthe°law1S
th5 * illef ^ emPloyment affected his status
aer the law. Often they did not learn o f it for two or three weeks
frequently even longer. A surprisingly large number had not known
o f their rights until interviewed by the Children’s Bureau agen”
reg!dar wav and
“ mpanies paid compensation in the
.and obtained common-law releases from liability. Fre­
quently nothing was said to the injured minor regarding his illegal
(See Dy?45A aijf_ the- fact that it altered his right to compensation,
pafd in sdU
{ employers had explained that it was being
paid m spite o f the fact that the minor was illegally emploved but
hadWbegUu n l yvm e!ft ^
‘It
or t h e S
?.?i J*egun payments under the impression that the
to compensation and had later discontinued
injured minor really understood his true status, i f

r S ^ a n y
minor was eiithem that the
then. A ll too

had c o ^ n g “ o U rn ” ®
th^ “ That was all he
aa coming to him. Although, as has been pointed out above the
industrial board when it finds that an injured minor h ^ b e e n
llegally employed, notifies the employer that the minor does not
n Z L I i i o n nt h l f t f - ° - la ° - S ° f th\w orim en’s compensation act, no
th “
as ‘any X e flT g S S
«
'
mi n° r “ ° r is he Dotifed
It was fount! m the course o f the interviews that a number o f the
minors or their parents in their behalf had subsequent to the acd
they stated th fte toeve h ' T d t0i hem u °r si« nature- In some cases
, W .1
th®y had no idea what they had signed. Others
from fin-tiler 1ixhilitv t / f r th,ey ,had a^ned released the employer
m turther liability, but they did not realize what such action might
period but just* prior1t o ^ h e ^ im e ^ h e ^ t ^ a d m i n f s t r a t i o ^ o f ^ h 11!® douWe^eobm>ensatidn
was discontinued and whose cases ¿ame before
L f +?at P ™ ^ 81™ o f the law
tion had ceased. The board therefore assumed nn
action after the adm inistra­
t e tica purposes these minors w e r e i n t h e T adme nosm ol!
*B°f t^e1/ cases and fo r a11
the adm inistration o f that provision o f the llw ^ p ition as those injured subsequent to


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

mean to them in the future. Believing themselves bound by the
paper they had signed, they made no effort to obtain further indem­
nity for their injuries when later they learned that they were en­
titled to more than they had received or that their injuries were per­
manent instead of temporary. One boy had received indemnity for
temporary disability (paid voluntarily by the employer), but his
injuries had resulted in permanent disability. He stated that much
to his regret he had signed a paper “ releasing the employer from fur­
ther liability ” but at the time he did not know that he could have
demanded larger indemnity because o f permanent injury. This boy
did not know until interviewed by the Children’s Bureau agent that
because he had failed to obtain an employment certificate he had been
illegally employed and, therefore, was not entitled to compensation,
but could have sued the employer for damages. Another boy who
received some compensation from his employer but less than he
would have been entitled to under the law stated that he had signed
a paper releasing the employer from further liability in the belief
that he had completely recovered and after the employer had given
him another job at more than twice the wage he had been receiving
when injured. Two weeks later, however, he was dismissed from
the company’s employ with the explanation that the job had been
given him only during the temporary absence o f the regular worker.
Some months later complications resulting from his injuries de­
veloped which had necessitated two operations in three and one-half
years. He realized that he should not have signed the release, but
at the time he was so elated over his fine new job that he “ would
have signed anything.”
Even when the injured minor was aware at the time of the acci­
dent or learned soon after o f his right to sue at law, many difficulties
appeared to stand in the way o f obtaining redress through court
action. Frequent complaints were heard regarding the difficulty
o f obtaining attorneys to handle cases on a contingent basis. In some
cases there seemed to be practically no chance o f the attorney ever
receiving payment as, for example, when the minor had made a com­
plete recovery and the injuries were not serious enough to insure a
sufficiently large judgment, or when the employer appeared un­
likely to be able to meet payment even if judgment were obtained.
Some complaints were made of attorneys who were unwilling to take
cases that involved action against employers who were influential
in the community. Complaints were also made in several cases that
attorneys who had accepted cases allowed them to drag on without
action until the minor thought that they were “ outlawed in the
courts ” or gave up all hope of a settlement and ceased to press the
matter. On the other hand, sometimes the minor himself hesitated
to assert his rights. He did not want to lose his position or feared to
jeopardize the jobs o f other members o f the family. Sometimes,
especially in small towns, he was afraid that if he sued one em­
ployer he would be “ blacklisted ” by other employers in the com­
munity, or that his father’s business would be injured by arousing
antagonism against the family. Several families, although they did
not express their feeling quite so frankly, seemed to feel as did the
father who told the bureau agent that he knew his son had been
treated unfairly by his employer, but that after thinking the matter
over he and the boy decided they would have to accept without pro
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test whatever was offered by way o f indemnity as he (the father)
had just started in business in the town and could not afford to
antagonize the boy’s employer, who was a well-established and in­
fluential man in the community.
O f the seven minors who instituted suit, or engaged lawyers for
that purpose, all had received serious permanent injuries. Five pro­
ceeded against their employers and two against a third party directly
responsible for their injuries. Only two o f these suits, both insti­
tuted against the employer, had been settled at the time the minors
were interviewed. In one, judgment was rendered for $500, and in
the other, for $10,000. The first case, involving the partial loss of
two fingers by amputation, was that of a boy 16 years of age em­
ployed without a certificate o f age, who was injured January 12,
1926, approximately two weeks before the board had suspended
operation o f the extra-compensation provision. The insurance com­
pany had paid the boy the sum o f $33 in four weekly payments
before they learned of the suspension. Compensation was then
stopped, and the boy was notified that he was not entitled to further
payment. ^ He sued the company by which he was employed and
obtained judgment, but in the meantime the company had gone into
the hands o f a receiver and there was difficulty in collecting the
award. Finally, upon the advice of his attorney, the case was com­
promised. The boy could not remember the exact sum received but
thought it amounted to between $220 and $230. Part of this went
to the attorney, and part was used to defray the expenses o f guardian­
ship papers. When all expenses were deducted only $185 was left
for the injured boy, plus the $33 paid by the insurance company.
Had he been covered by the compensation law he would have been
entitled to $268.13 in primary compensation. The second case was
that o f a 1'5-year-old girl, also employed without a minor’s certificate
o f age, who was severely burned when a gas water heater exploded.
Her side was crippled and her right arm made useless.
O f the
$10,000 judgment $7,000 was awarded to her as recovery for damages
and $3,000 to her mother.31 O f the total amount, one-third went to
the attorney. Moreover, the girl was confined to her bed for more
than two years and underwent several operations in an effort to
recover the use o f her arm, and when all expenses had been paid only
$1,000 o f the $10,000 remained. ^ The dramatic appeal in this case,
however, may have affected the size of the judgment, the girl, not yet
recovered from her injuries, being brought from a neighboring town
to the county seat in an ambulance and into the court room on a
stretcher to give her testimony. A less spectacular suit, though inan
as serious, might not have been so successful.
O f the seven minors who compromised their cases through their
attorneys, three actually received, and a fourth may also have re­
ceived,32 as much or more than they would have been entitled to under
the law. The circumstances of these cases were as follows:
A 17-year-old boy, who received a slight concussion of the brain, a broken
collar bone, and multiple lacerations of the face and head in an automobile
o
fmount was awarded the mother for loss of services of her minor child to which
a parent is entitled under the common law.
u 10 wmcQ
compensation this minor would have been entitled to could not he
computed, as the degree of impairment resulting from his injuries was not reported. * ^


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accident which incapacitated him for approximately four weeks, and who
would have received compensation of $21 under the act, effected a compromise
settlement of $300 from the driver o f the car responsible for his injuries.
One-third of this was paid to the attorney, $45 to the doctor, and $31 to the
hospital, and $124 remained for the boy.
Another 17-year-old boy, who lost two fingers of his right hand while oper­
ating a punch press, and who would have been entitled under the compensation
act to $321.75, succeeded in obtaining a settlement of $529; $25 of this was
paid to the attorney for his services, but hospital and medical expenses were
paid by the employer.
A third boy, 16 years o f age, who lost a part of four fingers of his left
hand in the worm gear of a power-driven meat grinder, obtained a settlement
o f $900. Under the compensation act he would have been entitled to only
$481.25. Medical care was furnished by the employer in this case but just
how much of the indemnity had to be used to remunerate the attorney could
not be ascertained.
A fourth boy, 17 years of age, permanently crippled as the result of a
broken pelvic bone, which he sustained when crushed between the couplers
o f two freight cars while he was unloading them, obtained a settlement of
$6,000 from the railroad. H e had already received $112.50 from his employer
and hospital and doctor’s bills had been paid before it was discovered that
though only 17 years of age he had been employed without a minor’s certificate
of age and therefore was not entitled to compensation. O f the $6,000 paid by
the railroad, $2,000 went to the lawyer, leaving $4,000 that went to the boy.
It should be noted, however, that in two of these cases the injured minors
proceeded against a third party directly responsible for their injuries, a privi­
lege that would have been theirs under the compensation law if they had
chosen to elect it.83

Two o f the three remaining minors whose lawyers effected a com­
promise settlement settled for less than they would have been entitled
to under the law, one with the employer and two with the third party.
A 17-year-old boy, employed in a retail butcher shop, caught his fingers in
the worm gear of a power-driven meat grinder, amputating one entire finger
and parts of three others. Under the law he would have received $426 as
compensation for his injuries, but the attorney was unable to effect a settlement
for more than $232, of which $50 went to the lawyer and $42 for hospital and
medical care. The father wished to sue the employer, but the lawyer was
convinced that the employer was not able to pay more and dissuaded him.
The second boy, 16 years of age, who suffered a serious injury to his back
and a slight concussion of the brain when his bicycle collided with an automo­
bile, effected a settlement with the owner of the car for $100. Injured a few
weeks prior to the date that the industrial board suspended operation of the
double-compensation provision of the workmen’s compensation act he had
received $52 in compensation from his employer before payments were stopped.
W hen he learned that he was not entitled to compensation he took steps to sue
the driver of the car but later accepted the compromise settlement of $100.
Settling as he did, his attorney’s fee amounted to $50 and the hospital and
doctor’s fees of the initial injury alone were $55, so that, even with the $52 paid
as compensation, when all expenses were paid there remained for the boy
less than $47. Under the law he would have received $124.66 for the initial
injury and would have been entitled also to additional compensation for two
subsequent periods of disability growing out o f the original injury.
The third case was that of a 17-year-old boy, employed as a messenger for
a commercial firm, who was instantly killed while operating an electric elevator.
The parents, through their attorney, made a compromise settlement with the
owner of the building in which the elevator was located of $1,000, o f which
$150 was paid the attorney. Under the compensation law, had they been able
to prove total dependency, they would have received $2,640.
83 Indiana, Laws of 1915, ch. 106, sec. 13, as amended by Laws of 1919, ch. 57.
section is also in the present act, Laws of 1929, ch. 172, sec. 13.


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In addition to the amount o f compensation obtained and the ex­
pense to which the minor is put to obtain it, another factor must
be considered in connection with the practice of excluding minors
from the jurisdiction o f the compensation law. That is the delay
which necessarily attends such proceedings, a delay that often leaves
the minor without income at a time when he most needs it. O f the
nine minors who had received court awards or had effected compro­
mises through their attorneys, six reported that they had waited
at least five months before the matter was settled, and three that they
had waited a year or more. O f the five whose suits were pending at
the time o f the interview, three had already waited between one and
two years, and all had waited at least six months. One mother
related a story of extreme hardship and great worry because the
hospital and doctor were unwilling on the strength of her winning
a suit for damages to risk caring for her daughter for an indefinite
period without remuneration. She was finally obliged to take the
child home when she was still in a precarious condition and call
another physician. Sometimes, she said, they had hardly enough
to buy the medicine from day to day.
Minors compensated under the workmen’s compensation act.

The records o f illegally employed minors injured in Indiana dur­
ing the short period that the double-compensation provision o f the
workmen’s compensation law was administered, show that at least
as large a proportion o f the minors received compensation for their
injuries during that period as received payments when they were
not compensated under the act, and without the expense and delay
attending court proceedings. O f the 17 minors reporting as to the
date that the first payment was received following their accident,
only four had waited two months or more and none had waited more
than four months. That the law was not even more effective was
probably due in large part to the fact that no steps were taken by
the industrial board to ascertain whether payment was actually made
by the employer when it was due or to inform the injured minor
o f his rights under the compensation law, except in occasional cases
when the employer protested the payment o f the extra compensation
to the board. Sixteen o f the 33 illegally employed minors inter­
viewed who were injured in Indiana during that period, all o f
whom were between 16 and 18 and not engaged in prohibited occu­
pations, were entitled to primary compensation only (see p. 144),
and 17, 2 o f whom were under 16 years of age and the remainder
o f whom were employed in hazardous prohibited occupations, were
entitled to double compensation. A ll but two of those entitled to
primary compensation only received the full amount due them,34
but of the 17 entitled to the extra indemnity, 7 received only the
primary compensation and 5 received no redress whatsoever for their
injuries. In some o f these cases there were extenuating circum­
stances that prevented the payment of the compensation withheld.
In three, owing to the fact that no investigation was made o f the
MThis number includes 3 minors who were injured during the period that illegally
employed minors were entitled to compensation and who were still incapacitated when
the board suspended operation of the double-compensation provision of the act. All of
them received the compensation due them only up to the suspension of the amendment.


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occupations in which the minors injured were engaged, it was not
discovered by the industrial board that the minors in question were
in prohibited occupations, and the board approved the agreement
providing for primary compensation submitted by the employers
without raising the question of extra indemnity. In another case
the minor was injured only a short period prior to the discontinuance
o f the administration of the double-compensation provision of the
law, and the agreement to compensate him was disapproved by the*
board because it provided for single instead of double compensa­
tion. The insurance company insisted that the double compensation
act was unconstitutional and before any action was taken by the
minor to obtain double compensation enforcement o f the act was
suspended. In a similar case, the employer refused to pay the extra
indemnity, and the minor appealed to the board, but the operation
o f the double-compensation provision of the law was discontinued
before a date could be set for a hearing. O f the minors who received
no redress whatsoever for their injuries, one (in the employ o f his
father) elected to sue the third party rather than accept compensa­
tion, and through the alleged negligence of his attorney the case had
not come to trial at the time of the Children’s Bureau study. Sev­
eral o f the minors who failed to receive any compensation, or whohad not received the full amount, had not known that they were
entitled to it. Others knew that they were entitled to it but did not
know how to proceed to obtain it when the employer refused
payment.
METHOD OF PAYMENT

The Indiana workmen’s compensation act provides that payments
shall be made weekly, or, when required by the agreement for com­
pensation or by the industrial board, semimonthly or monthly. In
cases of permanent injuries to minors, the board is permitted to com­
mute the compensation payments to a lump sum at any time. As a
rule, both during that period in which illegally employed minors
were covered by the compensation act, and prior and subsequent to
that time, compensation payments and payments of indemnity were
made in weekly or semimonthly installments, but in all cases in
which indemnity was obtained through the court or by compromise
settlements, in a few cases in which it was paid voluntarily by the
employer, and occasionally when it was paid under the provisions o f
the act, the amount was paid in a lump sum. O f the 113 minors in­
terviewed, 12 injured during the double-compensation period and
33 injured prior or subsequent to that period reported that they had
received all or a considerable part of their indemnity in a lump sum.
I f primary compensation is paid in weekly installments, the amount
received is less than, or if double compensation is paid it is only
slightly in excess of, the usual weekly wage; but when a lump-sum
settlement is made, the sum paid may be larger than any the minor,
or even his family, has handled before. Twenty o f the 45 illegally
employed minors who received such settlements received $50 or more,
16 received $100 or more, and 4 received $1,000 or more. O f the
last, one received $6,000 and another $7,000, not including $3,000
received by the mother. In most instances the money was spent with
forethought and with the interests o f the injured minor in view ; in

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others the injured minors were tempted to spend it thoughtlessly, or
their families were overready to appropriate it for current household
expenses or to tide themselves over emergencies. The following re­
ports as to the disposition o f the compensation received were made
by 12 o f the 16 minors who received lump-sum settlements o f $100
or more.
A boy who had lost a part of the forefinger of his left hand received a
settlement o f $176, the injury having occurred at a time when illegally em­
ployed minors were not compensated for their injuries. A small part of this
he gave to his parents and the remainder he spent for a secondhand automobile.
A boy who suffered a slight concussion of the brain and a serious injury
to his back, when the bicycle on which he was riding collided with an auto­
mobile, effected a lump-sum settlement from the party responsible for his
injuries. The accident occurred in the period in which minors illegally em­
ployed were covered by the compensation act and the boy had previously re­
ceived compensation of $52 from his employer. Not realizing the extent of his
injuries, however, he had signed a final receipt for the compensation received
and a statement to the effect that the settlement had been satisfactory before
he had actually recovered. A year after the accident, when complications had
developed that disabled him further, being under the impression that he could
not reopen his case as far as the employer was concerned, he approached the
party responsible for his injuries and obtained a settlement of $100. A part
o f this he spent for clothes, and the remainder he used to defray his share of
the family expenses in a later period of unemployment.
A boy who was injured during the period of double compensation, and from
whose right index finger a part of the bone had to be removed because of an
infection that developed from a bruise, received $110 for his injuries. The
entire amount was deposited in a bank and at the time of the interview
four years later, was still intact.
A boy whose left index finger was amputated at the second joint received
a lump sum o f $148 in addition to a week’s wages, which amounted to $12.
The accident occurred at a time when illegally employed minors were not
compensated under the law. Some o f the money the boy gave to his parents,
some he spent for clothes, and with the remainder he purchased a pig, which
he later sold at a profit. The money from this investment was spent little
by little for necessary personal expenses.
A boy who lost one entire finger and parts of three others in a power-driven
meat grinder received $232 from his employer through a compromise settlement,
the injury having occurred at a time when illegally employed minors were
denied compensation under the compensation act. Of this amount, $32 went
to a doctor, $10 to a hospital, and $50 to the lawyer who arranged the settle­
ment for h im ; $25 was spent for clothes; and the remaining $115 was deposited
in the bank. It was six months after the accident before the boy obtained a
job. Little by little, when the funds of the fam ily were low, the money was
drawn out to meet current expenses, and a year later it had been exhausted.
16-year-old boy who lost parts of four fingers of his left hand received
$900 as indemnity. His accident occurred during the period that illegally em­
ployed minors were denied compensation, and to be certain that his rights were
protected his father engaged a lawyer to deal with the employer in the matter.
A settlement was effected, and the father was appointed guardian. The money
after the lawyer’s fee had been paid, was deposited in a bank. Both the boy
and his father were under the impression that this sum could not be touched
until the boy had reached his majority. He had no plans for the disposition
o f the money when he received it.
A boy who was injured subsequent to the period during which the double­
compensation amendment was enforced and who suffered a slight concussion
o f the brain, a broken collar bone, and severe bruises in an automobile collision
compromised with the driver of the car that struck him, receiving $300; $100
o f this sum went to the lawyer who handled the case, $76 went for hospital
and doctor’s bills, and the remainder was appropriated by the father for family
expenses.


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A 16-year-old truck driver received $1,423.13 as double compensation for
severe burns that left him with a 45 per cent impairment of the use o f his right
arm. O f this amount, approximately $1,000 was received in a lump sum. A
lawyer had been engaged by the boy’s fam ily to see that he received what he
was entitled to under the law, and through his efforts a guardian was appointed
to take charge of this money. The mother, realizing that she would not be able
to resist the importunities of her son, was wise enough to refuse to act as
guardian, and a stranger was appointed. Eighty-five dollars was paid to the
lawyer and, according to the mother’s statement, $100 to her for nursing care.
The remainder was deposited in a bank. The boy stated that he had obtained
small sums (he could not remember the amounts) from his guardian several
times, but the larger part of the lump sum received was still intact at the time
o f the interview.
A 17-year-old boy, employed as a laborer, was badly crippled when crushed
between the couplers of two freight cars. The accident occurred shortly after
the board had discontinued enforcing the double-compensation provision. After
paying compensation for a few weeks, the insurance company disclaimed re­
sponsibility because the boy had no certificate. Instead of suing his employer,
the boy’s father decided to proceed against the railroad. Through his attorney
the boy obtained a compromise settlement from the railroad of $6,000. O f
this, $2,000 went to the attorney and the remainder was invested in a garage,
which the boy and his father managed. A t the time the boy was interviewed,
three years after the accident, the business was a prosperous one.
A 16-year-old girl, employed in a confectionery store, received burns that
totally disabled her for three years, and that left her with a useless right arm.
She was injured when illegally employed minors were not compensated under
the workmen’s compensation act. Suing her employer, she received a judg­
ment of $7,000 and her mother $3,000 for loss of the services of her minor
child. The mother, however, felt that the entire sum should go to the girl.
After the attorney’s fee of $3,333 and all medical bills and other expenses
incidental to her illness had been paid only $1,000 remained of the $10,000
awarded to the girl and her mother. W ith this money the girl was taking
a commercial art course. Her mother was determined that she should become
self-supporting if possible so that she would be able to care for herself if she
should be left without her family.
A 16-year-old boy, employed by a furniture company, lost parts of two fingers
by amputation. Medical aid was furnished by the employer, and compensation
was paid for four weeks by the insurance company, which suspended payments
because the boy had been employed without a work certificate. The latter then
sued the employer and obtained a judgment for $500, but as the company had
gone into the hands of a receiver shortly after the boy’s accident, the case was
compromised. After payment of lawyer’s fees and other expenses, the boy
received about $185. The entire sum was spent for clothes and an automobile.
A boy, injured after the period in which double compensation was provided
for minors illegally employed, lost parts of two fingers when the shaft of a
printing press fell and hit him. H e received $288.66 from his employer. Some
o f this was paid to him in weekly installments in lieu of salary, but at least
$150 was given him in a lump sum. The sums paid to him weekly were spent
as they came, but the larger amount was deposited in the bank, and at the time
he was interviewed, almost two years later, had not been disturbed.
MEDICAL SERVICES

Although minors injured in the course of illegal employment were
not entitled to medical attention at the expense o f the employer*
except during the 14 months that they were under the jurisdiction
o f the compensation law, the great majority o f those interviewed
(regardless o f the period in which they were injured) received physi­
cian’s services and hospital care when needed, at no expense to them­
selves. The period during which this medical service was furnished
usually covered the entire period o f their disability; it frequently
exceeded the one month to which minors covered by the law were

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entitled, and occasionally even exceeded the extra month in which
such care could be extended at the discretion o f the industrial board.
In general, during the period in which minors illegally employed
were not compensated for their injuries and therefore were not en­
titled to medical care under the law, if the employer paid indemnity
(voluntarily or through ignorance o f the minor’s illegal status under
the compensation act), he also, as a matter o f course, assumed full
responsibility for medical and hospital care. In the case o f nine
o f the minors interviewed, the employer assumed full responsibility
for medical care even when he refused to pay indemnity. The rea­
son for the latter action was not apparent in the records, nor did
the minors themselves know why it was done. Such care may have
been furnished before the employer was notified that the minor was
illegally employed; or the company, with which the minor was
connected, may have employed a salaried physician, in which case
medical care could be given without additional expense to the firm ;
or, again, the employer may have been unaware o f the fact that
illegal employment released him from the obligation o f providing
medical care as well as from that o f paying compensation. Among
the interviewed minors injured during this period (exclusive o f those
who elected to proceed against a third party for recovery o f
damages), only 4 reported that they had failed to receive any medical
care from the employer, and only 10 that they had received only
a part o f that which was necessary. In the cases of the 4 minors
who received no care the employer, in every instance, denied responsibility for both indemnity and medical attention; in one case
suit for damages was pending against the employer. O f the 10
receiving part of their medical expenses all but 4 received attention
for at least the one month that they would have been entitled to it
under the law. O f these 4, 1 was not satisfied with the care she
was receiving at the hands o f the company physician and changed
to her own physician. Her employer refused to reimburse her for
the latter’s charges. Another discontinued the services of the com­
pany physician before he was formally dismissed, and later when
infection set in, he was ashamed to return, preferring to engage
another physician at his own expense. The third received medical
care for two weeks, until it was learned that he was illegally em­
ployed, and, therefore, not entitled to compensation or medical care.
The fourth compromised with her employer and had to pay half the
cost o f her own care, because the employer refused to assume the
full amount. O f these 4 minors, 2 received some indemnity for their
injuries and 2 received none. O f the 6 minors who received at least
as much medical care as they would have been entitled to under
the law (but not all that was necessary), all but 1 received some
indemnity from the employer.
During the period in which minors illegally employed were en­
titled to compensation, three of the interviewed minors failed to
receive a physician’s care, and hospital care when needed, for the
full period o f their disability. One of these received medical care,
ultimately, for five months, a period much in excess o f the maximum
for which the minor was entitled under the law, but it was not fur­
nished for the first two weeks of the minor’s disability. In this
particular case the employer refused to pay compensation also, and


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the boy, ignorant o f his rights under the law, did not press the
matter.35 In the second instance the employer refused to pay com­
pensation, and denied all responsibility for medical care, on the
ground that the boy was injured after regular working hours. The
boy appealed to the industrial board for a hearing, but before it
could be held the administration of the provision o f the act covering
minors illegally employed was discontinued, and the boy was not
considered entitled to either medical care or compensation. He was
contemplating suit against the employer at the time o f the interview.
In the third instance, the minor, ignorant o f his rights, accepted
considerably less than he was entitled to under the law, and he also
paid his doctor’s bill when the employer did not offer to do so.
The following case illustrates the unexpected hardships that may
occur in individual cases to minors who are not entitled under the
workmen’s compensation law to payment for medical care and
compensation:
An apprentice to a sign painter was receiving $2 a week while learning the
trade.
One evening when he was cleaning up after his regular working
hours, the workmen having stayed later than usual, he fell against a window
and cut his elbow, severing two arteries and chipping the bone. H e was dis­
abled for four weeks, and confined to a hospital for two.
The employer
refused to pay compensation or to give medical care on the ground that the
injuries were not incurred in the course of the boy’s employment, as the
accident occurred after regular working hours. W hen the doctor pressed the
boy for payment, the latter consulted a lawyer, who filed a claim for a hearing
before the industrial board.
Before a final date was set for the hearing,
however, the administration of the double-compensation provision of the law
was discontinued, and the boy was no longer entitled to indemnity under the
compensation act. H e refused to pay the doctor’s bill, however, and almost
four years later, just prior to his interview with the bureau agent, the doctor
brought suit against him for the amount of the bill— $70 plus $10 interest.
The boy again took up the matter with his attorney, and at the time of the
interview the attorney was considering filing a suit for damages against the
employer. In this case the attorney, who was a personal friend of the boy’s
father, had agreed to take the case without remuneration. Otherwise, the boy
probably never would have been able to obtain a lawyer, as the amount of
money involved was too small to make it worth while to handle the case on a
contingent basis.

INDUSTRIAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL EFFECTS OF INJURIES

The seriousness of the injuries sustained by these illegally em­
ployed minors, the greater number of whom were dependent ^for
redress upon the will o f the employer or upon their success in bring­
ing suit, can not be measured by the nature and the extent of the
injury alone; but, to be evaluated properly, must be considered in
relation to the individual—his temperament, his background, and
his choice o f occupation— and in relation to the degree of industrial
and social readjustment necessary in his particular case. The loss
o f a little finger to one of the minors interviewed (see p. 211), a boy
who had spent time, money, and his formative years preparing to
become a professional violinist, meant a readjustment o f his whole
life—both mental and physical—whereas the same accident to the
boy (see p. 206) whose ambition was to manage his own butcher shop
meant only a temporary inconvenience so far as his work was con85 In this case the employer at first refused to assume any responsibility for medical
care or compensation, but after two weeks, when infection set in and the injury became
serious, he did so, although he did not pay compensation at any time.


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eerned. Several o f the workers interviewed who had incurred
permanent injuries that forced them out o f the occupations that
they had planned to follow succeeded in finding others in which the
opportunities for advancement were equal, or even greater. More
often, however, employers hesitated to engage workers handicapped
with even slight disabilities, because of their increased liability to
accidents and the chances o f the second being more serious than the
first. A ll too often they were obliged to take whatever job they
could pick up, regardless of the type o f work or the wage, and some­
times they experienced difficulty in finding anything at all. Few
of the minors interviewed who were permanently disabled returned
to school after their accident or entered training o f any kind. In
several instances their injuries had the opposite effect, and boys who
had intended to return to school were prevented from doing so. O f
the 30 minors interviewed who received permanent injuries, only 7__
5 o i whom were injured in vacation or after-school jobs—returned
to school after their accident, and only 1 undertook vocational trainmg. Opportunities for the latter, however, were lacking in the
communities in which many o f the minors lived, and the amount o f
indemnity received was frequently insufficient to allow them to take
up such training had they wished to do so. It is true that the State
board for vocational education offers to persons injured in industry
free courses m vocational training; but as this board has no funds
from which to furnish maintenance to such persons, this was of no
help to minors unable to support themselves.
Even when the disability was slight or only temporary and there
was no question o f the minor’s being permanently incapacitated for
the job at which he had been employed when injured, difficulties
were experienced. Complaints were heard o f employers who waited
until the minor had recovered from his injuries and the chances o f
suit were slight, and then dismissed him from his employ; usually
they did so without explanation, although one employer frankly
stated that the fact that the minor had had an accident made him
an undesirable workman. Occasionally the employer placated the
injured employee with the promise o f a life-time job, or gave him
u j ?r
.r a
weeks, and then, when a release from liability
had been obtained, dismissed him summarily. O f the 113 minors
interviewed, 34 either could not return to their former jobs after
their accidents or were dismissed soon after their return O f the
87 regularly employed36 for whom the length o f time elapsing
between their accidents and their return to work was known 16
were without employment beyond the period necessary for the healm g o f their injuries, because they could not return to their former
jobs and were unable to find another. The periods during which
they searched for work ranged from 10 days to 9V2 months. O f 69
(regularly employed) whose first wage following their accident was
known, 13 (almost one-fifth) had been obliged to accept work at a
lower wage, either because they were handicapped by their injuries
or because they had been forced out o f their jobs by their accidents
and nothing else was open.
Lower wages and the loss o f their jobs were often almost as serious tor the injured minors as the accidents themselves, especially if
tion and *8 while“ w^rkLg outsidl


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

they followed a long period of disability for which no indemnity or
only partial indemnity had been paid. A number o f the minors
interviewed were the only wage earners in their families, or were
the chief wage earners, and the loss o f their earnings necessitated
drawing on scanty savings and borrowing from relatives or friends
to tide the family over the emergency. Several instances were
found in which debts contracted during the period o f the minor’s
disability were still unpaid at the time the family was interviewed
by the Children’s Bureau agent from one to four years after the
accident. Sometimes minors were forced to return to work before
they were really able to do so because of the financial pressure, and
their complete recovery was hindered thereby. In some instances
the mother was obliged to take the place of the injured minor as
the chief bread-winner o f the family. O f the 28 minors interviewed
who received no redress for their injuries, including both those in­
jured during the period when minors illegally employed were ex­
cluded from compensation under the law and those injured in the
14 months that such minors were considered entitled to compensation,
7 lost more than $100 in wages, and an additional 6 lost between $50
and $100. In one instance the loss amounted to a little more than
$300, and in another to more than $900.
Less tangible than the industrial and economic handicaps but
often more difficult to overcome were the self-consciousness, the
loss of confidence, the bitterness, and the despondency engendered
in the injured minors by their disabilities. Frequently, also, when
he had received no indemnity for his injuries and lost his job the
minor was unconsciously hampered in his endeavors to make a re­
adjustment by a feeling that he had been unfairly treated. It was
difficult for him to understand why, when his employer had not
demanded a working certificate or even bothered to ask his age,
he should pay the penalty and the employer be held to no re­
sponsibility.
The difficulties faced by the injured minors are illustrated by
a few case histories.
Robert, a boy who at the time of his accident was 15 years old, had been
in a boarding home since he was 13, his father and mother having separated.
H is father, when ordered by the juvenile court to support him, did so un­
willingly ; and the boy, in order to obtain school books and clothes, worked
at whatever jobs he could find outside school hours. H is first job was caddy­
ing at a country clu b ; then, as he grew older, he delivered packages for various
neighborhood stores. The summer he was injured he had obtained work as
a press feeder with a printing firm. This was during the period that illegally
employed minors were excluded from the provisions of the compensation
act. The employer did not ask him for a work certificate and he therefore
failed to get one although he knew he should. Usually he worked from 7
a. m. to 6 p. m., but on the day o f his accident a rush order for theater
programs had come in, and his employer had asked him to return and work
in the evening, although work after 7 p. m. is forbidden minors under 16
in Indiana. H e objected because he had been working under pressure all
day and was nervous and tired, but he gave in when his employer insisted.
H e left for supper at 6 and returned at 6.30. H e had not been working
more than an hour when the accident occurred. A s he explained it, “ You
have to time the feeding of the machine by the slight vibrations of the plate,
and unless you are alert every minute, you lose the vibration.” Being tired,
he did not time himself correctly and was slow in feeding, so that before he
could withdraw his hand, the press came down on it, bruising and tearing
the flesh but breaking no bones. The employer took him to a physician, but
according to Robert’s story first said to him, “ You’re a friend of mine, aren’t


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you? W ell then, when you get to the doctor tell him you are 16.” In return,
according to the boy, he promised to report the boy’s wages to the insurance
company as $15 a .week instead of $8, so that the compensation received
would be larger.
Robert was disabled for three and one-half months and was left with a per­
manently crippled right hand. A t the time of his interview with the bureau
agent (more than three years later) he was unable to straighten the third
finger. It and two others were much enlarged at the knuckle, all were scarred
and stiff, and the hand tired easily. H e stated that a physician had told him
that' he could relieve the stiffness with an operation, but that the cure would
last only two years, and that then the operation would have to be repeated.
Until his employer mentioned it, and promised to look after it, neither Robert
nor his mother had known anything about compensation, and not until ques­
tioned by the bureau agent did they know that the compensation act did not, at
that time, cover minors illegally employed. Although they knew he was sup­
posed to have a work certificate, they did not know it had any relation to his
rights to compensation. Two weeks after he was hurt he received a check for
a little more than $ 6 ; the following week he was given one for $11. H e did
not receive any more until five weeks later, when he was given a final check
for $5. No explanation was made as to why he received no more, and he asked
no questions, “ being glad to get that.” H is father at that time was still paying
for his room and board, his cousin and his mother gave him spending money
now and then, and he had the $22 paid as compensation, so he managed to meet
expenses.
In the fall, after his accident, Robert entered school with his arm still in a
sling. Not until October was he able to work again. Then he obtained a job
at a soda fountain in a drug store, where he worked after school and on Satur­
days. In November,, just after he was 16, his father refused to help him any
longer, so he left school and worked full time, receiving $15 a week. H e re­
mained at the drug store for several months. H e then found a job in a chain
factory, assembling chains, at $19 a week. There he had another accident. A
fellow workman called him to help raise a window. In doing so his hand
slipped and broke through the glass, gouging a piece out o f his left thumb. He
was disabled for two months. W hen the question o f compensation came up,
it was discovered that he had given his age as 18 when employed, though he was
only 17, and that he was working without a certificate of age. The employer
became interested in him because he was helping his mother and decided to pay
him compensation, although he was not entitled to it. H e had to discharge
him, however, as it was a rule of the firm not to employ minors under 18 years
of age. H e received $11 a week for eight weeks in compensation. In addition,
he received $49 in accident insurance, so that during the time he was disabled
he was getting more than he had been earning when working. A ll doctors’
bills were paid by the employer.
After leaving the chain factory, Robert worked for a time in a hosiery mill
“ transferring hose.” In this work he used a long steel needle with a fine hook
at one end. The pay was more than he had been getting— $23 a week— but he
was hampered by his disabled finger. It kept getting in the way of the needle,
so that it was always “ ragged ” with pricks and snags. Finally he had trouble
with the forewoman and was dismissed. He was out o f work for three months,
when he obtained a job on a metal-shearing machine in a machine shop at $15
a week. There he had his third accident. About half an hour after being
shown how to use the machine, he failed to get his fingers out of the way of
the knife quickly enough, and the tips of the second and third finger on his
left hand were snipped off. H e was given first aid and lost no time from
work. At^ the time of his interview with the bureau agent he was working for
a large milk company testing milk at $17 a week. H e was enthusiastic about
his work and thought there was much opportunity for advancement. H e had
just taken the examination for milk inspector and thought that he had done
very well. H e stated that his injured hand was a great handicap in finding
work, because there were so many things that he could not do, but that in his
present job he needed to use only his thumb and first two fingers, so that his
crippled finger was no handicap.

Chester was injured on a dough-molding machine. H e was 16 years of
a ge^ working without a certificate of age in a bakery. He was the .youngest
of six children, of whom all but himself and a younger sister had married and


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

left home. H is father, a cabinetmaker by trade, had been suffering intermit­
tently for a number of years with inflammatory rheumatism, and for several
years before the study the mother had had to supplement his earnings by
taking in a few washings. So long as the father was able to work even a little,
nothing was demanded of the boy as he had never been strong; but when the
father suddenly went blind and his earnings ceased altogether, it was necessary
for the boy to find work. Although he was 16 years of age, his mother mis­
takenly believed that he was not old enough to be excused from school, so she
suggested that he find work to do in his free hours. He obtained work in a
neighborhood bakery after school and on Saturdays at a wage of $8 a week.
H is work usually kept him at the shop until midnight. He had no time off
for dinner, but ate whatever there was in the shop. The mother realized that
it was not good for him to be working such late hours and remonstrated with
his employer several times, but from night to night he would send her word
that it was absolutely necessary for him to have Chester’s help this late.
Finally she gave up remonstrating because the family was in such desperate
circumstances that she could not run the risk of his losing his job. A s soon
as school closed in the spring, he was put on full-time work and his wages
were raised to $15 a week. He still continued to work until midnight, however.
W hile working part time, he had been given only light jobs— running errands,
greasing and washing pans, and so forth— but the morning he began full-time
work he was assigned to the dough-molding machine. This machine is built
somewhat on the order of a mangle. It consists o f two corrugated rollers,
operated by electricity and controlled with a switch. The bread dough is fed
into the rollers by hand and passes through onto a belt or table in the rear,
being cut and molded as it passes through. Chester was feeding the dough
into the rollers when injured. In some way his right hand was drawn into the
rollers as far as the base of the thumb, mashing the bones in the first three
fingers and lacerating the palm o f the hand. The employer sent him to a
hospital where he remained two days. He was under the care o f a physician
and was unable to work for five months. H is forefinger was permanently
deformed, the bones in all three fingers were flattened, and the palm of his
hand was badly scarred. The hand was weak, and he had had to train himself
to use his left hand. Chester stated he had been instructed properly in the use
o f the machine but that it was not guarded, which made it an easy matter for
him to get his fingers too near the rollers.
Chester was injured when illegally employed minors were not compensated
for their injuries, and neither the boy nor his mother thought anything about
compensation when he was hurt. H e was working without a minor’s certificate
o f age. Both the father and an older brother had suffered industrial accidents
and received compensation, but the mother was too worried at the time to
remember it. Two or three weeks after the accident the employer called on
Chester and not realizing that he was not entitled to compensation because he
was illegally employed, advised him as to what he thought his rights were
under the workmen’s compensation law. It was approximately nine weeks
before he received any money. He was then given $58 in a lump sum and
told that “ that was all he had coming.” H e did not know whether this came
from the employer or the insurance company. He wondered at the time why
he did not receive compensation as long as he was under the doctor’s care, but
he did not inquire. He admitted that he had been working without a minor’s
certificate o f age, but stated that he did not know that he needed one for work
outside school hours, and that he had carelessly postponed getting it when he
started full-time work. H e did not know, until interviewed, that because o f
his failure to get the certificate he had no rights under the compensation law.
The accident left the mother the sole wage earner for the family, with two
invalids to care for. The younger child, a girl still in school, could do little
more than help with the housework, so the mother doubled the number of
washings she had been doing, and went out by the day, increasing her earnings
from $6 to $8 a week to $10 or $12.
Chester’s doctor’s bills were paid by the employer, but there were constant
bills to be met for the father. The mother stated that sometimes they had
two meals a day but frequently only one. They would never have been able
to pull through, she said, if she had not, just at the time of the accident,
“ fallen heir to a small estate ” which she applied on the house they were
buying, thus relieving them of paying the usual monthly installments.
After his hand had healed, Chester hunted three weeks before he found a job
as messenger boy for a drug store at a wage of $10 a week, $5 less than in his


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previous job. A t the end of a year he was laid off, and after having hunted
work for a month, took a job in a greenhouse at $9 a week. After about a
year this employer reduced his wages because of “ hard times,” so he left
and found work as a stock clerk at $15 a week. About a month before his in­
terview with the bureau agent he had been laid off, but he was expecting to be
reemployed shortly at this last job.

Mary, a 16-year-old girl employed without a minor’s certificate of age after
the period when minors illegally employed were considered entitled to com­
pensation, was instantly killed when a steam boiler exploded in the laundry in
which she was working. She had obtained her job through friends and, al­
though her employer had not questioned her as to her age nor asked for a
working certificate, she knew that her friends in soliciting the job for her had
told the forewoman that she was 18 years o f age. H er mother had objected
to her being a party to this deceit, but the fam ily were in straitened circum­
stances and the girl being anxious to work had overruled her objections. A t
the time of her death the employer notified the undertaker that he would pay
for the fu n eral; but when the bill was presented, he refused to pay it, having
learned in the meantime that he was not liable under the compensation act as
the child had been working without a certificate of age and was thus illegally
employed. The family then consulted a lawyer and put the case in his hands
to institute suit. They did not know when interviewed what arrangements
had been made nor for what sum he intended to sue. In his first report to the
industrial board, before he had learned of the illegality of employment, the
employer had stated that “ liability was being denied on account of nonde­
pendency, pending investigation.” The mother stated, however, that Mary had
left school because her earnings were needed at home, as the family was having
an extremely hard time making ends meet. Besides the father and mother
there were six children, of whom the deceased was the second oldest. The
father and an older brother were working, but irregularly, and their combined
earnings amounted to only a little more than $15 a week. Two weeks after
Mary was killed the father met with an accident, and during the time that he
was unable to work the son’s wages were the only income.

On the death of his father, John, 16 years of age at the time of the accident,
left school in order to help his mother support the family. The mother was the
only wage earner for a household of five and was earning only $12 a week.
Through a relative, employed in the same place, John obtained a job washing
dishes in a restaurant, at $10 a week. H e was employed on the night shift
from 5 p. m. to 12 a. m. He did not have an age certificate. Although he had
been required to furnish a minor’s certificate o f age in previous jobs, his em­
ployer did not ask for it, so the boy “ did not bother to get it.” On the day
of his accident he had been working only a short time when he ran the tine o f a
fork into the side of the first finger of his right hand, near the nail. It hurt
foi a time, but gradually the pain subsided and he continued to work through
the night. Infection set in, however, and the next day he was unable to
work. By the end of the week the infection had reached the elbow and his
mother became frightened (his father had died of blood poisoning) and sent
h im to a physician. The physician reported that the hand was in a serious
condition and would require prolonged attention, and he advised the mother
to ask the employer to furnish medical care. Though John was injured during
the period that minors illegally employed were compensated for their injuries
the employer denied all responsibility, and the mother, timid and knowing nothlng of the boy rights, let the matter drop. A day or so later, however, her
sls^eJ’’ working in the same place, told the employer how serious the case was,
and becoming alarmed the latter sent word to John to go to the “ company doc­
tor.’
John was under this doctor’s care for five months, a period much longer
than was required by law. A t the end of that time he returned to work for one
week— in the place of his aunt who was ill— and was then discharged. The
employer paid all doctor’s bills but refused to pay compensation. Under the
law John should have received primary compensation of $112.37, in addition to
medical expenses for at least one month and for two months at the discretion
of the industrial board.
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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

After leaving the restaurant, John was unable to find employment for 10
months. H e then obtained a job as elevator operator in an apartment hotel
at $12 a week. He held that for two and a h alf years. A t the time of his
interview with the bureau agent he was working as a porter in a barber shop,
where he received no wages other than tips. The week previous to the inter­
view these had amounted to $10. H is injured finger was permanantly stiff
and could be bent only at the joint near the palm. The boy did not feel,
however, that it interfered with his work nor prevented his obtaining better
work.

Although his parents wished him to attend high school, George, who was 16
years of age when injured, left as soon as he had passed the compulsory school
age and went to work in; his uncle’s coal mines, at $12 a week. From the
time he was a small child he had been in the habit of accompanying his uncle
on the wagons or about the mine, and as soon as he was old enough he had
done odd jobs there during his summer vacations. His first regular job was
the one at which he was injured, nine and one-half months after he had started
to work. H e was employed as a weighman on the tipple of the m ine; that is,
he weighed and dumped the coal as it was hoisted from the inside of the mine.
The process o f dumping consisted in pressing two levers that controlled the
coal car. In pressing these levers he bruised his right palm. H e paid little
attention to it at the time and continued his work, operating the levers with
his left hand, but at the end of the week blood poisoning developed and he was
sent to a doctor, who ordered him to stop work. He was disabled 40 days
and suffered a great deal of pain. The arm became infected to the elbow,
and at one time they feared the forearm would have to be amputated. The
injury occurred when minors illegally employed were not covered by the com­
pensation a c t; and according to the records of the county attendance officer,
a minor’s certificate of age was not issued to George until 17 days after the
accident. However, no question was raised in regard to compensation (both
George and his father were fam iliar with the general provisions of the work­
man’s compensation law) ; the insurance agent called about two weeks after
the accident and checks came regularly every two weeks for six weeks. In
all, the compensation received amounted to $31. The insurance company also
paid the doctor’s bill.”
Soon after George’s accident his father broke his ankle. A t that time the
fam ily were buying the farm on which they were living, and the father and
George had been doing the farm work as well as working steadily at the
mines. Too poor to hire help, the mother and daughter— the latter just over
16— cared for the invalids and the house and looked after all the outside work,
milking and caring for the stock. In addition, the mother made butter and
sold it in order to obtain enough cash to keep them going until the father and
George could get back to work.

Peter, the oldest of eight children, left school at the end of the term follow­
ing his sixteenth birthday. The fam ily lived on an isolated farm back in the
hills and was extremely poor. For a number of years the father had been un­
able to work, but he had managed to run the farm with the aid of the boys. Their
income was meager, however, and the fam ily had looked forward eagerly to
having regular wages come in. Opportunities for work are scarce in such
isolated communities, and it was not until the fa ll after he had left school
that the boy obtained his first job— driving a truck for a local lumber mill.
This was an occupation prohibited minors under 18 years of age, and Peter
had no minor’s certificate of age. No one had ever told him to get one, he
said, neither his employer nor the school authorities, and none of the family
“ had ever heard of such a thing.” He had been working about one month
when he was hurt. H e had made an early start alone with a load of lumber
to a town 40 miles away. W hen a considerable distance from home the en­
gine stalled and in attempting to crank it he broke his right arm. A passing
87 Some time previous to this accident George had been disabled for three weeks when hit
in the eye with a piece of flying coal. At that time he had received medical care but no
compensation. A report was sent to the insurance company but nothing ever came of it.
He did not know why and never took up the matter with his uncle.


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car took him into town where he had the arm set. Too sick to walk, he
crawled into an old car in a garage and stayed there until his father came
into town and found him. The arm “ healed crooked” and a deep depression
appeared where the break occurred. It was still weak at the time of the
interview, and the boy often complained of its being tired and aching.
Hurt during the period in which minors illegally employed were compensated
under the workmen’s compensation act, Peter was entitled to double compensa­
tion as he was employed in a prohibited occupation. But he knew nothing
about his rights in the matter. In fact he knew nothing about the workman’s
compensation law at all until after his accident, when the insurance company
paid him a lump sum of $37.80 and told him that was all he was entitled to.
(In reporting the accident to the industrial board the employer, an uncle,
had stated that the boy’s parents were dead but that he knew him to be 18
years of age.) During the time Peter was disabled the fam ily managed to
“ get by because they had to,” although at that time he was the only wage
earner in a fam ily of 10. H e returned to his old job when able, but the work
was irregular and as winter came on gave out altogether. In May of the fol­
lowing spring he obtained a job as a “ laborer for the town,” but that entailed
lifting heavy sacks of creosote and he found them too heavy for his weak
arm. However, he struggled along with this job for three weeks, then found
temporary work driving a truck for a road-construction company. A t the
time of his interview with the bureau agent he was driving a school bus, but
this gave him work only during the school year. Realizing that Peter would
never be able to do heavy work, the mother and father were contemplating
selling the farm and moving to the city where he would have more opportuni­
ties for finding light work.

James, the second oldest of 11 children, left school unwillingly in order to
“ help o u t” with the fam ily expenses. The father, elderly and partly dis­
abled as the result of an industrial accident, was not able to do much more
than odd jobs, and James and an older sister had long been the chief wage
. earners in the family. Even before he was 14 he had worked during his free
hours at various jobs, and a few months before he reached his fifteenth birth­
day had obtained steady employment after school and on Saturdays at a retail
meat market— the same job at which he was injured two years later. H is em­
ployer did not ask him for a work certificate, and he failed to obtain one.
His hours of employment were long and he worked hard, leaving home usually
between 4 and 5 in the morning. Often it was so dark that he was afraid
to start out, but he had to be on the job early in order to take in the milk
and “ get a good start on the work ” before school. After school he sometimes
worked as late as 8 or 9 o’clock. H is wages were $6 a week, all of which he
gave to his mother. Though eager to finish high school he found that he could
not keep himself clean and properly clothed and still give his mother as much
•of his wages as she needed, so he gave up his plans and left school just before
he had finished the seventh grade. H e continued at the same job, doing full­
time work, and his wages were raised to $10 a week. A t that time his father
was doing no work and his sister’s wages of $6 a week were the only other
income in the fam ily. A s he grew older James was given more and more
responsibility until two years later, at the time of his accident, when he wag
only 17 years o f age, he was doing practically everything about the shop—
. even cutting meat. H is accident occurred when he was grinding sausage in
a power-driven meat grinder. W h ile so employed, his employer’s wife
“ hollered ” at him, and, without stopping the machine, he turned to hear what
she was saying. Intent upon listening, he let his right hand get too far into the
machine and four fingers were ground off— the first, second, and fourth to the
second joint, and the third to the palm of the hand. H e had presence o f mind
• enough to turn off the switch or he would have lost his entire hand. The em­
ployer called a physician, and he was taken to a hospital, where, according
to his mother, he was placed in a private room. General hospital fees and the
hospital doctor’s fee were paid by the employer; the fam ily had to pay $10
for the private room, and $32 to the doctor for visits to the home after the
boy had left the hospital. (H e was in the hospital one week.) Fortunately
he carried accident insurance, from which he received $60, which paid the
' above bills and left a sm all sum for current expenses in lieu of his wages.
James was injured subsequent to the period that illegally employed minors
- were compensated for their injuries under the workmen’s compensation act.


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and the day after the accident an unknown woman visited the family, explained
that she had read of his misfortune in the paper, and urged the father to go
with her to a lawyer. Neither the father nor mother knew anything about h is
rights under the law, so they were glad to do as she suggested. The lawyer
to whom she took them agreed to institute suit against the employer on a
contingent basis— his share to be one-third of the judgment. Nothing more was
heard from him until five months later, when he called the father to his office
for a conference with the employer, at which time he advised him that theemployer had nothing and that it would be best to make a compromise settle­
ment. A sum of $150 was finally agreed upon, the employer, in addition, to
pay the lawyer’s fee of $50 and to refund to the father the $32 paid to the
doctor. The settlement was not satisfactory to the family, but the lawyer
advised them to take it, and there seemed nothing else to do.
A t the time of the interview the mother did not know that the fact that
the boy was employed without a minor’s certificate of age had prevented his
being compensated under the workmen’s compensation law. She did not think
the boy was aware of it either. James was unable to work for six months.
During this period the fam ily had a difficult time. They frequently had to
borrow food, but they managed to scrape along without getting into debt.
W ith the money obtained from the employer James bought clothes to the
amount of $25. The remainder he put in a bank, but he was obliged to draw
on it during periods of unemployment so that it was soon exhausted. After
he was able to go to work, he searched three months before he could find
anything to do. Employers hesitated to hire a boy with a crippled hand, and
the work he could do was limited. H e at last obtained a job delivering for a
bakery at $10 per week. H e remained at this work for a year, then gave it
up because working conditions were unpleasant. H e immediately found a job
hauling coal, but it gave out after two months. Unable to find anything else
he returned to the bakery. In nine and one-half months, however, unhappy
with the treatment he received, he again left. After hunting unsuccessfully
for work for two weeks, he went to another city where at the time of the
interview he was employed at a “ place where they manufacture rags.” His
mother thought that he sorted rags. He was earning $3.50 a day, but work
was so irregular that he averaged only about $15 or $16 a week. H e sent
his mother $5 a week— all that he could spare while he was not living at home.
The family were feeling the loss of his wages. The father was unemployed;
the oldest daughter earned only $10 a w eek; the mother averaged $3.50 a
week doing day w ork; one girl, still in school, earned $2 a w eek; and a boy,
also in school, earned odd amounts. Altogether the weekly income amounted
to only about $20.50 a week, and 10 members of the fam ily were at home. The
mother had always depended upon James more than upon any other member
of the family, and she was discouraged knowing that he would always have
to take poor jobs at low wages. James, too, was discouraged at his outlook
for the future.

For 10 years, beginning soon after his father’s death, Harry, who was 17
years of age at the time o f the accident, had been working outside school hours
and during his vacations, first at carrying papers and then as delivery boy
for one shop or another. When hurt he had been employed without an age
certificate for about eight months in a butcher shop as both delivery boy and
sales clerk. His accident occurred during school vacation when he was working
full time, making $15 a week. A t the time of his accident he was helping
another boy carry a keg of pickles to the front of the shop, and in setting it
down he jammed his thumb. H e paid no attention to this injury and continued
to work for two weeks before it began to bother him. The first indication that
something was wrong was a soreness at the tip which persisted. After he had
complained of it for several days the employer sent him to a physician. An
X -ray revealed an infection of the bone. The physician ordered him to stop
work and for two weeks struggled to save the thumb, but finally said that it
would have to be amputated. Upon this decision, the mother took Harry to
her fam ily physician; he corroborated the other physician’s diagnosis and
amputated the thumb at the second joint.
A t the time of the accident neither the mother nor Harry knew about com­
pensation, but his employer told him about it and promised to take care of
the matter. Harry had received two checks amounting to $17.60 when he was
notified by the insurance company that he was not eligible for compensation


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because he had been employed without a minor’s certificate of age. Had he
been legally employed he would have received $264 for his injury. The mother
stated that they did not know that they might have sued at law ; they simply
considered that Harry had been at fault in not having a certificate, and that
therefore he must pay the penalty. The employer paid the first doctor and
the mother the fam ily physician. The latter’s charges were small and were
•covered by the compensation Harry had received before payments were stopped.
From the time of the accident until Christmas the boy was unable to work.
For about two weeks the thought of being crippled “ ju st about took the life
out of him,” but after that he “ picked u p ” and gradually stopped worrying.
He returned to school and finished high school the following spring. A t the
time of the interview— about 16 months later— he had been offered a job in a
m eat market at $25 a week, and had accepted it “ just marking time until he
decided what he wanted to do.” He had learned to use his hand without
awkwardness, and to hold it with the thumb bent so that his crippled condi­
tion was not noticeable. H e handled knives and tools without difficulty or
•danger to himself.
A widow with five children took Henry, her 17-year-old boy, out of school in
•order that he might go to work to help support the fam ily. It was during an
industrial depression and three older children and a son-in-law who were living
with the fam ily were unemployed. They were unable to find work, but the
mother had succeeded in obtaining a job for the younger son as water boy with
a road-construction company. The mother consulted the attendance officer before
the boy left school, but instead of issuing him a minor’s certificate of age, as
lie should have done, the attendance officer simply wrote a letter to the mother
to the effect that he had taken the matter up with the juvenile judge and that
they had decided her son “ might go to work but that he must not be found
loafing around the village.” Thinking this was a bona fide working certificate,
Henry had presented it as such to his employer, and the latter had accepted it
in good faith. The boy had not been employed very long before he was injured.
O n e day a truck belonging to the company was standing on the track of a
private branch railroad that ran to a near-by mine. The engineer of an engine
that was switching back and forth signaled Henry, the only person near, to
clear the track. In his hurry to climb into the truck he struck his shin against
the running board. He paid no attention to it at the time and continued to
work through the day. That night he complained of his leg being sore and the
next morning was unable to get up. Having no money for a doctor, the mother
applied home remedies, but he grew steadily worse and on the third day, having
learned from neighbors that the employer would be held responsible, she notified
the employer of the boy’s condition and asked him to send a doctor. No doctor
-came. She waited two more days. By that time Henry was in terrific pain,
begging and pleading for a doctor. On the morning of the third day she again
sent word to the employer that she wanted a doctor. A t 3 o’clock in the after­
noon none had arrived so she tried once more. This time the employer sent
¿back word that if she wanted medical attention she would have to take the boy
into town, 5 miles away, and he gave her the name of a physician. W ith the
help of a neighbor she got Henry to the doctor who diagnosed the case as blood
poisoning and sent him immediately to the hospital. He was there for 22 days.
After his release he made seven or eight trips into town for treatment, hiring a
car at a cost of $1.50 a trip, to pay for which they were obliged to borrow money.
W hile her son was still in the hospital, the mother had received word that
an agent of the insurance company was in town and wanted to see her. W hen
-she called upon him, the agent explained the provisions of the law and told her
that the boy was not entitled to compensation because he had been employed
without a certificate of age, and she learned for the first time that the letter
from the attendance officer was not a regular certificate. H e explained also
that the boy could sue his employer but advised that it would probably cost
more than they would receive. A month later the mother approached the
employer, but he flatly refused to do anything for them, even to pay the doctor
or the hospital. Later, however, after the doctor threatened suit, he paid this
bill. The hospital bill was still unpaid at the time of the interview. Some of
her friends advised the mother to sue, but others warned her that it would cost
m ore than she would get out of it. One friend told her that she could always
.find a lawyer to help her in the courthouse at Terre Haute. But the trip to


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

Terre Haute cost about $3, and when she did not find a lawyer on the first trip
she became discouraged and let the matter drop.
From October 21, when Henry was injured, until April 1, when he returned
to work, the fam ily had a difficult time. The brothers were unable to find work
all that winter, and the sole income of the family was $5 a month ($1.25 a
week), which they received in groceries from the county agent. “ Sometimes
they had food and sometimes they didn’t.” Being in such straitened circum­
stances, the mother was obliged to make Henry go to work before he was really
able to go. In April, five months after his accident, he found employment as a
farm hand at $1.50 a day. A t the same time his two brothers found work but
their wages were low, and the combined income c f the family was never morethan $27 a week.
A t the time of the interview with the bureau agent the mother stated that
Henry s leg had not yet healed. Twice since the original injury he had hurt
it, and both times blood poisoning had developed. Only one o f these injuries
was incurred in the course of employment.
About nine months after his
first injury he was kicked by a horse while working for a farmer, who wasalso a contractor. H e was disabled about two and a half weeks and received
ser7 ices
indemnity. The boy continued to work on fa rm s
at $1.50 a day and at other odd jobs, wherever he could get work, for almost
three years after his accident.
H e then found work in the mines in a
«
St at e at $37 a week. Formerly, when doing farm work he had
had to lay off every once in a while to rest his leg,” but since he had been
m the mines he had worked regularly for several months without a lay-off.
There was still an open sore on the leg, however, and the mother lived in
fear that the limb would have to be amputated.

. Sixteen-year-old Joe had sold newspapers and performed such other odd:
jobs as he could find outside of school hours from the time he was 10. Begin­
ning work at a time when the fam ily were having a struggle financially, dueto a prolonged illness of the father, he had continued after the need was over.
H is home adjoined an ice-cream factory, and whenever they were shorthanded they called him in to help. The mother stated that he was always
‘ crazy to earn money,” and whenever they sent for him he was always “ on
the job.” Finally he began playing truant from school an order to work at
the factory. She “ soon put a stop to that,” but the foreman of the factory
kept urging him to help them and he was so anxious to work that when he
had reached his sixteenth birthday she allowed him to leave school and worK
full time. H e was assigned then to regular work, driving the delivery truck.
H is wages were $23 a week. His hours were irregular— he had to make night
deliveries as well as day. H e had no working certificate because he had
been unable to obtain a birth record, and he had taken it for granted that
the authorities would not issue the certificate without one. H is mother did
not know how he had obtained a driver’s license, but she supposed his em­
ployer had managed it. Neither she nor the boy knew that truck driving was
an occupation prohibited minors under 18 years of age. He had been working
about five months when hurt. A circus was in town on the day of the acci­
dent, and the factory had supplied the concessions on the circus grounds with
ice cream. H e and an older man were detailed to pick up the empty cans
when the circus “ broke up.” They attended the performance and afterwards,
about 11 p. m., started gathering the cans. In their rounds they reached a
stand at which the lights were dying out, and the owner begged them to give
him enough gasoline from their truck to keep them going until the crowd
dispersed. W ith the permission o f the older man, Joe crawled under the
truck and was drawing gasoline from the tank, when it suddenly exploded,
ignited, it was thought, from a discarded cigarette. Caught under the truck
Joe was severely burned before they could get him out and smother the
flames. H is right side, back, arm, and hand were so badly burned that they
were a mass of raw and charred flesh. H e was taken immediately to the
hospital, but after a week the doctor informed the mother that he had de­
veloped bronchitis because o f the neglect o f the nurse, and that if pneumonia
set in he would die. The mother, much alarmed, took him home, and a trained
nurse was engaged at the expense of the insurance company. Infection de­
veloped and for weeks he was delirious with pain. H is condition became so
bad that the mother and nurse could not care for him, and he was finally taken


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to another hospital, where he began to improve at once. He was in the hospital
eight weeks, but it was seven months before the bandages were removed from
his arm and side.
Joe was unable to work for a year and five months. According to the
accident report in the files of the industrial board, he suffered a 45 per cent
impairment of the use of his right arm. The fourth finger of his hand was
slightly flexed and the fifth so much so that it almost touched the palm. The
doctor advised amputating the latter in order to give a better use of the hand,
but Joe had already suffered such agony that he could not endure the thought
of the amputation. The injury occurred during the period that minors illegally
employed were treated as if entitled to double compensation for their injuries,
but there was some controversy over the settlement as the doctors could not
come to an agreement on the degree of impairment sustained. The mother
became worried and engaged a lawyer to look after Joe’s interests. A t his
suggestion all parties agreed to abide by the decision of a third doctor. The
above decision was the result and Joe received double compensation amounting
to $1,423. The mother did not wish to act as guardian, fearing she might be
too lenient and allow him to “ use up the money,” so another person was
appointed and the money was paid directly to him. A ll hospital and doctor’s
bills were paid by the insurance company. The mother received $100 for
nursing care, which she understood came out of the boy’s compensation. She
paid the lawyer $85, and the doctor who was called in to settle the contro­
versy, $25. She could not remember whether or not the insurance company
had reimbursed her for that. A t the time of the interview, neither the mother
nor the boy knew how much money he had left. H e had drawn small amounts
from time to time, but they had kept no account.
W hen talking with the bureau agent, the mother stated that she did not
know what they would have done had it not been for the compensation and
medical care Joe received. He had always helped with the family expenses,
and she had come to count upon him almost as much as upon his father. W hile
he was disabled, she and two of his sisters had scarlet fever and his father
was in a hospital suffering from an industrial accident. The compensation
“ just about saved their lives.” Two weeks after his accident the employer
called and informed the mother of the compensation; three weeks after the
accident the boy received his first check for $12, and for 31 weeks thereafter
he received the same amount regularly every week. A t the end of that time
the remainder was paid in a lump sum. In spite of the compensation, however,
Joe’s illness increased their debts to almost $500.
A t the time of the interview the fam ily were having a hard time. The
father had been out of work for three weeks and Joe was averaging only
three or four days’ work a week, driving a truck for a building contractor.
In order to make ends meet the mother had rented her upper rooms and the
fam ily o f five had crowded into four downstairs rooms. Since his accident the
boy has not been able to find anything he could do except truck driving. He
has tried several times to get work in a machine shop in which he could learn
a trade, but the foreman had refused to employ him on account of his hand.
W hen he was injured he had half decided to return to school, but by the time
he was able he had fallen so far behind his class that he gave up the idea.
W hen interviewed he had learned to use his maimed hand skillfully and
depended upon it rather than training himself to use his left. It tired easily,
however, and he often came in from work and asked his mother to rub the
knuckles because they pained him. Although he was not morbid about his
deformity, he was extremely sensitive and would not dance nor take part in
any form of recreation in which it became conspicuous.

Carl, an only child, left school to go to work because his stepfather’s earn­
ings were irregular and his mother often had to go out to work to supplement
the fam ily income. From the time he was 14 he had worked after school
and during summer vacations to keep himself in clothes and to buy school
books. After leaving school he was employed in various minor jobs in grocery
and drug stores for about a year but finally obtained a job as a pipe-fitter’s
helper with a large wholesale firm. H e had obtained a minor’s certificate of
age for one o f the earlier jobs but had not reclaimed it when he had le ft
employment, and as his new employer did not ask him his age nor mention
a work certificate, he did not bother to return for it. About two weeks


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

after starting work on this job at the age of 17 years he and his foreman
were engaged in repairing some overhead pipes on the ground floor o f the
building where trucks were passing in and out. The scaffolding from which
they were working was supported at one end by a ladder propped against
the wall. Another helper had been stationed there to guard it, but in a short
interval, when he had been called away, a truck passing under the scaffolding
knocked against the ladder, causing it to slip. Carl, feeling it slip, started
to run across the plank to safety, but he lost his balance and fell to the floor,
20 feet below. H e was taken to the hospital where the doctor reported that
he had sustained a fractured vertebra and a broken right ankle He was in
the hospital six weeks and in a cast almost eight. He was unable to return
to work for nine weeks. A ll hospital and doctors’ bills were paid by the
company.
Neither Carl nor his mother knew anything about the compensation act. (H e
was injured during the period that illegally employed minors were compen­
sated under the law.)
He first learned about compensation from some men
in the hospital who were also suffering from industrial accidents. In the mean­
time friends had informed the mother and had warned her not to sign any
papers that might be brought to her “ lest she sign away the boy’s rights.”
T h e third day after the accident the insurance adjuster visited Carl in the
hospital and asked him to sign some papers that he might receive his compen­
sation. A t first he refused, but when a second adjuster came— an old friend
of the family— he signed. H e did not know what he signed but feared that
it might have been a release from liability for the employer. H is compensation,
amounting to $10.56 a week, was brought to him at the hospital regularly
every two weeks for eight weeks, beginning the second week after the accident.
That was all he ever received from the company, although he was per­
manently crippled. His ankle was stiff, he could not kneel easily, and it was
impossible for him to stoop low. H e limped slightly and turned his foot in
when walking. W hen he returned to work he could not return to his former
job, so he was given some clerical work in the office. H is rate of pay was
the same as before he was injured, but the amount of overtime possible was
less, so that he earned only $20 instead of $24. H e had held the clerical job
for about two months, when he was put to weighing meat, in which job he
averaged about $20 in the winter and $22 in the summer. After three and oneh alf years— ju st prior to the interview— he had received no increase in wages,
so he resigned and obtained a job as a sales clerk with a chain grocery store.
He received only $20 a week at the time of the interview but was hoping
eventually to become a manager. H e stated that because of his injuries he
had been handicapped in his choice of employment, that he could not do heavy
or hazardous work, and yet he had no training for anything but unskilled
work. A t first he was unable to do heavy lifting, but at the time of the inter­
view he was able to manage fairly well and was becoming less and less
conscious of his difficulties. Carl was pleased with his job in the store and
hoped that it would offer him real opportunities, as he was married and had
a wife and child to support.
Less than two years after his accident and while still employed with the
wholesale firm, Carl went to the industrial board to inquire if it would be
possible to obtain further compensation on the grounds of permanent disability.
B y that time, however, the administration of the double-compensation provision
of the law had been discontinued, and he was no longer entitled to compensation
because his age certificate had not been filed with his last employer. The
board informed him of his rights to sue and advised him to take the matter
up with his firm. Before taking further steps, however, he consulted an
attorney, a friend of his, who advised him that if he decided to bring suit he
must be prepared to lose his job immediately. There was a great deal of
unemployment at the time so he decided he could not take the risk o f being
idle as his mother was suing his stepfather for a divorce and he was her only
means o f support. I f he could have had an immediate settlement, he would
Iiave taken the risk, but his friend warned him that he might have to wait a
long time. H e was also influenced in his decision by other friends who told
him that if he had “ signed any papers ” he had no chance of winning a suit.
Carl stated that the fam ily had a difficult time during the period he was unable
to work, although he gave his mother all but 56 cents of his weekly compen­
sation. H is stepfather was out of work most of that time, and what he gave
them was all that they had to live on.


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For seven years a mother had supported herself and her son, W illiam , by
working in factories. He was a talented boy, with a gift for music, and her
whole life was centered in giving him a musical education that he might earn
a living with his violin. Both the mother and W illiam were determined that
he should not spend his life in a factory and that she should not end hers
there. Lessons were expensive, but they struggled along on her small earnings;
the boy was never required to work after school nor during vacations, but
all his time was given to his practice. Nothing else seemed to interest him.
H e neglected his school and left as soon as he had completed the minimum
requirements— just after his sixteenth birthday. After he left school it became
necessary for him to work until he had finished his musical education,
but he entered the factory with the consolation that he would soon be ready to
start out with his violin and be free from it. H e tried several jobs— each for
a short time only— then obtained work at a buffing machine in the silverware
factory in which his mother was employed. Neither he nor his mother knew
at the time that such work was prohibited minors under 18 years of age nor
did they know that illegal employment affected his status under the compensa­
tion law. In addition to being employed in a prohibited hazardous occupation,
the boy did not have his minor’s certificate of age on file with the employer.
The machine to which he was assigned was the same one at which the mother
had been working and neither dreamed that there was any danger connected
with it. The spindle of a buffing machine, which protrudes an inch or two and
rotates with the wheel, is hollow. Usually it is sealed with a cap, but on that
particular machine the cap was missing. Two days after he had started work,
in some manner the boy was unable to say how, he caught his left little finger
in the hollow of this spindle and wrenched off one joint of his finger. He was
taken to the factory hospital and his injury cared for. H is first words on
returning to consciousness were “ my music is gone,” and that had been the
thought uppermost in his mind ever since. When his finger healed, he tried to
continue with his violin, but his instructor advised his mother that he was
wasting his money unless they could afford to give him lessons for the pleasure
that he might get from it— that he would never be able to use it as a means
of livelihood.
A t the time of his accident nothing was said to W illiam about compensa­
tion. The mother knew that some firms paid this but thought that it was
optional with each firm, so when the department manager told her that he
would give W illiam a lifetime job and assign him to a department in which
he could learn a good trade she thought it best to accept the offer and did not
inquire about compensation. When the boy returned to work two and one-half
months later, however, instead of giving him a good job the foreman put him
to work counting silver. After one month the mother complained to the de­
partment manager, and W illiam was transferred to the core room with the
understanding that he should learn to be a core maker. But at the end o f a
month he was laid off with several other workers, and his mother realized that
the promises of the firm meant nothing. She, therefore, found a job for
herself in another factory and put W illiam ’s case in the hands of a lawyer wlm
took it on a contingent basis and instituted suit. She did not know when
interviewed, about 15 months later, for how much the lawyer was suing but
knew only that his share was to be one-third of the settlement. The case was
still pending.
When injured, the boy was earning $14 a week, but when he returned to the
factory he was given only $12. Since being laid off at the factory he has done
little steady work. He started at several laboring jobs but stuck to none of
them long. In a little less than a year he had had five different jobs. A t the
time of the interview he was working with a brother-in-law at a filling station,
where he was paid on a commission basis, according to the amount of gasoline
sold, and for the two weeks previous to the interview had averaged only $7 a
week. Both he and his mother were completely demoralized. W illiam refused
to face the future or make any p la n s; he said that he did not care what hap­
pened. H e brooded over his injury constantly, and instead of helping him to
become interested in something his mother pitied him and continually Kept tne
matter fresh in his mind. They had made no plans as to what they would do
with the money if they won the law suit. W illiam said that he thought he
could learn to play another instrument if he tried but that he had no desire to»
play anything but the violin.


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INDIANA LAWS RELATING TO WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION FOR
INJURED MINORS
DEFINITION OF EMPLOYEE IN WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAW
[References are to Laws of 1929, eh. 172]
S ection 73. In this act unless the context other [wise] requires: * * *
(b ) “ Em ployee” shall include every person, including a minor lawfully in
the service of another under any contract of hire or apprenticeship, written
or implied, except one whose employment is both casual and not in the usual
course of the trade, business, occupation, or profession of the employer. Any
reference to an employee who has been injured shall, when the employee is
dead, also include his legal representatives, dependents, and other persons to
whom compensation may be payable.

EXTRA COMPENSATION LAW PASSED IN 1923 1
The term “ employee” as used in this act and in the act of which this act
is amendatory shall be construed to include every person, including a minor
14 years of age or over, in the service of another under any contract of hire
or apprenticeship, written or implied, except one whose employment is both
casual and not in the usual course of the trade, business, occupation, or pro­
fession of the employer. Except as herein provided, all such minor employees
are hereby made of full age for all purposes, under, in connection with, or
arising out of this act. Any reference to an employee who has been injured
shall, when the employee is dead, also include his legal representatives, depend­
ents, and other persons to whom compensation may be payable. Except as here­
inafter otherwise provided, if the employee be a minor of the age of 14 years or
over who at the time of the accident is employed, required, suffered, or per­
mitted to work in violation of any of the provisions of any of the child labor
laws of this State, the amount of compensation and death benefits as provided
in this act shall be double the amount which would otherwise be recoverable.
The insurance carrier shall be liable on its policy for one-half of the compen­
sation or benefits that may be payable on account of the injury or death of
such minor and the employer shall be wholly liable for the other one-half of
such compensation or benefits: Provided, That if such employee be a minor
who is not less than 16 years and not more than 18 years of age and who at
the time of the accident is employed, suffered, or permitted to work at any
occupation which is not prohibited by law, the provision of this act prescrib­
ing double the amount otherwise recoverable shall not apply.
The rights and remedies herein granted to a minor subject to this act on
account of personal injury or death by accident shall exclude all rights and
remedies of such minor, his parents, his personal representatives, dependents, or
next [of] kin at common law, statutory or otherwise on account of such injury
or death.
This act shall not apply to minors under 14 years of age.
EXCERPTS FROM CHILD LABOR LAW
[References are to Laws of 1921, ch. 132]

Minimum age.
S ection 18, as amended by Laws of 1929, ch. 76. No minor under the age of
14 years shall be employed or permitted to work in any gainful occupation other
than farm labor or domestic service, or as a caddie to any person or persons who
are engaged in playing the game of golf. It shall be unlawful for any person,
firm, or corporation to employ or permit any minor to work in any occupation
or service whatsoever during any of the hours when the common schools of the
1 Laws o f 1923, ch. 76 ; this provision was repealed by Laws of 1929, ch. 172.

212


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school corporation in which such minor resides are in session, contrary to the
provisions of section 6 of this act.

Employment certificates.
S ection 19, as amended by Laws of 1929, ch. 76. It shall be unlawful for any
person, firm, or corporation to hire or employ or permit any minor between the
ages of 14 and 18 years to work in any gainful occupation until such person,
firm, or corporation shall have secured and placed on file in the office of such
person, firm, or corporation a certificate issued by the issuing officer, as herein­
after defined, of the school corporation in which said minor resides. Upon the
request of any employer who desires to employ a minor who represents his or
her age to be between 18 and 21 years, it shall be the duty of the issuing officer
to issue a certificate to such minor. Upon the request of any parent or guardian,
the issuing officer shall have authority to issue permits for temporary absences
for causes other than employment. The issuing officer in all cities and incorpo­
rated towns having boards o f school trustees shall be the superintendent of the
schools of such city or such incorporated town or some person designated by him
in writing so to act, and in all other school corporations the issuing officer shall
be the county superintendent of schools or some person or persons designated by
him in writing so to act : Provided, That no school superintendent shall designate
an issuing officer without the approval of the State attendance officer. In case
of a vacancy in the superintendency of the schools of any such city or incorpo­
rated town, then during such vacancy, the president of the board of school
trustees or the president of the board of school commissioners of such city or
incorporated town or someone whom he shall designate, shall be the issuing
officer thereof. No certificate shall be required for any minor between the ages
o f 14 and 16 years to perform farm labor or domestic service or to perform the
duties or to work or act as a caddie2 to any person or persons who are engaged
in playing the game of golf, during the hours when schools of the school corpo­
ration in which such minors reside are not in session. The issuing officer of such
school corporation or the person authorized by him in writing so to act shall
issue such certificate only to a minor whose employment is necessary and not
prohibited by law, and only upon receipt of the following four documents herein
referred to as proof of age, proof of physical fitness, proof of schooling, and proof
of prospective employment. * * *
The certificate herein provided for shall set forth the full name, the date,
and place of birth of the applicant for such certificate, together with the name
and address o f his parent, guardian, or custodian, and shall certify that the
minor and his parent, guardian, or custodian have appeared before the officer
issuing the certificate and have submitted the proof of age, physical fitness,
schooling, and prospective employment as required in this section. A ll blank
forms necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 18 to 28, inclusive,
of this act shall be prepared by the industrial board and supplied to the several
issuing officers, and a sufficient amount of money to defray any expenses
incurred by the industrial board in the printing and distribution of such forms
is hereby appropriated annually out of any money in the general fund o f the
State treasury not otherwise appropriated. A copy o f each such certificate
shall be mailed by the officer to the employer, a record of which shall be kept
in the office of the issuing officer and another copy of which shall be forwarded
by the issuing officer to the industrial board, within five days after its issuance.
The State board of attendance or the State industrial board may, at any
time, revoke any such certificate, i f in the judgment o f either it was improperly
issued, or if the State board of attendance or the industrial board has knowledge
o f the fact that the minor was illegally employed. * * * Employment
certificates shall be issued in such form and under such rules and regulations
as shall be adopted from time to time by the industrial board and the State
board of attendance, and which are not inconsistent with the provisions of
law, and such as will promote uniformity and efficiency in the administration
o f this act.8 * * *
This exemption of wqrk at caddying was inserted in the law in 1929 (ch. 76).
Regulations for issuing officers have been adopted which have the force of law and
which make important distinctions between the certificates to be issued to different groups
o f minors under 18. For certificates issued to children under 16 for work during school
hours, the regulations follow strictly all the requirements of the law ; for certificates
issued to 14 and 15 year old children to work outside school hours and during school vacaa“ 3 *® I ? and 17 year old children to work at any time, the child need present only
proof that he is of legal age for employment.


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214

TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

Hours of labor.
S ection 21, as amended by Laws of 1929, ch. 76. No boy between the ages o f
14 and 16 years and no girl between the ages of 14 and 18 years shall be
employed or permitted to work in any gainful occupation other than farm labor
or domestic service or as a caddie to any person or persons who are engaged
in playing the game of golf, more than 8 hours in any one day, nor more than
48 hours in any one week, nor more than 6 days in any one week, nor before
the hour of 6 o’clock in the morning, nor after the hour of 7 o’clock in the
evening of any day. * * *

Prohibited employment— minors under 16 years.
Section 22. No minor under the age of 16 years shall be employed, per­
mitted, or suffered to work in any capacity in any of the following occupations:
Oiling, wiping, or cleaning machinery or assisting therein; operating or assist­
ing in the operation of, or off-bearing at, any of the following machines or
apparatus whether power driven or n o t: Circular or band sa w s; wood shapers;
wood joiners; planers; stamping machines used in sheet-metal or tin-work
manufacturing; stamping machines in washer or nut factories, or any other
stamping machine used in stamping m etal; boiler or other steam-generating
apparatus; dough bakers or cracker machinery of any description; wire or
iron straightening machinery; rolling-mill machinery; punch; shears; drill
p ress; grinding or mixing m ills; calender rolls in rubber m anufacturing;
laundry machinery; corrugating rolls o f the kind used in roofing and wash­
board m anufacturing; metal or paper cutting m achines; corner-staying machines
in paper-box factories; assorting, manufacturing, or packing tobacco; in or
about any mine, quarry, or excavation; or in any hotel, theater, bowling alley,
or in any other occupation dangerous to life or limb, or injurious to the health
or morals of such minor.

Prohibited employment—minors under 18 years.
S ection 23. No minor under the age of 18 years shall be employed, permitted,
or suffered to work in any capacity in any of the following occupations: Oiling
and cleaning moving machinery; in the operation of emery wheels except for
the sharpening of tools used by an apprentice in connection with his w ork;
or at any abrasive, polishing or buffing w heel; in the operation of any elevator,
lift, or hoisting machine; in or about establishments where nitroglycerine,
dynamite, dualin, guncotton, gunpowder, or other high explosives are manu­
factured, compounded, or stored; in dipping, dyeing, or packing m atches; in
any saloon, distillery, brewery, or any other establishment where malt or
alcoholic liquors are manufactured, packed, wrapped, or bottled; or in any
other occupation dangerous to life or limb or injurious to the health or morals
of such minor. No boy under the age of 18 years shall be employed or per­
mitted to work as a messenger for a telegraph or messenger company in the
distribution, transmission, or delivery of goods or messages before 6 o’clock
in the morning, or after 10 o’clock in the evening of any d a y ; and no girl
under 18 years shall be employed in any capacity where such employment
compels her to remain standing constantly.

Prohibited employment—minors under 21 years.
S ection 24. No boy or girl under the age of 21 years of age shall be permitted!
to work in any public pool or billiard room.

Enforcement.
S ection 26. It shall be the duty of the State industrial board or its authorized
inspectors and agents to cause sections 18 to 28, inclusive, of this act to beenforced and to cause all violators of the same to be prosecuted, * * *.

Actions for damages for unlawful employment.
S e c t i o n 28. In all actions or damages for personal injuries by any m i n o r o r
by his parent, guardian, or personal representative, because of his being em­
ployed, retained in employment, required or permitted to work in violation o f
any provision of sections 18 to 28, inclusive, of this act, the employer shall
not be permitted to defend upon the ground that such minor had assumed
any risk of the employment, or that the injury was due to the negligence of
a fellow servant, or to the contributory negligence of such minor. In any
such action it shall be sufficient to allege and prove that such minor was
employed, retained in employment, required or permitted to work in violation
of any provision hereof and that the injury arose out of such employment,,
or the performance of such work.


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Part 3.— RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WHITE HOUSE
CONFERENCE ON CHILD HEALTH AND PROTECTION RE­
LATING TO THE ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR UNDER
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAWS
The status o f the illegally employed minor under workmen’s com­
pensation laws was given special consideration by a subcommittee
-of the committee on vocational guidance and child labor of the
White House Conference, appointed by President Hoover and held
in Washington in November, 1930, which made the following recom­
mendations 1:
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAWS

Basic to a State program for the general compensation of minors
injured in industry, is a workmen’s compensation law which is liberal
in its general provisions as well as in its provisions relating to
minors. Such a law should be administered by a properly qualified
-commission or board to which claims for the payments of compensa­
tion under the law should be submitted in all cases for award or
denial. It should be compulsory for at least all industrial employ­
ments and employees, and it should be liberal in the amount of
payments for which it provides.
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR MINORS
Basis for computing compensations.

In view o f the fact that the amount of compensation payable
under the workmen’s compensation laws is in almost all States a
. certain percentage (never more than 66.67 per cent2) of the average
wages or earnings o f the injured employee, and that the wages of
young workers are in general very low, it is urged that all States not
yet having such provisions enact legislation providing that the em­
ployee’s future earning capacity in the case o f minors permanently
disabled, be considered as determining the average wage o f injured
minors. Future earnings should be deemed those he would probably
have been capable o f earning as a result of his education and experi­
ence in any occupation in which he would be likely to find employ­
ment, and not be limited to probable future earnings in the plant,
industry, or locality in which he happened to be employed when the
injury occurred. In view of the difficulty o f estimating prospective
earnings, it is recommended that unless otherwise established the
minor’s earnings for the purpose o f computing compensation, in
1 Child Labor ; report of the subcommittee on hazardous occupations, industrial acci­
dents, and compensation for minors of the White House Conference on Child Labor and
Protection, pp. 317—321. Century Co., New York, 1932.
2 Since the date of these recommendations, Wisconsin has raised this rate to 7Q per
cent. (Wis., Laws of 1931, ch. 101.)
215


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TH E ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED MINOR

case o f permanent disability, should be deemed to be equivalent to
the amount upon which maximum compensation is payable under
the law.
In case o f temporary disability, the minor’s future earning capac­
ity is not presumably impaired and there would seem to be no­
reason for basing his compensation on his probable earnings as an
adult. I f, however, his earnings would probably have increased
during the period o f temporary disability, consideration should be
given, in computing compensation, to such probable increase.
Since in some o f the States girls attain their majority at 18 years
o f age, but may still be low-paid wage earners, any provision de­
signed to increase compensation payments to young workers in these
States should apply to all persons under 21 years o f age.
Illegally employed minors.

Legal provisions.— It has been found in States in which minors
illegally employed when injured are excluded from the benefits of
the workmen’s compensation law that, although they are theoreti­
cally free to obtain higher damages in suits at law, they do not in
actual practice fare as well as if they were covered by the workmen’s
compensation law. Therefore, it is recommended that in all States
minors illegally employed when injured be brought under the pro­
visions o f the workmen’s compensation laws.
In depriving illegally employed minors o f such rights as they
have attained under the common law, which as a general rule pre­
vents the employers o f such minors from pleading the usual commonlaw defenses and makes recovery o f damages at law easier than in the
case o f legally employed minors or o f adults, it is only just that
some special provision should be made in all States, as has already
been done in a few, for additional compensation. Such legislation
should provide that additional compensation be paid in all cases o f
minors under 21 injured while employed in violation o f any provi­
sion o f the child labor law or of any ruling made by the State
department o f labor or industrial commission which has the force,
o f law; the amount o f extra compensation be at least 100 per cent
that o f the regular compensation ; and the employer be made person­
ally liable for the payment o f the additional compensation, with the
insurance company secondarily liable only in cases where the em­
ployer is insolvent.
Administration.— Experience has shown that unless special effort
is made to locate cases o f accidents to minors illegally employed and
to follow up such cases in order to see that additional compensation
is paid, many minors legally entitled to additional compensation do
not receive it.
First, a thorough investigation is recommended o f the legality o f
employment o f all injured minors whose ages are reported as two
years, or less, older than the maximum age covered by the provisions
o f the child labor and compulsory school attendance laws. It is
recommended that all accident reports to minors o f the ages specified
be referred as soon as received, for investigation as to legality o f
employment, to some special bureau or individual in the State depart­
ment o f labor or industrial commission, preferably a bureau or indi­
vidual especially concerned with the enforcement of the State child

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W O R K M E N ^ C O M PEN SATIO N L A W S— R E C O M M E N D A TIO N S

217

labor law or with research in this field. For the investigation of
the correct age and employment-certificate status, the following pro­
cedure is recommended :
1. A checking of accident reports with employmentcertificate records, supplemented where necessary by
correspondence with employer, employee, local certifi­
cate-issuing officers, and checking with birth records or
other evidence of age. Since checking with employ­
ment-certificate records has been found to be both less
time-consuming and more accurate in States in which
the law requires that duplicates o f employment certifi­
cates be filed with the State labor department, the pas­
sage o f legislation to this effect is urged where it is
not already operative.
2. Where violations o f the State child labor law relat­
ing to the employment of minors in hazardous trades or
at illegal hours -are suspected, special investigation of
the circumstances o f the accident by the State inspectors
especially assigned to safety inspections in factories is
recommended.
Second, the administrative agency should take full responsibility
for seeing that the additional compensation is paid to the injured
minor.
Third, where the award is large, especially in the case o f minors
permanently disabled, the additional compensation, at least, should
be placed in trust, with payments o f interest, for the minor until
he has attained his majority. Only such portions o f the compensa­
tion awards should be paid during the injured worker’s minority as
are necessary for support or to provide desirable training.
Fourth, the State enforcing agency should use every means of
publicity available to bring to the attention o f employers the costs
and hazards involved in the illegal employment of minors.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

APPENDIX
STATISTICS OF ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED INJURED MINORS
i q w f t fS^ CTi?-n ™in° r s i n jured while illegally employed were available (April;
1932) for Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and W is­
consin.
In several of these States special studies of illegally employed injured
minors have been made, and in all of them the department administering the
^ ° rS?sen2- r ^ PeThptl0f 1
^ 1'! . I)ublishes or has Published some separate statistics
on this group. The statistics vary considerably, however, for the different
States. The Indiana Industrial Board, for example, has published the number
injured only for a single 14-month period, whereas the Illinois Department of
b £ rl l publls es annually detailed information on each minor injured while
l o f f ^ c? vf,n n £ age' sex> occupation, industry, cause of injury,
nature of violation of the child labor law, amount of compensation incurred
am° unt aetually paid. Statistics issued periodically by the other States’
although more complete than those for Indiana, are not so detailed as for
Illinois. Statistics for Pennsylvania, although given in some detail, are not
comparable with those for the other States, as in Pennsylvania le g a lly of
i f f her.et.o for? bef n investigated for only a small proportion of the
minors reported as uyured.
(S eep . 40.) The statistics for the various States
moreover, differ in other w a y s; thus, those for Indiana are based on all injuries

° r ‘ he ^
Stat6S re‘ atC ° nlr to
or to
The following tables, which summarize the principal available facts are based
PuWish« d »y the State agencies concemSi. S
S ta t2 ‘ n , l S i 1K, m “ “ “ t10” with special studies made by the United
States Children s Bureau or other agencies. The source in each case is indi­
cated in the footnotes to the tables.
o
h<T^S ,-the ProP°rtion minors found to have been illegally employed
s h r ^ fn i !!? 6 mVl1-n‘,Ury f ° r+“ ° f the total number of minors injured in five of the
six States. This proportion vanes, the variation apparently depending chiefly
and^he^chPdginhnSS
wbicb both the legality of employment is investigated
and the child labor laws are enforced. For example, the two States reporting
the largest proportions— Illinois and Wisconsin— are ones that have placed
empha?is upon the investigation of legality of employment, w h S
tes repo?t! I1f relatively small proportions are those that have made
practically no special investigations, like New York (see p. 3 8 ), or that dcTnot
a g c ^ l i f c e ^ e w ^ e ^ ^ s e e p.t38 )?in0rS

able. In the three rem ainingstate»
f v r ? "Uiy o. 1931, no statistics are availno minors have been awarded extra comnetttotion o f 1' t W iihovg AlCleL i tpdrt 1lther that
there are
In Missouri, where d o u b le ^ S e n s a tio n °is G ir d e d o V ?
,W ml ny
“ knowingly” employed a minor in violation of the cMM S u w A h l S employer has
compensation commission renorts that nn » » , 5
Jw*,ra lat)0r la^t the State workmen’s
the four years the law M s been in onP^ t i ^
m °* e/ tra compensation has been made in
beis of such ( ¿ e V t o ¿ I r y S an^Mictd^Ln a V h n n lw h ™ ls, available as to the numthese States have been in effect stace 19 27^ ’ althougl1 the extra compensation laws of
125914— 32------- 15


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219

220

T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

T able I.__ Number of minors under 18 and under 16 years of age injured while
employed and number and percentage of these who were found to be illegally
employed in four States (Illinois, New Jersey, N ew York, Wisconsin) hamng
extra compensation laws, and in Indiana and Pennsylvania
Minors under 16

Minors under 18

State

Illinois-............
New Jersey----New York____
Wisconsin..___
Indiana______
Pennsylvania...

Period covered

July 1,1927-June 30,19301----Jan. 1,1927-Dec. 31,1929 3----July 1,1923-June 30, 19283----July 1 ,1919-Dec. 31,1928 *----A j U •oU )
L rO l/i o l j XHdiO ——
July 1 ,1926-Dec. 31, 19288-----

Total
number
injured

3,119
10,843
4,751
12,136

Number illegally
employed
Number Per cent

152
962
822
581

1
20

Total
number
injured

336
370
1,110
625

Number illegally
employed
Number Per cent
225
70
141
258
39

67
19
13
41

5

i Labor Bulletin, Illinois Department of Labor, vol. 8, No. e ^ecemoer,
p. <y±, vui.», nv . «
ber, 1929), pp. 80-82; vol. 10, No. 6 (December, 1930), pp. 108-110; and unpublished supplementary material
fUi t o ^ r i f f i
of Labor, vol.2, No.9 (September 1928),p .45; vol 3 No .9
(September, 1929), pp. 35-36; vol. 4, No. 9 (September, 1930), pp. 71,73; and unpublished figures furnished
NewYOTk^tete Departu^t of Labor: Special Bulletins No. 142, pp. 149-50; No. 146, pp. 64-65; No 148,
pp 58^59- No 157 pp 54-55; No. 160, pp. 72-73. Information for minors illegally employed is for those
those whose injuries occurred and whose cases were closed in the period Sept, l, 1917 Dec. di,
u. ».
Children’s Bureau study (see p. 87).
« Labor^nd^Induste^^mn^wealth ^Pennsylvania, Department of Labor and Industry, vol. 14,
No. 7 (July? 1927), p. 3; vol. 15, No. 7 (July, 1928), p. 3; vol. 16, No. 12 (December, 1929), p. 3.
Tables II and I I I show the provisions of the child labor laws violated by
minors injured while illegally employed in the States for which the information
available
The violations reported differ with the State, as the extra compen­
sation laws of the different States do not all cover the same types of violation.
The Wisconsin extra compensation law does not cover minors employed in
violation of the hour and night-work regulations of the child labor law and
until 1929, subsequent to the period covered by the statistics shown m Tables
II and III, did not cover minors employed under permit a g e ; hence violations
of these regulations are not reported in the Wisconsin statistics. The most
common type of violation is failure to have an employment certificate on file.
The proportion of cases in which this provision was violated is largest in
Indiana,Pwhere a relatively thorough investigation is made to determine the
minor’s certificate status, but no investigation is made to determine employment
in prohibited occupations. The smallest proportion is in New York, where no
preliminary investigation of legality is made. Although New York is unique
in that a hearing is accorded every compensation case and this hearing provides
an nnnortunffv for investigating the legality of the employment of injured
minors the types of violation discovered in this way are chiefly those that are
most likely to be self-evident from the accident report, such as employment in
a prohibited occupation or below permit age. This procedure may also explain
the relatively large proportion reported for New York as employed in violation
o f the prohibited-occupation clause of the child labor law.

S


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221

A PP E N D IX

T able II.— Minors found to be injured while employed in violation of specified
provisions of the child labor law in four States (Illinois, N ew Jersey, New
York, and Wisconsin) having extra compensation laws, and in Indiana
Minors injured while illegally employed in—
New

Illinois >

New York 8

Wisconsin8

Indiana 4

Nature of violation
Num- Per Num- Num- Per Num- Per Num- Per
ber of cent ber of ber of cent ber of cent ber of cent
minors distri- minors miners distri- minors distri- minors distriinjured bution injured8 injured bution injured bution injured bution
152
134

100

815

21

16

2

27

113

84

813

31

15

24

18

12
2
51

12

56
9
24

42
7
18

225

100

12

5

Permit age and over_______

213

95

Permit violation only__
Prohibited occupation
only............................

69
26
4
114

More than one violation.

962

822

27
27

225
Total reporting violation............

18

952

100

100

950

100

692

85

697

73

17
1
103

2

96

10

157

17

100
(')

(?)
13

12

7

1 Labor Bulletin, Illinois Department of Labor, vol. 8, No. 6 (December, 1928), p. 84; vol. 9, No. 6 (Decern
ber, 1929), pp. 80-82; vol. 10, No. 6 (December, 1930), pp. 107-110; July 1,1927-June 30,1930.
2Industrial Bulletin, New Jersey Department of Labor, vol. 4, No. 4 (April, 1930), p. 23; cases closed
during 1929.
8New York State Department of Labor: Special Bulletin 168, pp. 37, 38; calendar years 1924-1928.
4Information obtained from U. S. Children’s Bureau study; Apr. 30,1923-Dec. 31, 1929.
8Information obtained from U. S. Cnildren’s Bureau study; Sept. 1, 1917-Dec. 31, 1928.
8 Per cent distribution not shown where number of minors was less than 50.
? Less than 1 per cent.
T able III.— Number and percentage of minors found to be injured while
employed in violation of certain specified provisions of the child labor law
in four States (Illinois, N ew Jersey, N ew York, and Wisconsin) having extra
compensation laws, and in Indiana
Number of minors injured, and per cent of total illegally
employed minors injured, who were employed—
State

Without permits4

In illegal occupa­
tions 2

At illegal hours8

Number Per cent4 Number Per cent4 Number Per cent4
Illinois 8___ , . ....................... ........ .........
New Jersey8 ________________________
New York8.......... ......... .................. .........
Indiana8________________________ ____
Wisconsin8. ________________________

146
15
47
795
854

65
35
98
90

106
12
79
117
255

47

87

39

59
14
27

13
5

10
l

1Includes all permit violations whether alone or with other violations.
2Includes all occupation violations whether alone or with other violations.
8Includes all hour violations whether alone or with other violations.
4Per cent not shown where number of minors was less than 50.
8Information from same sources as given in Table II.
Table IV shows the percentage of fatal and permanent injuries occurring to
minors Injured while illegally employed compared with all injured minors in
the four States fog which there are comparable figures. In New Jersey and
New York approximately half the injuries to minors known to be illegally em­
ployed resulted in death or permanent disability. The proportion is smaller


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222

T H E ILL E G A LL Y EM PLO YE D M IN O R

in Illinois and Wisconsin, but in these States, also, it is considerably greater
than the proportion of the injuries to all minors of the same ages that resulted
in fatalities or permanent disabilities. In New York, the only State for which
information on this point is available, the average period of disability also is
longer in the cases of minors awarded double compensation because illegally
employed than in the case of other injured minors— the average period allowed
for disability to all compensated cases of permanent partial or of temporary
character in 1927 was 12 weeks, whereas the average period for minors awarded
double compensation was 40.5 weeks.2 The larger number of illegally employed
minors who meet with serious accidents is due to the fact that so many o f
them are employed in occupations prohibited by law because of their hazardous
nature. In Wisconsin, the only State for which the numbers are large enough
to permit the necessary computations, the proportion of illegally employed
minors not employed in prohibited occupations who received permanent or
fatal injuries was approximately the same (1 2 per cent) as the comparable
proportion of the total number injured, whereas the proportion of those em­
ployed in prohibited occupations who were killed or permanently disabled was
considerably higher (27 per cent). The differences among the States in the
proportion of injuries resulting in death or permanent disability result at least
in part from differences in the proportions of the minors known to be em­
ployed in violation o f the certificate provisions and the consequent differences
in the proportions employed in hazardous occupations. (See P- 32.)
For ex­
ample, in New York the high percentages of injuries to the illegally employed,
as compared with all compensated injuries to minors, resulting in death or
permanent disability or in more serious partial disability, which has been noted
above, are doubtless due in part to the method of locating cases for extra com­
pensation, which results in the discovery for the most part of the cases involv­
ing the violation of the hazardous occupations law and, therefore, the more
serious types of accident.
T a b l e I V — Percentage of minors under 18 and under 16 years o f age receiving

fatal or permanent injuries and percentage receiving such injuries while
found to be illegally employed in four specified States
Per cent of minors of specified ages in­
jured while employed who sustained
fatal or permanent injuries

State

Period covered

M inors in ju red
while illegally em­
ployed

Total minors

Under 18 Under 16 Under 18 Under 16
years
years
years
years
July 1, 1927-June 30,19301----Jan. 1,1927-Dee. 31,1929 3___
July Ï. 1923-June 30, 1928 3----Wisconsin.......... ................... Jan. 1 ,1919-Dec. 31,19284-----

19
17
11

22
30
18
13

55
16

29
49
53
23

i Labor Bulletin, Illinois Department of Labor, vol. 7, No. 10 (April, 1928), p. 159; vol. 8, No. 10 (April,
1929) pp 161, 163; vol. 9, No. 10 (April, 1930), pp. 164-165. Information for injured minors illegally em­
ployed for the 3 years ended June 30,1929, from Labor Bulletin, vol. 8, No. 6 (December, 1928), p. 84; vol.
9 No 6 (December, 1929), pp. 80-82; vol. 10, No. 6 (December, 1930), pp. 108-109.
’ ¡Industrial Bulletin, New Jersey Department of LabOT, vol. 3, No. 9 (September, 1929), p 37; vol. 4,
No 9 (September, 1930), p. 74. Information for minors injured while illegally employed for 1927-1929.
* New York State Department of Labor: Special Bulletins No. 142, pp. 149-50; No. 146, pp. 64-65; No.
148 p p 58-59' No. 157, pp. 54-55; No. 160, pp. 72-73. Information for minors illegally employed is for
those receiving double compensation in the 5 calendar years 1924-1928, from unpublished data furmshed
bv New York State Department of Labor and from Special Bulletin No. 168, pp. 16 and 29.
4 Wisconsin Labor Statistics: Bulletin No. 25, p. 4. Information for minors illegally employed is for
those whose injuries occurred and whose cases were closed July 1, 1917-December 31, 1928, obtained in
U. S. Children’s Bureau study.
Table Y shows the cause of injuries to illegally employed minors in the four
States for which this information is available. The proportion injured by
machinery, the principal cause in each State, varies from 72 per cent in New
a The Social Aspects o f the Adm inistration o f the Double Compensation Law in New
York State, p. 37. New York State Departm ent o f Labor, Special Bui. No. 168.


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A PPEN D IX

T ° r k and 56 per cent in New Jersey to 37 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively
in Wisconsin and Illinois. In all these States injuries from machinery aré
more common among illegally employed minors than among all injured minors
owing to the fact that in each State a number of the prohibited occupations
are in connection with machinery.
1
T able V. Cause of injury of minors injured while found to be illegally
employed m four States (Illinois, N ew Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin)

Minors injured while illegally employed in—
Illinois1

New Jersey2 New York 2

Cause of injury

Wisconsin4

Per
Per
Per
Per
Num­ cent Num­ cent Num­ cent Num­ cent
ber distri­ ber distri­ ber distri­ ber distri­
bution
bution
bution
bution
Total.....................
"Cause of injury reported
Machinery_________
Woodworking____
Metal working_______
Paper and paper products__
Printing and bookbinding
Leather working___
Textile..... ..............
Farm machinery___
Hoisting apparatus_______
Other.............
Not reported...............
Vehicles... ............ . ..
Falling objects______
Falls of persons__
Stepping on or striking against objects.
Hand tools__
Handling objects............
Electricity, explosives, and hot and cor­
rosive substances_____
Infection or occupational disease__
Other________
•Cause of injury not reported.. .

225

70

222

100

89

40

14
25
6
2

6
ii
3
1

2

1

H
29

5
13

45
10
22
12
10
26

10
5
g
12

5

2

3

i

3

70

152
100

8
31

962
100

890

100

76

326

37

20

78
58
29
15

9
7

48

5
8

111
33
64
62

12
4
7
7
8
19

1
39

56

2

7
3

55

20

35
9

8

1
1

1

166
1

1

1

31
14

3
1

72

Aiuiiuib impairment oi lvapor, vox, a. No. n iDfififlmhpr, 1928-) d 84* vol Q TMn ft
PP- 80-81; vol. 10, No. 6 (December, 1930), pp. 108-109; period covered julv 1 1927- T n n 61
Bulletin New Jersey Department of UiorTv™ !3, n 2 9
1^;
1928 6W

figUr6S fUrniShed by NeW Jersey Dep’artme°t of Labor for
department of Labor, Special Bulletin, No. 168, p. 29; period covered Jan. 1, 1924-Dec. 31,

* U. S. Children’s Bureau study; period covered Sept. 1 ,1927-Dec. 31,1928.


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R E F E R E N C E S TO

S T A T E W O R K M E N ’ S C O M P E N S A T IO N

LAW S1

A lab am a : Code 1923, secs. 3992-4003, 753A-7597, 8329; Laws o f 1931, A ct
N ^ r iz o n a : Rev. Code 1928, secs. 1391-1457; Laws of 1931, ch. 112.
A r k a n sa s: No workmen’s compensation law.
OQ ,
^
-.q^ 079
C alifornia: Laws o f 1917, ch. 58 6; 1919, ' h-of V , , P - n ; , S ; , 9 ° ’i 0 ‘S ’ 5 2 ’ 165
3 8 1 ; 1925, chs. 300, 354, 355, 3 8 3 ; 1 8 2 7 ,chs.
165>
S

S

i

K

f

f

i

* *

1927, chs.

secs. 5223-5291; Laws o f 1931, c h ,
9' D ela w a re; Laws o f 1917, ch. 23 3; 1919, ch 20 3; 1921, ch. 18 6; 1923, ch. 2 0 6 ;
d i s t r i c t 1“ ' Colum bia ^Act^of'
c h .6 1 2 , 4 5 Stat. W , extenOing
the act of March 4, 1927, eh. 509, 44 Stat. (Part 2) 1424, to the District of
Columbia, with certain exceptions.
Florida: No workmen’s compensation law.
_
G eorgia; Laws o f 1920, p. 167, secs. 1 -7 7 ; 1922 pp. 77, 18 5; 1923, p. 9 2 , 1925,
p. 282; 1929, p. 35 8; supplemented by Laws of 1931, Psec.
M 217 220
Id a h o : Comp. Stat. 1919, secs. 6213-45339; Laws of :
%
22° ’
240 244; 1925, ch. 129; 1927, chs. 106, 18 1; 1929, chs. 8 8 , 16 4, 1931, ch. 222 .
iilin o is : Smith-Hurd’s Rev. Stat. 1931, ch. 48, secs. 138-172.
i o w a T c ^ Y ls ? S
’l » 2 , 1431, 1432, 1434-1436,1462, 1466, 1467-1481.
K a n s a s : Laws of 1927, ch. 232; 1929 ch. 20 6; :19^, ch.2 1 7 .
K en tu cky: Carroll’s Stat. 1930, ch. 137, secs. 4886-4987.
Louisiana: Laws of 1914, Act No. 2 0 ; 1916, Act No. 243 1918, Act No. 3 8 ,
1920, Act Nos. 234, 244, 24 7; 1922, Act No. 4 3 ; 1924, Act Nos. 21, 21 6, 192b, Act
No. 8 5 ; 1928, Act No. 24 2; 1930, Act No. 81.
1QQ1
,
22W

' ^ c l w l ^ a w ^ f l b i r c h f - s s , 395,
42 6; 1631, chs. 336-342, 363, 364,

4 < M a “ achuSe tts : Gen. Laws 1621, ch. 1 5 2 ; L » w s o f 1621 chs 310, 462 ; 1922,
f>h«s q«s 402• 1923 chs. 125, 139, 163; 1924, chs. 207, 434, 1925, ch. 2 b<, iy^o,

ch 190 •’ 1927,’ ch. 3 0 9 ; 1928, ch. 35 6 ; 1929, chs. 242, 246, 32 6; 1930, chs. 129, 159,
181, 205, 208, 293, 320, 330, 33 6 ; 1931, chs. 143, 170, 426.
. .
M ich ig a n ’ Comp Laws 1929, ch. 150, secs. 8407-8485; Laws of 1931, Act 58.
M innesota: Gen Stat. 1923, ch. 23A,
^ 61^ T ; L a ^ o f 1 9 2 ^ c ^ 6 ! ,
175 219 • 1927, chs. 216, 41 7; 1929, chs. 248, 250, 251, 252, 40 0, 1931, ch. 352.
S i iT ia w s

r

" 3

X

" V

f

S

y effective (after r e f e r e n t )
Laws o f 4625. chs. 1 1 7 .1 2 1 ; 1926.

ch. 177; 1931, ch. 139.
_
N ebraska: Comp. Stat. 1929, secs. 48-101 to 48-161.
N evada: Comp. Laws 1929, secs. 2680-2731; Laws of 1931 chs.1 5 1 , 213.
N ew H am p shire: Public Laws 1926, ch. 17 8; Laws o f 1931, ch. 131.
N ew Jersey: Laws of 1911. ch. 9 5 ; 1913, ch. 17 4; 1914, ch. 24 4; 1919, ch. 93,
1921 chs. 85 229, 23 0 ; 1922, ch. 24 5; 1923, ch. 4 9 ; 1924, chs. 124, 1 5 9 ; 1625, ch.
1 6 3 ;’ 1926, ch. 3 1 ; 1928, chs. 135, 14 9 ; 1931, chs. 33, 279. Supplemented by a
of 1911, ch. 36 8 ; 1912, ch. 316; 1913, ch.1 4 5 ( amended by Laws of 1927
15£ >
1931, ch. 355) ; 1913, ch. 301 (amended by Laws of 1628 , ch 225) ,1 9 1 5 , chs. 59,
19 9; 1918, ch. 149 (amended by Laws of 1919, ch. 9 2 , 1921, ch. ¿ ¿ x , iuzd , cn,
i Latest session laws cited: 1931.
actments.
224


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Beferences are to code sections or session law en­

A P P E N D IX

225

« 8 ; 1927, ch. 23 4 ; 1928, ch. 22 4; 1931, chs. 280, 388) ; 1922, ch. 3 9 ; 1923, oh. 81
(amended by Laws of 1931, ch. 108) ; 1924, ch. 187 (amended by Laws of
1931, ch. 278) ; 1928, ch. 136; 1929, ch. 6 6 ; 1930, ch. 72 (amended by Laws of
1930, ch. 158; 1931, ch. 231) ; 1931, ch. 172.
N ew M exico: Laws of 1929, ch. 11 3; 1931, ch. 9.
N ew Y o r k : Consolidated Laws, ch. 67, as amended (in Cahill’s Consolidated
Laws o f New York, 1930, ch. 6 6 ) ; Laws o f 1931, chs. 199, 291, 292, 344, 385,
•508, 510.
N orth Carolina: Laws of 1929, ch. 120; 1931, chs. 164, 274, 279, 312, 319.
N orth D akota: Supplement to the 1913 Comp. Laws 1913-1925, ch. 5, Art.
11a, secs. 396al to 396a33; Laws of 1927, chs. 285, 286; 1929, ch. 26 0; 1931,
chs. 312-315.
O hio: Page’s Gen. Code 1931, secs. 871-1 to 8 7 1 -1 2 ; sec. 1465-37 to sec.
1465-110; Laws of 1931, pp. 26, 147, 789.
Oklahom a: Stat. 1931, secs. 13348-13404.
Oregon: Code 1930, secs. 49-1801 to 49 -1845; Laws of 1931, ch. 340.
Pen nsylvan ia: Laws of 1915, Act. 338 (P. L. 736) ; 1919, Act 277 (P. L. 642),
Act 310 (P. L. 764), Act 441 (P. L. 1077) ; 1921, Act 67 (P. L. 114), Act 320
(P. L. 910), Act 342 (P. L. 966) ; 1923, Act 29 (P. L. 4 8 ), Act 432 (P. L. 1060),
Act 274 (P. L. 498) ; 1927, Act 156 (P. L. 186) ; 1929, Act 173 (P. L. 175),
Act 361 (P. L. 829), Act 372 (P. L. 853) ; 1931, Act 29 (P. L. 3 6 ), Act 205
(P. L. 598).
Rhode Isla n d : Gen. Laws 1923, ch. 92, secs. 1205-1294, amended by Laws of
1926, ch. 764; 1927, ch. 1058; 1928, ch. 1207; 1929, ch. 1397.
South Carolina: No workmen’s compensation law.
South D akota: Comp. Laws 1929, secs. 9436-9491D ; Laws of 1931, chs. 269,
271.
Tennessee: Code 1932, secs. 6851-6901.
T exas: Rev. Civ. Stat. 1925, Title 130, arts. 8306-8309; Laws of 1927, chs. 28,
60, 223. 241, 25 9 ; 1931, chs. 89, 90, 102, 119, 154, 155, 170, 178, 179, 182, 208,
224, 248.
U ta h : Comp. Laws 1917, secs 3061-3165; Laws of 1919, ch. 6 3 ; 1921, ch. 6 7 ;
1923, chs. 44, 6 4 ; 1925, chs. 73, 80.
V erm on t: Gen. Laws 1917, ch. 241, secs. 5752-5831; Laws of 1919, Nos. 158,
159; 1921, Nos. 166-169; 1923, Nos. 8 , 105, 106; 1925, Nos. 100, 10 1; 1927, Nos.
9 8 -1 0 0 ; 1929, Nos. 107, 10 8 ; 1931, No. 114.
V ir g in ia : Laws of 1918, ch. 400; 1920, ch. 176; 1922, chs. 425, 42 7 ; 1923
(Extra session), ch. 2 2 ; 1924, ch. 318; 1926, chs. 7, 53 4; 1928, chs. 19, 227,
44 5; 1930, chs. 54, 158, 159.
W a sh in g to n : Remington’s Comp. Stat. 1922, secs. 7673-7726; Laws of 1923,
chs. 128, 13 6; 1925 (Extra session), chs. 84, 11 1; 1927, chs. 306, 31 0; 1929,
ch. 132; 1931, chs. 79, 90, 104.
W e s t V ir g in ia : Official Code 1931, ch. 23.
W isco n sin : Stat. 1929, secs. 102.01 to 102.35; Laws o f 1931, chs. 14, 42, 6 6 ,
87, 101, 132, 210, 244, 403, 413, 414, 433, 469. (Stat. 1931, secs. 102.01 to 102.64.)
W y o m in g : Rev. Stat. 1931, secs. 124-101 to 124r-142.


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FORMS USED IN ADMINISTRATION OF WISCONSIN WORKMEN’S^
COMPENSATION LAW
FORM A

SP EC IAL REP O R T ON A G E OF IN JU R ED M IN O R
Employer’s name-----------------------------------------------Name of injured_______________________________

A d d r e s s --------Date of injury.

When a minor is injured it is necessary for the Industrial Commission to receive exact
information regarding his age, permit issued if any, etc. Kindly answer the following:
questions and return to the Industrial Commission, Madison, Wis.

1.

Did you have on file prior to and at the time of the injury a labor permit
authorizing you to employ this minor?-----------------------------------------------------------2. Date of birth__________________________
3. Date of issue of permit----------------4. Date of expiration of permit_________
5. Name of issuing officer-----------------If a permit was not on file the following
questions should be answered:

6.
8.

Date of birth of minor--------------------7. Place of birth--------------------------------Name of father_______________________
9. Name of mother----------------------------10. W h at proof have you that date of birth as given is correct, other than state­
ment of child or parent?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Signature o f person making report.
Official capacity.

N0XB— The Child Labor Law places upon the employer the responsibility of ascertain­
ing. at his peril, the age of minors taken into his employ. He must make sure that the^
minors he employs are of lawful age. Incorrect or false statements made by the minor
or his parents, whether orally or in writing, do not protect or excuse the employer.
The proper course for an employer to pursue is to require documentary proof of age
before hiring any minor who claims to be beyond permit age, and to require labor permits
o f all other minors. The following sources of evidence are suggested as means which the
employer may use to satisfy himself as to the age of a minor before hiring him :
1. A birth certificate or attested transcript thereof issued by the registrar of vital sta­
tistics or other officer charged with the duty of recording births. In the counties of this
2. A record of baptism or a certificate or attested transcript thereof showing date o f
state this function is usually performed by the register of deeds.
birth and place of baptism of the child.
3. A copy of the document submitted as evidence should be taken by the employer upon
giving employment to a minor or a memorandum showing the character of proof offered:
and the date of birth as it appears on the document submitted, should be placed on file.
FORM B

The Industrial Commission has in its files a report of the injury which you
received o n _______, while in the employ o f -----------------------W ill you kindly send us a copy of your birth record or baptismal record as
proof of your age to help us to make sure that the compensation for your
injury, under the compensation law, is settled on the correct basis? I f you.
were born in Wisconsin, it is possible that you may secure a copy of your
birth [record] from the register of deeds of the county in which you were b om
or from the State Board of Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
In any case, please send us a statement, signed by your father and mother,
stating the date and place of your birth.
Please let us hear from you as soon as possible.
Very truly yours,
I n d u st rial C o m m is s io n
Assistant to the Commission.

F -H
226


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o


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