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replaced by a more complete and stringent law in 1867 (chapter 285). By
this act, no child under ten years of age is permitted to be employed in
any manufacturing or mechanical establishment in the State. And no child
between ten and fifteen years can be so employed, unless he has attended
some Day-school for at least three months of the year preceding, or a
"halftime school" during the six months. Nor shall the employment
continue, if this amount of education is not secured. The school also
must be approved by the School Committee of the town where the child
resides.

It is further provided, that no child under fifteen shall be so employed
more than sixty hours per week. The penalty for the violation of the act
is fifty dollars, both to employer and parent. The execution of the law
is made the duty of the State Constable.

The report of the Deputy State Comptroller, Gen. Oliver, shows certain
defects in the phraseology of the act, and various difficulties in its
execution, but no more than might naturally be expected in such
legislation. Thus, there is not sufficient power conferred on the
executive officer to enter manufacturing establishments, or to secure
satisfactory evidence of the law having been violated; and no sufficient
certificates or forms of registration of the age and school attendance
of factory children are provided for. The act, too, it is claimed, is
not sufficiently yielding, and therefore may bear severely in certain
cases on the poor.

The reports, however, from this officer, and from the Boston "Bureau of
Labor," show how much is already being accomplished in Massachusetts to
bring public attention to bear on the subject. Laws often act as
favorably by indirect means as by direct. They arouse conscience and
awaken consideration, even if they cannot be fully executed. As a class,
New England manufacturers are exceedingly intelligent and
public-spirited, and when their attention was called to this growing
evil by the law, they at once set about efforts to remedy it. Many of
them have established "half-time schools," which they require their
young _employes_ to attend; and they find their own interests advanced
by this, as they get a better class of laborers. Others arrange "double
gangs" of young workers, so that one-half may take the place of the
other in the mill, while the former are in school. Others have founded
"Night-schools." There is no question that the law, with all its
defects, ha