1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 248 The Law That Fakes in Name

Liang Yao didn't want to disturb the children who were doing dangerous work at the top of the chimney, so he asked Hu Jinchen to notify the Minister of Industry and Education of California to come to the factory to meet him.

The original good mood is gone at this moment.

Child labor was common in the mid-19th century, but he didn't want it to become common in California.

California's population structure is dominated by adult males, and there are already few school-age children in school.

Ten years from now, these children will be the first generation of native-born California youth, the hope of California's future.

The hope of California's future was buried on the assembly line of the factory, which was a result he could never accept.

At the beginning of the establishment of the state, he passed the "Compulsory Education Act" through state legislators, forcing school-age children in California to receive [-] years of compulsory education from elementary school to middle school.

Those who are able to receive higher education can also sign a training contract with the state government or the American Group, as well as other interested companies. The state government and the company will fund university tuition and basic living expenses, and return to California to work after completing their studies.

California currently has a small population and fewer school-age children. The state government has relatively sufficient finances, and there are some companies with strong financial resources that are fully capable of bearing the cost.

He can spend a lot of money to recruit talents from the eastern part of the United States or even Europe to make up for the current talent gap in California, but California must also have a certain ability to make blood and make blood for himself.

A place that cannot retain talents has no future, and a place that cannot cultivate talents has no future.

In addition to the Compulsory Education Act, California also has legal provisions that prohibit employment. There are still factories that dare to violate the law and employ child labor blatantly, and this factory is still his own factory.

This made Liang Yao very angry. It seemed that it was necessary to issue a special bill to prohibit the employment of child labor, not just the clauses.

Liang Yao breathed a sigh of relief after watching the children at the top of the chimney climbed into the chimney after finishing their homework, covered in dust, and safely climbed out of the chimney.

After the chimney was cleared, these children did not leave the factory, but walked into the factory building habitually.

Liang Yao took out the pocket watch from his pocket, opened the protective case of the pocket watch, and checked the time on the pocket watch.

It is [-]:[-] in the afternoon, and today is not a weekend, which means that it is normal class time.

"Mr. Liang, why did you come to the factory?"

Seeing Liang Yao came to the factory, Wyatt, the director of the steel factory, hurried out to meet Liang Yao.

"Wyatt, what happened to these child laborers?" Liang Yao asked.

Wyatt was the director of a small steel mill in Ohio before. In 1850, his small steel mill was bought by Liang Yao’s assistant, Strauss, who was sent to the east, and moved to the San Francisco industrial area in California. long.

He was one of the first steel mill owners to come to California.

"You mean those child laborers?" Wyatt said with a normal expression.

"Child labor is cheaper, and you can hire five or six or more child laborers for the same adult's money, and they are smaller and more flexible, and jobs such as cleaning chimneys and oiling machinery are very suitable for them.

Allowing them to do more at the smallest cost is conducive to improving the economic benefits of our steel plants.Don't worry boss, I've run my steel mill well since I was in Ohio, I've got a lot of experience in it. "

Hiring women is cheaper than men, and children are cheaper than women, and they are easier to control. This is the consensus of factory owners and capitalists in this period.

"Besides our factory, do other factories also employ a lot of child labor?" Liang Yao asked sullenly.

"Of course, other factories employ much more child labor than our steel factory. Child labor is very cheap, and who would refuse cheaper labor? It's just that we are a steel factory, and many jobs still need strong men to do it. There are very few jobs for these children, and as for the women, they prefer to work in brothels or in textile and garment factories, steel mills are not attracting women now."

Wyatt gushed that he wanted to express himself better in front of Liang Yao.

"Okay, I get it."

Liang Yao interrupted Wyatt who was talking endlessly.

"Who is the deputy director of the steel factory?"

"It was the Chinese assistant you sent to me to learn how to manage the steel plant with me, a young man named Wang Qifeng." Wyatt said without thinking.

"How is his current business ability?" Liang Yao continued to ask.

"Very well, he is a smart and hard-working boy, and he has made great progress over the past year." Wyatt replied.

Liang Yao suddenly asked about the deputy factory manager, which made him feel a little uneasy. After answering this question, he couldn't help but ask another question.

"Why did you suddenly ask him?"

"Employing child labor violates the laws of California. I am the lieutenant governor and state speaker of California. I must lead by example and abide by the laws of California. I must not break the law knowingly, let alone bend the law for personal gain." As he spoke, Liang Yao walked towards the office of the steel factory.

"Boss, I don't know the laws in California. I hope you can forgive me this time. I promise you! I will never employ child labor again!" Wyatt hurriedly followed, chasing after Liang Yao.

"It's too late. I participated in the formulation of California's laws. If I didn't abide by California's laws, others would not take California's laws seriously." Liang Yao said to Wyatt.

"As a punishment, I must make some adjustments to the internal personnel of the San Francisco Steel Plant, and the state court will issue a fine to the San Francisco Steel Plant in accordance with California law."

Hearing Liang Yao's decision, Wyatt froze in place like a thunderbolt.

Liang Yao paused and turned around, patted Wyatt on the shoulder and said, "But Wyatt, it will take more than a year. You have managed the steel plant very well, and I appreciate your ability."

After all, Wyatt was working for him, and the steel plant was indeed running well in Wyatt's hands. Liang Yao didn't intend to throw Wyatt away as a discarded child, because Wyatt was still valuable. Second, it's impersonal to do so.

"Are you going to change your mind?"

Seeing Liang Yao turn around, Wyatt seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

"I won't take my decision back. The steel mills in San Francisco can't stay any longer. However, there is a railroad in Los Angeles. There are also several small coal mines there, and it is very convenient to import iron ore from Mexico.

I plan to set up a steel factory in Los Angeles. This time I brought back a lot of workers and machines from the east. I will allocate some equipment and workers to you. When you go to Los Angeles, you will still be the factory manager and build this steel factory. Get it done.

As for your treatment the same as now, I will give you 2% of the shares in the factory, but remember, you must abide by the laws of California. California is not Ohio, so let’s not be an example. "Liang Yao said to Wyatt.

Frustrated Wyatt's eyes lit up. The management of the San Francisco Iron and Steel Works also has shares, but the combined shares of all managements are only 6%, of which Wyatt's shares are 1%.

However, the San Francisco Steel Plant is a large steel plant with an annual steel output of 1.4 tons, which supplies 77.8% of California's steel, and a 6% share dividend is also very impressive.

"How much start-up capital do you plan to prepare for the steel plant in Los Angeles?" This is the question that Wyatt is most concerned about.

"The assets of the new Los Angeles factory will not be less than 30 US dollars. I will not treat people who do things for me badly, especially people like you who have flaws but are capable. You just need to answer, you are willing to be the owner of the new factory The factory manager is still unwilling." Liang Yao said lightly.

The current development of California is relatively deformed. More than 80% of the state's industries are concentrated in Jinshan Bay and Sacramento, and the remaining 20% ​​are gold-related industrial and mining enterprises in Nevada.

As for Los Angeles, it is still a small town dominated by agriculture and fishing, and the industry in Los Angeles is still a blank slate.

Liang Yao also plans to transfer part of the industrial production capacity to Los Angeles to lay a solid foundation for the chemical industry in Los Angeles.

"Yes! Of course I would! What you said is very reasonable! If you make a mistake, you should be punished! I must remember your teachings! Remember today's lesson! I will definitely abide by the laws of California in the future, change my mind, and be a law-abiding California. citizen!"

White's frustration and disappointment were swept away, and he was full of energy from top to bottom. It seemed that he wanted to plant a pair of wings for himself, and now he went to Los Angeles for inspection.

"Okay, you and Wang Qifeng hand over the work." Liang Yao said to Wyatt.

California Department of Industry Minister Fell and Education Minister Pierman came to see Liang Yao in the director's office of the San Francisco Steel Plant.

Although the state government building in Sacramento was completed in November last year, the state government building is still under renovation, so the state government office is temporarily located in San Francisco.

The distance from downtown San Francisco to the industrial zone is only six to seven kilometers. The road conditions between the industrial zone and the urban area are very good. Trains have also been connected to the urban area and the port terminal, so the transportation is very convenient.

Traveling between the industrial area and the city doesn't take much time, either on horseback or by train.

"It has become a common phenomenon for factories to employ child labor in violation of the law. Both the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Education have unshirkable responsibilities."

In the office of the San Francisco Steel Plant, Liang Yao mercilessly reprimanded the two California ministers.

The Minister of Education Pearlman explained very aggrieved: "Deputy Governor, we can't blame us for this. Although the state government has allocated funds to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education has also distributed the money to each school, and the school has indeed exempted all students. Miscellaneous expenses, free lunch for students.

But these students went to work in factories after lunch at school, and they used the school as a canteen for lunch.The school also complained to me that if one or two students do this, we can still manage it, but one-third of the students do this, and the school also said that they can do nothing.

Many parents tell their children directly to go to work in the factory after eating at school! "

"Child labor is also normal in other states. This is a very social phenomenon. Children can also create value in factories." Minister of Industry Fell said, "The parents of these children also hope that their children will work in factories to subsidize their families. This is a family matter, and it is not easy for us to interfere."

　Yesterday and today's additions made up for the update on July 7.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)