Turn-over

An apprentice who has not completed his full time of service with one master, and is transferred to another to finish his apprenticeship. The proper and lawful manner of turning over an apprentice is accompanied by a transfer of the indentures also, which are attested by the new master, and become as binding as when originally signed; but of late years an injurious system has prevailed of accepting boys without asking any questions as to whether they have been apprenticed or not, and placing them “at case” on half their earnings. These boys are taken on and discharged according to the fluctuating nature of the business, just the same as casual journeymen. They are principally engaged on cheap newspapers and periodicals, where little care is taken whether their orthography is good or the spacing regular. The evil result of this practice is, that the trade is inundated by a large number of incompetent workmen.