Self-interest, if nothing else, would restrain an overseer from an act which might send a whole family or perhaps half a dozen families from his mill.
Gradually the States imposed limitations upon age of employment, hours of labor, and night work for women and children, which practically meant limiting or abolishing night work altogether.

These restrictions were slight at first, and the provisions for their enforcement were inadequate, but succeeding legislatures increased them.

Mild compulsory attendance laws kept some of the children in school and out of the mill.
A more or less substantial body of labor legislation was gradually growing up, when state regulation was stopped by the action of the Federal Government.

Since the first Federal Child Labor Act was declared unconstitutional, several States have strengthened laws previously existing, and have further reduced the hours of labor.
Until comparatively recently whatever provision was made for the social betterment of the operatives depended upon the active manager of the particular mill.

Some assumed a patriarchal attitude and attempted to provide those things which they thought the operatives should have.
Others took little or no responsibility, except perhaps to make a contribution to all the churches represented in the community.