The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-05
DICTATOR GERRY HBCKLED.
HE'S AGAINST TIE CHILD LABOR
LICENSE BILLS.

A. He's . Rhsde Isiandee ~ Confession
Tar Taxation Purposes. Mr.. Cenklin
wants to Knew why HE Should Tell New
Ysrx How 70 Amend Its Penal Code.
ALBANY, March A. Commodore FL
bridge T. Gerry. claiming Rhode 1sland as
his residence. appeared lSefore two legis-
lative committees to-day and told them
what laws should be enac ted for the people
Of the State Of New ork. Before the
Assembly Codes Commit ne, Al the hearing
on Assemblyman Vain, trights bill au-
thorizing the commit ment. OF Catholic chill
dren misdemean lnts to tho Catholic Pro-
tectory. he ran afoul CT Ass embiyman
Howard Conklin Of New York city. Mr..
Conklin asked
where do you reader
In Rhode Island. was he answer,
DO you think then You should tell Us
how the Penal Code Of this State should
be amended
.well, / pay a large amount In taxes
on real estate in this State. the commodore
answered
Before the Senate Judiciary Commit
tee the commodore was taken to task by
Prof. Felix Adler of New York city; Robert
Hunter, head OF the University Settle
ment in New York city: Charles 8. Hall
and Clement s. Driscoll Of the Child Labor
Committee Of New York city. and Samuel
Gompers, president OF the American Fedora
ton Of Labor The commodore appeared
in opposition to Senator Hills bill, pro-
noted by the Child Labor Committee.
which requires bootblacks and pedlers
over ~ years old to be licensed ard
also calls for licensing Of newsboys over
10 years old. Mr.. Gerry thought IL an
injustice that boys could not sell news
papers without being licensed. Said Mr..
Driscoll
Commodore Gerry thinks It an awful
thing TO brand boy with newsboy's
license. Probably he can remember when
his society used to take boys In chains across
Twenty first street."
Mr.. Gerry also declared the Law to be
impracticable and found fault with the
provision that the New York Board OF
Education should enforce the law and
issue the licenses,
Prof. Adler said that placing children
in the streets at the tender ages at wnioh
they are now found there tended to make
street arabs OF the worst kind. Their
life in the streets, he said, exposed them
early to gambling and to other tempta-
tons that tended TO spoil their lives. de
argued that the proper authority for the
enforcement Of tie law was the Board OF
Education.
Mr.. hunter declared that Mr.. Gerry
was making the mistake OF his career in
opposing the bill. Mr.. Gompers said that
TO all such reforms the came kind OF objec-
ton had been made As Mr.. Gerry made.
He thought the bill was step in the right
direction.
Mr. Driscoll contradicted Mr., Gerry's
statement that many newsboys did not sleep
out doors all night. and also his denial
that many newsboys sold papers for the
cole purpose Of getting money TO 20 TO the
Bowery theatres. Mr.. Driscoll offered
to show the commodore II he would take
the trip.
Mr.. Gerry submitted q letter from pre-
siding Justice Mayer Of the Court Of Special
Sessions in New York county In which
the Justice said that all Of the members
Of the court were opposed TO the bill.
John d. Lindsay. president Of the Gerry
society Endorsed what Commodore Gerry
had said. No action was taken by the
committee.