The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-21
CHILD LABOR BILL
PASSES THE SENATE
Amendment Made to the Sub
Stitute Bill.
DEBATE ON LONDON BILL
Friends Of the Bill and of the Substitute Make
EIcquant Speeches in Presenting
Their Views on Liquor
Legislation.

Two hours work in showing bills
through the hopper and loading it up and
ever two hours of oratory made up the
day in the Senate yesterday
New bills were presented in great num-
bers, the new cargo to be cared for ex-
ceeding that which was discharged The
crop of petitions was smaller than for
some days.
The Pinebluff idea of a special tax
for ithe purpose of advertising itself
came in with favorable report and
went rejoicing on it's second reading The
bill providing for a vote in the county
Oh wilson on bar-rooms dispensaries or
prohibition, with amendments agreed on
IN the committee, was reported favor
ably. The Wilmington Pilotage bill was
reported with the majority report unfa-
VGrable and a minority favorable report.
The bill providing for appropriations
for the insane asylums of the State was
introduced by Senator Glenn 1t makes
the following appropriations: Morgan
ton, $257, 600; Raleigh, $163 100; Colds
boro, $1O7 1865; Dangerous Insane, Raj
eigh, $13,500; total, $541 ,366 95 There was
asked for 786,199.95. and this was cut
down $244, ,833.
The second reading of the substitute
Chlld Labor bill caused some debate,
and before it was passed there were sew
eral amendments fastened to it, and an
effort to limit the night hour workers to
those IN factories over fourteen years of
age, but this failed.
Senator Brown introduced an amend
ment providing that the stipulation for
66 hours of labor a week do not aDplv
to persons over eighteen years of age.
Senator Gillian was not pleased with
the substitute, as the point which he
had urged, that no children under four
teen work at night was not in the bill.
Senator Beasley said that though he
was not satisfied with the bill stilI it
had been agreed on after conference with
the mill men and he would vote for it.
Senator Brown urged strongly against
limiting adults as to their time of labor.
and Senator Woodard did not think this
could be constitutional Mr.. Brown said
that the trouble was caused by walking
delegate" In his section the. employers
were begging fo- workmen and it was
wrong to limit the time, or to arrange
for all manufacturers by reason of an
agreement with the textile manufactur-
ers
Senator Woodard wanted the bill to
go to the Judiciary Committee as did
Senator Goodwin. Senator Webb said that
l. appeared that the Judiciary Commit
tee was made the dumping ground" for
every bill, and he was tired of it, that
it had business enough on hand. Mr..
Gillian here offered his amendment that
no child under fourteen work at night
Senator Durham spoke vigorously and
eloquently against the amendment. He
said that though he had charge OF a mill
he was sent to the Senate by the la
boring men and he spoke for them. The
people who worked at night in the Gas
ton mills needed the money and if the
work of children under fourteen was
kept out it would bring want to many
pCor families. If this was adopted he
said it would shut the door OF oppor-
tunity in the gaunt faces of many, it
viii take away from some the ability
to make a living. The most needy
worked at night as all could not be
employed in the day
Boys of fourteen and fifteen he said
left their fathers roof at this time and
the girls Of the cotton mills married
earlier than other girls. Why it was
he did not know, but it was so. If the
children under fourteen could not work
it meant starvation to some poor fam
lilies. Mr.. Durham said that if there
were various enterprises it would not
be so bad on the laborers. but that faith
ers, mothers and children left hard life
and failure on the farm for the fac
tories, even to work at night. If those
under fourteen arc not allowed to work
that means they shall not work at all.
1t was an earnest speech and at its
close Senator Spruill said that Senator
Durham had spoken words that should
be needed.
Senator Mann offered an amendment
that the bill should not apply to manu-
facturers engaged in canning oysters
where the labor is paid by the measure
or weight. He said that many negroes
in his section were thus employed and
large number of little negro children,
who worked only part of the day, not
CROUCH to hurt even the youngest.
Then came the vote on the amend
ments. Senator Gilliam's to prohibit
those under fourteen working at night
was lost. Senator Brown to limit the 66
hours labor a week to those under eight
cen passed as did Senator Mann's to ex-
empt the laborers in the oyster canning
factories.
Here Senator Brown sent in an amend
ment which he had previously spoken
of. 1t was to strike out the words cor
allowed" after required in the origi-
nal bill, this leaving the stipulation that
no person shall be required to work
in such factories or establishments more
than sc hours a week"
In this shape the bill passed its third