Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-10
A Local Child-Labor Law.

,rrs enactment of a model child-labor law
for tho District of Columbia would go far
an advsncing the cause for which the dele
Gates to he conference now in. session
in this city are earnestly working IL
would he helpful 10 them to point TO the
fact that the Congress of the United states
had passed law to put an end TO the
serious evil of keeping children at WORK
during the years of their greatest mental.
moral and physical need. The argument
for similar action by state legislatures
which have not yet moved in the premises
yyouId be decidedly strengthened. But as a
direct effect the District would be given the
benefit of a system of regulation now
urgently needed. The capital should have
an ideal law on this subject if it is to be-
come in truth the model city of the CONT
uent, The President touched upon this mat
for in the course of his annual message 10
congress. submitted last Tuesday, as
follows:
..Tha national government has as rule
hut little occasion 10 deal with the formld-
able group of problems connected more OF
less directly with what Is known as tue
labor question, for In the great majority
Of cases these problems must be dedit Will
10y the state and municipal authorizes anu
not by the national government me ma
tiOnal government has control or the us
trdrt Of Columbia however, aud 1t should
see to il that the city or ashlis lou -
made a model city in all respects poIn <s
regards parks, public play grouhds, plopea
regulation of the system OF housing SO as
10 do away with the evils or alIey teiie-
uents a proper system OF educatloh' a
proDer system Of dealing with truancy anu
Juvenile offenders. proper handing OF the
,.farff, hIe work of the District. Moreover.
there should be proper factory laws 10
,,reycut all abuses in the employment Oh
women and children in the DlstTlct. h tSSt
r,yI Chi. tIrr
even this limited amount OF usefulness
would be Of real national value
All these matters are to be considered
together They all relate directly to the
welfare of the individual. and therefore the
welfare of the community. 1t is impossible
to insure prosperity and proper living II the
municipal administration neglects the es-
sentials of health, both moral and physical.
The community that provides schools, parks
and play grounds for the children and fails
to insure that they shall have chance to
use them is grossly negligent of its first
duty toward the rising generation-the
future citizens.
There are no difficult problems to be
solved In the District in the formulation
and enactment Of a model child-abor law.
I'VE have here no large factories in which,
as in other cities. hundreds of children are
employed. We have an easily regulated
Industrial field, and the prohibition of all
employment of children under fourteen
and of all under sixteen who cannot read
and write would impose no severe hardship
upon parents. save in a few Isolated in
stances.
The local movement for securing legis-
Iatiun Of this character is well under way.
and is being assisted by some of the most
active and philosophical of the capitals
citizens. They have prepared an excellent
measure and are in close harmony with the
District Commissioners on the subject
that there is good reason to look for sue
cess at this session of Congress in OBJ
tanning the legislation earnestly sought