The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-13
TO LIT CHILDREN WORK.
senator IitIserald's Hln TO DTrak Down
the Cliid iabnr Law

Tho bill recently introduced by Senator
fitzgerald TO amend the chId labor law has
aroused great oppos ton among the settle.
meut workers aud others vino were respon-
-bie for securing this law two years ago
james h Padding. secretary Of THE child
labor Committee. say, IN regard 10 this
measure.
~ this bill $ passed our two years work
for the children is virtually undone Two
wears ago wa found hundreds OF children IN
factories and stores us result OF a fooll-h
law which merely provided that the health
Official who issued working papers, to chill
dren should certify that IN his opinion tho
children who applied for papers were IN
sound health and physically able to perform
the work they intended - do The parents
had TO swear also that tho child was a
years old or over. Tho law we prepared and
had passed forced parents 20 prove their
chIdren's age by Ming some such evidence
az "A birth or baptismal certificate
"lh's Inns worked a wonderful change and
has placed New York state N Tho forefront
10 rs child labor legislation Some Of the
children who are now refused work ccrt.f-
Gates declare they ara over "a years old
but are unable To get any one OF the papers
which the law declares must be- fled as proof
ot ngr It's presumably for the -ab- OF such
children a- these that the Fitzgerald bin has
been drawn. But it, trainers have taken the
foolish step Of declaring bon effect. that when
eyer children say they cannot get any proof OF
their axe some school telcher or principal or
district superintendent shall look them over
md II he considers them duly developed aud
uhysically able TO do the work they fteud 10
DO ho shall let them work
The oh states that It IS the superintendent
OF schools who shall make these exceptions
but no one would pretend 70 claim that pr
William ~ Maxwell IN this city. for example
"a going 90 take Line TO examine children PER
souallv. ~" VII he obliged 10 band this over
h fNn-f oil .f44a "A
these -ubprduatcs 10 know anything about
the sound physical condition OF chlarea
doctors in the Health Department who used
to iry 10 tuiotrr lne physical fitness ic9i
failed, ana nHited 10 ask W TO yet The law
amended 80 AZ 20 ave them some standard
20 20 bv. what else than faluro can be exc
ueCfed OF subHrliugtes iu the school system
Aho know nothing professionally about the
Tho -.rond Aaif % Senator Fitzgerald's bin
g as bad a. The first. IL IS based Oh TIE same
meut Of EtuDl'on shall Constitute a board OF
general exceptions This part OF the blll emas-
cu!ates the educational minimum which the
law now requires child must hc II wears
oa and must also have passed through
fI" tNfltr. trni old Grade Ga order 80 begin
WORK, HEudreis OF backward children have
more ul special uncraded classes have been
formed uu over the cts. In these classes
backward children ar" given special attention.
lowed 60 40 Zoo work The Fitzreratd bll de-
strovs au hi7 by allowing principals and
{ achers 60 exempt children from this mini
mum 81 educational requirement whenever
they seem f1 De- defective Provided that
I REV are really mentally defective there would
bo but little objection TO the amendment pro
posed u IT,. however. almost certain that
lis amendment II enuctrd into law m DO
used TO 12\rI ilr go 81 many children who
oi coming lutr 90 this country aud being IN
familiar with 'ie LANGUAGE. fbese children II
exempted from Tie present educational re-
IflEFNmrHfs would Ia