The Washington times., 1906-05-04
PLEAFOR CHILDREN
MADE BY DOLLHER
Bill Regulating Child Labor
Reported FavOrably.
PRESENT CONDITION HIDEoUS
Hundreds of Boys AMI Girls Graduated
From Youthful EmPloyments 70
Guardianship of Criminal Courts.

THE Intrusion of young children into
bread-winning occupations is an inius-
tice 70 the army of workers who are
charged with the support Of families
1t is an Injustice to those whose taxes
maintain the public school system In
the last three months 800 children. less
than sixteen years Of age. have grad
uated in this city from the care of en-
ployers to the guardianship of the Grim
inal courts.
The night schoo for children who
ought TO be az horle in bed are bar
barisn, unfit for the countenance of the
Capital of the United States. Such
condition of society is intolerable in the
District of Columbia. where Congress is
rho sole legislative authority
With these pointed declarations Sena-
tor Dolliver has reported from the Sen
ate Committee on Education and Labor
Senator Dubois bill regulating the en-
ployr,ent of child labor in the District
of Columbia. The Dubois bin the COM
mittee recommended as a substitute bill
for the House act. 1t is amended to in
clude a prohibition against boys selling
newspapers. The provision forl Kidding
the employment of young boys as pages
in the Senate and House is stricken out.
With these amendments the committee
recommends the bills passage.
The bills the committees report
says, have been framed for the pur-
pose of protecting children of immature
years against the evils and temptations
incident 10 the various occupations in
which they are now engaged In the Dis
trict of Columbia. At present the Dis
trict IS entirely without legal restric-
tions upon child labor. and the result is
that hundreds of children under sixteen
years OF age have been crowded into all
e - Il.
trimental 20 the morals OF the children
and all of them inimical 10 our system
Of public education.
In the Night Schools.
1T is found that there are 200 children
in the District of Columbia under six
teen years of age who work in the
daytime and try TO secure their educa-
Jion in the night schools The records
of the probation officer OF the District
indicate that in the last three months
800 children under sixteen years Of age
who had been employed in various oc-
cupauons In the city have passed under
the jurisdiction of those appointed tc
take care Of child criminals.
in the judgment of the committee. il
is a reproach 10 the government of the
District Of Columbia that it's children oi
tender years should be left 10 the nigh;
schools for education. and 10 the Grim
inSl courts for disciplipe and control.
Many of the occupations Of children
in the District of Columbia are In their
nature such as 10 bring those who pur-
sue them under Influences which tend
10 destroy their moral character. a s Vel
to deprive them OF the opportunity
of education and the advantages ol
home training.
This bin seeks 70 prevent altogether
the employment of children under four
teen years in factories, workshops, mer
camille establishments. business Offices
telegraph offices. restaurants. hotels
apartment houses, theaters. bowling al
leys, messenger services, or in the sail
of pewSpa pers. Those occupations un
dermine the strength Of tender childreI
and expose them to temptation an'
moral danger.
Labor and Morality.
''The bill goes further and seeks 4
prevent children under sixteen years o.
age from engaging in the occupation
at such times as interfere with thei
school duties. 1t prohibits night worl
and regulates the hours Of labor witt
reference 10 children Of this age. Thi
bill is based upon broad considera
ton Of the social welfare of the com
munity. 1t is modelled upon the Stat,
legislation, which has proved most eff
cient and passed the scrutiny of tn
courts. Ii involves both a labor ques
ton and d problem of public morality.
More important, however, than tn
labor question and the school question
involved IN the employment of children
for wa ges, is the question Of the mora
ruin Of hundreds and thousands OF boy
and girls, who, under proper surround
ings. might grow up into useful member
of society. community which eX
pends the vast sum required for th
maintenance of the public schools O
Washington has right 70 require tina
children of school age give their al
Irntion &c the studies which fit ther
for n useful life.