The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-21
THE BEyERIDGE CHILD LABOR
BILL.

Ed All tlC SCudbc " ~ pui PoSC VI
restricting or rather prohibiting child
labor in factories. We cannot give II
support to the measure. We thin. its
passage would be a dangerous prece-
dent to establish. It is a sharp way
Of getting around the constitutional
rights of the states to manage their
own affairs. It is a yeritable whipping |
the devil around the stump as TO |
states rights. 1t strikes at the very |
root and foundation of that principle. |
If congress can by such legislation
take Jurisdiction over this branch CT
the police regulations Of the state there
is no subject it cannot assume Jurisdlc- |
ton over in regard TO the interna
of the affairs OF the
states. Pass this law and states rights
are gone forever. The last vistage OF
the principle will be wiped out An
other serious objection TO the bill. IS
that it is too sweeping in its language.
No exceptions whatever are made. No
one will deny that there are at times
cases where children under fourteen
years of e should be allowed to work
in cotton mills or other factories. This
bill provides for no such exceptional
cases. No poor invalid widow with
several children, whose ~sustenance can
be provided for only by the little ones
securing work in some cotton mill can,
if this bill is made a law, secure work
for her children in any factory in the
United States. No factory would give
them employment. They and their
widowed mother would have to go to
the county poorhOuse Or starve hi
opportunity for honest labor was
awaiting them, but from which they
would be barred by this act. We are
opposed to young children being tcrc-
ed to work in cotton mills and other
factories. 1t is O right that they
should be made to do so; but we re-
cognize the fact that in this matter. as
in all others. there are exceptions
to the rule. There are a plenty OF
cases where it would be a great hard
ship to close the factory doors to
children under fourteen years Of age.
Again, We believe Mr.. Beverages
bill is intended as a secret blow at the
south. We are suspicious Of any cot
ton mill legislation from that source.
His bin is:
C~ o.y
House of Representatives of the United
states OF America in Congress assembled
That six months from and after the
sal e of this act no carrier of in
terstate commerce shan transport or
accept for transportation the products
of any factory or mine in which chill
dren under fourteen years of age are
employed or permitted to work, which
products are offered to said interstate
carrier by the firm. person. or corpora
ton owning or operating said factory
or mine, or any officer or agent or ser
vant thereof. for transportation into
any other state or territory than the
one in which said factory is located.
Section 2. That no carrier of inter-
state commerce shall transport or &C
cept for transportation the products
OF any factory or mine offered it for
transportation by any person, firm or
corporation or a member O. such firm
such factory or mine, Or any officer,
agent. or servant Of such person.. firm
or corporation, until the president or
secretary or general manager OF such
corporation or a nembe or such firm
or the person owning or operating such
factory or mine shall file with said car
rier ar affidavit to h effect that chill
drer under fourteen years of age are
not employed i'll such factory or mine.
Section g. That the form of said
20 o,,sx -l.I1 - 49, 1
rotary .)f the department OF commerce |
and labor. After the first affidavit is
filed u like affidavit shall he FLED, on Or |
before July first and on or before De- |
cember thirty"-frst Of each year, with
the interstate carrier to which such
factory or mine offers its products for |
transportation: and after the first at ,
fdayit subsequent affdavits shall also |
state that no children under fourteen
years Of age are employed or permitted |
to do work in said factory or mine Or
have beer employed or permitted to- |
work in said factory or mine at any !
time during the preceding six months |
Section 4. hat any officer or agent |
of a carrier of Interstate
WhO is Il party TO any violation of this
act or who knowingly violates any Of /.
the provisions OF this ACT shall he pun !
ished for each offense by i fine of not
more than ten thousand dollars nor
less than one thousand dollars or by |
imprisonment, for not more than six
months nor less than one month or by |
both said fine and Imprisonment. in
the discretion of the court. Any per-
son by tbs act required to file the at !
fdavit he in provided for who fails or /
refuses t fle such affidavit or who ,
shall n: ee a false statement in said !;
affidavit. -nall be punished by a fine
not exec ing twenty thousand dollars
nor less IN five thousand dollars or
by imp not exceeding one |
YEAR no AnSs than three months, or
by both I'D fine and imprisonment, in
the disc lion of the court. /