New-York tribune., 1906-12-01
FOR A CHILD LABOR LAW
Mr.. BeUerldge also Hopes to
Strengthen Meat Inspection Rules.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau.I


Washington. Nov S0-Senator Beveridge
father of the Meat Inspection law, arrived in
Washington tonight and declared his intention
to devote his energies to securing the enactment
of a federal child labor law and an amendment
to the Meat Inspection law. whereby the packers
will be compelled to defray the cost Of inspection
and every can of prepared meat will bear the
date on which it put up. these provisions
having been in the bin introduced by Senator
Beveridge and passed by the Senate but having
been stricken out in the House as a result Of
the efforts OF Representative Wadsworth and
others
"I am convinced that there are few issues 10
which the people are more keenly alive than
that of child labor in the mills. factories and
mines of the country" said Senator BeveEidge
this evening II discussed the necessity of
federal law prohibiting the employment of chill
dren under fourteen years OF age in every speech
made in the campaign in Boston In Nebraska.
In Indiana. in Minneapolis and other cities and
states all over the country and everywhere
found a quick and enthusiastic response. The
people believe there should be such a law, and
am convinced that Congress will heed the win
of the people and place such law on the statute
books.
My bill will be extremely simple" said Mr..
Beveridge in reply to a question. lit Will pre-
vent common carriers engaged In interstate
factory or mine the owner OF which has not
filed with the Department Of Commerce and
Labor a statement to the effect that he does not
employ and has not for six months employed any
child under fourteen years of age. Manufacturers
and mine owners will be compelled to file such
statements with the department every six
months. Failure to comply with the law will
be punished by fine and imprisonment both the
manufacturer or mine owner and the carrier
being made liable to the penalty. OF course,
discovery that q manufacturer or mine owner
had failed to file the required statement. or hav
ing filed it, had violated 1t. would mean that
carriers could not transport the product Of such
manufacturer or mine owner without render
ing themselves liable to the penalty of the law
'When did you first become an advocate OF
such law, SenatoF?' he was asked.
ut would be hard to say exactly" Mr.. Bev-
erfdge replied. "It has been a subject in which
have been deeply interested for some time. In
indianapolis I have been closely associated with
the organized charities and have the
cessity of such q law. have long believed such
a law necessary, but 1t was not. perhaps. until
had worked out the Meat Inspection bill that
saw my way clear to framing concise and
simple child labor law. Early in the summer
went on the stump and Immediately announced
that 1 would introduce the bill at the coming
session. and, as have said. L learned on all
sides that there was an earnest demand for such
legislation
rs 1t true Senator. that you will attempt 90
amend the Meat Inspection law?'
ut is. 1 shall introduce simple bill adding
to the law those two provisions which were lost
in the House last year-the dating Of the can
and placing of the cost of inspection on the
stump, and the people a unit In their belief
that they should be embodied in the law. They
are enthusiastic in their Commendation OF the
law as 1t stands. but they believe that mistake
was made when these provisions were stricken
out have strong hopes that they will soon be
restored. We won on twenty points when we
cured the enactment of that law, but we lost on
two, and I know that the people regard those
two essential
Senator Beveridge added that he had come to
Washington with some strong convictions with
regard TO Cuban annexation and the tariff, but
was not prepared to say anything these sub
tects for publication. He was reported as having
expressed himself strongly in favor OF Cuban
annexation IN the campaign, but it is probable
that for diplomatic reasons he viii refrain from
giving utterance to his convictions In Washing
ton for the present. Should the subject come
before the Senate however, there IL little doubt
as to where he will stand.