The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-10
CHILD LABOR BILLS
CENTER IN EREsT
Effort to Check Evils of
Existing ConGtions Is
Commended by Many
UNIFORMITY SOUGHT
Nv NJ. e. Crane

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The intro
duction in the Senate of bills dealing
with the subject of child labor has
aroused much interest at the Capitol.
1t is expected that Congress will take
some action on the measures which
have been offered by Senator'S Iodge
of Massachusetts and Beveridga of In
diana. and already there has come to
these Senators communication and in
dorsement of the provisions of their
bills from many persons in all parts of
the country who are interested in the
efforts to check or destroy the evils of
child labor.
The bill of Mr.. Lodge follows gen.
orally the lines of a similar law of his
own State. 1t prohibits the carriage
in interstate commerce Of all manufac-
children has been employed 1T is
beyond the power of Congress to reg
ulate labor in the various States" said
Mr.. Lodge in speaking of his measure,
although the laws on that question
ought to be uniform throughout the
country Congress can get at the mat
ter by excluding from Interstate COM
merce all manufactures on which child
labor has been employed, just as it
prohibited carriage of impure foods in
Interstate commerce. The protection of
the children of the country from the
disease and suffering and ignorance
which always go with child labor is of
even greater Importance than the pro-
lection of the public against impure
foods The enactment of Federal law
will not only prevent all the evil re-
suits of child labor. so far as the chill
dren themselves are concerned. but will
save the States which already have
siui1ar laws on their statute books
from unjust competition from factories
of various kinds in States which have
not yet adopted such laws"
Cattle interests in the West and
Southwest are urging Congress to en-
act law authorizing the President to
negotiate with foreign countries for
reciprocal trade arrangements which
will provide free foreign markets for
the livestock trade of the United States
The Texas Cattle Raisers' Association
and the American Livestock Associa-
ton. the two organizations most active
in pushing the proposed legislation,
have enlisted the aid of the admins
tration, and satisfactory results are ex-
pected to follow, although Congress
may not take up the question at this
session 1t is likely to be considered
whenever the subject of tariff revision
is seriously considered by the Congress
sional leaders.
Before the general question of tariff
revision is entered upon, however, the
cattlemen desire Congress to provide
for reciprocal trade arrangements
which would bring relief to cattle in
terests. Any action in the matter is
not likely to be taken until the gen.
eral revision is undertaken, notwith-
standing the wishes of the livestock
people. 1t would be resisted by the
tariff stand patters." who wish to
avoid stirring up the tariff question
until the time for such discussion shall
in their Judgment, have arrived.
Unless some arrangement of reel
procity is negotiated. as suggested by
the interests involved, cattlemen say
their business will be seriously affect
ed, since Australia, New Zealand, Can
ada and Argentina, especially, are max
ing vigorous efforts to extend their
commerce in cattle and livestock All
these countries favor. it is declared
the idea of reciprocity.