Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-22
CHILD LABOR STUDY
SECRETARY STRAUS WISHES
NELL TO UNDERTAKE IT.

The following correspondence regarding
the child labor provision of the sundry civil
bill was made public at the White House
today:
February 81, 1907.
My Dear Mr.. President:
l have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt this morning of your letter of the Goth
instant, expressing your judgment that the
Investigations into the conditions OF woman
and child labor should unquestionably be
made by the bureau of labor. l thoroughly
agree with you in this conclusion, and in
my several conferences with Commissioner
Neill, the last one on yesterday, and also
with Director North of the census bureau,
it was decided that in order for the pro-
posed Investigation to produce practical re-
suits it should not be undertaken by the
bureau of the census, which is not equipped
to make researches OF the kind contem-
plated which will be largely sociological In
their nature but should be performed by
the bureau of labor, which is the only bu-
reau in this department fitted to properly
make the investigation.
1 have the honor further to advise you, Mr..
President. that accordingly addressed q let
ter to Hon. James A. Tawney, chairman of
the committee on appropriations, House or
Representatives "a copy of which Is here
with inclosed), calling this subject to his
attention.
Very truly yours,
OSCAR 8. STRAUS.
Letter to Tawney.
The letter referred to follows:
FEBRUARY, 81, 1907.
Hon. James A. Tawney,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir: In the sundry civil bill just
reported to the House l note that the ap-
preparation made for carrying out the In
vestigat ton into the conditions of women
and children wage-earners directs, IN eHect,
the carrying out Of this investigation under
IS tIa
/ feel that the investigation directed in
the act recently passed by Congress is not
one that properly belongs to the bureau OF
census. 1t is not the kind of investigation
that the census bureau is equipped to carry
on and is outside the proper scope of census
work. The bureau of the census has just
published bulletin on child labor and Is
about to publish another bulletin regarding
tons are exceedingly valuable, but they
complete the investigation SO far as the
census methods are concerned. The further
investigation directed by Congress Is one
which, both on account of its nature and
the character of investigation required. be-
longs properly under the bureau OF labor
and not under the bureau of the census.
Both the director of the census and the
commissioner of labor agree with me thor
oughly in this view. and feel that from
every point of view it would be inadvisable
and unfortunate to place work OF this
character upon the census bureau instead OF
leaving 1t to be carried on by the bureau Of
labor.
I trust that the committee will see its
way clear so to amend the provision of the
sunday civil bill, making appropriation for
investigating the conditions of women and
children wage-earners. as to permit the de-
partment to have the investigation carried
out by the bureau of labor with the CO.
operation of the bureau of census In any
cases in which this cooperation can be
made effective Very truly yours.
OSCAR s. STRAUS,
Secretary.