The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-01-12
SAYS Child LABOR
IS State QUESTION
SENATOR ovERMAN FAvoRs REG.
ULATIoN, BUT NOT By
CONGRESS-.
STATES OBJECTIONS
TO PENDING BILLS

~sSvsSs ~ SS"ssusVuS W. SSuSCduZd'
ton Of Government Due to Com
mereiaI spirit-Texas Representa-.
tive Talks on Brownville Affair.
Washington, Jan. 9.-In presenting
his objections in the senate Tuesday
to the pending bills for the regula-
ton of child labor, Senator Overman
of North Carolina, went into an elab.
crate discussion of the decline of the
states rights. His text was taken
from the constitution Of his state: "A
recurrence to first principles is abso-
lutely necessary to the preservation
of our liberties
Usurpation Of State Rights.
The child labor bills of Senators
Lodge and Beveridge were read by
Senator Overman with the comment
that the effect of the enactment of
either would be not only to stretch
to the breaking point the commerce
clause of the constitution but would
be usurpation of rights of the states
rights which the people had ex-
pressly reserved to themselves when
the tenth amendment to the constitu.
ton was adopted. It provides that
1.-The powers not delegated to the
United States by the constitution, not
prohibited by it to the states, are
reserved to the states respectively,
or to the people"
The sentiment for consolidated or
centralized government, Senator Over
man believed, "has grown with the in
ordinate desire for the dollar, has in
creased with the growth of CONNER
cialism, the building up of mighty
fortunes, the Capitalization of great
wealth in the hands of the few, pro.
lduced by the great trusts and monop.
olies, many of which were organized
flor the purpose of crushing out COM
petition and which have been robbing
the people of untold Millions"
If, said the senator, more power is
needed, "let an amendment be SUBJ
United to the states. In any event
ilet the people be consulted, let their
sacred will be known, let their con.
isent be given to the surrender of any.
'of their rights. Without their con.
sent let nothing be done by an unwar-
;ranted construction"
Favors Interstate Measures.
~Senator Overman held there was no
limit to the power of congress to deal
with commerce which is interstate in
its nature. He heartily endorsed re.
cent measures exercising this control.
such as the rate bill, the pure food
law and the meat inspection regula-
ton. There was decided distinction
between regulating interstate COM
merce and making regulations con-
corning commercial production which
might and might not become inter.
state commerce. The mere fact that
goods were manufactured in one state
for transmission to another did not
in his opinion, make those goods sub.
jects of interstate commerce. He drew
his conclusion that if congress could
regulate child labor in the factory
and mine, it could regulate it on the
farm, and in every industry, and in
fact, it could regulate every other
detail Of every industry.
The senator said he was in favor of
child labor law for the district of
Columbia, and was not to be under.
stood as making any objection to the
enactment of state laws regulating the
subject. His objection was on the
broad ground of defending the rights
,of the states against the centraliza.
,tion of power in the federal govern.
iment.
Approves Of Negroes Discharge.
l. In the house Tuesday, Mr.. Slayden,
lof Texas, spoke at length on the
Brownsville affair. He said there was
no doubt that the negro troops had
been responsible for that disturbance
and contended that if they had been
white men their discharge would have
been generally endorsed. He charged
that the defense of the negroes was
due to political reasons. Mr.. Slayden
also reviewed the record of the
'Twenty-fifth infantry showing some
portions Of it had been involved in
other affairs which were not creditable
ito them.
congressman Back From Panama.
New York. Jan. 9.-The congress
,sional committee Of 10, headed by
Congressman McKinlay of California,
who have been inspecting the work
on the 1sthmian canal, arrived here
Tuesday on the steamer Panama from
Colon. Among other passengers on
the Panama were Mr.. and Mrs. H. C..
Whitman who We're recently married
at Panama. Mrs. Whitman is the
daughter of Minister Herbert G..
,Squiers, American minister to Pan.
ANA. Three young sons of Mr.
Squiers also were on the steamer.
Heavy Seas at Corunna, Spain.
Madrid, Jan. "A severe storm
and heavy seas are raging at Corun.
ma and fears are entertained for the
many fishing boats that have been
caught out at sea in the storm. One
boat which made for the harbor was