Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-08
DEFENDS STATE RIGHTS
SENATOR OVERMAN OBJECTS TO
PENDING CHILD LABOR BILLS.

In presenting his objections in the Senate
today to the pending bills for the regula-
ton of child labor. Senator Overman went
into an elaborate defense of the doctrine of
state rights. His text was taken from
the constitution of his state: "A recurrence
to first principles is absolutely necessary to
the preservation of our liberties"
The child labor bills Of Senators Lodge
and Beverage were read by Mr.. Overman
with the comment that the enactment of
either would not only stretch to the break
ing point the commerce clause of the Con-
stitution, but would be usurpation Of the
rights Of the states-rights which the peo-
pie had expressly reserved to themselves
when the tenth amendment to the Consti-
tuition was adopted. 1t provides that 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,
Growth Of Capitalization.
AS there was in the days of the adoption
Of this amendment evidence Of strong
sentiment for consolidated or centralized
government, Mr.. Overman believed there
were even stronger evidences of this ten
dency today. This sentiment" he said
has grown with the inordinate desire for
the dollar, has increased with the growth
Of commercialism, the building up of
mighty fortunes. the GENERALIZATION Of
great wealth in the hands of the few, pro-
duced by the great trusts and monopolies,
many of which are organized for the pur-
pose Of crushing out competition and which
have been robbing the people Of untold mil
lions"
Mr.. Overman pictured the end Of state
sovereignty the result of the present
desire for encroachment on the reserved
rights of the people
Would Consult the States.
If more power Is needed, he suggested.
the way is clear. Let an amendment be
submitted to the states. In any event let
the people be consulted; let their sacred
will be known; let their consent be given to
the surrender of any of their rights. With
out their consent let nothing be done by
an unwarranted construction"
Mr.. Overman held there was no limit to
the power of Congress to deal with COM
merce which is interstate in it's nature He
heartily Endorsed recent measures exercis
ing this control such as the rate bill, the
pure food law and the meat inspection
regulation. There was decided distinction
between regulating interstate commerce
and making regulations concerning COM
mercial production which might and might
not become Interstate commerce. For this
latter class Of industry, Mr.. Overman de-
mere fact that goods were manufactured
in one state for transmission to another
did not. in his opinion. make those goods
subjects Of interstate commerce.
To support this contention. Mr.. Over
man went into an elaborate discussion Of
court rulings on the question. He then
drew his conclusion that II Congress could
regulate child labor in the factory and
mine 1t could regulate 1t on the farm and
in every industry, and. in fact, 1t could
regulate every other detail of every in
dustry.
Mr. Overman said he was in favor, of a
child labor law for the District Of Column
bia and was not to be understood as max
ing 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-
ton of power in the federal government.