The Washington herald., 1908-05-10
STOPS CHILD LABOR
House Passes Bill Governing
District Workers.
NO VOTE CAST AGAINST IT
Measure Is Somewhat Different from
the one Which Passed senate and
Goes Through House williams
FOrgets 10 Ask Yeas ana Nays.
Payne ROasts Minority Leader.

Not one dissenting vote was cast in the
House yesterday against the District OF
Columbia child-laboT bill Although the
measure which passed differed in some
respects from the one which was passed
by the Senate earlier in the week, the
reception Of the House District Commit
tees bin was gratifying, there being 1S6
members voting for It.
There would have been not even a
roll call had not Representative Olcott.
of New York, who drafted the bill, in
sisted upon it. Minority Leader Williams,
just 10 show that the great and unpar-
alleled hlibuster is not directed against
what he terms good legislation, would
have permitted the bill to pass on a
viva-voce vote. had not Mr. Oleptt
thought differently. and demanded the
years and nays.
Changes from Senate.
The principal changes made by the
House-it really substituted a House bill
for the one passed by the Senate-is TO
raise the age limit from twelve years
10 fourteen. Some Of the provisions of
the bill are that no child shall work
in a factory or store II under fourteen
years of age, or anywhere else during
public-school hours or before a. N.
or after p. m.
Children between fourteen and sixteen
years OF age employed in any factory or
shop must procure school certificates
showing a certain period OF instruction.
No child under sixteen shall work moro
than eight hours a day or forty-elght
hours week. No boy under ten years
OF age or girl under sixteen shall sell
newspapers or black boots or sell any.
thing at all of any kind upon the streets.
and all boys under sixteen are required
70 obtain a badge and permit 10 pursue
these trades.
II IS considered hardly probable that
there VIII be any difficulty between the
Senate and House conferees, who viii
no doubt be appointed, as the Senate
may not move TO concur in the House
amendments, but may evince a prefer
enee for a conference.
The bill was passed under suspension Of
the rules, and consequently forty minutes
was allowed each side. While Represent
ative Olcott, for the majority, and Rep
resentative Murphy, for the minority.
spoke for the bill, both expressing their
belief that it is a model measure. John
Sharp Williams and Serene Payne had
most of the sport.
Mr. Williams said that he was so much
IN favor of good legislation Of this kind
and was so gratifed with the good work
OF the District Committee. that he in
tended 10 bury the hlibuster for the day
and permit the bill to pass without roll
call lie said as a further remark of his
esteem that he intends to allow six other
District measures 10 pass If brought up.
FRvOrs Many Bills.
Not only am I glad to see this model
ehild-labor bin go through" said Mr..
Williams. but I would also Ike to see
passed for the District Of Columbia q
model corporation law, model insurance
law, model law controlling all public
utilities, model laws governing marriage
and divorce, and a model eight-hour law
would like to see this city on a high
hill shedding its light upon the world
We viii show you how quickly we on
this side Of the House can put a bill OF |
this kind through"
After Representative Cushman. Of Wash. !
ington, and respectfully inquired il Mis- |
sissippi had model child-labor law, and |
Mr. Williams had confessed that IL had 1
not, Floor Leader Payne arose 20 beIabor
Mr Williams. Mr.. Payne said that early
in the session he had sounded the District |
Committee relative TO a child-labor law.
and that he had found strong sentiment
there for such a law.
He said sarcasucally that he didn't
know that the minority leader had been
so solicitous then. He then reiterated
what Mr.. Cushman had said. that Mis-
sissipi should pass a child-labor law,
then Mr.. Williams might come to Con-
gress and chide the Republican party.
Another BrOadside.
Mr.. Williams proceeded to get in an
other brOadside anent the campaign con-
Tibution publicity bill, which has already
been reported out from the Committee on
Election Of the President. Vice President,
and Representatives in Congress.
Representatives Kahn, Norris. and Bur-
ton all showed interest in the bill, which
has the support Of President Roosevelt.