The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-13


 ment.
 In Arkansas a compulsory education law was passed, which, however, applies only to certain communities and an eff fort to secure a compulsory education law in Tennessee wax defeated. New York amended the law by fixing the minimum compulsory age at instead of years. In New Jersey the law enacted a year ago raising the age of compulsory school attendance to IS years was amended to provide that children above IA may be ex- cused by the local authorities on condi- tion of having met certain educational re- quirements and on proof that their serv- ices are necessary to the family support
 A number of changes have been made in the regulation of the hours of em- ployment. Besides those already mem toned, Kansas, Oklahoma and North Da- kota limit them to an eight-hour day and 4s-hour week; Delaware to nine hour day and 54-hour week; Maine to a 10-hour day and a oS-hour week for boys under Is and girls under 18 and Rhode Island to a 56-hour week for minors under 16 years and all women. It will be in- teresting to those who have looked upon Rhode Island for many years as the most backward in matters of child pro- tection among the New England states to note that in this respect she now takes the lead In the attempt to recommend limitation of hours at the recent southern conference on uniform child labor laws, the greatest interest was expressed by | the southern delegates, but it was con- | tended that in view of the long week in | force in the New England cotton mills | 1t would be disastrous to southern textile manufacturers to make radical changes in this respect. A resolution was adopted, however, expressing cordial belief in the principle of an eight-hour day. It thus appears that New England stands as a barrier to progress toward a reasonable limitation of the hours of labor.
 The new laws in North Dakota and Oklahoma are among the most complete yet enacted, following closely the sugges- tions contained in the standard" law especially in respect to hours of labor prohibition of night work. injurious en- ployment and proof of age.
 The bill which Governor Haskell vetoed year ago in Oklohamo was passed again by large majorities and received his ap- proval. Important changes have been made also in Minnesota and bills are pending in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin.
 The most disheartening defeat was in North Carolina, where an agreement had been reached with the manufacturers on
 
 killed in the senate.
 In addition to these efforts to improve the laws in the various states, the na- , tional child labor committee has taken a leading part in advocating the establish ment of federal childrens bureau. The bill is now before the extra session of Congress, and 1t is anticipated that con sideration will be given the measure during the early days of the regular ses- sion. President Taft, who is a member of the committee, has given his hearty approval of the measure
 1 State committees, affiliated with the na- | tional committee, have been formed dur ing the year in Minnesota, Kansas, North Dakota, West Virginia, Louisiana and Massachusetts,. The finances of the com mittee are In excellent shape, the in- creased budget of the present year having 1 been met by the generous support of the 5000 or more persons who now constitute i the membership of the committee.