Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-19

PLEA FOR UNIFORM LAWS
Regulation of Child Labor Suggest
ed-Gompers on Industrial
Accidents-Other Themes
senator Root Of New York who was
tho principal speaker al the second ses-
sion yesterday Of the conference uni
form state legislation. called by the Ma
tional Civic Federation. advocated the
creation of an annual interstate confer
ence, in which representatives of the
states could discuss matters that are OF
special interest 70 the states a body,
hat which do not come within the prov
ince Of the national legislature.
1t seems to me- said the senator.
that every state ought to appoint. in
sUch a way as it sees fit. delegates to
interstate conference, to be held ev
cry year, authorized to enter into the
consideration and discussion of great
interstate questions.
Wide Field of Activity.
1t is quite apparent that there Is
wide field of governmental activity which
belongs to the states and which does
not fall within the powers of the ma
tional government. but a field in which
a great variety of most important legis-
lation is necessary, affecting not alone
the individual state which is legislating,
but great number of the sister states.
The trainers OF the Constitution put in
the hands of the national government a
great number Of things which occurred
To them as being of general importance
concerning the general welfare of the
reople of this country. but the increase
OF communication and the bringing to-
gether of the separate communities into
what IL in many respects one great COM
nlunity has developed a great number OF
other things which clearly were not vest
ed in the national government, but which
rest with the states.
Methods Discussed.
How shall we deal with those other
things" Is it necessary to revise the
Constitution and PUT them all in the hands
of the nation, or, on the other hand. is
il necessary to have legislation regard
ing those subjects carried on as if they
separate and entirely distinct COM
nlunities. having no regard each for the
other Are shut UP to those two alter
natives / think not.
IT seems 70 me that at this meeting all
mat you are DOING now SnOuIO ne re-
garded not as the working of the perfect
ed machinery for uniform laws, but
rather as part of the initial process by
means OF which a permanent and effec-
tive system shall be produced
Now. it seems quite absurd that a
body of forty-siN states. bound together
by the ties of common patriotism and a
common interest, should not he able to
do regarding the matters that are in
trusted to their individual legislation and
not committed to any superior power, the
same sort of thing that all the civilized,
the widely separated civilized powers of
the world have been doing for almost a
century.
Worth a Trial.
rs II not worth while. instead of try
ing to get the Constitution of the
United States changed so as to take
away from the states their power over
matters which really essentially of
local concern - is il not worth
trying to see II the states cannot agree
upon such notifications of their pe-
culiar policies. of their Individual poll
cies, to do the least possible harm
and cause the least possible inconven-
isnce TO their sister states?
I have high hopes that we are on the
threshold of a new departure in more
effective legislation for the benefit of
our states and the removal of many
evils and abuses that undoubtedly do
row exist because of the want of that
kind OF discussion and consideration
and concentration of public opinion
upon state ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ton of
the public opinion of America upon
state legislation that ought to be wiped
Off the statute books, which we would
have through carrying out such a
process as have described"
There were many other speakers who
delivered short addresses during the
afternoon. Among them were Samuel
Mitchell, August Belmont and Isaac \.
seligman.
Plea for Uniform Laws.
Isaac n. seligrnan OF New York. chair
man OF the finance committee of the ma
honal child labor committee. made an ur-
gent plea for uniform state laws in reg
ulating the employment OF children
THE Importance Of uniform legislation
Is obvious. he said. particularly where
states within the same Industrial
area. While there may he some question
whether the manufacturer who Is forbid
den TO employ children under fourteen
years of a e is placed thereby at disad-
vantage in competition with the manufac
turer across the state line who NAV en-
ploy children OF twelve years, he is apt
10 believe he suffers.
In nearly every state legislative cam
paisn we have been met by manufsc-
g enacted, to abandon their industry and
remove II with all its interests To some
neishborlng state II is a threat that so
tar as we know, has never been carried
out. but frequently il has proven effec-
tual In lettering legislative committees
from action
Remedy Proposed.
a system OF uniform laws carefully
rodthed. SO that there could be no mis-
understanding as to their provisions, and
IS 10 tie machinery OF enforcement
would remove a considerable percentage
of the difficulty row experienced by en-
ployers. employees. officials and interested
citizens in relation to this entire matter
We recommend the establishment of
fourteen years the minimum age limit
for all wage earning employments. Be
low that age We contend that child
should he regarded having any eco
7ornic value. Let US hasten TO say, how
ever, that We do not regard the mere fact
~ having become fourteen years OF age
sufficient warrant for removing pro-
lection from children In the standards
Se recommend they must also have at
lained a certain stage % physical develop
rent, roughly indicated. where more COM
clcte scientific tests are not available, by
-