The Washington times., 1912-04-13
NEW CHILD LABOR Va
LAW FOR DISTRICT
OFFERED INHOUS[
Congressman Cox of Ohio,
Fathers Measure to Pro-
tect the Young.

Stringent regulation of child labor In
the District is provided in the bin in
troduced In the House by Congress-
man Cox. an Ohio Democrat. who re-
Gently aided In putting through the
House, the Peters bill to establish a
children's bureau.
The Cox child labor bill prohibits the
employment in any capacity of chill
dren uider fourteen years of age. The
Superintendent Of Schools is required
to issue certificates in the case OF others
declaring that they are above the age
Of fourteen and are mentally and phys
ically able to perform the grade of
work permissible under the terms Of
the bill.
Inspectors are entitled 10 challenge at
any time the age of child. who must
be dismissed unless his employer can
show him above the age limit.
No child under sixteen years of age
Is permitted to engage in work about
machinery or in vocations which are
considered hazardous. No child under
sixteen is permitted to go upon any
stage of the District. nor shall they fire.
quent places tending to corrupt morals.
a drastic provision, which may re-
suit in patriarchal messenger boys"
Is that section of the bill providing that
between the hour of 10 o'clock at night
and o'clock in the morning no person
under twenty-one years of age may
enacted into law this would mean the
passing. at night time. of the dime
novel readers Of the present regime.
The bill prohibits any boy under
wsIve frnm se,ny or any girl under fourteen zen
streets and prohibits boys under
twelve or girls under sixteen from
working in shoe shining establish
ments or In other trades where work
Is performed in public place.
The health officer is given jurisdic-
tion to decide what are dangerous oc-
cupations. to which Congressman Cox
devotes considerable space in his bill.
tendent of schools shall keep a COM
plete record of all children to whom
eertificates permitting work have
Fines ranging from IS to $500 are
provided as punishment for those
employers who fail to live up to the
provisions of the bill, the fine being
graded according to the gravity of
the offense.
Eight-Hcur Day.
The limit OF work for children under
fifteen shall be eight hours a day. six
days a week, but no child of this age
can work before z a. m. or after S
p. m.
The two principal provisions of the
Cox bill, which Is intended as model
for the states and which represents the
ideas of the commission on uniformity
of child labor laws. although the bill
applies only to the District, say:
Ftrst-That no child under fourteen
years of age shall be employed in any
mill. factory, mercantile, or mechanical
establishment. tenement house, manu-
factory or workshop, store, office, office
building, restaurant. boarding-house,
hnE lNar rhn,. chr uto
or establishment, public stable, garage,
laundry. place of amusement, club, or
as a driver for or In any brick or
lumber yaid. or in the Carrying or trans
ton or repair of buildings, or in the
distribution, transmission, or sale OF
merchandise.
Second-No child under sixteen years
of age is allowed to work in any of the
following positions: Adjusting any
belt to any machinery, sewing or lac
ing machine belts in any workshop or
factory, operating any of the follow
ing machines, circular or band saws.
wood shapers. wood jointers, planers.
| chinery. wood turning or boring
machinery, picker machines, or ma.
| chimes used in picking wool, cotton, hair
or any other material; carding ma
furnishing machines. job or cylinder
printing presses operated by power
other than foot power. boring or drill
presses, stamping machines used in
| sheet material and tin ware, or in paper
and leather manufacturing, or in wash
er and nut factories, metal or paper
\ cutting machines; corner staying ma
chlnes in paper factories. steam boil
ers, corrugated rolls such as are used
In corrugated. paper roofing or wash.
board factories, steam boilers, dough
brakes, or cracker machinery of any
description; wire or iron Strengthening
| liF,er ,.,NIl
| chinery, power punches or shears, wash
| ing grinding, or mixing machinery; cal
endar rolls in paper and rubber man
ufacturing, laundering machinery, or In
| the proximity to any hazardous or un-
guarded belts, machinery, or gearings
| or upon any railroad, or upon any ves-
| sci or boat engaged in navigation oI
commerce within the Jurisdiction of the
| District of Columbia.
The bill furthermore prohibits the en-.
| ployment of any child under the age o'
| sixteen years I'm or about or in connec
| ton with any processes in which dan
gerous or poisonous acids are used, ol
/ In the manufacture or packing OF paints
| colors, in white or red lead, or in solder
| ing, or in occupations causing dust II
Injurious quantities, or in the manu-
| facture or use of dangerous or poison
| Gus dyes, or in the manufacture or use
of preparation of composition with dan
| gerous or poisonous gases, or in thu
| manufacture or use of compositions o
| fye in which the quantity thereof Is in
| furious to health; or in scaffolding, o
in any tunnels or excavations, or II
connection with any quarry. or in as
sorting or manufacturing tobacco, or II
q bowling alleys, or in pool room or bill
lizard room, or I'm any other occupation
dangerous to the health and morals o
such child"
No child under the age of sixteeT
years shall be employed upon the stag,
of any theater or concert hall or II
connection with any theatrical perform
ance or other exhibition or show"
What constitutes a position coming
under any of the foregoing phrases Is 4
be determined, the bill provides, by tn
health officer OF the District, who, afte
| he h ahan a.