Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-15
BAN ON LATE HOURS
Commissioners Would Amend
Child Labor Law.
BOYS SELLING ON STREETS
Bill Favored Substituting $50 for
10 Pm. as Time Limit
for Work.

Washington boys will be prohibited
in other occupations on the streets
after $50 o'clock at night instead of
10 o'clock, as now permitted. If Con-
gress acts favorably on a bill forward
ed to the House District committee by
the Commissioners today.
The bill. which contains several
amendments to the present child labor
law. was introduced. at the instance of
the Commissioners, two years ago. In
their opinion. say the District heads, it
is preferable to the bill amending the
child labor law which was introduced
in the House by Representative Rob-
erts December s last. and which was
referred to them for a report.
The presence of children on the
streets at unreasonable hours, ensag-
ing in various employments and "loiter-
ing In idleness in front of barrooms
and other Objectionable places" states
the report. is the occasion for the rec
ommendation that children be not al
ness purposes later than $40 pm. The
1T Is said. Is con-
CURED in by officials of the police de-
partment.
Age Of Night Messenger Boys.
The Commissioners report adversely on
the provision contained in the Roberts
bill fixing the minimum age OF persons
employed in the messenger service be-
tween 8 o'clock pm. and o'clock am.
at twenty-one years. The present law
establishes the minimum age at sixteen
years
For the reason that officials of the COM
panies to whom such service is rendered
persons who are judicious in the selec-
ton of employees. and the fact that call
boxes have been removed from objec-
tiOnable resorts, the Commissioners say
that they are not prepared to favor the
propos ID modification In the present law.
Children in Stage Performances.
Attention is directed in the report to
the failure Of the Roberts bill to include
section sixteen Of the present law, which
provides that nothing in the child labor
law shall apply to the employment Of
any child in a theatrical exhibition, pro-
vided the written consent Of one of the
Commissioners is first obtained.
There are reasons both in favor Of
and against such .legislation.""s assert
the Commissioners. 'The direction
given by this section is susceptible to
abuse by the opportunity it affords Tor
the employment OF. children in cheap
theaters for exhibition of their skill
and talents for popular amusement.
which is liable to interfere with their
school work by the effect of the late
hours such employment involves: and
to expose them to undesirable sur
roundings. On the other hand. en-
ployment Of this kind is frequently
obtained by mothers and guardians of
such children who thus derive a ma
terial portion Of the means needful for
their support. There are also occa-
sional instances in which the employ
ment Of children in the. larger theaters
is essential to the proper staging of
plays. where the exposure Of the chill
dren to hardship or other injurious in
fuences is minimized. The Commits
sioners have no reports tending to
show that any of the permits thus far
issued under that section have en-
tailed hurtful consequences. 1t is.
therefore, for Congress to determine
the advisability of resembling the legis-
lation contained in this section, which
would be the case If the bill should be
enacted with that section excluded