Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-05
HOLDS wEss LIQUOR slLL 10
LEGAL UNDER RECENT
COURT RULING.
WHITE SLAVE CASE Applies
TO lNrERsrArE COMM eRcK
Decision Declared 70 %
Of Far Reaching Effect - Has Bear
ing on Numerous ousstiens-Dread
Interpretation on Powers Of Com.
msres to Regulate.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, March 5.-One Of the
reasons why Senator Kenyon and other
lawyers who supported the Webb
liquor bill hold that it IN constitutional
is the decision Of the supreme court
last Monday in the white slave cases.
The supreme courts decision. up
holding the constitutionality of the
white slave act, is attracting wide.
spread attention from members Of cons
gress. It was handed down by Assoc
ciate Justice Mckenna. In reality there
were several decisions. returning find
ings In a series OF cases. But the
views Of the court were set forth at
| length in Hoke ct al, VS.. the United
States.
An Illuminating Decision.
Lawyers about the capitol hold that
the decision OF the court in this case
is one of the most Illuminating and
far-reaching on record with respect to
the powers Of congress over interstate
commerce and the right OF congress
to say what or who shall enter into
interstate commerce.
Holding that the power Of congress
to regulate commerce Is Of the broadcast
scope. the court said:
xuc pI1uCAPlS coldDlASuOO ny Iu0
cases is the simple one, when rid Of
confusing and distracting considera-
tons. that congress has power over
states that the power is complete In
cident to 1t. may adopt not only means
necessary but convenient TO its exer-
else. and the means may have the
o,,a NJ %
Moreover. the court by Its language
indicated that it looked with little
kindness on the twilight zone" Of
which the country has heard much In
recent years. It said:
"Our dual form Of government has
its perplexities. state and nation hav-
ing different spheres of Jurisdiction,
as we have said, but 1t must be kept
in mind that we are one people; and
the powers reserved to the states and
those conferred on the nation are
adapted to be exercised. whether In
dependently or concurrently. to pro. !.
mote the general welfare, material and
moral"
Bears on Numerous Questions.
The decision is being pondered on
deeply by the lawyers on Capitol hill
because Of its bearing on numerous
questions. One OF these questions 10
child labor and women labor. For
years. efforts have been made to get
congress to enact law regulating
child labor and a measure for gen.
eral eight-hour day for women was
recently introduced by Senator Ken
yon. The theory Of such bills II that
congress has the right to shut out OF
interstate commerce the products OF
labor Of children and women unless
that labor is so carried on as not TO
be harmful to the health and WELL
being Of those who do it and conse-
quently not harmful to the welfare Of
the nation. The opponents Of such
legislation have all along decried 1t as
But IL the supreme
court decision in the white slave cases
does not fatty controvert their argu-
ment it at least has given great en-
to those favoring child
labor and women labor legislation OF
scope. It appears certain.
that there are possibii-
tiles in the commerce clause Of the
which have not yet been
realized.