The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-19
HELPED TO SECURE
50-HR. LAW FOR WOMEN
Continued from hrst pagc.)

/ L. Stearns of Burlington, its seere
tary, and Newman X. Chaffee of Rut
land, Rutland county senator in tn,
last legislature.
, The report in substance was given a,
follows: From September to January
the commission met weekly to plan ant
perfect measures for the work of the
year. During the winter the president
OF the commission delivered lectures OF
the work of the social service commits
sion. In March and April two circular
4 letters were sent out to the clergy, and
4 others, in all parts of the diocese The
answers TO these circular letters form
the basis for the greater part of this
report. The commission received infor-
nation and counsel for 80 towns and
cities of the state.
Last September the convention as
sembled in Bennington instructed this
commission, with the aid of the bishop
to bring to the attention of the state
legislature, bill to regulate the hours
OF labor for women and children in
| manufacturing establishments. At the
request of your commission, the Hon.
Il. G.. Mower Of Burlington introduced
the proposed measure, henceforth known
as the Mower bill, into the Senate. The
bill provided for 81 hour week for
women and all minors, being modelled
on Massachusetts act of the previous
year. The bill was referred to the joint
committee on immigration and labor
and the first hearing was held on Oct. 30
in Montpelier. A large delegation was
organized to be present at the hearing,
which was attended by many people
from Burlington, Winooski, Waterbury
and Montpelier. Among others, the bish-
op of Vermont and the Hon. j. A. De-
BoeT spoke in favor of the measure.
On Nov. IL second hearing was held
at Montpelier to allow the opponents
OF the bill better opportunity to be
heard. As the attorney for the COM
mission was unable to be present, the
Hon. NJ. NJ. Wilson kindly came up
from Randolph to assist the commission
at that hearing. On Dec. third hear
ing was scheduled to be held in Burling-
ton. This hearing. however, took the
form of an inspection OF the cotton and
wooden mills of Winooski and Bmling-
ton. The commission attended the leg
islative committee ON this tour of in
spection. Finally, after due deliberation,
the bill was reported back to the SEN
ate, with the suggestion that the 81 hour
limit be raised to IS hours. The bill |
so amended passed the Senate and |
House, was signed by the governor, and |
became a law on April /, 1918.
"The president of the commission also /
attended hearing at Montpelier TO
speak in favor of the Howley factory
inspection bill. which has become a law.
This inspection bill which was also rec
in our last report. provides
The machinery necessary to secure
The enforcement of the labor legisla,
ton now on our statute books. The
feels much indebted to the
bishop for his assistance in support
ng this measure. The governor has APP
pointed Mr.. A. Calhoun of Middlebury Ii
o serve az inspector. Mr.. Calhoun has
great opportunity before him. We
rust he will have the support of church
men in the faithful discharge of his
many difficult duties.
"The social service commission is {
thankful to God for the great gains
which have been made in this field in I
he past wear. But there is certain /
ttitude on the part of many men, as !
egards these questions, which must give |
thoughtful Christian much food for I
bought. L
MANY of the fathers in our Green I
fountain Israel seemed convinced that c
heir own best welfare is inconsistent
nth the best welfare of thousands of
heir fellow Christians. Much of the
eally constructive work in legislation,
nd elsewhere, which means the ulti-
rate building up Of a larger and fuller
fe for a great body of our fellow Chris
ans, is held in many quarters to be de-
Iructiye OF the rights of individual lib
rty and private property. This atti-
lde is the strongest possible evidence
,r the need of the religion which en-
hasizes the blessed humanity of Our
ord and the preciousness in Gods sight
the lives of all His brethren who bear
is name and share His humanity.
The Liquor Question.
'To many earnest laymen and large
imber of our clergy, the liquor question
it'll all the problems carried with ii,
ems to be the question before our
,ople to-day. In many parishes, as
r instance, ST. Paurs in Burlington.
UGH of our really helpful work tcalled
scue work. is in connection with this
il. OF the people who are really down
Vi out, so to speak, who yet have the
it'll to look to the church for help,
c big majority ruin themselves with
luor. II is obvious that much of this
isery could be prevented by a strict
enforcement of our liquor laws such
an aroused public conscience would
mand and secure. In face Of the dead
light OF indifference and hostility, even
e best prosecuting officer cannot do
J duty.
I'm many towns the licensees are not
ing up to the spirit or even the let
! of the present law In many towns
res and resorts do a fiourishing bust
S. One of the worst aspects of this
business is that nominal Christians
Ter to and exploit the fraility of men
lose families must often suffer desti-
ton and utter misery. The present
al option law may or may not be
IRE workable in some communities
IN the old prohibitory law. What
lcerns us more directly is the fact
It the present law has never had
lily fair trial. States attorneys, town
I city grand Jurors and the police