Gilpin observer., 1914-08-06
WASHINGTON NEWS
By Edward Keating.

Mitchell Palmer's child labor bill. No
more important measure will claim
the attention of this congress. AS
the representatives of great re-
public we have faced the reproach
that I'VE spent millions ON pigs and
practically nothing ON kids" There
Is enough truth in the statement to
make it sting.
our answer Is the Palmer bill and
believe it will prove complete
and satisfying answer
Palmer is one of the, impressive fig
ures In the house. He comes of good
old Pennsylvania Quaker stock. He
smashed the corrupt Guffey machine,
which for years dominated the coun-
ellis of the Democratic party of Penn
sylvania and he carried solid dele
CATION to the Baltimore convention
to work and vote for Wilson
The story is told-I do not vouch
for its truth-that when the Clark
boom was at it's height during that
memorable convention, Wilson, ,becom-
ing discouraged, wired Palmer to
withdraw his name, but the intrepid
son of Penn tore up the message and
ordered another Wilson demonstra-
ton.
Be that as 1t may, everyone con-
cedes he did as much as any other
individual to make the governor of
New Jersey the president of the
United States. He was rendered a
place in the cabinet but declined and
then became the Wilson floor lead
er in the house. Now he is contest
ing for the senatorial toga with Boies
Penrose and every genuine progress
sive hopes he will win.
First Of its Kind.
1t is entirely appropriate that such
a man should father the first nation
al child labor law which has succeed
ed in running the gauntlet of the COM
mittees.
The Palmer bill is supplied with
real teeth and if enacted will put an
end to the employment of children
in unhealthful or dangerous occupa-
tions. 1t provides that no child un-
der sixteen shall be employed in a
mine or quarry and that none under
fourteen shall work in a mill, factory
or workshop.
Those employers who disregard the
law will not be permitted to ship the
products of their establishments in
interstate commerce. OF course, we
have already been met with the cry
that this is unconstitutional" and
AN interference with states rights,
but the committee was not disturb
ed by the protests. We knew it was
the only way to secure an effective
national child labor law and we de-
cided to pass the question of its con-
stitutionality up to the supreme
court.
Such an eminent authority on con-
stitutionaI law as Dean Lewis, of the
University of Pennsylvania, assured
us it would stand the test. In addi.
ton, We all know that popular senti-
ment is potent even in the chambers
of the august justices of the nations
mightiest tribunal and there cam be
no mistaking the popular demand for
legislation to conserve the lives OF
the little ones.
Underwood Aids West.
After a prolonged struggle the
house has passed the senate bill
granting residents on reclamation
projects twenty years in which tc
pay for their water rights. The ives
tern members, led by Taylor. of Col
orado. Hayden. of Arizona and Baker
of California, made a gallant fight
but they would have been impotent
If 1t had not been for the powerful
support of Secretary Lane and Con
gressman Oscar Underwood, the lead
er Of the majority.
The battle ragged around the pro
posal to compel the water users Il
pay interest on their deferred pay
ments. The westerners pointed ou
that this was a clear violation of the
understanding between the settlers
and the government and pleaded tina
the contract should not be changed
in SO vital a particular at this late
date. The ra-conversationists, cap
tanned by Lender Mann. of the Re
publican minority, Madden of Illinois
and Sherley of Kentucky, argued tina
Uncle Sam was entitled to interes'
on ''his investment" Their reason
ing was very plausible to those who
were not familiar with western con
ditions, and unfortunately 75qo Of m,
colleagues never saw an irrigation
ditch, a dry-land claim or forest
u