South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-28
EIGHT HOUR BILL FOR
WOMEN OF DISTRICT
Congress Passes Act Limiting
Hours of Labor for Feminine
WOrkerS-RedfieId Praises
Vocational Education Idea.
BY GILsoN GARDNER.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.-Like a
bob-sled when it was run up against
a hickory stump unseen in the drifted
snow; so has it fared with that fine
plan worked out by Secretary of the
Interior Franklin h. Lane for opening
Jp the coal fields Of Alaska.
The hickory stump symbolizes the
influence OF the coal trust in the SEN
ate. The bob-sled stands for the bill
as introduced by Senator Walsh and
referred 10 the committee on mines
and mining Of the senate. The stump
was felt when resolution appeared
IN the senate. introduced by Smith Of
Arizona, FOR the purpose of lifting the
bill out of the mines ana mining COM
Inttee and setting 1t down in the COM
uittee or public lands. 1t looks as If
the coal trust has more confidence in
the committee on public lands than 1t
has in the committee on mines. A
rOllCall was had after several hours OF
debate and the senators who did the
viii of the coal trust, with scarcely
any exceptions are tried and true ser
wants OF special privilege.
EIGHT HOUR BILL FOR WOMEN.
The first step ever taken by Uncle
same to look after women in employ
meut was the passage by congress OF
the eight-hOur bill for women en-
ployed in the District of Columbia.
This IS also the first eight-hOur bill
applying to women east of Colorado.
The new law applies To practically all
women industrially employed, except
those in private offices Qike congress
mems stcnOgraphers and SecretarieS)
and domestic servants IN private
homes (COngressmen's hOmes). Hotel
servants are included under the pro-
L.. aHe hnf tfh nor
class OF women so frequently and so
unfortunately exempted IN the states,
namely. clerks in department and
other retail stores.
The bill provides for a six day week
and prohibition of night work for
minors As usual she force of in
Spectors provided is inadequate, there
being provided only three Inspectors
1T SI.2OO per annum. And .singu'crly
enough. congress forgot to apDrOpl mte
any money 10 pay the inspectors. And
there won't be any until July lSt so
the commissioners have reluctantly
concluded that they can't begin the
enforcement OF the law until that
date The bill was put through by the
Consumers league OF the District OF
Columbia.
PRAISE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.
In a letter 10 Representative Dudley
NJ Houses. chairman of the commit
tee on education of the house. Sec
retary William g. Redheld, OF the de-
partment Of commerce. COmmends Vo-
cationaI education in these enthusiaS-
tic terms
III surprises me that the living
theme Of vocational education Is so
often treated as if il were cold ana
almost negligible thing. 1t goes TO
the very vitais OF our American life.
III enters the humble homes. and there
are more humble homes than there
are OF the other kind.
Vocational education goes into
these modest homes and says 10 boy
and a girl We Will make practical
man and woman out Of you. We Will
teach YOU the dignity of self-support.
We will take from of the shoulders of
,.our fathers and mothers the burden
or supporting you during years OF in
efficiency. while YOU are picking up, as
fast as YOU can by the most primitive
VyavS. enough knowledge 90 make you
suficfentlv slillful 10 earn man or
"a voman's wage
.-Nay. IL goes further ana says 10
the boy. We will add 10 years OF
mans fun earning power 10 your ne.
FOR we viii put YOU at 20 years or age
where Your father was at So II says
fo the girl. We viii remove from YOU
the temptations and dangers that
arise amid unprotected and unSkllled
novertv. We will provide for YOU that
marriage shall not be q hasty safe
euard against danger; that you shalt
become well-taught and sklituI
wife and that YOU and your husband
AND vour children after YOU shall all
have the gertrude OF the self-respect
that comes with knowing how 10 do
we'll the work 10 which your hands are
set