The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-06-29
Conditional Legislation
Key to Problem,
Says New Yorker
OFFICIALS MEET
IN CONVENTION
Miss H. NJ. Carstens, of
Detroit, in List Of
Speakers

Conditional labor legislation on
the part of the states Was urged by
Barney Cohen. Of New York. presi-
dent Of the Association Of Govern
mental Labor Ofncials, In the Girls
void hotel. Monday morning.
Mr.. Cohen pointed out that the
great drakback to progressive labor
legislation on the part Of the states
is the fact that no legislature cared
TO penalize the employers Of labor
in its own state by cutting down
the hours Of labor. or raising the
minimum age At which children
could be employed. while other
states declined to take such action
and thus encouraged industries to
come within their boundaries. A
federal labor law. he said. would
require an amendment TO the con-
stitution. taking from the states the
control Of labor.
He, therefore, advocated such q
scheme as was adopted by New Jer-
sey, several years ago. In the case
of the Delaware river sturgeon Ash.
cries. The New Jersey legislature
passed q law which was to become
operative only when the legislatures
OF Pennsylvania and Delaware
adopted similar legislation. In the
course OF a few years. these legisla-
lures did enact similar laws. and
the United States congress then
gave Its approval to the agreement
between the states. according to
the constitution. which provides that
no agreement between states can
be made without the ratification OF
congress-.
Senator Root implied. in a speech
about two years ago. that such .
course was feasible said Mr.. Co.
hen.
why do we permit women TO
work eight hours In California and
10 hours In Illinois, Is that not an
injustice to womanhood! Is II not
an injury to future race develop
ment, Almost every state in the
union has a different legal linita.
tion OF the hours Of the employment
OF women. Even some of the states
that have uniform hours grant vari
Gus exceptions In certain industries
which defear the objects OF the
original law. In like manner. some
Of our states set the standard fof
the employment OF children At IA
years for an eight-hour working day
lille others have various lower age
standards and varying hour-work
limits. Thus In one state the child
wage-earner II protected in meas
ure. whereas In another state he IL
compelled TO drudge along for Ions
hours. undersized. immature. and
put on the road to breakdown and
disease"
The convention was called TO or
Ger by James v. Cunningham, state
labor commissioner Of Michigan
The Rev. Frank r. Fitchett pro
nounced the invocation. Mayor
Marx welcomed the on1cials to DE
troit.
Miss Hattie NJ. Carstens. presi
dent OF the Twentieth Century club
told OF the need for women factory
inspectors.
women workers will tell women
inspectors what they will not tell to
men," said Miss Carstens. THE
can talk more freely to women.
while they are held back by . feel
Ing Of modesty from telling men in
spectors Of possible UNIT condi
lions.
with the educational advantages
which women have had. they can
be ~ fully equipped AZ men. In
one respect . woman IL often lack
ing--in attitudinals eniciency. or
tact. Some are born with tact. but
the majority have to acquire 1t by
experience.
Hal II. Smith spoke for the Board
OF Commerce. He emphasized what
has been done for better relations
between labor and capital in Mich
isan. and told Of the excellent work
ing Of the workmen's compensation
law.
John Cannon. president OF the De
troit Federation of Labor. welcomed
the convention In the name OF the
federation.
G. A. Brownell. of the Ford
Motor Co.. invited the labor ofncials
10 inspect the plant. and told OF the
Ford pront-sharing plan, which hi
declared IN the best Investment
that the Ford Motor Car Co. evel
- ry~-.sl 49, .,h>.- a,