Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-08
CHILD LABOR BILL
AND THE GOVERNOR
Chief Executive Issues a Statement
in Which He Gives Reasons
For Supporting 1t

Governor Brumbaugh considers the
Cox child labor bill. which was draft
ed under his personal direction, as the
most advanced legislation on the sub
ject the State has had and strongly
recommends its passage in statement
made public yesterday. In his state
ment the Governor reiterates what he
said in his inaugural address and backs
II up.
The statement is as follows:
In the campaign last Fall, 1T was
specifically set forth in the party plat
form in the addresses of the candidates
that the present Legislature should
enact as fair, just and advanced child
labor law as any Commonwealth could
reasonably enact. l take this pledge as
command. l believe absolutely that it
is ones duty in office to do exactly what
he promised to do when a candidate. |
hold that II is decent and fair to be
frankly honest and let the people know
exactly what the Administration thinks
and does.
I'm my inaugural l said no child
under l6 should work in Pennsylvania.
He should be in school. | stand square
ly by that now. Had my way | would
gladly support such measure We
shall soon see a day in which we shall
be ashamed of law that permits
child under 16 to work for wages and
to lose the inestimable blessings and
benefit of an education adequate to
his needs.
'Tf. however, the Legislature will not
rise to this plan of service to childhood
at this session ! submit, in the next
| place and as a distinct advance over
any existing law, the Cox BILL which
| provides that children under 16 and
over If may work under wise certi-
! fcation as to age and physical fitness
/ under the following conditions: The
| maximum hours per week to be fifty
two; the maximum hours per day TO be
| nine; and provided that the child so
! employed shall, between a and ] > years
/ OF age, spend one full day per week in
vocational school, and the child be-
l a nf n
spend one-half day per week in a vo-
! caUonal school.
This is the definitely new note in the
! Cox bill. In all other respects ii is the
same as other advanced child labor
! laws in this country. and this feature
is unique; 1t makes easy instead of
! difficult the transition from school to
industry. 1t sets in the public school
system new type of SCHOOL, school
that will guarantee to the child specific
and practical aid in attaining speedily
! a self-supporting relation to society.
1T is likewise wholly advantageous
to the employer since 1t speedily gives
| to him dependable and reliable service
of great skill. 1t is also to the interest
| of the State, since it fits our young
people in thoroughly practical way to
! establish definite wage earning rela-
| tions. found a home. rear family and
become a very desirable and valuable
member of the States citizenry.
| The Phipps bill provides a forty
/ eight-hou week and an eiGht-hour
day. In all other respects it is essenti-
( ally the same as the Cox bill. The
| Phipps bill represents the most adj
| vanced thought of the child labor So
! cietes and the best procedure of other
| States. | am convinced that if the peo-
pie want a sudden termination of
! school life and an equally sudden be
! ginning of work, and also want children
! under l 6 to work. then the Phipps bill
| should be enacted into law. 1t is with
! these limitations a very good bill But
/ insist that we go further and make
! education one of the permanent con-
| Germs of every child until he is 16.
IT ask all fair minded citizens, all
| lovers of the State, all friends of chill
drcn, to consider these measures with
care. Selfish interests must not weigh
against the child and the State. We
are all securely pledged to an advanced
and humane child labor law. | want
| this great State to be the first to teach
the world how to solve for industry
and for childhood this problem. The
Cox 6iil oilers talS opp9rtunltT: ,,lI III rs =.
upon it,