Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-30
CHILD LABOR LAW GIVEN CLEAN
RECOMMENDATION ~ SEN
AToR cuMMlNs.
QUESTION OF LEGALITY
SOLE MATTER OF DousT
No LoophoIe in Clause Relative to In
tsrstats shipments-stats Labor
Commissioners uriek Finds No De-
fects in Measure-cummins Cues.
tions Fairness Of Attacks If Political.
Special to Times Republican.


Des Noines Oct. S0.-Friends of leg
islation intended to safeguard the
rights and the opportunities of children
are much concerned over the criticisms
which are being generally made on the
recent child labor Dill as passed by
congress. 1t is being claimed that the
bill contains one of the biggest jokers
ever secluded IN any measure which
congress ever adopted IN its reference
to preventing Shipments of manufac-
tured goods or products from a mine
where child labor mas been employed
within thirty days after such goods or
products We're ready for shipment.
State Labor Commissioner A. L.
Urick has nad many inquiries as to the
soundness of the bill. AT the state
conference of charities and corrections
held this past week the question came
up and was discussed with much III.
terest. According to Mr.. Urlck the i'm
preston is quite general that The blii
contains Joker. He says, however,
that this is a wrong impression and
that the bill is sound.
Cummins and he told me that some Of
the brightest lawyers in the country
mad gone over the bill and he felt sure
it was all right. In fact Senator Cum
minis wrote statement for the Ma
tional Child Labor committee in which
he said in his judgment the bill was
without any joker. There was some lit
tie question, ne said, as to its constitu-
tionality but ii this We're passed OH
favorably as he thought it would be it
would be law SO effective as to do
away with child labor altogether
Alleged Joker.
The clause in the law which some
of its friends are fearful of ana which
its enemies say is a joker, is as fol-
lows, in brief: mo producer, manufac-
turer or dealer shall ship or deliver
for shipment in interstate or foreign
commerce any article or commodity,
the product of any mine or quarry sit
uated in the United States, in which
within thirty days prior to the time Of
the removal of such product therefrom
children under the age of 16 years have
been employed or permitted to work"
1t is claimed that employers who so
desire can get around this. Either they
can put the goods in storage and not
ship them sfor thirty days after manu-
facture or they can discharge the chill
dren and then ship the goods Both
of these possible moves on the part
of manufacturers are entirely imprac-
tical and not at all liable to take place,
friends of the bill say. In the first
place II manufacturer should attempt
to put the goods in storage they would
without doubt have to be removed from
the factory to do this and the one
so attempting could be prosecuted un-
der the law for such removal. In the
second place it would be a highly i'm
practical thing for a manufactures to
turn of his child employees every thirty
DAYS and hire new ones, it is pointed
out.
cummins Explains II.
In endeayoring to clear up the Dill
for those who are concerned about II
Senator Cummins has written the fol->
lowing explanation.
"The child labor law received In tbs
senate committee and on the floor OF
the senate the most exhaustive consid-
Grafton and those of US who were Tor
il employed the utmost care to exclude
every possible objection to its validity
consistent with it's effectiveness All
Of us understood that there was in the
bill a serious constitutional question
which could not be avoided and which
could be answered conclusively only
by the supreme court of the United
States. But in other respects the act
is. l believe, without flaw.
IF republicans are making any such
charge against the law In order to
discredit the administration the effort
is disreputable and must react upon
those who are foolish enough to give
currency to the charge. If democrats
are endeayoring to impeach the good
faith Of the republicans who helped to
compose and pass the bill they are
guilty of a fragrant offense against
public morals.
Assuming that the supreme court
decides-if the question ever reaches
that tribunal-that congress can regu-
late interstate commerce in this way
the act will be found SO effective ina.
it will end fog all time the employment