The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-01-07


Will Be Pushed-Efforts Will Be
Made TO Exclude All Asiatics.
Millions for defense, but not one
cent for tribute" is a slogan that once
served to stir the nation to vigilance In
the protection of its rights. A ques-
ton which confronts the Sixty-fourth
congress is the relation of possible mil
lions for defense to the social welfare
Of the nations people. Surely the
countries of Europe have come to real
tze that in equipping themselves for
war the welfare of their people is by
no means the least factor.
Failure to secure early consideration
of bills was one of the chief reasons
for the disappointing results in social
legislation before the last congress.
The PalmerOwen child labor bill, for
instance, passed the house, but the OBJ
lection of a single senator -Oyerman of
North Carolina-kiIled it in the upper
chamber. The second campaign for
the bill is now going forward with Wig
or in the hands Of the national child
labor committee.
The bill prohibits interstate com
merce Of goods in the production Of
which children under fourteen have
worked in mills, factories, canneries or
workshops; children under sixteen have
worked In mines or quarries; children
between fourteen and sixteen have
worked at night or more than eight
hofrs day in factories.
Those who are urging the measure
point out that it protects not only the
nations children, but enlightened en-
pIoyers as well, for it would remove any
disadvantage which a manufacturer in
q state with advanced laws may feel
that he has in competition with manu-
facturers In states with lower stand
ards.
Another measure designed to regu-
late the conditions under which goods
are manufactured, through federal au-
thority over interstate commerce. is the
bill concerning the products of convict
labor. 4 state may regulate it's own
convict labor, but it cannot bar con
v1ct made goods coming in from an
other state. The Booher Hughes bill,
az it was known at the last session,
has passed the house four times. A
year ago ii was favorably reported by
the senate committee. but never came
to a vote.
This bill and new one designed to
consolidate the prison activities of the
federal government are particularly
urged by the national committee on
prisons and prison labor. At present
these activities are scattered through
various departments.
Industrial measures are expected TO
include those before the last congress
and several new ones. Among the rec
concentrations Of the commission on
industrial relations those which will be
pushed are probably indicated in the
announcement made by Chairman
Frank P. Walsh, who laid emphasis on
the need for a federal law-or, if nee
essary, a constitutional amendment
limiting the power Of the courts to de-
clare laws unconstitutional: for an act
prohibiting interstate shipment of
armed guards. machine guns and other
similar weapons except when consign-
ed to the military authorities of the
state or nation and for an act requir-
ing the federal trade commission to
consider as unfair competition the ex-
ploitation of labor through long hours,
low wages, unsafe or insanitary con
ditions
The bill providing adequate compen-
sation to all civilian employees Of the
government for occupational diseases
as well as injuries viii be introduced
again, drawn on the same lines as the
Kern-McGillicuddy bill last year The
American Association For Labor Leg
islation plans to make q special cam
paign on it's behalf
Federal regulation of employment
agencies will be proposed again to dc
away with interstate abuses, particu-
larly I'm the case of immigrant workers
sent by employment agencies to work
in other states A federal license is
proposed for employment agencies do.
ing an interstate business and federal
control through a commissioner of la.
Dor exchanges The committee for i'm.
migrants in America is interested in
securing this legislation.
Another bin for the protection Of i'm
migrants would enable federal authori
ties to enforce the treaty rights Of for
eign subjects and give federal courts
power to act in all cases of treaty VIC.
lations.
Several other bills modifying the i'm
migration law are expected to come up
Some Of these deal with a situation
created by the war and provide for let
ting down the bars to Belgian and
other refugees who come to America
because Of military conquest of their
countries Another effort is expected
to extend to all Asiatics the present ex-
clusion laws against Chinese lahorers.
Effort viii again be made to secure
the adoption of the Smith Hughes vo
cational education bill It's two large
aims are to extend federal help to the
| states in providing vocational educa-
tion and training teachers in this field
by grants of money and by establish
| ing federal board for vocational edu.
cation to work with state boards. The
| Survey.