New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-04
Opponents Make No Pro-
test Against Considera-
ton of Measure.
LEAVES NO DOUBT
OF ITS PASSAGE
Action Gives II Right of Way
Over All Until Final Vote
Is Taken.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

lFrom Inc Tribune BUREAU
Washington, Aug. 3.-Not n dissent
ing vote was registered when Senator
Robinson, Of the Interstate Commerce
Committee, moved in the Senate to-
day that the child labor bill be taken
up and made the unfinished business
This means that the bill will come up
for discussion every day until final
vote is taken on it and virtually settles
all doubts as to It's passage.
A few of the Senators opposed to the
bill were in their seats, but they did
not demand a roll call and permitted
the friends of the measure to win the
most important step Of the fight by
default
Mr.. Robinson explained the changes
made by the Senate committee In the
measure passed by the House.
while the House BILL" the Senator
said, excludes from interstate COM
merce the products Of mines, quarries
csnneries, workshops and other manu-
featuring establishments into which
prescribed child labor has entered, the
Senate substitute greatly simplifies the
law as to the practicability Of its en-
forcement by forbidding shipment in
interstate commerce Of the products OF
any mine, quarry, cannery, workshop
factory or other manufacturing estab'
lishment, if, within thirty days prior te
the removal of such product from the
mine, quarry, cannery, workshop, rae
tory or other manufacturing establish
ment, child labor, prescribed by Doth
bills. has been employed in the pro-
ducing establishment.
Age Limitations.
"The limitations as to age and hours
in both bills are the same. In mines
and quarries children under sixteen
years, and in workshops, canneries and
factories children under fourteen are
excluded. Children between fourteen
and sixteen may work eight hours q
day and six days in any one week.
"The Senate substitute relieves deal
ers in manufactured products outside
the state of production from any liaoil
ity. but in order TO prevent manufact-
urers in the state of production from
evading the law, it requires dealers tc
obtain guarantees from the manufact-
urer that the products are not made IN
violation of the child labor law. Manu-
facturers who in good faith, desire 10
obey the law, under the Senate substi-
tute. may protect themselves by OBJ
tanning certificates as TO the age oil
children from parents or guardians as
prescribed by the Federal Board
Senator Robinson declared that while
il had been said that the Southern
states were opposed to the legislation
there was. in fact, strong sentiment
in all those states in favor OF It's en-
actment. He read extracts from some
of the leading newspapers in, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama
Georgia, Mississippi; and Texas IN sup,
port of this contention, and declared
that for the sake of humanity little
boys and girls. full of life and hope
should not be driven into the front
door of factory, where their growth
was stunted and their health broken
and then, when their energy had beer
sapped. thrown out at the back dooi
on the scrapheap of humanity, like
worn out piece of machinery.
Declares Bill Constitutional.
AS TO the constitutionality of the
proposed act, Senator Robinson con
tended that under the decisions OF the
Supreme Court the power OF Congress
to regulate commerce was complete
and absolute, except as limited by the
Constitution itself. He said the only
limitation in the Federal Constitution
on this power was the Fifth Amend
ment. which provided that no person
should be deprived of life, liberty oil
property without due process Of law,
"The Fourteenth Amendment, tht
Senator said, Imposes the same lin,
itation on the states as that imposed
nv the Fifth Amendment on the Fed
eral government. If the states, in the
exercise of the police power, can sup
press the evils Of child labor, Congress-
through its power to regulate com
merce can promote the same end by
DENYING the channels of commerce tc
persons and enterprises in the interest
Of the public health, morals and safety
Congress can do indirectly a great
MANY things that it cannot directly
uerform. The lottery cases and the
awhite slave" cases decided by the Su'
preme Court affirm the power Of Con
gress to enact legislation in the nature
of police regulations through the pow
err of Congress to regulate commerce.
"The Tenth Amendment TO the Con
stitution has no application. Congress:
has as much power TO suppress reeog
nized evils in conditions surrounding
production or manufacture through
regulation of commerce as it has ia
accomplish the same end after trans
nortation has ended, and this bill
therefore, comes fairly within the prin'
ciple of the lottery cases and the Hokt
case"