New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-06
COMMITTEE VOTES
CHILD LABOR BILL
Only Three Members Op-
pose Reporting Measure
TO the Senate.

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, April 5.-The child la
/ Dor bill was ordered reported by the
/ Senate Interstate Commerce Committee
to-day with slight change from the
form described exclusively in The Trib-
une last Saturday. Two minor amend
ments were adopted to-day to protect
unwilling violators of the law. One
provides that when a prosecution ~
brought, no other case occurring prior
to the date of the filing Of the first
prosecution shall be pressed. The other
bars the prosecution of manufacturers
who have in good faith relied on mac
curate birth certificates filed with them
BY the chid's parents.
The bill was ordered reported by
vive voce vote. only three Senators
saving NO These were Smith, OF
South Carolina Brandegee, OF Con-
recticut, and Lippitt, OF Rhode Island.
Senator Gore did not vote. Senator'S
Pomerene. of Ohio; La Toilette, OF
Wisconsin: Myers. OF Montana; Sauls-
bury. of Delaware; Lewis. OF limos
and Oliver, OF Pennsylyania, were sD-
sent $500,
Features Of Senate Bill.
Senator Robinson. chairman OF the
subcommittee which rewrote the bi!l.
explained the new measure to-nlgnt.
The House bill" he said, seeks TO
sticmatize and prevent the shipment
of products into which prescribed
child labor has entered. and 1t seeks
70 couple the Objectionable child la
Dor with the particular commodity
sought to be shipped.
"The Senate provision penalties
producer or manufacturer or dealer
within the state Of manufacture or pro
duction who ships, or attempts to snip.
IN interstate or foreign commerce any
manufactured product II within thirty
DAYS before the removal OF such prod
uct from the mine. quarry or manuiac
turing establishment children nave
been employed in the limits defined and
prescribed.
section Of the House bill. which
seeks 20 establish r rule Of evidence,
is eliminated by the Senate Commit
tee. IN order 10 oDvlate the diincuity
Of proving that forbidden child la>or
entered into the production OF the par
ticular commodity sought 10 be
shipped, Section of the House bill
provides that proof Of employment
within sixty days prior 10 the ship
ment Of the product Of prescribed child
labor from a mine, quarry or other
manufacturing establishment shall be
prma facie evidence that such prod
uct has been produced by such pro-
scribed child labor. The Senate pro-
vision makes unnecessary this rule of
evidence, and thus greatly simpiifies
the measure, especially with reference
TO its enforcement.
Burden on Commerce Lifted.
Under the House bill dealers are
penalized in states other than that OF
/ production and manufacture, unless
protected By the manufacturers guar
anty, while IN the Senate bill this very
great burden which would thus be i'm
posed on commerce is totally removed
/ The Senate committee, however, finds
II necessary 70 remtain provision re
isting 10 guaranty in so far as dealers
within the state Of production or man
ufacture are concerned, IN order 10
prevent evasions OF the law.
Another important provision in the
Senate amendment is this:
at relieves from the very great
burden apparently imposed in the
House bill on the manufacturer or
producer. who il is thought would be
COMPELLED, if the House bill remained
unchanged, TO obtain guarantees from
other manufacturers whose products
entered into the finished article that
/ forbidden child labor had not entered
/ into the assembled parts which are
( thus manufactured by others.
Under the Senate bill manufactur-
ers, producers and dealers who seek IN
| good faith 10 observe the law may pro-
tect themselves from prosecution for
/ the unintentionsl employment OF for
/ hidden child labor by procuring Ger.
/ tfcates, in such form as the board
created by the bill may require, 20 the
/ effect that children employed are OF
such an age that the shipment, de-
i livery for shipment or transportation.
- not prescribed BY the act. The
board has also the authority to permit
/ the use of certificates established
under state laws as 10 the age OF
children employed when not inconsIs-
tent with the provisions Of the ma
tional act"