Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-22
WORK 12-YEAR-OLDS
N State CANNERIES
Labor Commission Agrees,
Despite Conflict With
Federal Law Provision
WILL TEST LATTER
STATUTE IN COURTS
stan Correspondent.

STAFF Correspondent.
DOVER. FEB. 22.-The Labor Com
mission of Delaware, at a meeting
yesterday afternoon in Difference TO
the requests OF proprietors OF canning
establishments, expressed at meet
ing yesterday morning decided to
make change in the bill amending
the Child Labor law which will per-
NIT Gamers to employ children ~
years OF age and upward.
The commission also decided to re-
move the restriction in the amended
bill against the employment OF any
persons under 21 years OF age in or
about any establishment where liquor
is sold, restricting the application OF
the law in this behalf as at present
worded TO the room or rooms in
which liquor is sold or dispensed.
In some quarters the action or the
commission Is regarded as a back
ward step, and Il Is claimed the Della
ware law will conflict with the Fed
erai Child Labor law.
AZ the hearing given the Gamers
II developed that there is some ques-
ton in the minds OF tho Gamers,
about the constitutionallty OF the Fed
eral Child Labor law, which prohibits
Interstate shipment Of goods manu-
featured by children under IL years
o. age. Goods stored thirty days af-
ser manufacture appear TO be ex-
cluded from its operation. II Is likely
in the opinion OF some OF the can
ners, that the validity of tho law will
be tested on this point.
The Gamers, while stating that they
did not object 10 the commission s
proposed amendment TO the State Child
Labor Law, including their business in
It's operation. suggested that the State
refrain from too closely copying the
Federal statute. Last year. at a SINH
lar conference. the commission ex-
pressed its wish to have the State law
amended so as to include tho Gamers,
which was not objected TO If certain
concessions were made. II was tenta-
lively proposed to permit the Gamers
10 employ children IL years and over,
hose between IL and IA, however, only
during school vacation.
Yesterday tho Gamers, while not OBJ
iccting to being included in the OPP
Grafton Of the law, expressed a desire
to DO permitted TO give 12-year-old
children employment during the cam
ing season, which sometimes runs into
October AS a reason for wanting 70
employ children at all, they claimed
that they cannot get sufficient adull
labor without doing this. II was STAYED
that they have 70 depend upon foreign
help. but the foreigners VIII no
come from tho cities unless they car
members OF the families who are ole
enough 70 work. Hence the necesslt,
for openinp the door to children undei
IA II was stated that children were
needed only during the rush season
and as the Gamers appear to want e
.o-operate with the commission in pro
iecting the children, II was decided
10 remove all restrictions from the en-
nlovment of children between II an
RELYING on the Gamers 70 make
nosIble for the children TO 80 to schoe
.xcent when the canning rush Is on.
A feature of the child labor law Pre-
hibiting persons under 81 years OF ae
being EMPLOYED in or about establish
menfs where intoxicating liquors AT
manufactured OF sold, it has been toun'
works n hardship on drug stores, hote
and nlaces where intoxicants are used &c
scientific or manufacturing purpose
therefore it was decided to apply the II
striction only TO rooms IN which hquo'
are actually sold or dispensed. hoI
men and druggists had asked that u
law be so amended.
The commission left with the char
man. Charles Warner, the matter OF a
ranging separate hearings with the LEI
islative committees on the ten-hour an
child labor law amendments.