New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-24
Protest To Be Carried to
Senate To-day by Social
Workers
War Measures
Called Disguise
Industrial Evils Are Seen in
Approving Longer Hours
for Women

Two bill, introduced by Senator Elon
?. Brown. majority leader Of the SEN
ste. which. social workers and labor
me-, declare. would thrust much Of the
war burden uror the shoulders Of chill
dren under fourteen and permit manu-
fscturers 10 keep women az work for
reriods that are now illegal. will he
Voted upon to-day in the State Sen
etc REPRESENTATIVES, Of many civic or
esnizat,ons Will be IN Albany to-day 20
combat the bills, but they arc not san
c.lirc OF success.
The bills have been ra'Iroaded
through so far. they assert. and they
lear that the programme may be car
ried out 20 tho end. Tho bills were IN
,rodue, only last Friday, and were not
sent 20 committee. so there have been
10 hearings upon them.
But although the bills are backed by
the Scnate's official War Committee. "
composed Of Republican Senators
Brown. Sage. ArretsinGer, Hewitt. Sti-
,ers. Lockwood. Emerson, Slater and
Robinson and Senator'S Wagner, Boylan'
Dunniean and Gothic, Democrats
vigorous opposition is expected on the
floor.
Alters Labor Law
One bill provides that the labor law
shall not be enforced by the Indus
trial Commission or by a public Off
Ger" during the war Il It is decided
that its enforcement would interfere
with the prosecution Of the war or
"bc opposed 70 public welfare and ne
cessi,y." It was amended by its au'
thor last night by the provision that
any variation Of the labor law per-
mitted by the Industrial Commission
may be suspended or modified by the
Governor. acting on the request Of the
Council Of National Defence or other
duly authorized official or body acting
for the Federal government
The other permits children above
the age Of twelve years TO be excused
from school from May ] 10 November
/ 70 perform labor in the cultivation,
production and care Of food products
upon farms and gardens within the
state
Even with It's amendment the first
makes il possible for a manufacturer
whose output even indirectly is sup
ply Of war 20 obtain, after investlga-
ton. relaxation Of the law concerning
hours of labor, age OF employees or
safety devices. The amendment. ap-
parently, gives the Council Of National
Defence the power to correct mistakes
Already. according TO Mary f. Dreier,
OF the Women's Trade Union League,
application for special privileges has
been made by hat manufacturer who
hasa small factory in Brooklyn.
Plea for Young Girls
In the second bill social workers see
an opening for cannery operators. Miss
Drcier and Miss Frances Perkins, exec
utive secretary Of the Committee Of
Safety. declared that the idea Of farm
ers extending welcome 10 twelve
year-old farmhands was ridiculous.
The only agricultural pursuit that
would be open 20 the EARNED out
children. they said, would be IN the
canneries.
George A. Hall, ex-secretary Of the
New York Child Labor Committee, sent
a protest 90 Albany, urging that the
bin be amended az least so far As 10
raise tho age limit 20 fourteen in the
case Of bows and 20 sixteen m the case
Of girls.
"The great moral danger he said,
"of sending twelve-ycar-old girls among
strangers on farms is obvious to every
one. This cannot be overcome by the
Parents written consent or the general
supervision outlined under the terms
81 Senator Browns bill"
Both bills arc undesirable said
Mas Drcler. industrial history, par
ticulariy the recent experience of Great
Britain which found il was true
economy 90 give even its muniuon
workers their Sundays of. shows that
longer hours curtail output. Great
Britain made the blunder and paid the
cost in human life and in output.
"The bin relating 20 children is fear
ful I'M its possibilities The farmers
don't want boys and girls Of twelve as
laborers L. may be a subterfuge "a
put children 20 work night and day
again IN cannerieS. The children
would be under no supervision ana no
control except that which the farmer
could give. He could employ them as
he saw ht'
Miss Perkins said that she had no
idea about the authorship Of the bills
except that 70 appeared doubtful TO her
that the idea originated with Senator
Brown.
Il cant believe" she asserted. that
Mr. Brown sat down and wrote them
out himself he is not quite such a
sinister old man ne isn't. really"
THE bills leave the door wide open
FOR exploitation az time when the
temptation viii be greatest she said.
"ard the bills. ! fear, will just be rail
roadcd through"
n they are, their opponents are pre-
pared 60 take the fight to the Gov
ernor 10 an attempt 10 obtain his veto.
Among the organizations opposed 20
tho measures are the national and state
Child Labor Committees. the Womcn's
Trade Union League. the Consumers
League the Young Womcn's Christian
Association. the Central Labor Union
and the Central Fed sratlon Of Labor
Fire Record