New-York tribune., 1918-01-25
Encouraging Child Labor
Bills at Albany to Break Down Pro-
lection Against Exploitation

10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Extensive raids upon the New York
child labor laws have already commenced
at Albany. Enlightened citizenship of tho
Empire State is again afronted by the re
introduction Of the famous~or what many
regard as the infamous Brown war bill
(Scnatc Bill Introduction No. 1l5) designed
to give discretionary authority to the la
dustrial Commission to suspend eny or all
provisions of the labor law in connection
with the manufacture Of any article used
directly OR indirectly in the carrying on Of
the war. This same bill was dsapproved
last spring by Governor Whitman From his
veto message quote the following:
Among the requirements of the present labor
law which the Industrial Commission, with the ap-
proval of the Governor would be empowered to
suspend or modify those relating to the linz
tnions which have been very wisely placed upon
the employment of women. upon the employment
Of minors and the prohibition against the employ
mcnt Of very young children.
or course, it is Of supreme Importance that every
man and woman shall TIC willing to make every
essary sacrifice in this great world in which
our country is to take conspicuous and unself
sh part but If to attain the greatest
measure of efficiency in preparation and in
prosecution of the must not permit peo
pie who are engaged in industrial pursuits to be-
come apprehensivc that the standards erected for
permit our industrial population to have to
feel that the wars burdens and sacrifices may rest
heavily Upon the shoulders those least able
to bear them. To give for such an Impression
would be grave We must do nothing that
will impair the confidence or weaken the loyalty of
the service OF those who engaged in the field and
the factory. We should disregard the errors
of other nations with respect TO the suspension
their labor laws. On the contrary. should profit
by their mistakes.
While we are confident that Governor Whit
man will not approve legislation the effect
of which would be to remove in so sweeping
a way the protection placed around working
women and children, it is important that
public spirited persons should protest
promptly against such reactionary legislation
Last Wednesday two other equally object
ionablc bills introduced in the Assem-
bly, by +. A. Johnson, a Manhattan lawyer.
representing the 10Th District Assembly
bill, Introduction No. ITO. seeks to amend
the education law by abolishing for the
summer PERIOD so far as the education law
controls, the requirement that children be-
tween fourteen and sixteen years Of age must
have working papers TO be lawfully employed
in factories and stores. Doing away with
this piece OF enforcing machinery, in use in
every state in the country in which child
labor laws seriously enforced, would,
if generally followed by officials, break down
two essential safeguards the requirement
that children be given a physical exami-
nation to sec whether they arc able to stand
the strain of industry, and second, the proof
OF ago requirement. The requirement for
working papers ii so eliminated would thus
permit sckly and anamc children going
into factory and mercantile employmcnts
during the hot summer months and, what is
even more serious, the widespread use Of
children under fourteen by accepting the
workers oral statement as to age
The other bill-Assembly Introduction No.
71-proposes to amend The labor law by
providing that for children under sixteen
years Of age all provisions applying to mer-
camille establishments shall be suspended
during the portion of the year when the pub
lie schools no. in session. In its present
form the bill would permit young boys and
girls to work in department stores, telegraph
Offices restaurants, hotels, apartment houses.
theatres, bowling alleys, barber shops or in
connection with any mercantile establish
ment, unlimited hours daily, seven days
week, all night, and in morally hazardous
employments. 1t would also suspend the age
minimum, the requirements regarding the
filing of working papers with employers ana
even the duty OF enforcing these important
protective limitations. Another section Of
the bill seeks in a similar way to remove the
protective features of the newsboy law.
While somthing may be said in favor of
vacation employment in limited way under
careful supervision for children over four
teen years of age, no one having the well
fare of children at heart will contend that
any war emergency up to the present time
can justify complete a breaking down
OF the wise bulwarks which now surround
children in industry as these bills would
accomplish 1t is TO be hoped that the men
and women of New York State will make
known in no uncertain language to their rep
rcsentatives at Albany their feeling that la
Dor standards must not be sacrificed so far
as they relate to women and children, In
stead. shall we not stand shoulder to shoul- |
der with our honored President in the splen-
did position which he has taken when he re-
Gently declared that: GAS the labor situation
created by the war develops am more inter
ested than ever, if that were possible, in
throwing all the safegua rds possible around
the labor of women and children in order
that no intolerable or injurious burden NAV
be placed upon them?
GEORGE A. HALL.
Secretary New York Child Labor Committee
New York. Jan. 25. 1918.
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