Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-03
HOT FIGHT COMING
ON REVENUE BILLS
CHILD LABOR RIDER
BY THEODORE TELLER

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3o.-The IL
nance committee OF the senate has
written into the war revenue bill
what amounts to a prohibitory tax
upon factories, mines and quarries
employing child labor. This amend
menu, written to meet the supreme
court decision declaring unconStftu-
tional the child labor law forblddlns
interstate commerce privileges 10
the products, OF child labor, runs
counter to the states rights arSa-
mentS of various southern members
of congress and is certain 10 pre-
cipitate a determined fight in both
branches OF congress.
The original child labor law was
opposed by practically all of the
southern congressman, who held that
states alone HAD control OF such
questions. For instance, Represent
alive William Schley Howard, OF AT
lanta, was the only member OF tAe
Georgia delegation voting ToT the
original law. The recent decision OF
the supreme court declared the child
labor law of 1916 unconstitutional.
The case upon which the supreme
court rendered this decision came up
for review from the western district
Of North Carolina. The so-called
Pomerene amendment, which has the
support OF the administration, was
written by senators Pomerene, OF
Ohio; Lenroot, of Wisconsin. and
Kenyon, of Iowa. 1t is known tia;
the vote in the finance committee
was Overwhelmingly IN favor OF the
child labor tax While the vote was
taken in executive session, it IS
generally understood that Senator
simmons. of North Carolina, and SEN
atOr Hoke Smith, of Georgia, one OF
the ranking Democrats, were among
the few voting against the Pomerenc
rider Both of these senators have
opposed federal child labor legisla-
ton on the ground that it was a
states and not by the federal gov
eminent The substance of the
amendment is carried below.
Postage Changes Favored
Another angle to the revenue sit
uaJion was furnished today when
the finance committee voted TO re-
peal the existing zone system" rates
on second-class mail matter. The in
creased rates on newspapers and pc
riodicals have been Particular,
sponsored by Representative Claude
Kitchen, chairman OF the ways and
means committee of the house, and
Postmaster General BurleSon. Mr.
Kitchen has claimed that much of
the criticism directed at him by
metropolitan newspapers and maya
zines was because of his Stanch
advocacy of these zone rates. When
the revenue bill goes TO conference
q lively fight is in prospect. because
the house has backed up Representa-
tive Kitchen on several occasions
when 1t was proposed that the zone
rates be abolished.
Newspapers and IN a n n s
throughout the country have fought
for months for u repeal OF the zone
system law, or some modification OF
the high postage, rates placed upon
second-class mail matter. Virtual
restoration OF the old rates is pro-
posed by the senate committee
amendment which would place rate
of one cent per pound on second
class mail matter circulating within
"a radius of 200 miles from office Of
publication and q rate of only 1 IL
cents per pound on mail matter go
ing outside of the 200-mile limits.
The senate committee also voted TO
restore two-cent letter postage be-
ginning July / next. Postal cards
same GATE to the, one-cent rate.
The amendments relating to child
labor and zone system rates would
go into eftecr With the signing of
the revenue bill. The lower postage
rates on letters and postal cards are
to become effective with the begin
ming of the new fiscal year
Bank Check Tax Cut Out
Chairman Simmons and Senator
Hoke Smith have succeeded in elm
Audt4ilE LIOIu the revenue DlAI The TAX
on bank checks, tentatively voted by
the senate committee several weeks
ago. They opposed this veXatious
tax from the start, and as the COM
mittee concluded consideration OF
the bill it was cut out.
Devotees OF the motion picture in
Georgia viii have interest in anOth-
er amendment written into the bill
by the senate committee The senate
committee reduced to 10 per cent
the proposed tax of 20 per cent car
ried in the house bill on moving
picture theater tickets. 1t also cut
in half the house bill proposal for
10 per cent tax on the revenue Of
motion picture films, all of which
means cheaper movies"
Ponerene Amendment
The Pomerene amendment child
labor law which is intended to tax
out of existence all factories and
manufacturing establishments using
the service of young children, reads
substantially as follows:
THAT every person (other than a
bona tide boys or girls canning club
recognized by the agricultural de-
partment Of a state and of the Unit
ed States) operating (a) any mine
or quarry situated within the United
States in which children under the
age of sixteen years have been en-