Evening journal., 1919-06-14
Delegates TELL OF
new WELFARE LAWS
{. "A. Hagner and Miss Pal
mer, Inspectors, Return
from Convention
ENFORCE FEDERAL
CHILD LABOR LAW

Charles A. Hagner. State Child Labor
Inspector, and Miss NJ. Edna Palmer.
OF the Women's Division OF the Labor
Commission OF Delaware, have return
ed from the conference OF the Assocla-
tion Of Governmental Labor officials
OF the United States and Canada. held
at Madison, Wisconsin. June ,, 3 and 4.
The conference was attended by more
than 100 delegates from thirty states.
Alaska and Canada. and was addressed
at the opening session by Governor +.
NJ. Phillips. OF Wisconsin. who assured
the delegates OF his hearty support in
the work coming under their supervi-
sion during the present reconstruction
period. As an evidence OF the desire OF
the people or Wisconsin 90 maintain
high labor standards. practically an la
Dor legislation presented has been
passed by the Legislature, which is
now in session.
Reports Of states and provinces on
new legislation brought out the infor-
nation that in a majority OF States la
Dor standards have been raised.
Lengthy discussions on the need OF
safeguarding mife and limb OF en-
ployes by placing safety devices on ma
chinery were entered into. One dele
gate recited a particular instance OF "a
manufacturing establishment where in
The year 1917 employees suffered the loss
OF twenty fingers while operating haz-
ardous machinery This particular con-
Germ was induced at the beginning OF
1918 TO place safety devices upon its
machines, with the result that since
January 1919. up TO the present time.
period OF eighteen months. no acct
dents OF the nature referred 90 above
have been reported. The saving 90 this
company in money and man power is
apparent.
The subject OF children in industry
received the close attention Of tho con-
ference. With the closing OF the worlds
war. IL was urged. Whatever reasons
might previously have been advanced
fayorlng children leaving their school
duties 20 engage in industry must now
be abandoned For the safety Of fu-
ture citizenship. IL is necessary that
children be retained in school 20 ac-
quire all the educational advantages
made possible by our different com
munitles, the delegates c0ntended.
During the past four years the num-
Der Of children throughout the coun-
try who abandoned their school books
10 enter the labor world was alarm
ingly large. Close Investigation has
proved that the children derived but
little benefit from their working efforts.
in some localities children changed
their places Of employment as often as
fifteen times within year
An interesting address was given by
Miss Mia +. Allen. head Of Child Labor
Tax Division. Internal Revenue Depart
ment OF the Treasury Department. Mis-.
Allen declared that as the above nam
cd law was a purely revenue act. Il
was the intention Of the Revenue De.
partment 90 enforce the provisions OF
the law 10 the letter The law pro-
hibits the employment Of children be-
tween the ages Of "a and i6 years in
industry more than eight hours I'm any
day and more than forty-eight hours
in any week.
At the close OF the session resolu-
ton was adopted calling upon the
States 10 repeal any clause in their
Child Labor laws permitting children
who have not completed the cduca-
tional requirements. or who have not
attained the prescribed legal age. 10 Sc
cure special permits. The aboye-named
clause is generally known as the pow
crty clause. The opinion OF the con
ference was that the issuance OF such
a permit defeats the purposes OF the
Child Labor Law.