Evening star., 1920-04-30
CHILD LABOR BILL
UNDER DISCUSSION
Representatives of Consum.
ers' League Appear Before
Senate Subcommittee.

labor bill for the District OF Columbia
was strongly urged upon q subcom
mittee of the Senate District com
mittee today by witnesses appearing
for the Consumers League.
Testimony was given which indicat-
ed that the National Capital. instead
Of leading the country in legislation
hind ether cities and states.
Senator Curtis of Kansas. who in
troduced the bill in the Senate. made
a brief statement at the opening OF
the hearing and laid before the sub
committee a survey OF child labor In
the District made by the industrial
relations committee OF the Inter
church World Movement, in which 1t
was shown that the present child Ia
ler law was inadequate and is not
strictly enforced.
Representative Gard of Ohio. who
has sponsored the bill in the House,
told the committee that he believed
the measure would meet local condi-
tions, and IL any peculiar conditions
were disclosed in the hearings modi-
fications of the bill would be made.
Hearing On Tomorrow.
The hearing on the child labor bill
will be continued tomorrow morning
at o'clock in room $40 OF the Senate
office building, when proponents ot
the measure will conclude their state
ments and those who are opposed
will be given an opportunity to be
heard. Charles ]. Columbus. secre-
tary Of the Merchants and Manu- l.
factursrs' Association. announced tna'
he would present a statement to the
committee tomorrow opposing the
Mrs. Edward p. Costigan. president
Of the Consumers' League Of the Na-
triet, said that the child Should De
the chief concern of the men and
women Of the nation.
"The District ef Columbia child Ia.
Dor law is one of the conservative
child labor laws. in contrast with
those in industrially developed and
progressive states" said Mrs. Elor.
ence Kelley, general secretary OF tne
National Consumers League.
in washington" said Senator Wesley
I. Jones, II have about come to the
conclusion that this city does no,
lead the nation in the matter OF mode
laws. ]. think that the laws here re.
tion. ths '
Mrs. BSoWnlew Speaks.
Mrs, Louis Browniew. wife Of Com
missioner Brownlow. speaktng fol
the children's year committee, de
plored that there is no school censu'
for the District OF Columbia and M
complete records Of children OF schee
Under the proposed law. he said. al
annual school census will be taken o.
ali the children in the District be
tween the ages Of six and eighteen
inclusive. By comparing this censu
with the attendance list of all SCHOOL,
in the District. children not enrolles
attendance officers and properly caret
for, she said.
Miss Pauline Geldmark Of the Dis
trict Consumers League and the New
York child labor committee, explained
the provisions Of the bill in detail
She announced that the Consumers
League would propose an anne ndmen
which would have the effect of ex
! emptiAG boys who carry newspaper
On regular routes.
Julius Garfinkle testified in favor q
the bill. He said he appeared botl
! as . citizen and as an employer. h
lexpressed approval particularly o
ture Of the measure and said that tn
better educated his employees wer
the better employees they made.
Appearing on behalf Of Woodward !
| Lethrop's department store. Louis c
Mayors announced that the firm he rep
resented was in favor Of the bill.
Works Well in New York.
Mrs. J. v. Minor. former chief OF thu
department of work permits In New
York city, said that q law similar Il
the pending hill had worked well II
New York and that she saw no reason
why II should not do 30 In Washington
Mrs H. LaRue Brown. representing
the National League of Woman Voters
told the committee that a resolution
] indorsing the bill had been adopted a
T the national convention of that organ
| ization in Chicago.
! Walter S. Ufford Of the Associated
Charities said he favored the provision
| of the bill which abolishes the ''pov
| erty permit" allowing children to leav'
| school at the age Of twelve in order Il
| work.
| DR.. o'Grady. representing the Nationa
Catholic Council Of Relief. spoke In favo
| Of the proposed law and added that h,
| thought mothers pension law shoult
] he enacted in connection with il.