Evening star., 1921-04-12
UR GED IN CHILD LABOR
AND SCHOOL BILL FOR DISTRICT
Welfare Experts Insist Measure Must Have
Citizens Full Support When Put
Before Congress- .-.

The proposed child labor and COM
pulsory school education bill was dis
eussed at a meeting of the Washing
ton Council of Social Agencies held
at the Raleigh Hotel yesterday after
noon. The new draft of the. bill was
referred to the executive committee
of the council for further considera-
ton.
This action was taken in order that
a united front might be made by all
those agencies and persons in favor
of such legislation when the bill Is
carried before Congress. The discus
sion developed that the latest draft
of the bill appears somewhat con-
as good a chance of passing Congress
as if it were remodeled.
Mrs. Whitman Cross president of
the council: Walter S. Ufford and
others made a plea for unanimity
upon the vital subject of child labor
and compulsory education for the
District 1t was pointed out that all
are in favor of some such bill and
that it's final success must not be
eopardized by failure of those in
terested to agree upon details.
Bill Must Be Amended.
Evan H. Tucker, representing the
Citizens Relief Association. said that
proponents of the bill will have to
compromise with the general citizen.
and gave it as his opinion that mot a
citizens association would support
the bill in it's present form"
When asked by Miss Marshall OF
the Consumers League upon what
ground the general citizen" of the
District would object, Mr.. Tucker said
that this would be because the bill in
Its present form does not permit chill
dren to work outside school hours.
inc
Associated Charities, pronounced the
bill in it's tentative form to be con,
fused, and expressed the hope that
before it shall be brought before Con
greSs for action every effort be made
to so simplify and moderate certain
of it's provisions that its passage may
be assured. He spoke against 1.-The
idea of intoxicating in the minds OF
boys the theory that decent. healthfu
work outside Of school hours is some
thing to be Stunned until he is six.
teen years old" Mr.. Noyes pointed
out that the bill. as at present drawn
up, will not permit boy. who is in
progress of completing his eighth
grade in school to do any kind of out.
side work, save these arbitrarily Sc.
lected types.
New Bill II Outlined.
Miss Marshall asked Mr.. Ufford tt
outline the new bill. According t.
Mr.. Uford. the new draft of the bill
provides that the compulsory school
attendance age shall be from seven tt
fourteen years, without exception; tn,
present poverty clause" allowins
children to work upon request Of par
ents. is abolished: school census i!
provided, and bureau of school at
tendance and work permits establish
ed. In order to work at fourteen year,
of age. Mr.. Ufford said. the childrer
| must have passed the eigth grade il
| the public schools. must be PHYSICAL.
! fit and both parents and employe!
must submit certain certificates. Va
cation permits to work may be giver
children under the eighth grade, h,
| said.
Miss Lydia Burklin of Friendship
| House declared that the highest grad
| in four school buildings in her neigh
borhood was the sixth grade. Mis-!
| Macarthur, general secretary of tn.
Y. W. c. A, told of an Investigation
she had made which showed tha
| many girls ARE tired of school" ant
i leave before the eighth grade. Mrs
Walter S. Ufford asked that the chile
ibe made to- feel that it's work il
learning"
DR.. John O'Grady Of the ST. Vincen
de Paul Society said the proposed bill