Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-07-21
. tienartnlent

fundeF which *thes. federal government
would be able to prevent child labor
Immediately after the supreme court
heldythe prestnt ehfld ,ebor law un
constitutional. the President, 1t is un
derstood was inclined to ask the con
gress to move at once In the direction
of an amendment
But further .oonsi6 Grafton of the sub
ject by the President and the mem
bers Of his cabinet have led them
to the view that the administration
1nstead of asking the congress to
propose an amendment to the Constitu-
ton, shehlfll give MS support to a
final effort to obtain effective laws in
child protection IN all the states.
Most Of the state legislatures will, II
Is pointed. out, meet next January and
the legislatures of nearly all the states
that do not have. effective child labor
laws win Be among those that meet.
1t Is not the purpose of the federal
admins Erations 1t was, said today, to
undertake to dictate to states, but the
influence of the administration will
be exerted In favor of state action
where 1t has not already been taken.
State Action Preferred.
If after next years round of legisla-
lures states that, have been SLOW to
proceed against Tie evil of child labor
have not taken the forward step, the
ADMINISTRATION Will undoubtedly sug-
gest that the congress propose an
amendment to the federal Constitution.
The Harding administration is not in.
clined to have the federal government
undertake to do things for the states
which obviously the states might wen
do for themselves.
Anal ority of the states, the De-
partment of Commerce points out,
have forward-lookihg land effective
child labor laws. Other states have
laws ON the subject that go part of the
way, and then there is a minority that
has not done anything on the subject
According to the last census there are
some 26O00,000 children in the United
States between five and sixteen years
of age. The use of child labor accord
ing to the childrens bureau in the
Department of Commerce, probably
affects adversely about 100000 chill
dfen. 81 81. IA. ne.a.l.
| The decision of President Harding
not to send a message to the congress-
at this time asking that a constitutions
al amendment be proposed does not
mean that some senator or representa-
tive may not champion a resolution
Tor an amendment. but with the .ad-
ministration committed to the policy
of giving the. states. that have not
acted chaneeE to do their duty be-
fore looking to the congress, there is
small probability of this congress vot-
ing to submit an amendment
Five Millions Paid to Colombia.
The Treasury department has for
warded a S5,OO00O0 check to tile
Republic of Colombia. This
the first of the five equal money pay
ments which this government will
make in settlement of the difference
between the United States of America
and the Republic of Colombia, arising
out of the events which took place Oh
I the lsthinus of Panama in November,
1903. With the payment of the entire
$25,OOO,OOO, the taking of Panama"
in order that the United States might
have right of way for n canal will
become matter of history.
The treaty between the United
States and Colombia, which was ne
gotiated in April, 1914, but not ratified
by the United States until last Octo-
Der, provides that the $25,000,000 ill.,
demnity shall be paid in five equal In.
| stalments, the first of these to be paid
| within six months after the exchange
| of Publications of the treaty. The con.
gress appropriated the money for the
first payment in deficiency bill which
was approved March 20. COLOMBIA will
receive S5.000.0OO annually for the next
| four years. 1t Is agreed in the treaty
that all the misunderstanding grow
ing out of political events In Panama
in November, 1903" are now removed.
The State department already notes
a better feeling in Central America
and In South America toward the
United States since the treaty between
this government and Colombia took
effect From 1903 Until the date of
the ratification of the treaty by the
United States senate there was an in
clination throughout the Central and
South American countries to doubt
whether the United States could al
ways be trusted. This feeling of mis-
trust it is asserted, has disappeared.
I Charles Evans Hughes, secretary Of
state, whose influence undoubtedly had
| much to do with the ratification of the
treaty making amends to Colombia, has
| additional plans for bringing the Unit.
ed States into closer relationship with
the governments of Central and South
America. Provided the congress au-
thorizes the necessary expenditure of
/ money, Secretary Hughes will visit the