New-York tribune., 1922-12-01
The Children's Law

The Children's Law
The Congress Of the United States,
not much given 10 making Chris mas
presents, has the opportunity this
year Of doing sorething for the
children Of America worth many
presents. That Is 20 approve the
child labor amendment 20 the Fed
lral Constitution, thereby submitting
it to the several states Tor ratiiica-
t,on.
Amcricans. as d people, ere 20 lar
ron 70 the childrcn'5 cause that the
10 not realize how much remains TO
be done and how urgent is the need
os this grant Of power 70 the na-
tional government. For instance:
In Georgia, twclve-year-old de-
pendent children may still be worked
zen hours a day, sixty hours a week,
in woolqn and cotton mills, and from
sunrise 70 sunset IN ether factorics.
Children Of fourteen and one-half
years mag be w9rked al night.
In Rhode Island factory children
under sixteen years may be worked
zen hours q day; in Kew Hampshire
Ten and onc-quarter hours; in Michi-
gan, az fifteen years, ten hours o
day.
In Minnesota and Michigan, chill
dren Of fourteen may be worked in
mines and at any age ia quarrics.
These arc among the more laggard
Jaws. There arc, in all, twenty
eight states which in one respect OF
another fall below the moderate
standard ser. by the last Federal
child labor act, that Of 1918. This
.aw prohibited the employment Of
children Under fourteen years ia
mills. factories, canneries; Of those
under sixteen years in mines and
qusrries. Il prohibited night work
and provided an eight-hour day for
children under sixteen years in mills,
factories and cGnneries. The aim Of
the statute was simply 70 follow
sound, average practice.
The need Of the constitutional
amendment comes from the fact that
this Federal law was, in May last,
declared unconstitutional. A pre-
ceding Federal act. written upon a
different theory, had previously been
declared unconstitutional Thus, the
hands Of Congress we're effectively
lied and the need arose to grant 20
Congress q broad authority touching
ne protection Of children. A join.
resolution proposing such an amend
ment was introduced in the Senate
and is now in committee. The amend
ment reads as follows:
"The Congress shall have power 70
limit or prohibit the labor Of per-
sons under eighteen years Of age,
and power Is also reserved 20 the
several states 70 limit or prohibit
sueh labor in any way which does
not leslen any limitation Of such
labor or the extent OF any prohibi-
tion thereof by Congress. The power
vested in the Congress b. this ard-
Gle shall be additional to and not q
limitation on tho powers elsewhere
vested In the Congress hby the Con
,titution with respect 20 such labor"
Much care has been given to the
drafting Of this amendment. It's
language Is now before the best legal
minds Of Congress. Amending the
Constitution is never light task;
but the sentiment Of the country IS
n overwhelmingly in favor Of such a
tep. Both parties have advocated
-. The President is known to be a
stanch friend Of is policy. Even in
q short session, cannot room be
found TO consider this resolution,
perfect is language, If necessary,
and send the amendment on its
course? Many months must elapse
before the necessary states can
.atify Il. Thereafter Congress will
have 10 frame an act and pass it.
Surely, there is urgent occasion
for enactment forthwith. The ques-
ion could not arise at a better sea-
son Of the year, and seldom does a
Congress have the chance 70 do q
L.4t,r TarI