The New York herald., 1922-10-08
RS. ]. BORDEN HARTMAN.

directors of the National
Consumers League, protests against
the women's equality bill on the
ground that its passage would endan-
ger the special legislation in the favor
of women now in the statute books.
This bill is favored by the National
Woman's Party who ask for it's pas
sage by the Legislatures Of the diff
ferent States and favor a further con-
stitutional amendment to enable Con-
Sress to make it national law.
The object of this legislation is to put
women and men on plane of equality
before the law. It's intention is to give
women all the rights that men have
and, in summary, to remove the word
male from statutes wherever it occurs.
The Legislatures of the States have
the power to pass such bill or bills
now. but Congress has not the power
without further constitutional
amendment.
The situation from legal point of
view Is somewhat likewoman suffrage
before the woman suffrage amendment
to the Federal Constitution. Any State
could permit women to vote on the
same basis as men. Many States did
either by constitutional amendment
or by statute pass woman suffrage laws
But since some States refused to per-
nit women to vote, to make woman
suffrage universal it was necessary to
have an amendment to the United
creed the non-woman suffrage States.
There are States now where the Leg
a islatures have been passing whatever
bills the majority of women seemed to
desire. All States permit women to
vote at primaries and elections the
same as men. Some States permit
women to serve on juries, but few if
any States do not make a distinction
in property rights between women and
men.
Legislation for Women
Increasing in Volume
Ever since 1S4S. when the married
women's property act was passed in
this State, there has been an increas-
ing volume of legislation in favor Of
women. New York has been regarded
as liberal in that regard, although
women jurors have not yet been pro-
vided, but that may come soon.
The labor law the penal law and
the municipal law are filled with pro-
visions which apply to women and do
not apply to men.
Under the municipal law a widow
may obtain a pension for the support
OF her children and she may oven
adopt stepchildren and obtain a pen
sion to enable her to support them in
her own home. There is no similar
provision for a widower to support his
children or to secure pension to en-
ploy a woman to look after them.
Under the labor law no girl under
the age of 16 can be employed at any
occupation which requires constant
standing No girl under IS can be
hired to run a freight or passenger
elevator No woman of any age is al
lowed to work in a mine or quarry.
No woman under 81 may clean ma
chinery in motion. No woman Of any
age may work in factory with emery,
abrasive or buffing wheels for the
baser metals. which produce dust. No
woman under 81 may be conductor or
guard on a surface, elevated or under
ground railroad or deliver messages
for telegraph or messenger company.
Working in a foundry OF at coke
works where there are ovens is for
hidden to women. No mother may be
employed in a factory or store until
after her baby is four weeks old. All
female employees in stores must have
seats at least one seat to every three
employees. In factories where the work
may be done sitting permanent seats
must be provided.
Hours of Work for Girls
Are Strictly Limited
No girl under Is may work over six
days a week or over eight hours a day
or between p. NJ. and A. M. II
over 16 and under 81 the limit in a
factory is fifty-four hours a week, not
over ten hours on any one day, with
no work between 8 p. NJ. and A. M.
IL over 21 the prohibition of night work
is from 10 P. NJ. to 8 A. NJ. in factories.
In stores, except between December
IS and "a inclusive and two days for
stock taking. the working hours are
limited to fifty-four hours a week, not
more than nine hours except one day
and no work from 10 p. NJ. to A. NJ.
An exception to the prohibition of
night work Is made for female writer's
or reporters on newspapers"
Similar provisions limit the working
hours of mattresses in restaurants to
fifty-four hours in six days a week and
no work between 10 p. NJ. and 6 A.
NJ. This does not apply to singers or
performers or cloak room girls or res
taurants run for employees only.
Women are not allowed to run eleva-
tors al night except in hotels. Their
hours are also restricted in railroad
work.
This long list includes only part of
the legislative safeguards against the
overworking OF women, against night
work and includes total prohibition
in certain employments. Other States
nave somewhat similar provisions.
some States many and other States
almost none. They are all the growth
of recent legislation.
The penal law contains Il number
OF provisions which apply only to
women and girls. The age of consent
has gradually been raised from 10 to
16 and is now is years It is no de-