The Holly chieftain., 1923-06-21

reasons for the form Of the constitutional amend
ment adopted
AInasmuch as the congress has twice considered
1t necessary and wise to enact a law for the pro
lection Of the child life of our nation 1t would
seem to be the mature and deliberate Judgment Of
the people that such law would be beneficial.
We must assume that the congress considered that
1t had the power to enact such laws and thought 1t
for the welfare Of the nation to exercise that pow
err But lnasmuch as the Supreme court Of the
United States, in Hammer v. Dagenhart and Bailey
" Drexel Furniture co. decided that the congress
under the existing Constitution did not have that
power, 1t is proposed to confer or delegate that
power by way of proposed amendment
First It cannot be questioned but that it is a
paramount duty Of government to guard and pro-
tect the welfare of Its, children to the end that
they may have the utmost opportunity possible to
attain the maximum development Of their moral
Intellectual, and physical beings This is mani
festly the due of all children since they are
brought into the world without their yolition. en-
tirely helpless and dependent. But this is NOT
alone simple justice to childhood It Is also Of
tne greatest Importance to every state that its
citzens should attain the highest development
above indicated. And 1t may be observed that
whiie under our dual system Of government the
power and duty to make adequate provision bv
law for the Accomplishment of those most Desirable
ends are now vested In the several states. never
theiess 1t Is as Important to the national govern
nenl as 1t is to the government of every STATE
that Its ctizenry be afforded every opportunity for
iesuilnate deVeiopment and that such develop
ment should neither be stunted nor DESTROYED
Herein there lies the Justification for the gov.
ernment. of the United States in asking of tho
states that upon 1t be conferred power concurrent
with their own to egislate upon this natter On
vital 70 both. II the states shall have passed an
propriate laws, 1t is safe to say that any legisla
ton of congress will march side by side with s,,ch
laws. II II state has been unmndfu Of its dntv
then such congressional legislation will WORK No
injury but rather positive benefit to the state
itself as well as to the national government.
Hence your committee reports in favor Of the
submission to the legislatures of the several states
OF some form OF constitutional amendment confer
ring power upon the congress to leglslate upon
the subject
Second. What form shall that proposed amend
ment bear? Unquestionably 1t should take the
form OF n grant of power, and unquestionably the
limitations of that power should be precisely de-
fned Beyond peradventure 1t should contemplate
the future as well as the present. Indisputably
It should be power concurrent with th,t OF the
states, since Its purpose Is not to deprive the
states OF any OF their powers but only to confer
like powers on the national government
still further. 1t will not be questioned but that
that power should be given to CONTROL regulute, or
even to prohibit the use of such labor in all cases
Where the character Of the labor is dangerous In
itsell or may become dangerous through the In.
experience or heedlessness Of childhood; where in
Itself or In its surroundings 1t is detrimental to
the physical or moral welfare Of childhood, or
where 1t is In character too onerous for the grow
Ing bodies of youth. Equally manifest is 1t that
in nll occupations where child labor is permitted.
legislative authority should have n determinative
voice to the terms times. conditions, and en-
vironment Of Its use-such as day and night work,
reasonable hours dangerous machinery, hygienic-
conditions and the like
"These the fundamental considerations
which have controlled the action of this commit
tee It has given painstaking consideration to the
var"ing phraseoogy of the Ave concurrent reso-
lutions set forth herein above and to be found
III ,.rl of llearngss 1t has made extended re-
senrch, INTO the legal and popular meanings Of
words whose use has been recommended. and 1t
has decided to submit the follow Ing the form
Of the proposed constitutional amendment. which
It approves: