Evening star., 1923-02-28

This week will decide whether child
labor is to be safsguarded through
federal legislation or to continue to
be exploited In many states, sacrifc-
Ing childhood upon the altar Of pri-
vats greed. Congress has no power
to limit child labor through leEisla.
tson until a constitutional amend
msnt IL passed and ratified by three
fourths OF the states. The proposed
amendment reads
The Congress shall have power
concurrent with the power Of the sew
eral states to limit or prohibit the
labor Of persons under eighteen years
Of age"'f ~. = =.
1t is believed that the amendment
will receive the sanction of Congress
at this session, for attempts have
been made several times to accom-
plish the regulation through legisla-
tion, only to be thwarted by Su-
prsme Court ruling that. until sthe
eral authorities are barred from ,ac-
ton. = ,.e
~ **~+ =
| 1t has been alleged that all the. evil
Of child labor exists in the south and
in the matter it does not concern
other states. That is not fair state
fment. Aside from humanitarian IN
| terest, nationwide business competi-
| tion compels recognition of the prac-
\ tice. South Carolina permits the
working Of children eleven hours a
day. Cotton manufacturers, of the
north cannot compete with that child
abuse unless they also use child labor
manufacturers therefore are estab-
fishing factories in the child sacrifice
region in order to employ children.
| The northerner appears just as con-
scienceless in the matter as does his
southern rival. The law of compe-
only, possible means of saving the
children. Only seventeen states now
| protect childhood; thirty-one permit
Its unlimited exploitation.
x-* Z x
! So far as the District of Columbia
Is concerned. Congress has full state
jurisdiction. and so in 1918 it adopt
ed a law fixing minimum wages for
women in the District at $3.50 a
Iweek.
| Suits have been brought to test that
law as an invasion of the right of
private contract Such suit will
be argued in the United States Su-
preme Court March and is being
watched by the attorneys general OF
all states, for its decision will affect
much legislation in the states.
| X X X X
1t is contended that if wages may
be fixed by law for adults the right
Of private. contract is infringed upon.
Then prices for commodities may also
be controlled by law, regardless of
the natural economic law of supply
and demand. When such legislation
becomes general production will be
artificially 'interfered with, competl-
tion will cease and the reign of
socialism will become absolute.
1t would be impossible to dictate
wages or prices except by backing
that dictation with government
guarantee of sale at the fixed prices
iOtherwise evasions will become the
practice and contempt of law will be
stimulated. The effort to benefit
woman employees in the District by
fixed minimum wages has been OF
doubtful success. for it has resulted
In the discharge of many women
whose services were not worth that
rate. The wages come so near the
pay of men that in many cases en-
ployers have preferred the men at a
higher rate, claiming that 1t was
| economy to pay the higher price for
the more available service.
Whenever women are competent to
earn high wages they have no trou-
BILE to get the pay without the inter
ference or alleged protection of legis-
jIative minimums. Trained workers