Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11
CITY Child LABOR
| LAWS CONDEMNED
Agencies Council Told Acts
/ in Effect Here Fail to
[ Give Protection.

The Washington Council Of Socia
Agencies yesterday afternoon at {
meeting in the Burlington Hote
adopted resolution to refer the ques
ton of child labor laws in the District
to its children's committee, Mrs
Whitman Cross chairman, to see what
can be done toward more rigidly en-
forcing such laws in the District. The
committee also was authorized to con
fsider other means of checking up on
working minors.
The adoption of the resolution fol
lowed an address by Miss Fay L.
Bentley director of the department OF
attendance and work permits of the
public schools in the District, who
charged that the local child labor laws
are not up TO the standard set in
various States. and that there is no
adequate provision for enforcing them
What Washington should do regard
ing the governing of child labor
greatly outweighs what it does, she
declared, adding that little legal pro
lection is afforded by the Anticipated
laws in operation.
Under the existing law requiring
minors between the ages of IA and 16
years of age to get special certificates
30 obtain regular employment only ass
certificates were issued in 1926, she
said, while many more than that mum
her of children between those ages
were working.
Many Physical Defects.
The speaker also deplored the fact
that 81 per cent of those applying for
permits had temporary physical de-
fects which had to be overcome be-
fore they could be issued anything but
temporary permit, she said. Nearly
all of the physical defects, however,
were overcome by treatment.
Criticism of the law governing the
performing of local children on the
stage was made at the meeting when
Miss Bentley declared that under the
law the District Commissioners can
issue permits as they see fit for chill
dren of all ages to perform. Miss
Bentley explained, however that the
children travelling with theatrical com
panies are governed by the laws of
the State from which they come.
Violations of the existing law for
bidding children under Ia years of age
to work during school hours and at
night on the streets brought forth
general expressions Of criticism from
council delegates after various alleged
flaws in the present District law were
aired by Miss Bentley.
Blames Lack of Inspection.
Among the principal things blamed
by Miss Bentley for the lack of en-
forcement of the laws are the lack
of any provision for regular inspec-
tions by her department to see that
the laws are being enforced and the
lack of law requiring employers to
return work permits to the authorities
when a child's period of employment
tn an establishment has been termi-
mated. The lack of the latter regula-
tion, which is in force elsewhere, she
said, enables a child to take his per-
init and get a position where he
chooses without the department being
able to check on the new work to see
Sc it comes within the work limit for
minors 16 years of age and under.
She added that all modern child labor
laws require that th4 permit be issued
TO the employer, and that he return it
when he ceases to employ the child in
question.
Child labor was, defended, with
limitations, by j. w. Sanford, chief
probation officer Of the Juvenile Court,
who declared that work often keeps
them out of trouble. He spoke espe-
cially in favor of children being en-
abled to work during the Summer va
cation period.
The councils special committee Of
eleven, appointed to work out the de-
tails of program of extensive im-
provements in health facilities to be
sought by the council, will submit es
Inmates of cost figures for the ap
proval of a general committee com
posed of the advisory council of the
agencies council and delegates from
civic groups, trade bodies and health
agencies, at a meeting in the Bur
Yington Hotel today.