Evening star., 1932-03-01
COMMITTEE HEARS
DEBATE ON BILL
FOR CHILD ACTORS
Amendment Discussed at
Meeting of School Boards
Legislative Group.
WASHINGTON THEATERS
y PRESENT SPOKESMAN
Stephen E. Cochran DenounceS
Earl Carroll in Defending
People of Stage.

The proposed amendment to the child
labor law permitting minors to appear
in theatrical productions was debated
pro and con before a committee of the
Board of Education yesterday.
Miss Fay L. Bentley, director of school
attendance and work permits in the
public schools, does not believe the
Board of Education could judge, within
the allowed 48 hours, whether child
actors health and moral welfare are
being guarded or whether the play In
which he is appearing Is Of good char
acter.
She expressed this view at the meet
ing CT the School Boards Legislative
Committee at the Franklin School Ad-
ministration Building yesterday at the
hearing on the proposed amendment.
Cochran Backs Bill.
During the two-hour hearing the
committee, headed by Henry Glligan,
heard Stephen E. Cochran, manager of
the National Theater and chief pro-
ponent Of the amendment introduced
by Chairman Norton of the House Dis
trict Committee and Chairman Capper
of the Senate District Committee. At
the close of the hearing, however, the
committee had taken no action.
Miss Bentley was the first speaker
She reviewed the provisions of the
child labor measure, pointing out that
under it a 16-year-old child may be
"gainfully' employed until 7 pm.
"GainfuT' employment. she explained,
is work done for the profit "of some
body" whether the working child Is
actually paid or not. She said the Fox
Theater, which operates dancing
school, was refused permission to pre-
sent its pupils in recital because 1t
was planning to charge admission.
George Whitwell, member of the
School Board, asked Miss Bentley
whether the proposed amendment could
be practically enforced by the School
Board.
Gould the School Board" ,Mr Whit
well asked, within a period of 4s
hours, satisfy itself that the religious
and educational and health welfare Of
a child actor are being adequately pro-
vided for?"
"It would be utterly impossible, in
my opinion" Miss Bentley replied.
Furthermore, it would be impossible
for this board to say whether the moral
character of the play is suitable for
children, because it would have no op-
portunity to see the performance, and
the play could not be presented until
the board had given its permission"
Advance Scripts Offered.
Mr.. Cochran answered Miss Bentley's
added objection with the explanation
that manuscripts of every play having
child performers would be placed with
the Board of Education six month
ahead of time"
In his address, Mr. Cochran pleaded
that the entire theater not be penalized
because of the conduct of such persons
"as Earl Carroll
The theater as whole he declared,
should not be judged by Earl Carroll
standards. THE majority of the people
OF the theater are just as moral and
just as good citizens as the people from
any other walk of life" he said, their
handicap being that they are contin-
ually in the public eye and the press
Is quick to point out their faults be-
cause 1t makes good news"
So far the amendment has been ap-
proved. Mr.. Cochran told the commit
tee, by DR.. Abram Simon, president of
the Board of Education and a promi-
nent Jewish rabbi; Rev. Francis j.
Hurney. pastor Of the Catholic Church
of the Immaculate Conception, and
Rev. James Shera Montgomery, Metho-
dist. and chaplain of the House of
Representatives. DR.. Montgomery, Mr.
Cochran added, was himself q child
actor at one time
Other approval has been given,
Cochran continued, by the Board of
Trade, the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Association, Central Labor
Union, the Musicians Union and the
Stage Hands Union.
Mr.. Cochran said he was speaking
for himself as well as for L. Stoddard
Taylor of the Belasco Theater, Harry
w. Crull Of the Fox, Carter Barron of
the Palace and Columbia and John
Payette of the Warner Brothers the
aters, which include the Earle and the
METROPOLITAN.