Evening star., 1934-06-23
BOYS
SEEN
Publishers and Labor De-
partment Expected to
Strive for Agreement.
BY the Associated Press.

There was belief today that a
compromise may be sought in the con-
troversy over newspaper boys.
After a lengthy hearing yesterday
it was indicated the American News
paper Publishers Association and the
Labor Department might attempt to
reach an agreement.
The publishers generally favor exist
ing code provisions which permit chill
dren of any age to sell or deliver news
papers. The Labor Department wants
a 14-year age minimum, with an ex-
ception for boys between II and IA
now so employed
The hearing was recessed last night
after scores of witnesses we're heard
George Buckley. division administrator
presiding, said the record would be
kept open till July Is for revision and
amendment of speeches and briefs.
Opposes Iron-Clad Rule.
AS summarized by Elisha Hanson
general counsel for the publishers
association, the publishers position.
was that no one iron-clad rule could
be drawn for all the newspapers in
the country. He contended selling and
delivering newspapers was beneficial
testifying:
The average scholarship of news
paper boys is so much higher than
the average for the schools they at
tend that we are inclined to take a
little credit for it,
Newspaper publishers are not
selfish in their attitude on this prob
lem 1t is not commercial PROPOSE
tion. 1t is not child labor by any
stretch of imagination"
The publishers he said. would pre-
fer 10 let the code stay as it Is.
Right Rev Msgr. John L. Belford,
pastor of the Church of the Nativity
in Brooklyn. said children who sell
and deliver newspapers form habits
of industry, of thrift" and help their
families.
ITO take away from them the right
TO earn something just because they
are little. just because they are young
SCCLlo W ICi W OC dAA
fringement OF liberty he said.
Lewis E. Lawes. warden of Sing
Sing. sent telegram saying over SO
per cent of the 1900 prisoners in Sing
Sing had sold newspapers in their
youth. The use of youngsters below
the age of IA in selling newspapers
particularly in cities. Is not conductive
to an elimination of detrimental in
fluences." Lawes said.
NewsbOy Gives Testimony.
An 1l-year-old newspaper boy. who
apoloeized for his weak voice by say
ing his tonsils had been removed last
week told how the proposed amend
ment would take away his job as a
newspaper carrier.
The boy, Graydon Tolson. said he
delivered papers at Bethesda, Md, and
made 81 to $8 a month. He has
bought a bicycle, he said. and has a
savings account, while his marks are
good in school,"
Il am only IL years old and would
hate to lose my route very much, he
said
Walter J. Parker, circulation man.
ager for the Chicago American and
the Chicago Herald Examiner. op-
posed the suggested amendment. say
ing it would cause many boys to lose
their jobs and make them hate your
law"
Its effect" he continued. would
be to make racketeers, buns. boot
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a bunch of boys I'm proud Of"
Another circulation manager. w. j.
Harrison of the Los Angeles Herald
Express. agreed that a change throw
ing newspaper boys from IL to Is out
of work would result in an outbreak
! of crime due to enforced idleness that
would exceed anything this country
has seen"
Would "Federalize" Children.
A social worker in Albany. NJ Y.
Charles j. Tobin, argued that the
suggested amendment would federal
iZe" children.
1t is such attempts ito federalize
and restrict employment of children
that have led people who think to
swing away from the child labor"
constitutional amendment, Tobin said.
He objected also to the child labor
clauses included in other codes. con-
tending that experience with legisla-
tion led him to believe they were
just the entering wedge for complete
Federal control of children and their
work.
j. E. Keck, Sioux City. Iowa. State
Labor Board worker, said his State
forbids children under II to work.
That limit, he asserted, was low
enough.
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