The most important child-labor legislation in recent years was the enactment of the long debated national child-labor law (passed in August, 1916).  This prohibits the interstate shipment of goods produced in factories wherein any child has, within thirty days, been employed under unfavorable conditions as to hours and time of work as specified in the act.  The passage of this act was the culmination of years of efforts in and out of Congress.

Child-labor legislation viewed as a merely negative policy is not of great moment.  Its real significance is to be judged only in connection with the broader social policy of protecting and developing all of the children of the nation to be healthy, intelligent, moral, and efficient citizens.  Children growing into blighted and ignorant manhood and womanhood are threats to society.

Sec. 6. #Limitations of the working day for women#.  But little later than the limitation of child-labor usually comes some legislation to limit the hours and conditions of employment of women.  The grounds of this policy are that women likewise are less able than men to protect themselves in the labor contract, that they are physically weak and are peculiarly exposed to certain dangers to health, that as future mothers they need protection for their own and the public welfare, and that in the period of maternity the dangers are especially great.  The work of women in factories operates in some ways to depress the wages of men, and it is harmful in its effects upon the home and family life.  At present five states limit the hours of women to 8 a day, twelve to 9 a day, fifteen to 19 a day, four to 11 or less a day.  A number of states forbid the work of women in designated places of work such as saloons, mines, or where constant standing is required.  Only as late as 1911, in America, has legislation, now in four states, given maternity protection, as is now more fully provided in European countries in connection with systems of health insurance.

In all of the great industrial countries of Europe night work by women is restricted (prohibited between 10 P.M. and 5 A.M. or yet more narrowly limited); but legislation along this line is found in only eight American states.

Sec. 7. #Limitations of the working day for men#.  The general assumption made in law has been that the adult male worker is competent to judge of the working conditions, hours of labor, and wages, and is capable of protecting his own interests sufficiently by his power of refusal to accept employment.  The legislatures have, much more tardily than in their legislation for children and for women, acted contrary to this assumption, but, when this has been done, the courts in America have vigorously asserted the general doctrine and denied the constitutionality of the laws.  However, some exceptions were made in legislation, and, after much apparent hesitation and vacillation, were allowed by, the courts to stand, and these have now grown in number until they form an impressive total.