LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

Two young boys working in a dangerous mill

The discovery that nearly 2 million children were doing dangerous work meant for adults caused a movement to get rid of child labor because of the negative effects on the health of children. The Keating-Owen bill outlawed the employment of children under 14 in most facilities (children under 16 in mines) and required the workdays of children under 16 to be less than 8 hours. Although the bill was passed and signed into law, it was ruled unconstitutional because it "overstepped the purpose of the government's powers to regulate interstate commerce." The Child Labor Tax Law was passed later but also found unconstitutional. Though the nation wanted laws against child labor, the Supreme Court's rulings made it impossible. Though a Child Labor Amendment was proposed, it was stalled by opponents' campaigns. In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act was finally passed, passing also the inspection of the Supreme Court in 1941.