The record-union., 1891-03-16

IUnuer unlS neaQlng the RECORD-UNIO
Will publish short letters from correspondents
on topics of interest to the general public. The
matter IN these communications VIII be un-
derstood to represent only the views of the
writers. All communications must be accom-
panied by the name of the writer, not for pub
lication, unless so desired, but as guarantse Q
OF good faith.-EDS.
SACRAMENTO, March Is, 1891.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: The Governor
says it is claimed by organized bodies of
labor through communication to him,
that the eight-hour law on our statute
books has been evaded, and that if the
failure to enforce the law arises from an
inherent defect in the law itself, he trusts
the Legislature will remedy the same.
The present Legislature has given us a
remedy, but our Governor has seen fit to
veto it, and in our mind his points are
not well taken. The amendment is as
follows mote this clause: "Every con-
tractor or Sub-cOntractor shall agree
therein and thereby, in addition to the
foregoing provisions, not to require or
knowingly permit any person or persons
performing work of any nature towards
the completion of said work specified in
said contract moro than eight hours in
any one day.
Now the word knowingly used in
the foregoing clause to our mind was
overlooked by our worthy Governor. Let
us Imagine the present postotfice build
ing IS to be constructed under the new
law just vetoed. Men start in to break
ground, and after a few days some one
complains that the law is being evaded,
although the laborers on the ground have
worked but eight hours in any one day.
1t is found on investigation that the
shovels used, the picks, derricks and
various other tools too numerous to men
ton, were manufactured by some firm in
the East, which worked its men ten or
more hours in the manufacturing of the
same. By the mode of reasoning used by
the Governor, the contractor or sub-con-
tractor would forfeit all that might be
coming to him as a compensation for
work done.
The contractor can have no knowledge
of how long the lumberman, millman or
lronman may have worked their men,
and, having no knowledge, cannot be
held. The Governors Interpretation of
the law proposed is too tar-reaching and
it was never intended that any such in
depreciation should be put upon it.
Now, what is a Sub-contractor? Web
ster says: One who takes portion of a
contract as, for work, from a principal
contractor. In our opinion, this does not
apply to those furnishing materials, cut
ting of lumber or the manufacturing of
tools. The line must be drawn sonle-
where. In the construction of a'building
the contractor, we will say, will go to
some competent mechanics, such as brick
and Stone-maSons, foundrymen and car
penters, and say: ''What viii you do a
certain amount of such work for2" After
consideration on the part of the sub-con-
tractor, he gives the contractor the
amount or a price that he, the sub-con-
tractor, will perform such specified work
for.
Under the law just vetoed, the sub-con-
tractor would be compelled to work his
men but eight hours in any one day on
this building. Under the present law
the contractor and Sub-contractor both
can and do violate the law.
Again to quote: "The contractor or SUBJ
contractor must not knowingly permit
any person or persons performing any
work of any nature towards completion
work more than eight hours in any one
day" We would ask the Governor what
bearing does the cutting Of lumber, max
ing of brick or furnishing of various
materials that go to the construction of a
building, have on a contract that was
made months, yes years, after such
material was manufactured? And how
could the contractor be held for violation
of the law when the labor may have been
performed at ten or twelve hours per day
on materials that GO into construction of
a building, and perhaps some of said
work was done before the contractor was
born?
The Governor says no law should
be framed to prevent man from work
ing as many hours as he pleases if he OBJ
tains corresponding pay. Again he says:
1T is claimed by organized labor in a
communication to me, that the eight-hour
law is being evaded,' and he trusts that
we will remedy the same. Now take any
number of Government or State en-
ployes, working under the eight-hour
law, and ask them if they are willing to
work double time at double pay. We
venture to say that from their own sell
fishness they would do so, and vet the
Governor would not oppose it. Our State
Printing Office at present has rush of
work, and many of the employees are
compelled to work extra time with extra
pay. Would it not be better to divide
the work with the many idle printers and
other employees seeking employment
thereby driving poverty from the door of
those seeking to earn the necessaries of
life and better their condition.
We quote again: ''It appears to me
that the, eight-hour law, as it stands,
would be etfectual if penalty
were added, or some means de-
vised to compel its enforcement"
The proposed law, in our opinion, gives
us the remedy, wherein it says that in ali
contracts it must be stipulated that this
work must be done at eight hours per
day, and it holds the contractor and sub
contractor, and makes the law binding.
We believe the law vetoed would answer
the purpose, and could not be construed
to the detriment of the contractor, but
would only apply to work done or to be
done Immediately on the premises under
State control.
Let the State set the example and not
be violater of her own laws. We see the
present United States eight-hour law
violated to-day on our present Govern
nent building, with no remedy, and trust
our present Legislature will give us re-
lief.
The principle on which all wage-earn-
ers organize is to shorten their hours of
labor and to better their condition gen
orally.
41gaahp RTTa RH1c, cAvranr, Committee.
Authorized by the Council of Federated
Trades of Sacramento.
GEo. III. MCKAY, President.
SPRING medicine is necessity. You