Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-01
THE EroHr-HoUR LAW.

THE EIGHT-H0UR LAW.
The Bin 10 Mako It Oper.sivs In the
District Of Columbia.
LIVELY DEBATE on TIE MEASURE IN TEE
HOUSE ON IT 1oDAY-THI BILL GIVING THIRTY
DArs' LEAVE TO BUREAU OF xxaRAvrxo AxD
PRINTING EMPLOYEES PASSED.
Today, by the rule passed by the House day
before yesterday, was given up to bills brought
up BY the committee on labor. Mr.. Tarsney,
as soon as he could obtain the floor, called up
the bill from the Senate providing for thirty
days leave for employees Of the bureau Of en-
craving and printing.
The bill provides that the employees Of the bu-
reau Of engraving and printing, including the
piece workers. shan be allowed leave Of absence
any one year. under such regulations and ct
such time or times - the chief Of the
bureau with the approval Of the Secretary
OF the Treasury, may prescribe and designate:
Provided, That the length Of the leave Of alb
sence OF any employe Of said bureau doing
absence, shall be determined by tho average
amount Of work done by such person and the
pay therefor during the several working months
Of the year.
THE coMM1TTRR's REPORT.
The report from the committee on this bill ID
Of interest. 1t says: The committee on educa-
ton and labor, to which was recommitted the
bill Is. 1859 entitled "a bill to allow thirty
days leave Of absence to employees in the
bureau Of engraving and printing, having had
the same under consideration, report it favor
ably with an amendment, and, as amended,
recommend its passage.
The object Of the bill is to extend the leave Of
absence Of fifteen days now allowed under the
existing laws to the employees in the bureau Of
engraving and printing to thirty days. The
existing law is follows (see Legislative appro-
priation bill March 8, 1880:
The employees Of the bureau Of en-
craving and printing, including piece workers,
shall be allowed leave Of absence with pay not
exceeding fifteen days in any one year, at such
time as the chief Of the bureau may designate.
The proposed act will only place the employees
OF the bureau Of engraving and printing on an
equality with the employees in other depart
ments Of the government, SO far as leave Of abb
sence with pay is concerned
Section 4, q. 8. Statutes-at-Large, vol. "a, PIP.
$50 and 564, approved March 8, 1888, among
other things provides:
That the heads Of departments may by spe-
cial order, stating the reason, further extend or
limit the hours Of service Of any clerk or en-
ploye in their departments, respectively, but in
case Of extension it shall be without additional
compensation, and all absence from the depart
ments on the part Of said clerks or other en-
ployes in excess Of such leave Of absence as may
be granted by the heads thereof, which shall
not exceed thirty days in any one year, except
in case Of sickness, shall be without pay.
The act Of March %, 1890, entitled IAN act
providing for leave Of absence for officers and
employees In the customs service Of the govern
ment who receive per diem compensation"
extended the foregoing provision to all officers
and employees in the customs service OF the
government who receive per diem compensa-
ton.
The act of June 80, 1886, entitled "An act
granting leave OF absence to employees OF the
government printing Office, as amended by the
act OF August 1, 1885, entitled An act to extend
the leave of absence Of employees in the gov
eminent printing Office to thirty days per an
mum, provides that the employees Of the gov
eminent printing Office, whether employed by
the piece or otherwise, shall be allowed leave
of absence with pay not exceeding thirty days
in any one fiscal year.
The chief Of the bureau Of engraving and
printing recommends the passage Of the bill as
a matter Of justice to the employees Of the bu-
reau.
The bill was passed promptly without debate.
THE EIaHT-HoUR LAW.
Mr.. Tarsney then called up the House bill re-
lating to the limitation Of the hours Of daily
service OF laborers and mechanics employed
upon the public works of the United States and
OF the District Of Columbia.
This bill provides that the service and employ
ment Of all laborers and mechanics who are
now or may hereafter be employed by the
government Of the United States, by the
District Of Columbia or by any con-
tractor or subcontractor upon any of the public
works Of the United States or Of the said Dis
trict Of Columbia is hereby limited and re-
stricted to eight hours in any one cal
endar day, and it shall be unlawful
for any officer Of the United States gov
eminent or Of the District Of Columbia or
any such contractor or subcontractor whose
the services of such laborers or mechanics to
require or permit any such laborer or mechanic
to work more than eight hours in any calendar
day except in case Of extraordinary emergency.
Sec. 2. That any officer or agent Of the gov
eminent Of the United States or Of the District
whose duty it shall be to employ. direct or con-
troll any laborer or mechanic employed upon any
Of the public works Of the United States or of the
District of Columbia who shall Intentionally
violate any provision Of this act shall
be deemed guilty Of misdemeanor.
shall. upon conviction, be punished BY
a fine not to exceed 81 900, or by imprisonment
for not less than six months, or by both such
fine and imprisonment, in the discretion Of the
court having Jurisdiction thereof.
Sec. 8. The provisions Of this act shall not be
80 construed as to in any manner apply TO or
affect contractors or subcontractOrs or to limit
the hours Of daily service Of laborers or me-
chanics engaged upon the public works Of the
United States or Of the District of Columbia
for which contract$ have been entered into prior
to the passage Of this act.
WHY THIS BILL WAS NECESSARY.
Mr.. Tarsney gave statement Of the provis-
ions Of the bill and told Of the ineffectiveness
Of the law which had passed in 1858 for
this purpose 1t. was impossible to
law was enacted in good faith this bill should
be passed in order to put that law into effect.
II the law Of 1868 was not necessary it
should be repealed, but in his opinion
the law was called for and needed, and the
House, in justice to itself and in justice to the
working people, should pass the bill, carrying
out the principles laid down by the law Of 1855.
Mr.. Powers (Vermont) thought every labor
ing man should have the right to engage him
self for whatever length Of time he thought at.
This bill would make it impossible to
we're able to work any length Of time they saw
fit. Lawyers worked sixteen hours and the
farmers Of the country would consider 1t an
insult if laws were passed compelling them to
stop work at o'clock. The principle Of the
BILL said Mr.. Powers, was all wrong.
MR.. cHIPMAN ADVOCATES TIE BILL.
Mr.. Chapman thought no man could strip
~ A