The Washington times., 1895-06-02
DJsTRICT AssEMBLY,

Decoration Day and the hot weather, to-
gether with the uncertainty of having a
meeting, was the cause of very slim
attendance at the regular meeting of the
District Assembly last Thursday evening.
AT the opening hour there being not more
than twenty-five delegates present, the
master workman declared the meeting ad-
journed.
Before adjournment the executive and the
eight honr violations commit ees COM
pared notes.
Iu answer TO letter sent to the En-
gineer Commis sioner, requesting lnTorma-
ton as to whose duty it was to prosecute
violations of the eight-hour law, the
following communication was received:
Office of the Engineer Commissioner,
District OF Columbia
Washington, May 2S, S95.
Mr. Charles ]. Wells, Secretary Eight
hour Committee, X OF l., d. a. 66,
Washington, ID. c.
Dear Sir: In reply to your letter on the
subject OF the eight hour law, / have the
honor to say that in 1913 the Commissioners
requested an opinion from the attorney
for the District, as to whether or not it
was their duty to prosecute District con-
tractors ia case of alleged violations or
this statute, TO which question he replied
as follows:
L have examined the eight-hour law,
and Ii seems TO me to be the duty of the
United States TO prosecute. j would sug-
gest that those laborers who have been
compelled tu work more than eight hours
consult the District Attorney OF the United
States. Very respectfully,
CHARLES F. POWELL,
Engineer Commissioner, d. c.
This opinion was approved by the Com
missionerS aud consequently is guide for
action Of the District officials.
The delegates to the District Assembly
are of the opinion that the decision of the
attorney for the District is not very con-
sistent to say the least of it,
All contractors on District work are re-
quired to sign a contract and give bond
for faithful performance OF all work IN
accordance with the specifications, which
specify the manner in which the work shall
be done and the quality of the material
used. Special attention is called that the
work shall be done strictly in compliance
with the law, that eight hours shall con-
stitute a days work
If the materials used or the work is not
up to the standard, the same is condemned,
aud the contractors held responsible for
violations of contract. The delegates claim
that if il is the duty OF the District
officials TO prosecute contractors for one
violation of the contract, it is certainly
their duty TO prosecute all violations,
and not draw the line when it comes
TO seeing justice done to the man who
does the work, and who is placed in
position, nine cases out of ten, by fol-
lowing the advice of the attorneys Of
the District, would lose his Job, which
would be far worse than the benefits he
would gain, even if successful, which expe-
riences OF the past have proved very doubt
ful-by prosecuting the contractor. Legal
advice viii be sought before proceeding
further with the cases now pending.
Letter was also received from Mr..
Thomas ]. Williams, of Manassas, Va, stat
ing that he was much impressed by reading
the reports Of the District Assembly in
The Times, that he was very desirous of
Joining the order at once. and requested
to be furnished with Information how to
proceed.
The proposed amendment relative to
decrease OF the tax to the District As
sistance fund will be taken up under the
head of unfinished business at the next
meeting, also the report of the Labor Day
celebration committee.