Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-26

midnight. he only worked six hours in one
calendar day. Being relieved at o'clock
the next morning. when the calendar day
was but six hours old, it was evident that
the law had not been violated. 1t was
plainly case in " hich the man worked
twelve hours continuously but the law de-
cided that he had legally only worked six.
OF course, We understand that this was
accomplished by heaving six-hour chunk
of time over the calendar line into the next
day.
Another Technically.
But the conditions were different with the
other employee. He had worked twelve hours
continuously in one calendar day. having
been employed from am to pm. 1t was
supposed to be a clear case, when the unex-
pected came. They could not positively &C.
termine the legal gender of an engineer
The serious question was. whether he should
be designated mechanic or laborer, as the
law provides shall be done. Worcester and
Webster were consulted, but their defini-
lions were too vague and indefinite. 1t was,
however. concluded that an engineer was
neither mechanic nor laborer. Evidently,
not being OF the professions or gentleman
OF leisure, he remains human nondescript.
OF course, not being a creature in law, the
committee had no case.
Attention was then given to the laborers
employed in driving piles. The committee
succeeded in becoming intimately acquaint-
ed with several of them, as this was legal
the matter was submitted to the grand jury.
and these gentlemen concluded that It was
a case of extraordinary emergency and re-
fused to ind;ct. We have never been inform
ed of the evidence from which the jury con-
cluded, whether it was because of the opin-
ion of the pile drivers or the apprehension
that some time in the remote future a rise
of the river would inundate the flats and
consequently 1t was necessary to work long
hours and shatter the statute in anticipation
Of an emergency.
The Contractor Not Found.
Another case was that of the California
Dredging Company, which had contracted to
dredge the Potomac channel anywhere from
the Long bridge to the arsenal This was
thought to be another good case. These
employees were worked twelve hours. The
crews were largely composed of just-landed
Swedes. and 1t was presumed that the con-
tractor employed such help because the
average Swede in Sweden has not a very
extensive knowledge of the national eight
hour Law.
After much labor sufficient evidence was
secured to prosecute, and the slow and COM
pick legal machine was put in motion A
Mr.. c. w. Cats was the contractor, the
only party liable Mr. Cats was a nom
resident, having offices in New York and
San Francisco. OF course it was very neces-
sary to find Mr. Cats and how much time
was devoted to finding HIM is not known. 1t
Is known, however that Mr.. Cats has never
been located. He remained somewhere safe
ly until his contract was completed, and the
case will forever remain in a condition of
legal restfulness.
These are the only two attempts made in
this District to prosecute under this statute,
though there have been many violations of
the law. 1t seems to be very difficult mat
ter to sustain the law. 1t Is strange that
men whose honesty is unquestioned in all
business relations will deliberately violate
this law, which is demonstrated by an ad-
vanced civilization, which, in an honest and
strict application, would make US more of
the man and woman and less Of the over
worked brute. 1t is strange how many ex-
traordinary emergencies arise during the
col struction OF a public building. In many
cases the whole construction is an emer-
gency, and every excuse is made for the vio-
lation of law which does injustice to none
During the coming Congress an effort will
he made to amend the law so that the stat
ute will plainly state what conditions shall
constitute an emergency. This is necessary
to make the law effective and fully accom-
plish the ends for which it was enacted"