The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-14
Board Of Control Will Have TO Give Its
Employees The Benefit Of The Act.
OPINION or THE SOLICITOR
Given in Response TO n Letter Ad-
dressed to Him by the President of
the Board-- High and Training
school Committee to Inquire Into
the Necessity of Changing the ses-
sion at the High schOoi--Other
Busiucss.

NOleu I1OSl OI tnelT TIME 10 ulScuSSllb
the recently passed law regulating the
hours of workmen employed by munic-
ipal and state corporations. President
T. ]. Jennings appealed to the boards
solicitor, Hon. II. A. Knapp for an
opinion on the law as 1t effects the
four men (and others who are not
employed directly by the board) and
the presidents letter with Judge
knapp's response were read last night.
Probably the outcome of the greatest
local interest, however, is the fact
that the one long session now in vogue
at the high school is in danger of a
change to the old system of two short
sessions. Aside from these the meet
ing was ineventful.
President Jennings was in the chair
and in the absence of Secretary Fell
lows, the board elected Mr.. Schriefer as
temporary chronicler. The president
announced that there was $1,000 in out
standing bonds on the market and on
motion of Mr.. Wormser the finance
committee was instructed to purchase
the same.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
Mr.. Gibbons wanted it understood
publicly that the board Is making a
regular business. of buying up the
bonds. President Jennings informed
the teachers committee that Miss Dur
kin had resigned from No. 16 building.
on motion of Mr.. Notz the superin-
tendent was instructed to furnish all
the new buildings with those little
brass things which fill up the corners
of steps, so that the janitor can cap
ture the dust more easily. The plates
cost fifty cents per dozen. After this
came the High school business.
Mr.. Gibbons, in characteristic
speech, started the ball. He said that
he and a half-dozen other members of
the board in an unofficial session had
decided that the session as now con-
stituted-from S.45 a. m. to 1.30 p. m.-
was too long; that it hurt the health of
the children. He had heard several
physicians point out the dangers of
such system and moved that the matter
be referred to the High and Training
school committee. Mr.. Davis seconded
the motion and Mr.. Wormser served
notice that he was not in favor of a
change, but was willing that the COM
mittee should look into the matter. He
| referred the board to the fact that the
system was copied after cities much
| older in years and eXperience-Wor-
cester, Cambridge, Springfield, and
Washington being among the number.
And" referring to Mr.. Gibbons re-
marks, "you must remember that at
the High school there are no children"
with emphasis on children"
Mr.. Walsh was in favor of a change.
He suggested that the committee visit
the High school some time when the
school is in session and ascertain the
opinion of the pupils on the question.
Mr.. Notz thought this a good idea and
suggested that a vote be taken. The
committee Will do this.
EIGHT HOUR QUESTION.
The meeting was about to adjourn
when President Jennings introduced
the eight-hour matter. He first read
letter which he had submitted to
Solicitor Knapp. 1t was:
Hon. Henry A. Knapp.
Dear Sir: At the last session OF the
| legislature an act was passed regulatr g
| the employment of mechanics and labor
ers by the several municipal corpora
tions of the state. For my guidance in
the signing of warrants and to lay the
information before the board OF control.
l beg leave to submit to you whether the
| 1OllOWlnS persons are, III your OPINION,
within the scope of the act:
/. All those employed directly by the
school district in the capacity of janitors,
carpenters and laborers, whether paid oy
the day or month.
2. Workmen employed by business
firms, contractors and others, doing re-
pair work, etc, throughout the district
under the direction of the board of con-
troll.
g. Workmen engaged in the contruc-
tion of new buildings and other work
under contract whether at the MILL fac
tory or on the premises.
(Signed) T. j. Jennings.
To this letter Solicitor Knapp made
the following reply:
T. j. Jennings,
President Board of Control
Dear Sir: ! have your favor bearing
date Sept. 10, asking in relation to the act
of assembly, recently passed by the leg
islatUre of Pennsylvania, regulating the
employment of mechanics and laborers
by the several municipal corporations OF
the state, and particularly inqurinG
whether the following persons are within
the scope of the said act, to witt
/ have examined the act in question, and
in regard to the first of the above men
toned classes of persons, L am of th'
opinion that the act does not embrac,
jantors, employed by the month. But,
think, it does embrace carpenters and la
borers employed by the board and paiC
by the day.
AS to the two other classes mentioned
in your inquiry, that is workmen EN-
: ployed by Others but doing repair work o.
engaged in the construction of building
, for the district. l find they are within
, the letter of the act. But l cannot regarc
the act as intending to place upon tn
board or other municipality the respon
I sibility of regulating the employment O
2 mechanics and workmen employed b,
= contractors and others, even though sucl
persons may be engaged upon the con
struction of school buildings or othe
buildings for such municipality.
This view of the act Is confirmed by tn
5 fourth section, which provides a penalt
2 against the person or persons employing
r such labor contrary to the term of tn
act, and contracting with the state or an
municipal corporation thereof.
/ think the true construction of the ac
= would hold the school district responsb.
= for violation OF the act aron its part an
Z | outside Independent contractors respon
sible for violation of the act upon thei
part, but would not hold the school dis
trict responsible for the violation OF tn
act upon the part of outside independen
: firms and corporations
Trusting my meaning is clear, remain
H. A. Knapp.
MR. GIBBONS MOTION.
Mr.. Gibbons moved that the matte
< be sent to committee. This was fol
| lowed by remarks from several gentle
men, Mr.. Francois suggesting that M
Harvey, the boards superintendent {
repairs, be asked 10 give a list of tn
employees to the committee and also III
additional amount that the board wi