The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-28
FARR'S EIGHT-HOUR ACT.
II Regulates the Employment of State
and City Labor and Contract
Work Therein.

Representative Farr's eight-hour bill,
relating to state and municipal work,
was signed on Monday by Governor
Hastings. Organized labor IS much in
terested in this measure, as 1t is re-
garded as good step forward in favor
of the universal eight-hour working
day which is being constantly agitated
and urged as a solution of labor diff
culties by reducing the large army of
unemployed and thus increasing the
demand for labor ond affording more
time for leisure and self-advancement.
The following is the new law:
An act to regulate the hours of mechanics,
workingmen and laborers in the employ
of the state or municipal corporations
therein or otherwise engaged on pubic
works.
Section 1. BE 1t enacted by the senate
and house of representatives OF the COM
monwealth of Pennsylvania in general
assembly met, and it Is hereby enacted
by the authority of the same: That on
and after the passage of this act eight
hours out of the twenty-four of each day
shall make and constitute legal days
work for mechanics, workmen and Ia
borers in the employ of the state or any
municipal corporation, therein or other
wise engaged on public works.
Section 2. This act shall apply to all
mechanics, workingmen and laborers now
or hereafter employed by the state or any
municipal corporation therein, through
it's agents or officers or in the employ
of persons contracting with the state or
said corporation for the performance OF
public work, and in all such employment
none but citizens of the United states
or aliens, who shall have legally de-
clared their intention to become such, who
have been residents of the municipality
in which such work is to be done for six
months next preceding the date of such
employment, shall be employed by the
state or any municipal corporation there
! in, or by any person or persons contract
| tracing with the same, and every con-
| tract hereafter made for the performance
| of public work must comply with the
| requirements of this section. Provided
that nothing in this act shall affect con-
tracts in existence at the time OF the
passage of this act.
Section g. Any officer or officers or
agents of the state or of any municipal
| corporation therein who shall willfully
violate or otherwise evade the provisions
of this act shall be deemed guilty of NAL
! feasance in office, and upon conviction
| thereof may be removed by the COVER
nor, or head of the department, to which
! said officer is attached.
Section 4. Any person or persons con-
| tracing with the state or any municipal
| corporation therein, and any officer or
agent of state or any municipal corpora
tion therein, who shall fail to comply
with or attempt to evade the provisions
of this act. shall, on conviction thereof,
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
be punished by a fine of not exceeding
one thousand dollars.
| Section 5. All acts or parts of acts in
consistent herewith be and the same are
hereby repealed.
The three measures introduced by
Mr.. Farr that reached the governor
have been signed and are now laws
namely: An act appropriating $1,000
for the West Side hospital, an act tc
protect the American flag from insult
and degradation and the eight-houl
law above mentioned.