The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-22
Labor Union Officers Say Federal
Contractors Violate It.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ACTING.


Measures hare assz ixxsa by tie West
eru Esrsr2l Labor Eas2z 70 hrias about
eha e1fo<ce<nszz & she FssSsral sszt2ts
rfossrsssnx tie 1assar o. sarsscs OK naen
emcsoys6 o. sosxrrsnsst sSfk for more
ek.an eight aozrs Il ssy c1e Gey- II -
charged by = spxc.as eaznrstsse Assposniss1
% Investigate xAe rsaster ihat The slAzaas
Il beng ysoa2fss soth o. the work a. tao
army post Asd ssso OF tbs Notifications
~ Earroxssose Soiaf-
TIE matter wzs brought 20 the a1seBtso1s
Of the organization a. Ise regular meet
lng Hast Wednesday night rs che report
Of the specsai committee appointed 10 IN
yNftgaie the rumor that contractors on
both the MarTpwstoze Notifications and
the army pos. Al Magnolia bun are vio-
lsting the is~s. Msnfios OF tits rumor
&zs made la the PDst-IEselssgeDcer Two
~seks ago.
sslf the Federal officers Viii not obey
Ghs laws WHO wiz" asked one Of tbs
delegates to the meeting. Il was decided
% continue the Investigations and to pro-
cure eyidence q the alleged lnfraetsons Of
the statute 70 thai q Irst case might be
made In court
The courss OF the Western Central
14abor Unson Ia tbs presear case
81 simply sequence OF sts action in fore
ting Contractor Smart 70 obey the eight
hour city ordinance, which was done by
prosecuting him Ia the municipal court
II ID stated By one u the officers OF the
union thai there wiz be no cessation Of
Interest Ia the efforts Of the union 10
bring about what they maintain 10 lse
. strict compliance with the law On ali
government work within the borders OF
the state
Following IL the text of the act Of
August ]. lisa. governing all work done
- Or for The government of the United
States. watch. IL is alleged. Is not be4ng
cfsseTsss1 By the Contractors:
BE Il sn4cssSs, etc, That the service
ara empBoYms OF AL Iat.orers aud me
csszu.sA WHO are row o. may hereafter be
employed BY the government Of the
HATED States or the District Of Columbia
or ~ any contractor or sub~coniracfor
upoa sng public works OF the United
States or If the sad District % Columbia
IL hereby limited ard restricted 10 eight
tau1s Ia any cne calendar day. And IL
eaAH 10 unlawful fer AIRY officer OF the
Tinted States government; or OF she Dis
tr.c< af Columbia or any contractor or
sst-coatraetor whose duty II saad be 10
"a
such Iaborsgs n mechanics. to require OK
permit any such q saborer or mechanic 20
woso more tfsan sish; hours ia any cases-
dar day. except IN case VI extraordinary
EMERGENCY
ysozAsion Of the law Is made psinlshsh.s
~ nne OF not more than 81 .ese or ins-
pr.ebnment for rot more than s.x rnenfhs
The special COMMITTEES appointed By the
aabsw nfsien visited the Office Of United
Efsfss Attorney Wilson Il Gay week
ago and asked him what steps IL any could
he taken 20 make the contractors on the
eossrnmrrt work Ia this state respect the
Tsderas statute. Mr.. Gay replied that be
wosid look into the case ard that II he
found the law was being violated he
would prosecute the offenders
tt vii t,e observed that the statute. quot
- permits the working Of men longer
thaa eight hours In day ''in case Of ex-
fFxcsfinary emergency" This provision IL
construed by United States Attorney Gay
70 cover the prsseat case. Mr.. Gay sid
YESTERDAY: 81 sm IN favor OF the eight
hour law. ts; II IS clear that this Is a
Gase OF extraordinary emergency. This
Country is at war with q foreign power
Tns war Department haa been tssieges
with appeals from residents OF this state
20 have the foStiiieatloT1s AZ MarYowztore
point rushed 10 completion ard 80 haya
she army Pest az MaEaosia bluff made
ftHsdy Tor the regni3gs. When the matter
OF the alleged .nfraetau OF she law was
broaEht up. she contractors a. West Point
were difs<sed ia rera1i, their men 20 work
eaglgs hours ard no longer. The very next
day there came an order from Washington
directing that the work sh0a.d os> pushed
frsssn ocsock In tbs morning I'll 5 In the
evening ur later 81 f-oss3ble. The work on
the past ard at MaFrowSlone paint is tas-
sng rushed with AZ possible speed by the
ceJaY,fn a course which | am per-
suaded si3i nfset With ths approval OF al.
our citizens. There r. ground for tpeliey-
fDg that II arrests are made aere men
are allowed IS work more than s}g1.
haurs, the work VIII be delayed and the
officers greatly embarrassed in their efforts
60 carry out The Instructions fra,n the d.
rartsnsnt Under such circumstances ,
cssfaa nei s@e that there was any reason
for me 70 act"
1a this argument. the Officers os the
ialssr union reply by saying that the cor
srastofs can work Two shifts cf men nleeiy
~ this time Il year. from Ia the morning
NH $50 or AZ nisht. givtag each sh!f.
esg1t hours work and thus otSserye the
law Tnas the matter stands
s-~s-------.-~----.-l--s~.
NEWS on LABOR UNIONS.