Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-08
THE EIGHT-HOUR BILL
Views of District Commissioner Black of q
Pending Measure.
He Claims the Law, IL Enforced. VIII
be Detrimental to Public
Interests.

Should House bill 1885, limiting the
hours of daily service of laborers, work.
men and mechanics employed upon the
public works Of or work done for the
United States, any territory. or the
District of Columbia become law it
would, in the opinion of Capt. Black. the
Engineer Commissioner Of the District put
a stop practically to all work done by the
District
The BILL which has been favorably re-
ported to the House by the committee on
labor. limits and restricts the time of SER
vice of all such laborers, workmen and
mechanics, whether the work be done by
contract or otherwise, to eight hours in
any one calendar day. 1t also provides
that it shall be unlawful for any person
whatsoever. whether officer of the general.
territorial or District governments or any
contractor or subcontractor. to require
or permit more than eight hours of labor
by any Of such workmen on any one cal
endar day. except in cases of extraordinary
emergency caused by fire, flood or danger
to life or property.
The Stipulation.
1t is further provided by the bill that
each and every contract to which the
United States, any territory or the Dis
trict is party, and every contract made
for or on behalf of the United States, or
any territory, or the District, which may
involve the employment of laborers. work.
men or mechanics on any public work,
shall contain stipulation that no laborer.
workman or mechanic in the employ of the
contractor or any subcontractor doing or
contracting to do any part of the work
contemplated by the contract, shall be re-
quired or permitted to work more than
efghs hours in any one calendar day. The
contracts shall include penalty, for each
viola ton of the stipulation directed by the
act, of $40 for each workman. laborer or
mechanic for each and every day in which
he shall labor more than eight hours, and
the person whose duty it shall be to see
the stipulation complied with shall report
to the proper officer all violations. the
amounts of the penalties to be withheld by
such officer or person whose duty it is to
pay the moneys due under the contract.
No one is allowed to remit or rebate any
penalty, unless the penalty was imposed
by reason of error.
A violation of the bill is made a mis-
demeanor, the person guilty thereof being
made subject to fine of not more than
5000. or Imprisonment for not more than
one year, or both fine and Imprisonment.
Denial of Rights.
Speaking of the proposed law to Star
reporter. Capt. Black said that while he
is in sympathy with the eight-hour law, he
believes that every man who desires to
work more than eight hours a day should
have that privilege.
ITO say to a man. remarked Capt.
Black. that he shall not work more hours
when he has the opportunity to do so, and
desires to do SO, is un-American and
tyranny of the worse kind The effect of
this bill. should it become a law, would
be to stop all work done by or for the Dis
trict. We could purchase no materials,
not even lumber, for we would have to be
certain that the men who cut down the
hn
eight hours a day in Telling them. Then,
too. our contractors and subcontractors
would have to follow the material they
use through the various stages of it's man-
ufacture and production, so as to be GER
tain that they are not violating and will
not violate the law
The bill has not yet been sent to the
Commissioners for a report.