The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-24
ENFORCE EIGHT HOUR LAW
Labor Commissioner Warns Public
officers of Violations.

Labor Commissioner Johnson says
that he intends to secure a better en-
forcement of the eight hour law and
with that in mind he has addressed the
following warning letter to officers who
have charge of public work:
To State, County, City, Township
Boards of Regents, School Boards
and other officers in Control of Pub
lie Work and to Contractors. Sub
contractors and other Persons in
Charge of Same, Greeting:
Part of section 3, chapter "a, Session
Laws of 1898, creating bureau of labor
and industry, reads as follows:
Tt shall also be the duty of the COM
missioner of the bureau to cause to be
enforced all laws regulating the en-
ployment of children, minors, and wo-
men; all laws established for the pro-
lection of health, lives and limbs of op-
orators in workshops and factories, on
railroads, and other places. and all
laws enacted for the protection of the
working classes now in force or that
may hereafter be enacted"
1t will be seen by the above section
that, in the enforcement of the labor
laws of the state, no discretionary pow
ers are vested in the commissioner of
this bureau. One of the most import
ant laws in the interest of working
men now in our statutes is chapter
ia, Session Laws of 1891, commonly
known as the "eight-hour law" where
in the state endeavors, on all public
greatest number of 'labOrerS work
men, mechanics or other persons at
the current rate of per diem wages
in the locality where the work is per
formed a right which the state or
any municipality thereof, as an en-
plOyer, may exercise without question.
The numerous complaints of the vio-
IatlOn OF this law that have recently
been made to this office indicate that
the law is being observed very indiffer-
emily, and seem to warrant the issuance
of this notice.
In order that all future bidders and
contractors on public work may be
fully conVersant with the provisions of
this law the commissioner suggests
that all public officers whose duty it
is to issue notices or proposals for bids
on public work insert therein a clause
similar to that Incorporated in all bids
and proposals of like nature by the
secretary of state, which reads as fol-
lows;
1.-THE attention of bidders is called to
chapter ia of the Session Laws of 1891
which they are expected to comply
with This is known as the eight-hour
law
However, the absence of the above
clause in bids for existing contracts in
no way lessons the responsibility of the
parties to the same, or releases them
from the provisions of the law.
That the officers letting such public
work, or in charge of the same as
well as contractors and other persons
connected Herewith, are equally re-
sponsible under this law, is evidenced
by section 3 of chapter ia, Session
Laws of 1891, which reads as follows:
Sec. 3. Any officer of the state of
Kansas, or of any county, city, town
ship or municipality of said state or
any person acting under or for such
officer, or any contractor with the state
of Kansas or any county, city, town
ship or other municipality thereof or
other person, violating any of the pro
visions of this act. shall be for each
ofense punished by a fine of not less
than $50 nor more than 1000, or by
Imprisonment not more than six
months, or by both fine and imprison-
ment, in the discretion of the court
In conformity with a general demand
for the enforcement Of this law, as well
in the performance of his duty, the
commissioner solicitS reliable infor-
nation relative to its violation. and
pledges his best efforts to secure a just
and uniform enforcement of the same.
Yours very truly,
w. L. H. JOHNSON,
Commissioner.