The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-17

Special Dispatch to the IntellIGcneer. IL
J 4, CHARLESTON. W. Va, Jan. ls.--It
gthsticgislature is permitted to get down
40 work within the limit of time spec!;
fed by the constitution there may be
some leglslatlon accomplished, outside
\ OF the usual routine OF appropriation
bills. etc. Important measures such as
! have been mentioned from time to time
lately viii be presented. There are
some which the, committees should al
ready be considering, but with four or
five days wasted without the house
having been able to even organize, all
on account OF two contested election
cases matters OF some moment are be-,
i ling & delayed. However, daylight Is
Sdawning and 1t Is probable that the;
! present week will see the end OF the
disputes arising out OF the count-out
I proceedings and both houses OF the leg
Eislature at work. Committee appoint
& ments OF both houses have been held
K back by the struggle in the house.
one OF the bills which will be Intro
duced, which is Of great interest to the
/! worklngmen OF the state is In the hands
\ OF Delegate Connolly, Of Ohio. county,
i awaiting a chance 10 get before the
Democratic house. 1t Is. hoped that 1t
will get further than that and before
] the Republican senate. The bill is en-
titled IAN Act Regulating Hours OF
Labor on Public Works." 1t Is intro
\ duced at the instance OF organized Ia
4 Dor. Section provides that eight:
II hours shall constitute days work for
q alltlaborers, workmen and mechanics
who may be employed by or on behalf
\, Of the state of West Virginia: ~
Section 2 provides that the service
and employment OF Nil laborers and
:. mechanics who are now or may be,
hereafter employed by or on behalf Of
81 the state OF West Virginia. or by nDy,
= contractor or sub.contractor upon any,
OF the public works OF the state OF
81 West Virginia Is hereby limited and re-
y stricted to eight hours in any one cal
IA endar day. and It shall be unlawful
fortany officer OF the state government.
or any such contractor or sub-contrac--
tor, whose duty It shall be to employ.
direct or control the services Of such Ia
borers or mechanics to require any
such laborer or mechanic to work more
than eight hours In amy one day. eN-
cept In case OF extraordinary emer-
gency. y
Section 3 fixes the penalty for the in
81. territorial violation OF the act. It is
made misdemeanor, punishable by
g fine and Imprisonment not exceeding
/ six months. or by both, in the discre--
4 tion Of the court. ~
There Is u United States elght-hour
i law. in force, passed by Congress some
4 years ago, which was enacted to apply
{ to all laborers, mechanics and workmen
employed in government works, and
i, the f.sctures of the Connolly bill are
/ modelled after this federal law.
Another act which Mr.. Connolly will
I Introduce iss"An act for the protection
4 OF life iand property against loss or
q damage from the operation OF steam
boilers. steam and passenger elevator
4 machinery by incompetent persons. 1t
{. is lengthy In Its provisions and pro-
4 vides for every safeguard possible. 1t,
makes 1t unlawful to employ an unll-'
! censed man or to run without n lccnse;.
= provides for state examiner with
not less than ten years experience as a
practical stationary engineer) requiring
him to give bond. There shall also. be
certain local examiners to carry out
the directions Of the state officer. Ex-
aminers must pass public, competl-
tive examination before appointment.
The remaining clauses Of the bill pro-
vide for the details of the work. pen
alties and various other matters to rem
der the law effective. CAD.