Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-06-14
WELLS OF UTAH,
THOMAS, COLORADO
Two Governors Speak on the Eight
Hour Law Of Two States.
HOW IT OPERATES HERE.
Executive orhc Centennial state sug-
gcsts the same solution utah
sought Three Wears Ago.

Sought Three Wears Ago.
" am sorry 20 see trouble IN Colorado
over the enforcement OF the eight. hour
law said Governor Hobor NJ. Wells OF
ttnh 90 the Denver News on Monday.
WHOM the law went into oncct In our
state three years ago. things adjusted
thcmfclvcs with no trouble at all. the
rmcltcr and mine owners reducing
thelr hours without any attempt 10
throw the burden upon the cmploye.
They continued working ut tho same
Fenlv % wages per day nH before. not
withdrawing .hat the hours were re-
duccl ] don't know whether there was
any thought Of paying by the hour and
thus avoiding the additional expense
or not, but no such an attempt was
made. OF course. you know that tho
law was tested by moot case and cnr-
rlcd 90 the United States Supreme
Court. which sustained a., constitution.
allty uH "a sanitary measure The Utah
Constitution contains o. special proyiH-
Ton Tor the protection OF underground
workmon and rmoltor cmp,pyos. upon
the Eround Of health. The nfat lcglsla-
turc failed 60 pass such law. but tho
second one did. / was urged strcnu-
ously TO veto the measure. but took
into account the demands OF tho Com
sututlun ana / affixed my signature.
Since then everything has run SMOOTH
BY except Tor the legal contest mentions
cd. 1 doubt, however whether the Utah
workmon would have struck II an In
clinatlon had been shown 20 pay by tho
hour. our people arr very conservative
aud not 30 volatile as IN some dis
triciH
II understand your law n almost an
exact COPY " ours Last winter n
member of your legislature sent over
20 ~ for draft NJ the act ana Il was
sent 90 him. The only difference / note
o. that the penalty here is creator"
Governor Wells arrived In Denver
yesterday. He o. accompanied by
Thomas Kearns Of Park city. Utah. tho
manager uf the Silver King mine, g. T..
Loose Of Provo who owns n large In
tcreut In aud manages the Grand Ccn-
trnl at Eureka, ana J. .. BranHford ~
salt Lake city. another mining man.
The four are on their way East upon
business % private nature.
Mr. Kearns says his men never
worked more than eight hours 20 that
the law ala not affeCt him. He was
never aware OF any inclination ON tho
part Of the employers 10 reduce the pay
per day.
Speaking of Congressman Roberts
case. Governor Wells said. ne a Nor
mon" he had opposed electlng n man
Co the national legislature who had
been polygnnlst. not because he be-
licvcd there hat been any violation OF
HNa q. a
but because he thought u unwiHe to
lay tho State open 10 criticism and
noturlyty. Now that Mr. Roberts had
been elected be hoped there would b.
no trouble.
GOVERNOR THOMAS.
Governor Chas. 3. Thomas OF Coli
orad0 has written the following letter
% Secretary llyncH OF the state board
Of arbitration.
My Dear slr-innsmuch az your board
has been called IN 10 exert its influence
toward the adjustment Of npprehcnded
dlueroucca between the Hmvltcra and
their employees. and which seem 20 be-
based on the provisions u the eight
hour law, ] venture TO suggest the oN-
podlonCy OF their solution here ms In the
State of Utah three years ago, be-
licyc that n both sides TO the contro-
ycrHy could be induced 20 adopt this
course the results would be gratifying
20 each. and most of the friction now
apparent between employer and ems
ployc would disappear.
The supreme court OF the state II thu
nnai nrblter OF an these questions. and
until II shall decide. the issue win be a
| disputed one. So long as II viii be- dis
putpd there viii be- more or less trouble
! in the effort 90 reconcile the provisions
| OF the law to conditions as they arise
Whom II iH decided, an must and should
acquicsce In the result.
IT, therefore. the respective parties "a
/ this controversy would, by a technical
| violation Of the law from the one or thu
| other standpoint. bring Il Immediately
/ into the courts, ana pending the flnal
/ decision " the State Supreme court al
/ low the present status 10 continue. be-.
/ llcyc that We shall pass the crisis In
safety ana with credit 90 an concerned
OF course, Il may be urged that tho
/ law has already been tested and uphold
| but IL must be- remembered that this
/ phruscolugy uf our constitution and that
| ~ Utah rs dissimllar While this cir
! cumstnncc may not ultimately prove
| controlling, II IL al present sufficiently
| 80 Co form the basis OF much sincere
/ difference OF opinion concerning the
Huilicicncy or lnsuiliclency OF the stat.
! ute
My suggestion r., OF course, IN no wis,
| Intended 20 control the action OF YOU
board but, II possible. 10 aid Il In tn,
| accomplishment OF the bencncent OBJ.
! iucts for which Il was created and ea,
| tuhllrh Il us AN institution % peace. pre-
| venting strife, restoring good will nut
| adjusting industrial conditions without
resort TO methods which disturb tn,
| well being OF society Very respectful
| ly, your obediCut servant
CHARLES s, THOMAS.
Governor OF Colorado.
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