The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-23
NINE HOUR DAY ADOPTED.
CITY COUNCIL. ACTED UNANIMOUSLY
ON THE UNIONS PETITION.

Alderman Dfxon's Resolution Es tab
fishing the Nine-Hour Day Adopted
without a Dissenting VOte-Butld-
ers' Exchange Withdrew It's 0ppo-
sition and There Was No Discus
sion of the Question - The New
Standard Labor Day to Go Into Eff
feet June L.
Beginning June /, the city employees I'M
der the Director of Public Works will only
be required to work nlne hours a day.
The resolution to this effect was adopted
by Council at the meeting called to con-
slider this question yesterday afternoon.
The Council spent about five minutes in
caucus, during which time the date for
the propos innovation to go into effect
was changed from July to June l. Coun-
Gil then came into the long room and the
following resolution, offered by Alderman
Dixon, was rlad:
Whereas, the trend of the times, in
this country and abroad, is for a shorten
ing of the number of hours of work by
their employees of municipalities. county
and state governments, allowing the work
ingmen employed by such corporations
more time for recreation, education and
the cultivation of home life, making them
better men and better citizens.
"And whereas, it is proper that the
municipal government of Savannah should
display a spirit of liberality equal to that
of the NEST progressive of other cities,
therefore be it
'Resolved, That, beginning with June
l, 1900 the employees of the said corpora
ton in The departments under the control
of the Committee on Streets and Lanes
and the Director Of Public Works, shall
work nine hours a day, the time of work
to be between such hours as the said COM
mittee and Director of Public Works shall
deem best"
Before the resolution was acted upon
the following communication from the
Builders Exchange addressed to the
Mayor and Aldermen. was read:
Whereas, The Building Trades Council
of the Labor Unions of this city has Pc
titioned your honorable body that nine
hours constitute legal work day on all
city work and to require the employment
of union labor only on all work for the
city of Savannah, and,
Whereas, The aforesaid Building
Trades Council has publicly withdrawn
from the aforesaid petition the clause re-
quiring the employment of union labor
only on all work, etc, and,
Whereas, This Building Exchange has
adopted a law whereby nine hours shall
constitute a days work said law to be-
come effective on the first day of January
nexO, therefore, be it,
Resolved, That the Builders Exchange
of the city of Savannah do appreciate the
courtesy extended them by your honorable
body, and we confident that you will
act for the best interests of our city"
This communication was signed by Pres
ident John r. Eason and Secretary H. NJ.
Ward. II was received as information.
Alderman Hcrrlgan moved the adoption
of the Dixon resolution. There was no
objection, and the resolution was adopted
without a dissenting vote. The Council
Immediately took a recess subject TO the
CALI of the chair. 1t was just four min
! utes from the time the meeting convened
until ii adjourned.
The members of the board present at the
meeting were Mayor Myers and Aldermen
Dixon, Horrigan, Thomas Mills, Haas
Bacon, farrell, Schwarz, Wells and Doyle.
There was a good attendance of the la
Dor representative and these were very
much elated at the prompt and unanimous
action of Council In Their favor. They
considered ii quite victory for their
cause. and spent some time in congratu-
lating themselves and discussing the prob
able effects. The city laboTe-s have just
eight days more in which to labor under
the present day schedule The change will
doubtless be much appreciated r. them.