New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-11
LOW DEMANDS SHORT DAY.
INSISTS THAT EIGHT HOUR LAW MUST
BE OBSERVED IL SUBWAY WORK

Mayor Low yesterday sent "a communication 10
Alexander r. orr. president OF the Rapid TRANSIT
Commission, referring 90 numerous complaints r.
oeved that the eight hour law Is being violated IN
a section OF the work the tunnel The section M
which the violations said 90 take place rs that
where William Bradley Is -ub-coutTactof rms sec
lion runs up Broadway from fifty-ninth-sI After
referring 10 answers 90 his former letter on the
same subject and 10 tho substance Of letters
20 Mr. orr from William b. Parsons ANA john
y. Mcdonald that. although the eight hour law
had for the most part been observed iatmully ana
conscientiousy, the conditions OF the subway MoTh
we're such that il ought 10 be regarded I'm its en-
tirety a. emergency work under the provisions OF
she eight hour Law. because 4 caused the opening
OF streets Tor long periods the Mayor states mat
ne has received from The State Department OF
Labor iutimation that details of the eight hour
Law are being violated sections OF the Work
other than that for which Mr. Bradley is sub
contractor. and says.
II must be- conceded I think. that d is highly im-
- - - -. ..s-Ii..t ,.,.sfs Jsts Inn do not
think that IL follows. from this fact that me en-,
tire work bee carried on without reference 20 me
sich i b b i nbIS hy No eouris am in
clined propose the following Interpretation OF the
law, and 70 urge as application. IN business So,
night well Ia the daytime, think the MorA
should be carried forward continuously M thrte
the other hand, where blasting cannot be done
az night ! think thar overtime may be Ss NC
with the emergency provisions or t1t law lls,Il :,
moving waterpipes or other pipes In the streets
the uninterrupted service 81 when IS NItat 20 ~
community-suCh details of work are tmti tll,l.s
IA the strctest sense, justifying the use 81 over
time. III,
illustrated by the recent amendment oi tht cghLact
MI me ely TOT nm m cons I Ss entered into
seven years ago before the eight hour law Was
tract has dragged Itself along under every aiss5-
vantage just now. under the authority ~ Jaw
passed by the last legislature tins contract t"s
been modified 10 conform TO the eight hour Gay
secured agreemgEt from the contractor 20 ~
as the use Of one-hal OF the reseryo on ,s,
shortening the estimated time necessary Ipi lle
completion Of the reservoir by AT least one-th'G,
The same readjusunent is under Consideration j,
connection with the Croton pam ano ITuiHb5S,s Is y
Is that the contractors are able to place more men
sbiStS ins s,.S Of ten hours dSy with one.
In view Of the importance which tHls ana c4sl''ls
Nev-Nork in connection with the proposed PeunsSl D.
wanna Railroad tunnel franchise, / mink ~ becom-
Ject so Tar as the duty ana Stht1of 81 tHS sr
of wisdom Tor the city 10 eneourage IN every lrop
way the eight hour day ana M pr s aF frsIlt
during the campaign, They are IN brlgt thtst lnoI
10 Improve the standard Of living OF its own labor
There are certainly two things that it can prop
erly do m this connection. flr~i ~ can slSl uy.t
work done directly for itself; second IL can set a
good example by voluntarily granuns 70 me labor
practcabe the eight hour day and boy payine them
prevailing rate OF wages. llt~r Alllllh0 tll
clearly within the city's power and Us rights, anu
these things, In nay judgment II ought 10 40 VIII"
When however II is proposed that the city shan
make the exercise OF its governmental iUilcloll7
dependent upon agreement by somebody else
that he will do these things, the city Is asked 10 40
what IN my judgment. Il has no right 70 msiSt
upon ID might just Well ask every builder VINO
niles a plan Tor building 10 agree 10 accept lhs
eight hour day and 20 pay the preyallns ray on
wages as a condition of approving MS buldlnS
plans as to ask the grantee Of franchise 70 aEet
10 do these things condition OF Sung b4e
franchise. u,
IN this principle il sound al all. il is sound an
the way through and the spectacle might then be
presented the ctys declining 20 exercise us gov
ernmental functions unless those who are Obliged
20 ask for permits Of any kind would agree 10 IKE
cute the work authorized by the permit IN ACCORD
with the eight hour day ana the prev hE
rate OF wages L think IL Is evident that the law
gives 10 the city such authority
the outlined, must ask YOU 10 insist
upon a strict application OF the eight hour law
reasonably interpreted, 10 an work under ths
charge of the Board of Rapid Transit Railroad
Commissioners: I am trying 10 do as 10 all work
that Is being carried by every department
through contracts made on behalf ~ the city.
on the other hand, do not think thar the Penn
sylvania tunnel franchise ought To be- permitted 10
fail because a clause providing for the eight hour
day and the prevailing rate ~ wages, or even for
arbitration Is not included IN the franchise Itself
III The laboring of NeN-York not children
They have shown excellent capacity for taking care
~ themselves without asking the city 20 take care
81 them; and am confident that the labor Of New
York without amy such clause M the franchise
VIII he able 10 look after its end Of the line as
well as the contractors who may have the work in
charge