The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-07
CONTRACTORS MAY
STRIKE A SNAG
s-HoUR DAY AT TT. SCREVEN,
ONE GANG OF NEGROES WORK
NINE HOURS AT OWN REQUEST.

Statute Provides That Lnborers Can
not Work On Government Build
ings Longer ThEt One-third al
Calendar Day-Objection Comes
From white Brick Mason Not Con-
nected With Contractor i'm cues
tion-U. :. Commissioner and L. =
Attorney Have Been Approached.
A tempest in a teapot has been
stirred up among the contractors at
Fort Screven by the kicks" Of white
brick masons against the alleged &C
ton of one of the contractors in work
ing his negro Iaborers nine hours per
dav.
Though the negroes are in favor, it
is reported. of the opportunity to earn
the additional pay for an hour which
they would otherwise spend in idle
ness waiting for the train to the city,
it has been found that the Federal
statutes forbid men working longer
than eight hours in each twenty-four
on government work, except in cases
OF urgent necessity.
The present complaint is against
Contractor Frank Woolard. who has
charge of the new post exchange. Last
Saturday a brick mason named Harris
who Is not employed by Mr.. Woolard,
called on United States Commissioner
Hewlett for the purpose of interest
ing that official in the matter, but in
the absence of the affidavits provided
by law there was nothing done. United
States Attorney W. r. Leaken was
also approached regarding the mat
ter. Neither of the officials named
would discuss the merits of the case.
Law viii BE Enforced.
IF the law is violated, it will be en-
forced" said United States Attorney
Leaken, either before the commission
er upon proper affidavits, or before the
next Federal grand jury which Will
meet here in November"
1t is reported that all of the negroes
employed for nine hours have sighed
a petition TO the contractor that they
be allowed 10 work. Another report Of
the situation there is that this action
was not altogether unanimous and that
white man employed has also applied
10 the courts for the enforcement of the
law as he views the case.
According TO the law amy contrac-
tor or sub-cont tractor who shall di-
rect. employ or control the services
OF any laborer, or mechanic. or require
or permit any such employe or mechan-
&c TO work more than eight hours in any
calendar day. shall be guilty of "A mis-
demeanOr for every day of the offense. q"
The punishment for such offense is
fine not TO exceed 81 900 or an impri-
sonment OF not over six months, or
both.
To this act there are two exceptions.
one where the work is urgent and the
other where the contracts were made
prior 20 the passage of the act in 1892
Only One Case of Kind.
So far as known, only one case of the
kind has ever been brought. and this
was while the Spsnish-American War
was pending, and was regarding some
fortinca lions along the coast. and grew
out Of the enmity Of rival contractor
Though the protocol had been signed, it
was treated as if the war was still on
and an engineer swore that the work
was urgent. The trial Judge stated
that had il not been for this statement
that the law would have been meted
out 10 the contractor heavily.
Capt. ]. II. Davidson. construction
quartermaster. who awards the con-
tracts, did not think ii was the prov
ince Of his department to see that the
law regarding the eight-hour day was
enforced. holding that if there was a
violation Of the law going on it was the
business of the criminal department.
As the matter stands at present,
nothing viii be done about the alleged
violation of the law. as the commits
sioner, and the United States Attorney
can take no steps until they have been
furnished with facts sufficient to en-
able them to bring a warrant against
the contra ctor or Contractors.