The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-07-26
EIoHr.Houa Law

Serious enbarra- meut .s ezrt -e.
p 10 result from taa eosalrmeats o.
enmsl. bias nr attempted 90 sa
d f9rcemsat of The elzh-l8u. a- .l
I. accordance aI.h toe direction of Pre-.
.den- Roosevelt. heretofore. the GOV
eminent has not attempted 90 ea.
force the law ezcep, oa uo-k per.
formed 5y. people directly employed
and paid Hs the United states on
work done f9r o. government. ex
cep' when o. was performed on rese-.
vat.ous ~ fhe United States. no Effort
aa- made FOO enforce the Jaw. .n fact
| b. has been serious question whath.
er 'hs government had the authority
under The law 20 force private con.
tractor. f9 I.sa up 20 the requirements
af 'b' statute even though me, were
.u-aeal ol work far the govern.
ms1t
Ttrpueh President G0mbsrs of the
Federation of Labor aud other
leaders of organized labor. complaint
Sos made directly to me president
That the eirhthour law was being ST.
1.ated They urged that he see toits.
onfo..ement President Roosevelt ASK.
cd 'he labor leaders 10 present 10 him
poclic Instances Of the violation Of
'he Jaw and promised that he would
have them Investigated. n lt should
boz found that the law was being VI
olated. be said "a definite remedy
would be applied
Subsequently. Mr.. Gompers and a
committee of the labor leaders laid
before the president allegations Of
the violation Of the oighthour law
The papers In the various cases we're
turned over by the president 10
Charles =. Noill. commissioner Of Ia. !
bor FOR investigation. In some In.
stances, IL was found that the law.
10 effect at ioast. was being and had |
been violated The reports made by |
Commissioner Ncll 10 the president |
were considered carefully and iu some |
nf The cases the trouble was correct |
ed easily In others however. the
question OF the authority OF the rov
rnmont 90 interfere arose. These ro
required thought 70 became evident.
after coisideratIon. that methods Tor
che enforcement Of the oiphthour law
lin'ronf from those which have been
gl'tIcoi would have to poe adopted
Hotciofarc. the government has not
constituted Itself the prose .s.or OF
violations of the law. n considered |.
uch cases as were presented 90 n.
ut ne urosocuti,I of the cases Dc.
'oly'd on other Interested parties. |
so far as its own work was concern.
d. the government enforced the law
or rather. oboycd the law: brt 10
l'd not undertake 10 become dctoc
tive % discover violations Of the
law I
Under the provisions Of the order 2
suod recently by the president. q {
VII be- the duty Of government ON. J
'ials ana officers OF the United States q
% charge Of government work 10 see
% the enforcement Of the law and to q
prosecute offenders against II. In pur.
unnce Of the order. directions are s.
icing prepared by the heads Of de. b
'1rtmonts 10 their subordlnates. u
Already, protests against the action
II the government are being made by o.
contractors engaged In government ri
work, For instance. the Newport h
'ews ship Building Co. engaged In u
he construction Of war vessel for 81
he United States, will be required tn GO
'ork its men on that vessel in eight. II
our shifts. At present the company ~
icn work ten hours and ten and a Ia
ali hours. The companys relations e'
i'm lis employees are satisfactory 10 Ia
9th employers and employees. II the ol
rider Of the president Is enforced pl
le onamolous condition will Dee pro 'h
'ntcd Of men working eight hours o'
% q government vessel and men ''
orking IN the next slip ten hours on ''
vessel being built for a private '"
diyidual orr corporation. This. Il Is ''
lescstcd, viii upset the entire work ''
g organization OF the company ana ~.
ill ho a sort Of Interference with w
e c1mponys business which the y,
lyerumout has no right to cause. ,'
u is evident. OF course that the ",
oa OF organized labor in insisting ,'
nom the enforcement of the eight. II
'ur law 10 this way ls 10 compel pri. ~,
.te concerns eventually 10 adopt