The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-25
GOMpERS FILES A COMPLAINT
or 8 HOUR Law VIOLATIONS IN
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

Letter to the President Gives Many Cases,
in None OF which, He Says, Was the
Wrong NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Usually
at Fault-An Investigation Ordered.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-Acting upon the
suggestion made by President Roosevelt
when a large delegation OF union labor
leaders called on him at the White House
last month with a bill of grievances Samuel
Gompers, president of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, has written a letter 10 the
President giving specific instances OF alleged
violation of the eight hour law in the Gov
eminent departments.
A copy of his letter, which covers many
pages, with a letter from the President
Secretary acknowledging its receipt was
given out by Mr.. Gompers to-day,
an presenting the cases the names OF
the compliments are withheld the letter
says, "but they are confidentially enclosed
to you with this letter. Experience mas
shownthat men in the employ OF the Gov
eminent either directly or indirectly are
ar' to be dismissed if they publicly COM
Lain of violation of the law In the conditions
of their employment.
This is doubtless true since the issuance
| Of your order that Government employees
may only present petitions or complaints
through heads of their departments. go
"A remarkable thing which you VIII
note is the fact that there IS not a single
case where a violation of the eight hour
law was rectihed by the officers OF the
Government.
an case after case the fact of the viola
ton of the law Is admitted both by MINOR
officials and heads of departments In
fact, not one complaint was made founded
on error.
The usual procedure has been some
thing like this: Employees finding them
selves asked to work ten or more hours
on Government work protested to the con-
tractor or Government officer in charge.
This proving fruitless, they took the com.
plant to the nearest city central BODY OIL
organized labor. Regardless Of whether
the complainants were members OF unions
or not, this body made investigation as 10
the facts. If found to be true, a COM
mittee waited on the Government officer IN
charge. His reply to tie complaint varied
in different cases, but as no redress was
obtained, the next step was to write to TINS
Office, fling a history of the case up to that
time, also affidavits or other documen is
tending to establish the accuracy of the
complaint, and asking the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor officers to take up the matter
with Government officials in Washington.
Attention of the head of the department.
concerned at Washington was then calico
to the case by a letter putting at MS dls-
posal the history and documents in relation
to it and asking for investigation and en-
forcement of the eight hour law II It's Vlola-
ton was found to be a fact.
An evasive reply was invariably re-
ceived and it was found impossible to secure
any further attention to the matter. Some
times the official would state that the de-
partment made it a rule not to interfere
with Contr Ctors. no matter how many
hours they required the men to work.
THE most usual form of reply was to
categorically style Government work as
being of the extraordinary emergency
character"
Mr.. Gompers gives a number of instances
of alleged violations of the law. some of
which nave been mentioned in the news
papers and in the labor union organs during
the last few months. In conclusion the
letter says
The procedure you declare your intention
to carry into effect regarding the eight
hour law will no doubt be fraught with
benefcent results, for if department officers
are made to understand that this law must
be enforced there will be fewer causes OF
complaint and therefore much relief OBJ
tanned. May l suggest when your order
on this subject is made to the departments
that it may be of such a character as 10
remain in permanent operation:"
The letter from the President secretary
to Mr.. Gompers "a that the whole matter
has been referred to the Commissioner Of
Labor for investigation.