The Washington times., 1906-07-27
Two Bridge Companies
Engaged on Govern
ment Work Are
Accused.
FIVE LAB0RERS TELL
OF THEIR LONG DAYS
Other Companies Under Ia
vestigation-Penalty Is
Fine or Imprisonment
or Both.

The Penn Bridge Company. having the
| contract for the construction OF a con-
! crete bridge over Piney ranch. and the
/ District Construction Company. which
/ IS building the Connecticut Avenue
bridge. were proceeded against TO-DAY
/ by District Attorney Baker for alleged
I violation OF the eight-hour law, the spe-
cirie charge being tnat at these places
! laborers are required 10 work more thaE
/ eight hours a day
/ There are three informations fled
against the Penn Bridge Company. on
4 the separate affidavits of Joseph Bat
/ ton. Lawrence Beebe and Delaware
/ Payne and two against the District Con-
\ stTuctiOn Company on the complaint OK
John Barrett and Robert n Campbell
/ The question Of the alleged violation
Of the eight-hour law in the District On
public work was called 10 the attention
/ OF the Department OF Justice BY the
| Commissioner OF Labor. He called at
| tention 10 ten specific instances in ref
erence to which complaint had been
made alleging violation OF tie eight
/ hour law.
Investigate Ten Plants.
The Department of Justice. In turn.
Z
ney Baker for further investi CATION
Mr. Baker gave ts.e matter IN charge
/ 10 Assistant District Attorney James 5.
| Easby-Smith who conducted the inves-
4 tlgatiOn on the part OF the district at
/ torney's Office. In all MF. Easby-Smith
/ investigated the conditions under which
| laborers work at ten different plants
! engaged in public work in the District.
] either for the general or local govern
ment
/ In nearly every instance he found the
/ Law IS being violated. and decided 10
| begin proceedings against the two ccr-
! porauons named. lie says proceedings
/ Will be instituted against the other cor
! porations in good time
| The inf0rmatiGT5 issued against the
| Pennsylvania Rridge Company aud the
Distrie; Construction Company. out q
| the Police Court. are based on the am
davits Of Mr.. Essby-smith. who alleges
| that the law was violated by the com,
panies in working the Witnesses named
more than eight hours a day.
Law in the Case.
The prosecution Of the corporations is
based on the following sections OF 1he
District Code;
daily service for laborers and mechanics
| on public works.-The service and en-
ployment OF all laborers and mechanics
who are now OF may hereafter be en-
ployed by the Government OF the Unit
| ed States, BY the District of Columbia.
or any other contractor or subcontraetor
! upou any OF the public works OF the
United States or Of the said District OF
Columbia. is hereby limited and re-
stricted 10 eight hours IN any one ealen-
dar day: and il shall be unlawful for
! anv officer Of the United States Govern
nent or OF the District of Columbia, or
of any such contractor or subcontractoT.
whose duty IL shall be TO employ. direct.
or control the service OF such laborers or
mechanics. 10 reuqire more than eight
hours in any calender day except ~ case
of extraordinary emergency.
Penalty Named.
section ssS-Any officer or agent OF
tho Government Of the United States or
of the District OF Columbia. or any con-
tractor or subcontractoT. whose duty II
/ shall be 70 employ. direct or control
any laborer or mechanic employed upon
any of the public works Of the United
| states or OF the District Of Columbia
who shall Intentionally violate any pro-
vision of the last preceding section for
/ each and every such offense shan be
nunished by a fine not TO exceed q 600
or by Imprisonment for not more 'A4A
six months, or Doth-
Made Effective Visit.
The visit OF the executive council OF
/ the American Federation OF Labor to
sneaker Cannon and Vice President
Fairbanks while Congress was in ses-
sion Is said to be responsible for the
present effort TO enforce the law.
After this visit. the President per-
i sonaIIv instructed DR.. Charles P. Neill,
C.on,rnissioner of Labor. TO make In
vestigations throughout the entire coun-
try 10 see that the law was lived up
70 hv Government officials, corporations
and contractors having charge OF labor
CPS on Government works.
DR.. Nell started his operations IN
| ohio A number Of corporations were
charged with vioating the law. The ac-
cusad Immediately complained that the
same thing was being done IN Washing
TON. the Presidents home town. When
Mp. Roosevelt heard this. he instructed
Mr. NeHl 10 Immediately investigate the
local conditions and make his report