Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29
FINED IN FIVE CASES
COURT ACTION ON VIOLATIONS OF
EIGHT-HoUR LAW.

The Warren F. BreniZer Company, rep
resented by Warren f. Brenizer, its presi-
dent was before the Police Court this morn
ing on five charges of violating the eight
hour law in the employment of laborers in
the construction of section of the outfa,l
sewer for the District of Columbia. Mr.
I;renizer pleaded guilty in each case, anu
Judge Kimball imposed a fine of $io0 in
each of the five cases.
The charges of violating the eight-hour
law were filed in the Police Court Sep
TENDER -, and Deputy United States Mar
shall Lacey notified Mr.. Brenizer to APP
pear in court forthwith to answer the
charge. The appearance in court was de-
layed until today by an arrangement with
the United States attorneys office Mf.
ia mes NJ. Proctor assistant United states
attorney, was present today to represent
the government.
In mis- statement to the court Mr.. Proctor
mentioned the former prosecutions fer Vlo-
lating the eight-hour law, and pointed oGi
that they were given much publicity at
the time. Although the matter was In
that manner called to the attention OF
the contractors for District work, Nj. Proc
tor said, the defendant company continued
to work its men longer than eight hours
per day.
Statement by Attorney.
small fines at times, the assistant United
States attorney remarked, if they could
work their men longer than eight hours a
day; and for that reason he asked that
the court make the penalty such as TO stop
the practice
The information charged that the defend
ant company worked Benjamin Tyler, la
borer. longer than eight hours per day
five specified dates.
IN, hob lf Of
that he has stopped the practice of work
ing his for longer than eight hours
per day. 1t was added that, as the WORK
is done under water and must be complete
section by section, before work stops. II
is sometimes impossible to cease work at
specified time, and for that reason the
violation might be- to a certain extent
eXcuSable.
"This is an old law" Judge Kimball de-
clared The present statute is simply a
revision of an old one, and 1t must be en-
forced. Every doing work for the
United States for the District had no
tce that it was to be enforced. hne the
defendant 500 in each case.
And this is warning to other people,
his honor concluded.
Declines to Reduce Fines.
Just before the adjournment of court to-
day a second appeal was made to Judge
Kimball to reduce the fine of 500 in each
case. which he has previously imposed upon
Mr.. BreHizer, and it was urged that the
violation was not one in which there was
an intent to deliberately violate the law.
In replying to the plea, Judge kimball
pointed out that some companies might pre-
fer to pay small fine, even SO or 500, ii
they could work their men ten instead of
eight hours per day For that reason, he
said. he thought that the penalty in cases
disposed of should be severe
II want the public to know that as long
as this statute is on the books it will be
enforced with heavier and heavier penal
ties Judge kimball explained. The i'm
position of Il penalty in this case is a notice
to the public and as the maximum is 81 600
| do not regard 500 too severe"