Evening journal., 1906-08-03
TROUBLE OVER
EIGHT HOUR LAW
o Far As It Affects Govern
ment Work By Private
Contractors
MAY BE TESTED IN COURT

Serious embarrassment is expected to
result from the governments enforce
ment OF the elght-hour law in accord
ance with the direction OF President
Roosevelt. Heretofore. the government
has not attempted itself to enforce the
law, except on work performed by peo-
pie directly employed and paid by the
United States. on work done for the
government. except when it was per-
formed on reservations OF the United
states. no effort was made to enforce
the law; IN fact. il has been serious
question whether the government had
the authority. under the law. to force
private contractors to live up to the
requirements OF the statute even
though they were engaged on work for
the government.
Through Samuel Gompers. president
Of the American Federation OF Labor.
and other leaders OF organized labor.
complaint was made directly 20 the
president that the eight-hour law was
being violated They urged that he
see to its enforcement President
! Roosevelt asked the labor leaders to
present TO him specific instances of the
violation OF the law and promised that
he would have them investigated. II
II should be found the law was being
violated. he said a definite remedy
would be applied.
Before the President.
Subsequently. Mr.. Gompers and a
committee Of the labor leaders laid be-
fore the president allegations Of the
violation Of the eight-hour law The
papers in the various cases were
turned over by the president to Charles
r. Neill, commissioner OF labor. for
investigation. In some instances il was
found that the law, in effect at least.
was being and had ben violated. The
reports made by Commissioner Neil
TO the president were considered care
fully and in some OF the cases the
trouble was corrected easily. In 9TH
ers, however. the question OF the au-
thority of the government to interfere
arose. These required thought. It be-
came evident. after consideration, that
methods for the enforcement OF the
eight-hour law different from those
which have been practiced would have
to be adopted. Heretofore. the govern
ment has not constituted itself the
prosecutor OF violations of the law II
I considered such cases as were present
ed to 1t. but the prosecution Of the
cases devolved on other interested par
ties. SO far as its own work was con-
| cerned. the government enforced the
law-or rather. obeyed the law: but II
did not undertake 10 DE come a detec-
fnHa 4 a.
Under the provisions Of the order is
sued recently by the president. It will
be the duty of government officials and
officers Of the United States in charg,
of government work to see to the en-.
forcement Of the law and to prosecuti
offenders against It. In pursuance O
the order directions are being pre-
pared by the heads of departments t.
their subordinates.
Protests Against Government.
Already, protests against the actiol
Of the government are being made b,
contractors engaged on governmen
) work. For instance. the local shil
builders. engaged In the construction
Of government vessels will be required
to work their men in eight-hour shifts
-aN VAtatitNf lllN iNlHNhliltr WDlk mn
/ and ten hours. Thecompanies' relation
! with their employees are satisfactor.
to both the employers and employees
If the order Of the president is enforc
] ed, the anomalous condition Will b
e presented of men working eight hour
> on a government vessel and men work
} ing in the next slip ten hours on
vessel being built for a private indi
vidual or corporation. This. It is sug
gested. will upset the entire workin
, organization and will be a sort Of in
e reference with the companies bust
, ness, which the government has n
right to cause.
Before the new method Is adopted
however, the matter IS likely to sc
into the courts. for private concern
will resent the interference OF the gov
ernment in the matter. That they wi
, fight the case is evident from the al
titude some Of them already have as
sumed.
What the net result eventually wi
be, is difficult at this time to deter
! mine; but II is certain I'm the opinio
I OF the government officials and officer
OF private concerns doing business 70
the United States. that the enforcement
: of law. so far as private contractor
are concerned. will increase material
S the cost Of work done for the govern