The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1907-02-21
EIGHT HOUR LAW
PASSES SENATE
Advoca.es,Are Now Hopeful 1. WIN
Become n
Law.


CHARLESTON. Feb. 90, Especially
Again every circumstance indi-
Gates tnar the bill Wnrch, limits the
Anurs of continuous service of rail-
road telegraph operators will he
come a. law. A short time ago,
: Though its passage looked almost us
eerttain, but there were several slips
and 1t was not until Monday that its
advocates. among whom Is w. L.
Bettis, OF Fairmont. chairman Of the
legislative board OF the railroad tele-
gsnphers. who has worked incessant-
y for fits passage. felt satisfied with
the manner in which 1t had been
handled, 1t passed the senate Mon.
aay.
NOV 1t is believed that the amend
ments which have been offered and
sccepted'b the railroad committee
viii make the measure satisfactory
TO all persons concerned. and that It
will not be long until the law Is
made whIchtthe operators have been
lighting for so many years The
mouse will be called to pass the bill
favored by the senate.
The bill as 1t now stands, and as
it will likely be passed is as follows,
includingS all the recently offered
amendments, constituting the amend
I'd substitute for senate bill No. 6.
Sec. /. That 1t shall be unlawful
tnr any person. corporation or asso-
citation. operating railroad within
this state to permit any person ON
aloyed by them. or on their railroad,
in the capacity OF telephone or tele-
graph operator. whose duty 1t is to
space or block trains or engines, or
orh andle train orders governing the
movements of trains or engines, or
handling interlocking switches gov
ernfng the movement of trains or en-
gines. to permit such telephone or
telegraph operators so employed to
be on duty more than eight hours in
iny twenty-four consecutive hours.
provided. That the provisions Of
this act shall apply only to such
earts OF a railroad where three or
more passenger trains pass each way
Ia twenty-four consecutive hours, or
where ten or more freight trains pass
each way in twenty-four consecutive
hours. or at any Office where said
telegraph or telephone operators are
employed twenty or more hours In
tsenty-four consecutive hours.
"And provided. further. That in
ease of necessity caused by the sick
aess of any such operators or by an
accident on such railroad. such tele-
ehone and telegraph operators may
be permitted TO be on duty for per-
Tod of twelve consecutive hours In
my twenty-four consecutive hours,
nut such textensioa OF time shall ex-
tend only for period long enough
TO enable such railroad company to
supply the required number OF oper-
ators at such Office. and shall in no
Gaze extend over period Of more
than two days. nor under this pro-
vision shall It be lawful for any tele-
graph or telephone operator to be on
duty twelve consecutive hours in any
tRenty-four consecutive hours for
more than three times in any calen.
dar month.
But nothing In this act shall pre-,
vent any such company and operator
agreeing to longer day than eighI
hours. but in no case shall any such
operator be permitted 10 be on dut.
longer than twelve consecutive hour.
in any twenty-four consecutive houri
under such agreement.
ANY person, corporation or asso
citation convicted of violating the pro
visions of this act shall be guilty o
misdemeanor aud pay fine of on,
hundred dollars for the first offense
and for each ofense committed AZ
Ter the first conviction hereunder
pay fine OF three hundred dollars.