The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-19
PROVISIONS Of
THE 8-HOUR LAW
The Act Under Which L. &
N. Employees are Now
Operating Trains.

roads shall work each day, and under
what conditions they shall continue
longer in service, has been the sub
ject of much comment since it went
into effect on the Louisville and Nash
vile, and from reports neither the
company nor employees are satisfied
with its provisions, the latter kicking
on account of being compelled TO lay
over on the local divisions at various
points for eight hours. when, in some
cases, they could come on to their
homes in this city within an hour.
The constitutionality of the act is
being tested. and it is expected that
a decision will be reached at an early
date.
The New Law.
The act is as follows:
AN act to promote the safety of
employees and travellers upon railroads
by limiting the hours of service of
employees thereon.
BE it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the
United States of America in congress
assembled, That the provisions of this
act shall apply TO any common car
rleT or carriers, their officers, agents,
and employees, engaged in the trans
portation of passengers or property by
railroad i nthe District of Columbia
Or any territory of the United States,
or from one state or territory of the
United States or the District of Column
bia to any other state or territory of
the United States or the District of
Columbia, or from any place in the
United States TO an adjacent foreign
country, or from any place in the
United States through a foreign coun-
g /.
States. The term railroad" as used
in this act shah include all bridges
and ferries used Or operated in con-
nection with any railroad, and also all
the road in use by any common car
rier operating a railroad, whether
owned or operated under a contract
agreement, or lease; and the term
employees as used in this act shall
be held to mean persons actually en-
gagged in or connected with the move
ment of any train.
Sec. 2. That it shall be unlawful:
for any common carrier, its officers OF
agents, subject TO this act to require
or permit any employe subject to thiz
act TO be or remain on duty for a
longer period than sixteen consecu-
tive hours, and whenever any such
of such common carrier shall
nave UOcu OA Nuty lO3
sixteen hours he shall he relieved anc
not required or permitted again to &C
On duty until he has had at least ten
consecutive hours of duty; and nc
such employee who has been on duty
sixteen hours in the aggregate in any
twenty-four hour period shall be re-
Quired or permitted TO continue o.
again go on duty without having haC
at least eight consecutive hours OF
duty; provided, that no operator
train dispatcher, or other emplOyI
who by the use of the telegraph
telephone dispatches, reports, trans
nlits, receives, OF delivers orders per
tanning to Or affecting train move
nents, shall be required Or permitted
10 be or remain on duty for a longer
period than nine hours in any twenty
,our-hour period in all towers, offices,
places and stations continuously oper-
ated night and day, nor for a longer
period than thirteen hours in all tow,
IFS, offices. places and stations oper-
tied only during the daytime, except
n case of emergency, when the en-
)loye named in this proViSO may be
permitted TO be and remain on duty
or four additional hours in a twenty;
our-hour period On not exceeding
hree days in any week; provided,
urther the Interstate Commerce
Commission may after full hearing in
! particular case and for good cause
hown, extend the period within which
common carrier shall comply with
he provisions of this prOvisO as to
UGH case.
Sec. 3. That any such common
#, requiring or permitting any en-
love to go, be, or remain On duty in
of the second section hereof,
hall be liable to a penalty of not to
xceed $500 for each and every viola
ion, to be recovered in a suit or suits
n he brought by the United States
district attorney in the district court
II the United States having jTiSdlc
ion in the locality where such viola
ion shall have been committed; and
shall be the duty of such district
ttorney to bring such suits upon sat
sfactory information being lodged
With him; but no such suit shall be-
rought after the expiration of one
ear from the date of such violation;
nd ii shall be the duty of the Inter
tate Commerce Commission to lodge
With the proper district attorneys In
ormation of any such violations as
nay come to its knowledge. In all
under this act the COM
non carrier shall be deemed TO have
lad knowledge of all acts of all its Of
Icers and agents; provided, that the
,novisions of this act shall not apply
n any case of casualty or unavoidabl
ccdent or the act OF God; nor where
he delay was the result OF a cause
Iot known to the carrier or its officer
n agent In charge of such employe
L the time said employe left a ter
ninal, and which could not have been
oreseen: provided, further. that the
PROVISIONS of this act shall not apply
o the crews Of wrecking or relief
rains
Sec 4. It shall be the duty of the
interstate Commerce Commission to4
xecute and enforce the provisions of
his act, and all powers granted TO the
Interstate Commerce Commission are
ereby extended TO it in the execution
f this act
Sec. 5. That this act shall take ef-
ect and be in force one year after
IS passage. Il
approved, March. 4. 1907, 1859
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