The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-10-20
ENFORCE EIGHT
HOUR LAW
HERE
STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER
TRACTORS ARE VIOLATING
PROVISIONS OF LAW.

Charles F. Hubbard, state labor
commissioner of Washington, arrived
in the city last night, being called to
Wen1tchee by the information that
the street contractors are violating
the provisions of the eight hour law.
Mr.. Hubbard this morning had con-
ference with the contractors and was
told that while the provisions of the
state law was violated yet the con-
tractors had been employing Their
men ten hours under permission from
the city council. which declared an
emergency and granted the contract
ors permission of working ten hours
Mr. Hubbard states that the attorney
general has ruled and the courts have
held that no case of emergency shall
be construed to exist in any case
where other labor can be found to
take the place of labor which has al
ready been employed for eight hours
in any calendar day Mr. Hubbard
has taken the matter up with the
city officials and the prosecuting at
torney ani he says while he appre-
ciates the position of the city council
in desiring to see this work pushed
just as rapidly as possible that he
will not permit the contractors to
work Their men over eight hours per
day The law in this matter is as fol-
lows:
THAT it is a part of the public
po;icy of the state of Washington that
all work by contract or day labor
done for it or any political subdivi-
sion created by its laws, shall be per-
formed in work days of not more than
eight hours each, except in cases of
y
extraordinary emergency shall be con-
strued to exist in any case where
other labor can be found to take tho
place of labor which has already been
employed for eight hours in any ca
erdar day.
Public Contract, Work Governed By.
"All work done by contract or sub
contract on any building or improve
ments or works On roads, bridges.
streets. alleys or buildings for the
state or any county or municipality
within this state, shall be done under
the provisions of this act: Provided,
That in case of extraordinary emer-
gency, such as danger to life or prop
erty. the hours for work may be ex-
tended, but in such case the rate of
pay for time employed in excess of
eight hours of each calendar day,
shall be one and one-half times the
rate of pay allowed for the same
amount of time during eight hours
service. And for this purpose this
act iS made a part of all cont acts,
sub-contracts or agreements for wo..k
dore for the state or any county or
mnni, 'pality within the state.
Any contractor, sub-contractor, or
agent of contractor or sub-contractor.
foreman. or employer who shall vio-
late the provisions of this act, shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and
upon conviction shall be fined in
sum not less than SIS nor more than
5000. or with Imprisonment in the
county Jail for period of not less
than ten days nor more than 90 DAYS,
or both such fine and Imprisonment
at the discretion OF the court.
Mr.. Hubbard while here in his Of
fetal capacity examined the different
bakeries of the city ana states that
he found them in very good condition.
He has recommended some changes
to be made which he says the pro-
prietors of the various shops are will
ing to make. Mr.. Hubbard served
four years as labor commissioner un-
der Governor Mead and is also an ap-
pointee under Governor Hay and Is
very popular in labor circles all over
the state. Mr.. Hubbard states that
he can conceive of no contingency in
this city whereby the contractors
could reasonably set forth that an
emergency exists as it is possible to
secure 1000 men on this from either
Spokane or Seattle.