The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-07

Ultimately defeated by a decision OF the
supreme court holding that the statute
as drawn was merely a direction of the
government 20 It's agents. and did not
lnNelldate a contract made In behalf
of the government. which provided in the
contract for labor for a day of longer
hours than eight.
Thereafter, In 1892. the present eight
nour law was passed. which provides
that the services and employment of all
lsoorers and mechanics who are now or
may hereafter be employed by the gov
eminent OF the United States. by the
District OF Columbia, or by any contrac-
works OF the United States and OF the
said District OF Columbia is hereby re-
stricted to eight hours In any one calen-
dar day, and 1t shall be unlawful. etc.
This law has been construed to limit
The application OF the requirement TO
those who are directly employed by the
government. or to those who are en-
land owned by the United States This
construction prevented its application to
government battleships and other vessels
o,is our,s IN private snipyards and to heavy
guns and armor plate contracted for and
made at private establishments
The proposed act provides that no le-
oorer or mechanic doing any part Of the
work contemplated by contract with
the United States in the employ OF tbe
contractor or any subcontractor shall be
required or permitted to work more than
clght hours day in any one calendar
day.
Eight-Hour Day.
II seems to me from the past history
that the government has been commit
ted TO a policy Of encouraging the lim-
itation Of the days work to eight hours
in all works Of construction initiated by
Itself and 1t seems TO me illogical to
maintain difference between govern
ment Work done on government soil and
government work done In n private es-
tablishment. when the work is of such
large dimensions and involves the ex-
penditure OF much labor for a consider
able period. so that the private manu-
facturer may adjust himself and his es-
tablishment to the special terms OF en-
ployment that he must make with his
workmen for this particular job.
To require. however. that every small
contract OF manufacture entered into by
the government should be carried out by
the contractor with men working ar
eight hours would be TO impose an in
iolerable burden upon the government by
limiting It's sources OF supply and ex-
Guiding altogether the great majority OF
those who would otherwise compete for
It's business.
the exceptions which It makes to con-
tracts for transportation by land or wa
ter, for the transmission of intelligence
and for such materials or articles as
ket. whether made to conform to par
ticular specifications or not or for the
purchase OF supplies by the government
whether manufactured 10 conform to par
Ilcular specifications or not"
recommend that instead of enacting
rhe PROPOSED bill, the meaning OF which
is not clear and definite and might be
given construction embarrassing to the
larged by providing that public works
shall be construed to include not only
buildings and work upon public ground,
but also ships. armor, and large guns
factories.
Ono of the great difficulties In enforc-
ing this eight t-hour law is that its appli-
cation under certain emergencies be-
comes exceedingly. oppressive and there
is a great temptation TO subordinate Of
ficlals to evade it.
! think that 1t would be wiser to al
low the president. by executive order,
10 declare an emergency In special In
stances in which the limitation might
not apply and, in such cases, to permit
the payment by the government OF extra
compensation for the time worked each
that my suggestions in respect to this
legislation have the full concurrence OF
the commissioner of labor,
WoRkMEN'S CONGREGATIONAL
view OF the keen. widespread interest
now felt in the United states In sys-
tenn .of compensation for industrial ac
cidents to supplant our present thor
oughly unsatisfactory system of employ
ers' liability "a subject the Importance
of which congress has already recognized
bv the appointment of a commission). ]
recommend that the International Con-
eress on Industrial insurance be invited
ton and that an appropriation OF $40, 900
be made to cover the necessary expenses
OF organizing and carrying on the meet
Ing.
p
Immigration into this country is iucreas-
ing each year, A large part of II comes
through the Immigrant station at Ellis
island in the city Of New York.
methods pursued satisfes me that a DIFF
acult task Is there performed by the
and his force with common
sense, the strictest fairness. and with the
most earnest desire TO enforce the law
eduitably and merciully
II has been proposed 10 enlarge the
accommodations so as 10 allow more OF
the immigrants to come by that port.
do NOT think II wise policy TO do this.
have no objection to-on the contrary,
[ recomme Bd--the construction OF add-
tlonal buildings for the purpose OF IA
cllitating a closer and more careful eN-
animation OF each immigrant as he comes
in. but I deprecate the enlargement OF
the buildings and Of the force for the
purpose OF permitting the examination
of more immigrants per day than are
II IL Is understood that no more immi
grants can be taken in at New York
than are now taken in, and the steam
ship companies thus arc given q reason
and a motive for transferring immigrants
to other ports. We can be confident that
they viii be better distributed through
the country and that there Will not he
that congestion in the city Of New York
which does not make for the better con-
ditlon OF the immigrant or increase his
usefulness as a new member OF this
Everything which tends to
send the immigrants west and south into
rural life helps the country
concur with the secretary in his rec
as TO tho amendments TO
the immigration law In increasing the
fine against the companies for violation
OF the regulations, and In giving greater
power 10 the commissioner to enforce
more care on the part OF the steamship
In accepting immigrants. The
recommendation OF the secretary. In
which he urges that the law may be