Arizona republican., 1910-12-07

could be discouraged and ought to be discouraged by the imposition of a heavy federal tax. I recommend the adoption of this method of stamping out a very serious abuse.
 EIGHT-HoUR LAW.
 In 1892 the present eight-hour law was passed. which provides that the services and employment of all labor CTS and mechanics who are now or may be hereafter be employed by the government of the United States, by the District of Columbia, or by any contractor or sub-contractor on any of the public works of the United States and Of the said District of Columbia. is hereby restricted to eight hours in any one calendar day. and it shall be unlawful. etc, etc.
 This law has been construed to limit the application of the require ment to those who are directly em- ployed upon public works situated upon land owned by the United States. This construction prevented its appli- cation to government battleships and wards and to heavy guns and armOr plate contracted for and made at pri- Vate establishments.
 
 laborcr or mechanic doing a part of the work contemplated by a con- tract with the United States in the employ of the contractor or any sub contractor shall be required or per mitted to work more than eight hours day in any one calendar day. It seems to me from the past history that the government has been committed to policy of encouraging the limita- ton of the days work to eight hours in all work of construction initiated by itself and it seems to me illogical to maintain a difference between gov ernment work done on government pvirate establishment. when the work is of such large dimensions and in wolves the expenditure of much labor for a considerable period, so that the private manufacturer may adjust him. self and his establishment to the terms of employment that ne must make with his wOrkmen for this par ticular job. To require. however, that every contract entered into by the government should be carried out by the contractor with men working at eight hours, would be to impose an intolerable burden upon the govern ment by limiting its sources of sup pl wand excluding altogether the great majority of those who would other wise compete for its business.
 The proposed act recognizes this l in the exceptions it makes to con- tracts.
 For transportation by water or land, for the transmission of intelli- l gence and for such materials or ar ticles as may uSuallv be bought in the | open market, will be made to con | form to particular specifications. or | for the purchase of supplies by the | government, whether manufactured tO | conform to particular specifications or | not"
 l recommend that instead of enact | ing the proposed bill, the meaning of i which is not clear and definite. and | might be given a construction em- barrassing to the public interest the | present act be enlarged by providing | that public work shall be construed | to include not only building and work | upon public ground. but also ships, | armOr and large guns. when manu- factured in private yards or fac tories.
 One of the great difficulties in en- forcing this eight-hOur law is that its application under certain emergencies becomes extremely oppressive and | there is a great tempta atiOn to sub ordinate officials to evade it. I | think that it would be wiser to allow the president. by executive order. to declare an emergency in special in- stances in which the limitation might mn in, C, |