Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-07

that would be very detrimental TO the
public interest, ana would create inc
necessity Of removing all hriff op-
stnolcs 10 the free importations OF
lumber from other countries.
Bureau Of Labor.
I avn glad to note In the sccretnrys
report the satisfactory progress which
ia being made In respect 10 tho pres
ervntion of the seals OF the Pribiloft
Islands Very active steps are being
taken by the department of state 10
secure m ARRANGEMENT which shall
protect the pribilOff herd from the
losses due to pelagic sealing. Mean
time the government has secured sea-
ocIts OF the bachelor seals (the killing
Of which does not interfere with the
maintenance OF the herd), from the
sale OF which next month II rs on
pected TO realize about S4b0,ooo,
sum largely In excess Of the rental
paid by the Lessee Of the government
under the previous contract.
Coast and Gcodctic Survey.
The coast and geodctic survey has
been engaged IN surveying the coasts
of the Philippine archipelago. This
ls a heavy work because OF the ex-
those Islands, but am glad to note
TINT about half Of the needed survey
has been completed. So large part
OF the coast line of the archipelago
has been uneurveyed as 10 make nav
iRatlon In the neighborhood of num-
Der OF the islands, and especially on
the east side, particularly dangerous.
Bureau OF labor.
The commissioner Of labor has been
engaged in composing the
between employers and
employees engaged in interstate trans
pcrtatIOn under the Erdman act,
Jointly with the chairman OF fhe in
terstatc commerce commission. ! can
not speak In too high terms OF the
success OF these two officers in con-
and settlement OF contro-
yersies which, but for their interpo.
sition. would have resulted disasg
10 all interests.
invite attention TO tho very serious
injury caused 10 nil those Who are
engaged In the manufacture Of phos-
phoroua matches. The diseases Incl
lent 70 this are frightfui and as
tan be made from other ma
eriais entirely innocous. | bnlievo
hat the Injurious manufacture could
BE- discouraged and ought to be dis
Outraged by the imposition OF n heavy |
edernl tax | recommend tho adon- |
ion OF this method Of stamping out |
fery serious abuse
IGighi-Honr law.
Since 1868 il has been the deciar-
ID purpose OF this government 60
apor the movement Of an eight-hour
lay BY q provision OF law that none
# the employees employed by or on be-
ialf OF the government should work h
onger than eight hours In every twen-
v-four. The first declaration of this
lew was not accompanied with amy
,onal clause and with no provision
or iis enforcement and, though
President Grant by a proclamation
vice attempted to give Il his sane
lon and to require the officers Of thr
oyernment 20 curry il out, the Dur-
osa OF tho trainers OF the lnw was
defeated by decision Of
hn supreme court holding that the
latute as drawn was merely Il direc-
ion Of tho government 10 its agents
nd ala not inValidatc contract
lade Ia behalf of the government
ihich provided IN the contract for la
or for a day of longer hours thnn
ight Thereafter, in 1892, the pres
ut cight-hour law was passed, which
rovides that the services and cn-
loyment of all laborers and mechan-
n who are now or may hereafter be
mployed by the government of the |
Inited states, by the District of
or by any contractor or
on any or the public |
'orks Of the United States and OF the
aid District of Columbia Is hereby |
cstricted TO eight hours in any one |
q. 1
nj. etc. etc.
This law has been construed to lim- |
the application OF the requirement |
q those who nre directly employed |
a the government or TO those who /
re- employed upon public works I
ituatc upon land owned by the Unit |
a states. This construction prevent |
a it's application TO government bat |
ieships and other vessels built In pri- |
ate shipyards and 10 heavy guns and |
rmor plate contracted tor and made |
Il private establishments.
The proposed act provides that no |
aborer or mechanic doing any part |
4 the work contemplated by con- |
ract with the United States in the en-
hoy of the contractor or any sub-con-
ractor shall be required or permitted
O work more than eight hours Il day
n any one calendar day.
II seems 10 me from the past his-
ory that the government has been
20 "A policy OF encouraging
he limitation OF the days work 20
eight hours in all works of censtruc-
ion initiated iy itself, and II seems
10 me Illogical 10 maintain n differ
,nce between government work done
,n government soil and government
work done In private csta biishment
when the work Is of such large dl4
and involves the expenditure
Of much Infor Tor considerable per-
iod, so that the private manufactur-
er may adjust himself and his eS-
"a ablishmont Co the special terms ~
that he must make with
his workmcn for this particular job.
To require. however. that every small
contract of manufacture entered in
to by the government should be car
ried out hy the contractor with men
eight hours would ho To Inn
pose an intolcrable burden upon the
by limiting It's sources of
supply and excluding altogether the
great majority of those who would
otherwise compete for It's business.
The proposed act recognizes this IN
the exceptions which ~ makes 10 con-
tracts "for transportation by land or
water. for the transmission of intclN-
renee. aud for such materials nr Drti-
Giles as may usually be bought In the
omen market whether made 60 con-
form to particular specifications or
not. or for the purchase of supplies
by th, government whether mnnutnc-