The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03

ganized workmen an automatic com
pensat!on act was passed by Congress
May 20. 1905. taking effect August 1.
1908, granting TO certain employees of
the United States engaged in hazard
Gus occupations the right TO. receive
from II compensation for injuries sus-
aimed in the course OF their employ
ment. ana June 25. 1910. Congress
passed a joint resolution providing for
the appointment OF a commission to in
vestgate. the subject matter of employ
crs' liability and compensation to
vorkmen for injuries sustained dur
ing employment. with instructions to
the commission 20 report TO Congress,
through the President. in December.
l5ll. This commission IS now gath
ering data and has ncld a number of
hearings. With the exception of one
or two individuals. all present at the
hearings were in favor OF an en-
ployers' liability and compensation act.
the only difference OF opinion being
on the methods to reach a result"
What have the States been doing.
meanwhile. toward the protection of
railway laborers?"
"As the result of organized laoor's
championship. twenty-one States have
matte break laws. fifteen States have
regulated the height OF bridges and
wires over tracks, in order that dan
gerous risks to train crews will be re-
duced TO a minimum: thirteen States
have passed. laws regulating the num-
Der of men TO be employed in one train
crew. and twenty-six States have en-
acted laws regulating the maximum
hours OF service for conductors. train
r-ir
the railroad service. such s telegra-
piers. telephone operators. dispatch
ers. signalmen. etc"
What. 10 date. has been the pro-
gress OF 1.-THE eight-hour-hay move
ment?"
The struggle of American workmen
to obtain a normal work day OF eight
hours is replete with human sacrifice.
At lrst the effort was made by means
of legislation, but this means proving
slow and cumbersome the workmen
were finally compelled to depend upon
their own efforts and their economic
power. The trade union organizations
OF labor have therefore been the most
potent factor IN the shorter work day
movement. which has caused the intro
duction and enactment of eighth hour
legislation by Congress (although the
Federal eight-hour law IS not yet sat
state legislatures. Where such organi-
cations are strong in numbers the
eight hourday prevails. In some
states 1t Is enforced solely by the
economic strength of the organization
without legislation. and in others 1t
Is enforced because OF the combination
of the economic with the political pow
er exercised by the workers. but In no
State where the economic power Is
weak Is there more than a semblance
of eight-hour legislation existing and
In no State where such a statutA exists
Is ii observed, unless the organizations
are keenly vfgilant Eight-hour legis-
lation has almost universally failed to
be effective. where It has depended
solely upon the vigilance of State off,
Gals. According to the best obtain
able records the first official act con-
corning limitation OF hours OF labos
on public works was an executive or
der by President Van Buren, in 1910.
providing for ten-hour day for the
shipwrigkts employed in the navy yard
Between that date and 1860 members
of trade unions urged a still shorter
work day, the aim usually being eight
hours, and in response to this senti-
ment a short act was approved by
President Grant in 1858.
But this act carried no penalty and
for that reason was not generally en-
forced. AS a result OF protests and
combined effort on the part OF the
organizations OF labor the law has
been more generally observed by gov
eminent off1eials.
Eat the instance Of organized labor
Congress enacted an eight.hour provis-
lon in an appropriation bill for the