Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-08-09
case CHARGES HAY
BREAKS STATE LAW
Labor Chief Says Governor Per
mits Eight Hour Statute
Violations.
(By Charles r. Case.)

The great friendship expressed by
Governor Hay for eight hour legisla-
ton at this time (because of his can
didacy) would lead any one to believe
that none of his employees would be
permitted to work more than eight
hours, more especially since the law
specifically declares it to be the policy
of the state that all work done for it
shall be performed in work days of
eight hours"
Frequent complaints, however, reach
officers of the State Federation of La
Dor OF most fragrant violations of the
law by all classes of employees, from
all of our state institutions, and ask
our aid in correction thereof, such
complaints always requesting the with
holding of the name of complainant.
These complaints show that en-
ployes of every state institution are
worked long hours in violation of the
state law. Many tell of eight hours
actual duty at the particular calling
for which they were hired and an ad-
ditional four to six hours duty as
guard or Waterman.
Guards tell of continuous 12-hour
shift without minute off duty. Fe-
male nurses and attendants complain
, of from 10 to IA hours of daily con-
tinuous service. Prisoners are worked
in the jute mill and other places as
long as daylight will permit.
The state itself, under Governor
Hays administration, is undoubtedly
the most fragrant violator of it's own
law
Employees are told that the law does
not apply to them.
A hair splitting opinion rendered by
Attorney General Tanners Office, after
several demands made upon him by
the State Federation of Labor in con-
nection with the repeated complaints
received, says:
1T is difficult If not impossible to
draw the line between labor in which
the physical element is dominant and
labor involving the exercise of the fac
ulties of the mind. It would
seem quite clear that those employed
in the state institutions as attendants
or nurses, guards or fOremen, are not
within the provisions of the act''
Such is the administrations inter-
probation of the law which specifically
says: 1T is a part Of the public pol
icy of the state of Washington, that
all work by contract or day labor done
for it, or any political Subdivision Gre
ated by its laws. shall be performed in
work days of not more than eight
hours EACH"
The supreme court in passing upon
the same law in its application to
teamsters says davies vs. Seattle):
These witnesses (ity of Seattle)
justify the custom by saying that the
excess time put In by the teamster is
not work but, as they variously term
it, 'choring' or preparing for the
days work. Such construction is q
|palpable evasion of the law. 80 The
statute Is SO clear in its meaning and
so free from ambiguity that it re-
quires no construction. 1t means what
it says, viz, as applied to the case at
bar, that no laborer shall be required
to work more than eight hours a day
except in cases of extraordinary emer-
gency."
It is apparent to any one that the
law is being flagrantly violated by
Governor Hay, under cover of the at
torney generals opinion which Is in
contradiction of the spreme courts de-
Icision.
So far as we can ascertain from the
complaints received, the cheapest paid
labor is that which Is worked the long
hours. Our compliments are working
for from $50 to $50 month and work
ing from 10 to IA hours day as
nurses, attendants, guards, cooks, bak-
ers. Mattresses, maids, clerks. janitors.
carpenters, firemen, farm hands and
various other occupations (all brain
workers under the attorney generals
ruling).
Governor Hay a friend Of labor?
Nit!