The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-01-11
GOV. HARMON'S RECORD.

cShhAh6S DAy Oh OoHi
moner of Dec. goth, gives what
it is pleased to call Harmon s
Record. 1t says: Apparently
two grades of campaign litera-
ture are being issued by the men
who are conducting the Harmon
literary bureau" one of which
it says is partially truthful and
intended for circulation in Ohio.
But regarding the second grade,
which is being used to boost Mr..
Harmon candidacy, it says:
In another pamphlet, which
must be intended for circulation
outside of Ohio, the same list of
bills-in fact, the same type is
utilized-is given as "bills that
were enacted into law by the dem
ocratic general assembly, and
were Endorsed and approved by
Governor Harmon. This is not
an accurate statement. As was
shown in last weeks Commoner
the most important piece of pro-
gressive legislation which Ohio
has enacted in years, law Civ
ing the most complete control,
supervision and regulation of
public utilities ever enacted by
any state, was allowed to become
a law by Governor Harmon by
lapse of time and failure to sign.
He lodged. Another law which
this pamphlet includes in those
that its AYERS were Endorsed and
approved by the governor, is
thus described: "Shorter day
for employed women. A bill linn
iting the working hours of women
employed to 81 hours a week,
with not more than ten hours in
any one day." The record shows
that GOVERNOR HARMON DID
NOT SIGN THIS BILL, and that
it became law purely by reason
of the fact that he did not sign
or return it to the house in which
It originated within the time pro-
vided by the constitution. I'm
der the Ohio constitution, if a
governor does not approve or
veto a bill duly passed and pre-
scented to him within the period
OF ten days, it becomes a law any
way. This provision makes it
possible for a governor who de-
sires to sidestep to do so.
On pages 488 and 489 of the
book containing the laws passed
by the last Ohio legislature will
be found this law. 1t is signed
by the speaker of the house and
the president of the senate, and
to it is appended a statement by
John w. Devanney, veto clerk,
that the bill was presented to the
governor on June 3, 1911, and as
he did not sign it or return it to
the house wherein it originated
within ten days after being so
presented, it was filed in the Of
flee of the secretary of state,
and became a law notwithstand-
ing the lack Of the governor s
signature:
This ibll is no where mentioned
In any OF the governors messages
or speeches. But he is given
credit by his pamphleteers for
its being enacted.
A mere reading Of the title of
the bill does not give any indica-
ton of its Importance, as viewed
by women workers and their en-
ployers. So important a reform
is this and so far-reaching in its
effects, is it, however, that a SIM
liar measure by the Illinois leg
islature was fought in the courts
at great expense for several years
and the litigation was not ended
until the federal supreme court
at Washington upheld the law.
This bill provides among other
things: 81
That every person or corpor-
alton employing women in fac
tories, workshops, business offices
telephone or telegraph offices,
restaurant, bakery, millinery or
dressmaking establishment. mer-
camille or other establishments,
shall provide seats for them while
not necessarily employed. in their
active duties. Employers are
also required to furnish lunch
rooms wherever practicable; am
pie time must be allowed for
meals; sanitary toilet rooms must
be furnished, and other steps
taken to preserve the health of
the women employees. The law
limits the hours of labor to fifty
four in a week and ten hours in
a day. Suitable fines and PEN
alties are appended.