The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-01
COST OF WARSH|PS
WILL Be GREATER.
Observance of Eight-Hour Day
Is Made Mandatory by De
partinent.
EFFECTS ARE FAR-REACHlNG
Bids on Nevada and Oklahoma
Now Must Be Revised
Upward.

Washington. December. Shy q de-
ciaiCn rendered Mt the Navy Depart
ment yesterday. tho shipbui!dinE con-
Germs that undertake tho construction
CT the two now Sattleships. Nevada
and Oklahoma, will be obliged TO es-
tablish the eight-hour day throughout
their plants.
This decision was arrived at after a
series of conferences between Acting
throp, a number of naval officers and
Assistant Attorney General William
II. FIarr Copies of the decision
promptly were sent to all the big ship
building concerns of tho Atlantic coast
who have been regarded as prospective
bidders on the contracts.
The shipbuildcrs also Will receive
notice in a day or two that the date
of opening bids for the construction of
the Nevada and Oklahoma has teen
changed from January 1 to January
20.
The granting of three weeks addi-
ttonal time for the preparation of bids
is for tho purpose of giving prospec-
tive biddors opportunity to revise their
figures in accordance with the de-
partmcnts ruling on the eight-hour-
day question.
McnnB Big Increases.
No doubt every bidder will make
considerable increases in his estimates
because of tho increased cost of con-
struction under the operation OF an
eight-hour- 1t is moro than like
~ that the bids will be SO largely in
creased as to bring them above the
limit OF cost imposed by Congress.
Shipbuilders who have shared In the
government work have strenuously OPP
posed the application OF the eight
hour law to work done by them for
he Navy Department. and there have
been several cases In the last two
years where no acceptable bid was
received because of the eight-hour re-
striction.
Congress Is responsible fer the dras-
tic conditions imposed upon the ship
builders. having inserted in the meas
ure authorizing the construction Of
the Nevada and Oklahoma the follow
ing provision
That no part of this appropriation
for the construction and machinery
OF battleships shall be expended for
tho construction of any battlcship by
any person, firm or corporation which
has not at the time of commencement
and during the construction of said
vessel established an eight-hour work
day for all employees, laborcrs and me-
chanics engaged or to be engaged In
the construction OF the vessels named
herein.
This provision goes further than a
similar clause In tho previous naval
appropriation bill under which It was
decided by the Department of Justice
that the eight-hour day need be OBJ
served only for work at the immcdi-
ate sites of tho vessels under con-
struction. It was the hope ut the
Navy Department and of the private
firms Interested that q similar re-
stricted application of the eight hour
rule might be legal under the para
graph quoted above. It is the opinion
OF the Department OF Justice. however
that this would not be possible.
Work Only Eight Hours.
| Consequently the decision arrived
| at Is to the effect that all employees
In any part OF the plant of q ship
building firm who are engaged In work
| connected with tho construction OF a
| battleship for the United States gov
eminent must ho on an eiEht-hour
Gay. Firms providing such material
] or appliances as are purchased com