The Washington times., 1913-12-03
WOMAN'S 8-HOUR
.. BILL IS REPORTED
House Labor Committee Favors
Regulation of Working
Hours in the District.

The eight-hour bill. applying to
women workers in the District of Co
vlumbia. was favorably reported today
by the House Committee on Labor. of
which Congressman David Lewis OF
Maryland is chairman.
The House District Committee mem
bers are expected to question the ac-
tion of the Labor Committee in re
porting a measure relating strictly to
the District of Columbia. Chairman
Ben johnson of the District Commit
tee. was instrumental in preventing
final action on the eight-hour bill il
the closing hours Of the last session.
A that time the La Dor Committee had
charge of the measure, which had
originated in the Senate.
Under the terms of the bill reported
today. women workers in practically
all industrial and mercantile estab-
lishments in the District of Columbia
would be prohibited from working
more than eight hours daily. The re-
port says, in part:
The purpose of the bill is to limit
the hours of labor Of females en-
plOyed in various occupations to eight
hours per day and fOrty-eight hours
per week. and to prevent the employ
ment of females under eighteen years
of age between the hours of six in the
evening and in the morning.
This is not an unCOnsidered legisla-
tive proposition. This committe has
very fully and Care-Illy studied the
bill The tendency of modern legiSla-
tion is toward shortening the hours of
labor of women, particularly in the in
dustrial trades. In every European
country laws have been passed within
the past few years shortening the
hours in which women are permitted to
work. In the United states the states
or Arizona and California have eight
hour days for women in some of the
trades. and many States have nine
hour day. For over fifty years the Gov
Prnment has established an eight-hour
day for its clerks. and in many depart
ments their work is actually less than
eight hours. 1t is proper that the Gov
ernment. in the only city of size under
the Federal jurisdiction, should set
good example of legislation to the sew
eral states and enact this greatly need
ed law as a means toward the conserVa-
ton of the health of our women and the
strength both of body and mind of
the coming generations. whose lives and
capacity for citizenship depend upon
our care of their potentiol mothers"
Peters Explains Measure.
CONGRESSMAN Peters of Massachusetts,
author of the House eight-hour bill, is
sued a statement this afternoon. eX-
planning the application of the meas
ure. His analysis reads:
Women effected-Females in the Die
trict of Columbia employed in any man.
ufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile
establishment. laundry, hotel or restau-
rant or telegraph or telephone estab-
Iishment or office or by any express or
transportation company in the District
of Columbia.
Limits hours OF females to eight
hours in one day and to forty-eight in
on week.
Protects young girls by preventing
those under eighteen being employed
between D. n and a. m.
Compels employers TO keep time books
and records and to post notices of hours
Of employment to facilitate enforcement
flaw.
Provides for rigid inspection and
penalties in case of violations.
Peters bill is identical with LaFollette
bill which passed Senate in last session,
and in last Congress.