Evening journal., 1913-02-27
MRS. BUTLER ANSWERS
MR.. BONDS ARGUMENT

Mrs. E. f Butler, chairman OF tbs
ress committee of the Ten Hour
directed to the editor ol
HE EVENING JOURNAL today the
blowing letter in reply to the one
v Samuel c. Bond. which appeared
Every Evening yesterday
Dear Sir In answer to the
question. What proven benefit
has arisen from the shorter work
dav for women?" / can truly say
there is no testimony that is detri-
mental on the other hand there Is
unlimited evidence of improved
health and morals on the part
Of the workers. With an increased
efficiency which results In proht
TO the employer
"a can only beg all interested
persons to read the chapter
Economic Aspect OF Regulation
Fatigue and Output pages III to
1856 found in Fatigue and Eli
cheney written by the sister
in-laW of Mr.. Louis ID
Brandeis. England. leads with
full accounts OF beneficial results
dating from 1887 ~ will quote
briefly lin the United states the
seeming paradox Of larger out
nut in shorter hours was clearly
stated by the now classic report
of the Massachusetts, Bureau OF
Statistics OF Labor in 1881 Page
1871 Another pertinent quotation
from the same chapter. AS one
result of the unimpaired and
cheerful energy of the workers,
the Improvement in re-
spect 10 time lost without leave
is mn important item.
1he' average was i'm proportion
of such "time lost" 10 the total
time worked 246 per cent while
under shorter hours only 0i6 per
cent This is a report supporting
"A as hour week.
The case of Miller vs. Oregon
If of the deepest interest and was
argued from both viewpoints.
The decisions of the Supreme
Court OF the e. S. vested the right
OF the police power of the state
TO preserve the health, morals and
general welfare Of It's citizens.
These laws are health measures
and as such, are sustained by the
courts. TO quote again, this time
from the courts decision IN this
case.
II is undoubtedly true. as more
than once declared by this court
that the general right 10 contract
i'm relation 10 ones business is
part OF the liberty OF the indi-
Nidual. protected by the l4th
amendment to the Federal Consti-
tuition, yet it is equally well set
tied that this liberty is not abso-
Lutte. And that State
may. without conflicting with the
provisions of the i4th amendment,
restrict in many respects the in
dividual power to contract Again
differentiated by these matters Ca
woman) is placed In a
class by herself, and legislation
designed for her protection may
be sustained
If the owl of present day in
duetrialism was properly rogu-
lated by laws and the consumer
awakened 30 the necessity Of buy
ing early In the day such condl-
tions could not exist
Section of the Bill provides
Tor the posting OF a notice stating
the number of hours females are
required or permitted TO work on
each day. The time stated in the
notice is TO contain the hour or
beginning and the hour of closing,
as well as the time for lunch,
and therefore could not be con-
strued 20 mean that the presence
ON the premises during lunch
time. which is set out IN the no.
tice. could constitute a violation
of this act
Surely after the open discus
sions of this bill we doubt whct
en- the question Is seriously put.
yet we must assume that Il is
when you ask how a nine hour
day and "a hour week with half
holiday Saturday may be OBJ
tanned without violating the law.
The bill reads That from and
after the 1st day of July 1918, no
female shall be employed or per-
mitted TO work more
. than ten hours in any one day
etc.
It is clearly stated more. Any
less working hours are so clear
ly out of the application of the
law that we can only rejoice that
there are women working for
employers who feel that they can
regulate successfully their busi-
ness on such humanitarian prlnci-
pies
Thanking you for the privi-
lege Of answering these questions.
Signed,
r. + Butler.
Chairman Press Committee.