The Alaska daily empire., 1913-03-19
Great Interest Taken
 In Eight-HOur Bills
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 happen would be a decrease in the output
 F. l.. Alstrom, of Douglas, was the next to appear. Mr. Alstrom said that he was secretary of a union in the Western Federation of Miners and that speaking for them he was in fa- vor of the bill as introduced He said now that the men in the Tread we'll mills were working II and 1S hours. He thought if the new law went into effect that the men would have a chance to get acquainted with their families. He said that some "federation" men work for Tread we'll but that Treadwell did not know 1.-the men wanted the S-hour day and would demand it. They were paid $S and $S:5O at Treadwell, out of which came $l for board, club fees, hospital fees and union dues. He said they wanted to work the least num- Der of hours possible for a full days pay.
 James Whipple, assistant general manager of the Alaska-Gastineau Min ing Company, and also representing the Kensington, Eagle River and Ju- alin mines said that his people want ed to correct any impression that might be aaoat that they were op- posed to the S.hour law. He had worked in mines and knew from eX- perience that eight hours under ground was enough. He had talked with his men and knew that they wanted an S.hour law. His companies were will ing to pay the same for an S.hour day as for the 1O.hour day because better results could be obtained. He be- lieved in cases of emergency where forced work was necessary the men should be allowed to work overtime but the law should fix minimum day and provide that extra pay be allowed for such overtime. The law, he though. too broad in it's terms when it was applied to surface work, but when men were crowded they should receive extra pay for it. He thought eight hours actual work should be required and that the men should be satisfied with it. He agreed with Alstrom that 10 and F hours was too long in the mills.
 James Freeburn, manager of the Chichagoff mine, said that his men were practically working eight hours now. but often when boats came, on account of a shortage of help, men were brought from the mine and this caused overtime work. The North land at one time left 25 tons of con centrates because of lack of help. His men were paid $4OO or $500 and board; Representative Kelly interject ed that his men got $S.5O per day and board for eight hours; Representative Burns said his men got $500 and board; Roden said, i've pay $500 and oard."
 E. c. Briggs said he was miner and had worked in this section for years. The miners were in favor oi the bill as ii stands; that it takes 20 minutes to reach the face at Tread well and that he thought the com .pany should stand it because they were under the company's orders once they got in he cage. He admitted that the law providing time should com mence and end at the face would cut two hours of the present day
 Frank Nelson said he had been min ing for 27 years. He was in British Columbia when the S-hour law went into effect. Operators that opposed the measure found it was good and now supported it. One man refused at first but was fiined$SOO and he never tried to violate the law again. ID cases of emergency the men would do the extra work and no trouble had been caused over it. There was a better feeling between men and em ployers after the law was in force and better results obtained. When three S.hour shifts were employed, it was the custom to change at the face When but two were employed the time started when the men entered the tun' mel or shaft entrance of the mine. He said that most of the men were will ing to divide the time going and com ing from the face to the entrance.
 John Noland believed men should be paid for time from entrance of shaft
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