Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-18
Limited to Eight Hours Work.

THAT no female shall be employed in
any manufacturing, mechanical or mer-
camille establishment. laundry. hotel or
restaurant, or telegraph or telephone
establishment or office, or by any express
or transportation company in the District
of Columbia more than eight hours in any
one day or more than six days. or more
than forty-eight hours In any one week.
The second section of the measure was
left unchanged by the committee. IT
provides that no female under eighteen
years Of age shall be employed or per-
mitted to work in or i'm connection with
any of the establishments or occupations
named in section one Of this act before
the hour of O'Clock in the morning or
after the hour Of = o'clock in the evening
of any one day"
The third section. knocked out of the
bill by a vote of five to three, pro-
vided that where a female is employed
in the same day or week by more than
one concern or employer in any estab-
lishment or occupation named in section
1 of this act the total time of en-
per day or week in a single establish
ment OF occupation. 1t shall be the
duty of the employer to make diligent
inquiry as to such previous or other
employment OF such female employe
elsewhere, and as to the hours of such
employment. Any person who shall re-
quire or permit female to work be-
tween the hours Of O'Clock in the even-
ing or o'clock in the morning in viola
tion Of the provisions of this section shall
be liable for a violation thereof and the
employment Of such female employe in
excess Of the total time Of employment
permitted by law shall be presumed. in
absence Of evidence to the contrary. to
be with knowledge of such violation.
Called Burden to Employers.
This section was the subject of quite a
little discussion in today's committee
meeting. Those opposed to it declared it
was radical and imposed too great bur-
den on employers. Others upheld it as
making for the proper enforcement of the
eight-hour provisions. Senators Pomer
enc, Gallinger. Dillingham;. Fall and Cur
tis voted to strike it out while Senators
Jones. Works and Kenyon wished it kept
IN.
No change was made in section of the
bill. 1t provides for a rest period of
three-quarters of an hour when woman
works more than six hours continuously.
Section was also left practically un-
changed. 1t requires the posting of
notice in the establishment showing the
hours at which the women are required
to work. The provision that "the pres
ence of any such female on the premises
at any other hours than those stated in
the printed notice shall constitute priIna
facie evidence of violation of this sec
ton was knocked out
The sixth section of the bill, requiring
the keeping OF records of the work of
woman employees was amended SO as to
require that the records shall show the
wages paid to woman workers.
The seventh section, providing for three
inspectors at not more than 100 per
year salary. to enforce the law, was mod
flied so as to require that two of the in
spectors shall be women.
Duty of the Inspectors.
Another amendment to the bill speci-.s
that the inspectors shall enforce not only
this eight-hour bill. but also the act. ap-
proved March >, 1895, Ito provide that all
persons employing female help in stores.
shops or manufacturing establishments in
the District of Columbia shall provide
seats for the women when not actively
employed" Upon the inspectors is
imposed the additional duty of making a
daily report of their work to the District
Commissioners.
The penalty section OF the bill, which is
left unchanged, provides that any per-
son who violates or does not comply with
any Of the provisions of this act shall.
upon conviction, be punished for a first
offense by fine or not less than $40 nor
more than 500; for second onense, by
a fine Of not less than $50 nor more
than 500: for third oHense, by me OF
not less than $50
At today's meeting OF the committee
approval was also given to "A bill amend |
ing the fire escape law. as rnodffled and |
for passage recently by the !
1t makes several changes |
fsjn Of fI,n Low