Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-27
WOMAN HELPERS
HOURS PRESCRIBED
Commissioners Interpret the
District Law Recently En-
acted by Congress.
PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
AS APPLIED TO HOTEL S
Women Not to Work More Than
Eight Hours a Day, Six
Days a Week.

Women workers employed in hotels
of the District Of Columbia may not be
required to work more than eight
hours day or more than six days in
any one week, according to the official
Interpretation of the recently enacted
efght-hour law, announced today by the
Commissioners. The Interpretation of
the law. contained in letter addressed
by the Commissioners to A S. Wor-
Ellington, attorney for the hotel men,
touches no phase of the question aside
from that involved in women's work in
hotels. Dressmakers and others in the
District of Columbia who employ
woman workers will have to ask for
specific rulings covering such employ
ment before their status as employers
of such help is determined
In tf cir letter to Mr. Worthington
the Commissioners cite a number of au-
thorities. and call attention to state
ments made by Representative Andrew
j. Peters, author of the bill, in support
OF their contention that a proper in
leIpretation OF the law makes it man
datory that women shall not be en-
ployed more than six days in any one
week, nor more than eight hours per
day. or forty eight hours per week. It
was commended in behalf of the hotel
men that under the exact wording of
the law women might be required to
work six and six-sevenths hours per
day, seven days in the week This con-
tentlon, however, is denied by the Com
mfssioners.
Mr.. Worthington representing the
Washington Hotel Mems Association set
up the claim that the wording of the law
providing that women employed in hotels
shall not work more than eight hours in
any one day or more than six DAYS or more
than forty-eight hours in any one week .
was contradictory, and that the provision
OF forty-eight hours in any one week was
intended to provide an alternative for
the six days constituting weeks work.
This claim is overruled by the Commits
sioners. who declare that the language of
the law Is as it is for the sake of precise
and specific determination as to the DAYS
and hours of work that may be required
of any woman workers in hotels in the
conclusions, the Commissioners saw:
THE conclusion is, that the correct in
depreciation or construction of the act
under consideration is that no female
Columbia can be SO employed on more
than six days in any one week or more
than eight hours in any one day. and, SO
employed she will work but forty-eight
hours in any one week, and thus be given
freedom from labor one day in each
week."
Comment on Constitutional Phase.
The Commissioners In their letter to
Mr.. Worthington assert that no consider
alton has been given to the suggestion in
the brief of the hotel men that the law
in question is of doubtful constitution
atty. 1T would be at least of doubtful
propriety." the Commissioners declare,
"for administrative officers charged with
the execution of an act of the federal
Congress, to refuse to execute 1t because.
in their opinion. it was an unconstitu-
tional enactment. Responsibility for such
a declaration must be left to the courts
Following the announcement Of the Of
fetal construction of the law, 1t was
stated that its vigorous enforcement in
accordance with the construction or in
depreciation will be begun Immediately.