Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-31
AFTER NOVEMBER 1917, WHAT?

AFTER NOVEMBER 1917, WHAT?
When two men get into an argu-
ment on the Adamson bill. chances are
about ten to one that they will argue
at cross purposes and utterly faii 10
make each other see the two view
points. The supporter of the bill ar
CUES that 1t Is IA good bill because II
shortens hours and raises wages and
Is in the interests Of the working man.
The other man doesn't object to these
things being done. but he contends
that the Adamson law fails to DO that.
The first man is arguing that what the
law purports to accomplish, Is right,
The second man is arguing that the
law does not do what it purports to 90.
There is not much use In arguing
on the belief of the first man. In TACT
there is no occasion to argue that.
Whenever 1t is found possible to short.
en- work hours and raise pay, 1t is all
right to do so, provided that no undue
hardship is caused thereby.
But the other contention can be set
tied by argument and by the facts
available. If the law purports to be
an eight hour law, and If 1t shows on
its face that it is not an eight hour
law. then the second man is justified
in his argument. Let US see as to that.
Any law of this kind undertakes to
say that some certain thing must or
must not be done and penalty Is pro-
vided for violation. II there is no pen
atty, then the law ia worthless. This
is not conjecture; this is fact You
must concede that.
Now II the Adamson law provides for
an eight hour day, what does 1t pro-
vide in the way Of penalty II man
10 worked more than eight hours?
Search the bill carefully and you
will find that no penalty is provided.
The bill does not say that man must
be employed only eight hours; neither
does 1t say that II he is employed more
than eight hours penalty of higher
wage. or anything else shall follow.
The bill does provide that where a
man works more than eight hours, he
shall be paid at the same rate as rules
for eight hours. That is not penalty.
because 1t entails no increase of wage
upon the railroad company. Think that
over and see II that cannot be con-
coded, too.
But there is penalty In the Adam
son bill. A fine of not less than 500
or more than 81 900, or a years impris-
onment, or both. Is provided for in just
one event-if the railroad company
does not pay the present standard
wage (ten hours pay for the Adamson
law standard day (eight hours work..
In other words, the penalty is not for
working a man more than eight hours.
but for failing to meet the increased
pay. The bill, therefore, Is not an
eight hour day bill, but bill fixing a
standard wage.
Even the statement that the Adam
son law is a wage fixing law, needs
limitation because >,e time for which
the law fixes wages Npires not later
than Nov. 80, 1917. A s.,'dy of the law
is developing the belief that 1t is not
even a wage law after the above date.
Section 1 of the Adamson law says
that "eight hours shall. in contracts for
labor and service be deemed
a days work and the measure of a
days work for the purpose Of reckon
ing the compensation" But no men
ton is made of wages in this section
of the law.
Section 2 says commission of three
men shall observe the operation and
effects Of the law for period not to
exceed nine months after it becomes
effective, Jan. 1. That will cover the
time to Sept. 30. Then the commits
sion has thirty days in which to file a
report That carries 1t to Oct 81. The
only wages mentioned in this section
have to do with the compensation Of
the commissioners.
Section says that no change shall
be made in the wages of the affected
employees until thirty days after the
report of the above mentioned commits.
sion has. been filed. That carries the
law until Nov. 80. The remainder Of
the law merely fixes penalties for
violation of the above.
So it is apparent that the wage part
of the law automatically expires at or
before Nov. 30. 1917 and that the sub.
feet then is right where it started. ex-
cept that present agreements will no
longer be in effect.
In other words. 1t will then devolve
upon the employees to begin anew. their
negotiations with the railroad opera.
tors to again fix standard of work
and of pay. 1t looks as though they
will have to begin Just where they
started years ago, for the Adamson
law makes provision for wages only
for the eleven months after Jan. l.,
1917.