The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-04
ADAMSON BILL.
The Hour Law in the Form 1t Was
Sent to the President.

Washington, Sept. 1.-THE text of
the eight hour Adamson bill as 1t
was signed by the president. follows:
Be 1t Enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Unit
ed States of America, in Congress AS
sembled, That beginning January ],
1917, eight hours shall, in contracts
for labor and service, be deemed a
days work and the measure or stand
ard of a days work for the purpose
CT RECKONING the compensation for
services of all employees who are now
or may hereafter be employed by any
common carrier by railroads except
railroads Independently owned and
operated not exceeding one hundred
miles in length, electric street railways
and electric interurban railways
which is subject to the PROVISIONS
of the act of February 4, 1887, en-
titled IAN act to regulate commerce
as amended, and who are now. or may
hereafter be actually engaged IN any
capacity in the operation or trains
used for the transportation OF persons
or property on railroads, except rail-
roads independently owned and oper-
ated not exceeding one hundred miles
in length, electric street railways anu
electric interurban railroads. from any
state or territory of the United States
or the District of Columbia to any
other state or territory OF the United
States or the District of Columbia, or
from one place in a territory 10 an
| adjacent foreign country, or from any
place in the United States thru a for
eign country to any other place IN the
United States; provided the ABOVE eX
ceptions shall not apply 10 raiiroau i,s
tho less than one hundred miles IN
length whose principal business Is
leasing or furnishing terminal or
transfer facilities to other railroads,
or are themselves engaged IN transfers
of freight between railroads or pc
tween railroads and Industrial piants-
Sec. .. That the president shall APP
| Doint a commission of three, which
shall observe the operation and efIects
of the institution of the elgnt-noui
| standard workday as above deIlneo
and the facts and conditions affectlne
the relations between such common
carriers and employees during a perloo
| of not less than six months nor more
than nine months, in the dlscretlon OF
the commission, and within thirty
days thereafter such commission snal
I report its findings to the president ano
! congress; that each member OF the
commission created under the pro
; visions of this act shall receive sucf
| compensation as may be fixed by the
president. That the sum of $4,000
or SO much thereof as may be neces
sary be, and hereby is, appropriated
out of any money in the United State:
treasury not otherwise appropriated
for the necessary and proper expense.
incurred in connection with the Worl
of such commission including salaries
travelling expenses of members ant
employees and rent, furniture, Office
fixtures and supplies, books, salaries
! and other necessary expenses. thu
, same to be approved by the chairman
of said commission and audited by thu
proper accounting officers of thu
treasury.
Sec. 8. That pending the report o
the commission herein provided TO
) and for a period of thirty days there
after the compensation of railway EN-
! p1oyes subject to this act for a stand
ard eight-hour workday, shall not b.
reduced below the present standar,
days wage and for all necessary tim
in excess of eight hours such EN-
} ployes shall be paid at q rate not les
) than the pro rata rate for such stand
ard eight-hour workday.
| Sec. 4. That any person violating
any provision of this act shall be guilt
! of a misdemeanor, and upon convic
ton, shall be find not less than $40
, and not more than $1,000, or impris
onment not to exceed one year, o
both.