The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-10-09
HUGHES NOT OPPOSED
TO S-HOUR WORKDAY
Declares Adamson Bill Does Not Regu
late That But Simply Is a Wage
Bill Regulating the Pay.

Newark, n. j., Oct. o.-The following
is the address which Charles Il. Hughes
the Republican candidate for president
delivered at public open.ar meeting
here to-day:
| am not opposed to the principle oi
an eight hour workday. IN the contrary
| favor it. The general principle of the
Ieighthour workglay is that limiting la
bor to eight hours promotes health, hap
piness and efficiency. II not only frees
from excessive strain, but gives opportu.
nifty for education, for enjoyment, for the
pleasant and profitable resources of leis.
ure. The whole point is the limitation
of hours of labor. that a man shall work
eight hours and no longer. The Adam,
son bill does not provide that 1t is a
mere pretence to say that it does. 1t
does not limit hours; it simply regulates
pay. II is a wage bill.
Let us look at the text of the act. 1t
provides that eight hours shall, in CON
tracts for labor and service, be deemed a
| days work and the measure or standard
| of days work for the purpose of reek-
oning the compensation for services of
the employees mentioned. That is the
only purpose--the purpose "of reckoning
compensation" There is no limit to
hours of work. Then, again, it is provid-
ed that pending the report OF the com
mission and for 30 days thereafter "the
compensation of railway employees sub
iect to this act for standard eight hour
workday shall not be reduced below the
present standard days wage, and for all
necessary time in excess of eight hours
such employees shall be paid at a rate
not less than a pro rata rate for such
standard eight hour workday" There is
no fixing of hours of work; there is no
prohibition of working more than eight
hours. The reference to eight hours is
solely to fix the wage seals. As Senator
Underwood said in the course of the de-
bate in the Senate, replying to another
senator:
IF the senator would 90 and consult
with any OF the gentlemen who represent
the employees and who have been contend
ing here in this matter, they would tell
him candidly, as they told me, that the
question Is a question OF wage that they
are not contending for an eight hour day,
that a man shall work only eight hours
they do not want that"
Plainly, whether there should be at
this time an eight-holr workday in
particular employment depends on the
Of that employment. Some
are readily adjusted to it
and Others are not Railroads are not
like ordinary industries. Ii was not
suggested that it was practicable to put
in true eight hour day on railroads. |
Indeed, the contrary was conceded. Rail |
road runs are made to division points |
Men select their homes accordingly. The |
time Of actual service may be more or
less than eight hours. This has not been |
changed; it was not intended that ii |
should be changed. The change in in the /
wage scale, not in the hours OF labor. |
Railroad wage schedules were based on
hours and miles; tlfat is 10 hours and /
100 miles. II man made his 100 miles
in less than 10 hours, that is. in four
hours, he got a days pay If it took him
Il hours, for example, he got a days
3ay and two hours overtime. Now, the
,hange was not to limit or alter the
hours Of labor, but to pay on the basis
II eight hours instead of 10 hours. 1t
s a mere increase Of wages by fixing a
lifferent basis for calculating wages.
Service over eight hours is not prohibit
ID. 1t is not penalized No penalty is
provided for permitting any one to work
longer time. On the contrary, such
work is evidently contemplated. The
abroad runs must be completed in any !
ase, and, under this bill, all service over
light hours is simply to be paid for pro
alta. The bin says that "for all neces- 1
airy time in excess of eight hours such
mployes shall be paid at rate not less :
han the pro rata rate for such standard '
light hour workday' There Is no in {
reased rate for additional fnairs t
1t is, therefore, wholly misleading to S
efer to this bill as an eight hour BILL Ii
et the bill be called by its right name
What is fair and right can affcrd to be '
escribed correctly and can stand on its f
lerits. q