The Alaska daily empire., 1917-12-10
EIGHT HOUR LAW IN ALASKA
 BE SUSPENDED
Insofar As it Relates to the Salmon Cannery Business in the
 NOrthIand

Gov. ]. F. A. Strong shortly will enter an order suspending the S. hour law in compliance with re- quest from the Secretary of War, contained in the following tele- gram:
 Washington, D. C., Dec. '. Hon. J. F. A. Strong,
 Governor of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska:
 It is our belief that the unusual demands made upon this country to not only maintain but to increase | by every legitimate means in it's power the supply of food, which is i vital to the successful conduct of the war; and believing that the enforcement of the S-hour law pass ed by the last Territorial Legisla- ture and which appears in Chapter | 55, of the Session Laws of 1917, would either materially increase the cost or decrease the output of can ned salmon, a most essential article of diet for our army, our navy, our civilian population and our allies, we would therefore request that you exercise the authority vested in you by Section 3, of the act and sus- pend it's operation, in so far as the salmon industry is concerned for the period of the war, as neces- sary war measure, and we trust that we may receive early advice of your favorable consideration.
 Council of National Defense,
 By NEWTON D. BAKER, Chairman.
 In the meantime the Wrangell sawmill has secured an investiga- tion of the probable effects of the law and the following telegram reached Gov. Strong recently:
 Washington, D. C., Dec. 4, Governor Strong,
 Juneau, Alaska.
 The Wilson & Sylvester Mill Co.,, incorporated, at Wrangell, Alaska. has requested the Secretary of the Interior to act under section 8, of the Territorial Act of May 3, 1917, regulating the hours of employment of wage and salary earners in Alas ka, to suspend the operation there of, alleging that enforcement will necessitate discontinuance of busi- ness under present conditions. Take up matter with company, ascertain facts and submit your recommends , tion on application. MEYER,
 Asst to the Secretary.
 In the meantime the Alaska La Dor Union of Douglas and the Cooks & Walters Union of Juneau have filed with the Governor strong pro tests against the suspension of the law. Another union has sent the following wire to the Governor:
 Anchorage, Dec. 3, 1917. Governor of Alaska,
 Juneau.
 Alaska Labor Union, two thou sand members, resolution passed unanimously demand no resembling ' general 8-hour law effective Jan uary 1, 1918, resolution also most heartily endorsed by Representa- tives Price and Cannon, Third Di- vision.
 w. ]. HENRY, Secretary. The Fairbanks Commercial Club addresses the following letter to the Governor supporting suspension: Fairbanks, Nov. 21, 1917. Hon. J. F. A. Strong, Governor of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska Dear Sir:
 At meeting of the Fairbanks Commercial Club Executive Board yesterday, I was requested to re- quest MT. Sulzer to take up the matter of the suspension or modifi- cation of the 8-hour law, chapter 55, Laws 1917, with the Council of National Defense and the Secre- tary of the Interior, as provided in section 3, of this act, and I am addressing him on the subject to- day.
 | It is the consensus of opinion among the business men and opera tors in this Division with whom we have talked on the matter that it would be for the best interests of the Territory, at least during the continna tion of the war, if this act could be suspended. There is a vast quantity of low grade ground | that it will be impossible to work under this law, and it is quite like ly to hinder the production of tung- sten. a very useful metal for muni- lions of war. There are many ar