Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-06-14
HOUSE REFUSES TO
ACCEPT 8-H0UR LAW
FOR GIRL WORKERS
TAckS AN ADDITIONAL SIXTY
MINUTES ON ONE OF GOVERN
oR's PET PIECES OF LEGiSLA-
TON.

Springfield, H., June 14.-GoHernol
Lowden's recommendation for an
"eigbt-hour workday" for women was
cast into the discard yesterday by the
Republican majority in the lower house
and as a result the senate bill, nine
hour" measure, was sent to third read
ing in a mangled document
TO all practical purposes the house
removed all limitation to the hours
that women may be employed ana
through an amendment presented by
Representative Hicks OF Rockford
placed the administration OF the law
in the hands of the department o.
labor.
If gave to this department the rlght
TO classify and fix in various industries
different working hours.
Until such a time as the depart
ment makes this classification the Dill
as amended contains the followiha
provisions;
A nine-hour day and iitty-iour-houF
week in manufacturing industries.
A nine-hour day and fifty-four-hou'
week in mercantile establishments, .
nroyision which was placed back IL
the bill after it had been eliminated
by the senate.
Many Exempt From Act.
Removes hosvitals and nurses, res
taurants and hotels form the Prov
sions of the act.
Establishments where five or les
are employed and female labor EN-
ployed in emergency work or III COZ
tract work directed by state or n2
tional labor organizations were alS'
EXEMPTED. as were Office employees.
Admittedly the bill is an unrecog
nizable tumble.
Miss Agnes Nestor, its autohr, sal
that it was impossible in its present
condition.
AS it now stands" she added, w
mad better have the law that Is nov
on the statute books
Her only hope lies in the conference
committee, from which some sane bIl
will probably emanate early mex
week
The house ran wild all day in IL
amending work. Minority Leader lgo(
vainly tried to stem the assault o.
the bill. He pleaded for women work
ers and challenged the Republican
side to listen to the recommends
lions of Governor Lowden, but th'
Republicans voted almost en- mass
for every amendment that pulled tn
teeth of the bill.
Neither could Igoe hold his oW'
party intact, Representative brown
being author of most Of the ameh'
.ments. -,
If was Representative Hicks, nov
ever. who at the flag end OF the al
+day session slipped over the ameh'
ment which revolutionizes the bill an
places its whole machinery in III
hands of the department OF labor.
Same as Former Bill.
His amendment Is 5upoloii'i"'iS -
Same as house bill "A, which he intr
duced early in the session. but VINO
was killed by the industrial ahalI
committee,
+, The Hicks amendment, after
struck out the hour limit clause
emore than nine hours during any OF
day or more than forty-eight hou
during any one week, substitute
fherefor the following;
!. HFor such period or periods Of TIN
during any day, night or week as sha
be dangerous or prejudicial to the III
health, safety or welfare OF such
males the department of labor sha
have power, jurisdiction and authorlt
and it shall be its duty to investlGat
Nascar,ain. determine and fix such cla
siications and to adopt and MAJ
such rules, regulations or orders
shall be necessary to protect the Ill
health. safety and welfare OF any
male workers employed in the state
mo classification shall be mat
without hearing held on due notl'
given to all parties interested there
such manner as the department mi
decide
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A'S Interesting 20 Dickens Lovers.
Many of Charles Dickens famou