The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-27
Soviet Russia
lnvokes Martial
Law for Slackers
By ROBERT j. PREV

Universal Service Staff Correspon-
denD-
London, March 26.-Nagtiai law
has been introduced in all the Rus
sian railroad workshops to put an
end to stacking, according TO wire
less message sent out to all stations
by Moscow soviet. Incurable idlers
are warned that they will be shot
The message reads;
shame. comradesi The workmen
of the railway workshops of the
Northern Railways have during the
month of January squandered more
than thousand working days in hol-
iday-making, Each workman has
practically wasted four days. At a
time when millions of people are
hungering, it is impossible to trans
port ten million pounds OF bread
owing to lack Of railway engines.
and railwaymen are arranging to
have two weeks of idleness
1T is necessary to put an end to
this crime. to make the workers
responsible and to force them TO
make up for the working time OF
which the republic has been robbed.
1t is essential to introduce martial
law into the railway workshops, and
impose upon the guilty the full pen
atty of martial law.
1t is not enough TO await salvation
from foreigners until they shall give
us new railway engines. 1t Is neces-
sary to fight the Internal blockade
and put in order our engines and
wagons, only by means of stub
born struggle on the labor front;
only when all workmeu. above all
railwaymtn do their share: only then
shall we put an end TO the ruinous
condition of things, conquer hunger
and save the soviet republic"
simultaneously with this an
nouncemcnt the text of the Russian
code OF labor laws has reached Eng
sorry labor upon all fit persons be-
tween the ages of / ) and 50.
The working day is eight hours,
and every wage Garner is obliged,
during a normal working day and I'M
der normal conditions to execute
standard amount of work as deter
mined for the category or group to
which the wage-earner belongs" Nor
NAL conditions refer to the quantity
of tools, raw material its timely~ dis
tribution and general hygenic condi
tons.
All persons above fifty and under
sixteen and those incapable through
Illness or physical defects. are ex-
positively prohibited from carrying
on work Women are temporarily
exempted for periods OF eight >eeks
before and after confinement Stu
dents are considered to be doing com
pulsory labor at school
All citizens are given the right to
choose their occupation. Wages are
determined according 70 the class OF
work, But where there rs no va
cancy for a particular job men and
women must work the occupation
most closely resembling their habitual
trade.
The nature of work the degree OF
danger it involves. the compIexity
and degree OF finish required. as well
as any necessary qualifications in
education. experience, responsibility
and personal initiative all are con-
siti-EeSf' IN ;ietsrraiGing tire rutesa Of
wages.
Overtime pay may not exceed one
and a half times the normal remun-
GRAFTON and in no case must 1t be al
lowed TO exceed four hours In the
course of two days. or be carried on
in more than fifty days in one year
in any particular establishment.
: Women and. boys. must not. be ans.
ployed on overtime work.
All wage-earners must be allowed
an uninterrupted weekly rest OF forty
two hours These who have worked
without interruption tor not less than
six months are entitled to fortnight's
vacation, for. ,v a whole year, 80, ena
months vacation with full pay
However, execution or remuner-
alive work during leave Of absence =
rSnSkt 80 kA~nA