The Alaska daily empire., 1921-04-15
'8-HOUR MEASURE
 THROUGH HOUSE,; GOES TO SENATE
Very Close to Line of Uncon- stitutionality, Is Opinion
 Of Attorney General.

| GetchelI Eight-HO bill yesterday afternoon passed the House of Rep resentatives, was signed by Speaker Nerland and ordered transmitted to the Senate. At no time during the proceedings in the House was there any opposition to the bill as an eigh nhour law, although there were attempts to amend it to make it more rigid. It passed with but lit tie change from it's original form and the few changes adopted were incorporated for the purpose of mak- ing the provisions as to industries to be covered more clear
 Believe It vii. Stand
 Two questions were raised as to the chances the measure, if finally enacted into law, had to stand the test of the courts. The first of these was asked by Mr. Murray and di- rected to the Attorney General who was present on the floor of the House when the vote was taken MT Murray asked if the Attorney con- sidered the title of the bill sufficient to cover the act and was assured that it was. The second question. al so asked of the Attorney General, was put by MT. Nerland who wanted to know if the bill in itself was in the opinion of the Attorney General constitutional. The latter replied: "I have already answered that question on the floor We have gone very close to the line. I believe that the chances are that it will be upheld, but it is close and there won't be anything to spare."
 Framed After Oregon Law
 The measure, it was stated by Mir. Getchell, who introduced it, was drawn after the Oregon law which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. The de. cision of that court was five to four opinion, four members believing it unconstitutional. The Getchell the Oregon law which includes only mills saw mills, factories, laundries, | manufacturing establishments. Tol these industries have been added in 1 the Getchell bill, 'or in any dredge, | surface placer mine, open-cut or open-pit quarry or mine"
 The bill then provides that 1t shall be unlawful to employ any person in those industries in any one calen dar day except watchmen and em- ployees engaged in making repairs or in case of emergency, when life Or property is in imminent danger; provided, however, that employees may work not to exceed four hours overtime, conditioned that payment be made for such overtime at the rate of time and one.half the regu. lar wages for overtime"
 Says Is 12-Hour Day
 MT. Brown and MT. Cochran, of the Second Division, led an effort to amend the latter clause by making it unlawful for any person to be em- ployed in overtime work for more than four days in any one calendar week. Both advanced the argument that the bill without such amendment was not an eight-hour measure but a 12-hour one. Their efforts. how ever, were futile, the amendment be- ing voted down. Before final pas sage, Mr. Cochran reiterated his statement that it was not the kind of eight-hour law the people of Al aska had voted for and wanted but as it was probably the best that could be gotten, stated he would vote for it. MT. Holt and MT. Brown also made similar statements.
 MT. Tripp before the final vote was taken stated that he believed it unwise to enact such legislation at this time. The present state Of all Alaskan industries, he said. made it dangerous to impose too many bur dens on them. On the question Of passage, he voted no
 Other Bills Passed
 House Bill No. S, by MT. Kettle son. relating to liens of logs, tim Der. cord-wood and fuel wood, was also passed by the House yesterday afternoon by unanimous vote. House J0lnt M6lnOrldi ANO. To, pN Mir. Julien. asking change in min ing assessment work regulations so that claim owners in lieu of doing such work could pay into the Qivis- ional road fund in which such claims were located $100 in cash, was also passed by the House. House Bill No. 19. amending the Alaska mining laws. eliminated the forfeiture clause for failure to record proof of assess ment but making such recording prima facie evidence of having done the work, passed it's second reading after several minor amendments. The bill also provides for repeal of the Territorial law requiring yearly pay ment of s25 in lieu of assessment work on mill site slaims and repeal of the section allowing cost of sur yev of claims to be credited in filing for patent. both of which, it was stated. were clearly in contrayention ! ,g nadaral StatutpS