EIGHT HOURS DAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 8

EIGHT HOURS DAY.

AMERICAN LABOUR. TROUBLE.

CONGRESS PASSES BILL

Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,

WASHINGTON, September I

The House of Representatives by 239 to 56 passed a Bill compelling the railways to grant their men an eight hours' day with the present ton hours' pay. ' Railway directors declare that the Bill i.s confiscatory, and that Congress has no power to force a. wage scale upon private corporations. Appeals will be taken to the- Supreme Court to test the constitutionality of the action of Congress. The legislation ia considered an important victory for organised labour. For tho first time Congress has accepted the dictation of the trades unions concerning wage regulation. ,

The publio are suspending judgment until it is ascertained whether the wage increases will come from the public's pockets. President Wilson announce* his relief that the crisis has passed.