A SIX HOUR LAW. 253 



tf ACT to bring all the idle and the partially em- 

 ployed into constant work. 



Whereas, Idleness being the sum of all social evils, 

 directly operating to destroy prosperity and create 

 poverty, with all its attending miseries and crimes, it 

 is the highest duty of organized society to use all 

 necessary means to cause its removal, that industry 

 and its comfortable fruits may be enjoyed by all ; 

 therefore, 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 

 sentatives of the united States of America, in Con- 

 gress assembled, That six hours shall constitute and 

 be deemed a legal day for work. 



SEC. 2. That no action in any court of law, for 

 compensation for work or labor done and performed, 

 shall be recoverable where it is legally shown that any 

 part of such account or demand is for work in excess 

 of six hours a day ; or where it is legally shown that 

 the complainant did, at the time when, and for the 

 party complained of, work in excess of six hours a day. 



SEC. 3. Any incorporated company or association, 

 doing business under operation of law, being legally 

 convicted upon complaint of any person having knowl- 

 edge of the offense, of working any of its employes for 

 more than six hours in any one day, shall, for the first 

 offense, forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dol- 

 lars, one half of the fine recovered to be paid to the 

 complainant, and the other half to the order of the 

 court ; and for the second offense shall pay a fine of 

 one thousand dollars and forfeit its charter. 



SEC. 4. Every person and company, not incorpo- 

 rated, that shall, either as principal or agent, employ 

 any person or persons for more than six hours in any 

 one day, shall, upon conviction thereof, for each and 

 every offense, forfeit and pay a fine equal to double 

 the amount of wages made payable, and the costs of 

 court ; one half of all fines recovered to be paid to the 



