The Daily Alaska Empire

EIGHT-HOUR DAY SUSPENDED.
ALASKA RAILROAD
While readers were being enlivened with the hectic days of the closing days of Congress and the opening of the Republican National Convention, perhaps one important news item was overlooked and that was President Truman suspending the eight-hour day on the Alaska Railroad and declaring an "extraordinary emergency" existing because of needed construction and repairs.
For five months, Mr. Truman's executive order decreed, mechanics and laborers may be employed at more than 40 hours a week.
The added work shall be paid for at time-and-a-half, the President ruled.
The order noted that the railroad is the sole channel for supplies to the interior of Alaska.
"The protection of our national security through the maintenance of military posts in Alaska," the President said, "is dependent upon the transportation by the railroad of vitally needed materiel, supplies and equipment for our armed forces."
Because of the huge burden borne by the railroad during the war, "immediate and extensive rehabilitation of track and roadway facilities is necessary for the safe and continued operation of the railroad." Mr. Truman said.
The short outdoor working season in Alaska will not permit completion of the job unless the working hours are lengthened, he added.
The law governing the hours of Federal laborers and mechanics limits the work day to eight hours except in cases of extraordinary emergency. Mr. Truman said such an emergency exists.
The longer work day may be applied to any work done for the railroad which Secretary of the Interior Krug finds necessary to complete the rehabilitation work, the President's order said.