Executive Order 2656

In order to effect the more expeditious construction of the Post Office Department equipment shops building, Washington, D. C., which is being materially delayed by reason of the fact that the contractors are unable to secure and retain a sufficient number of carpenters and other workmen because the provisions of law prohibiting more than eight hours of labor in any one calendar day apply to these workmen, while such provisions have been suspended in connection with certain other Government work and have no application to contracts between private parties for construction work where large forces of men are employed at and in the vicinity of Washington and are paid bonuses for overtime, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the provisions of the act of Congress approved March 4, 1917, entitled "An act making provisions for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918, and for other purposes," whereby it is provided that in case of national emergency the President is authorized to suspend provisions of law prohibiting more than eight hours labor in any one day by persons engaged upon work covered by contracts with the United States, provided further, that the wages, of persons employed upon such contracts shall be computed on a basic day rate of eight hours work with overtime rate to be paid for at not less than time and one-half for all hours work in excess of eight hours. I do hereby suspend the provisions of law prohibiting more than eight hours of labor in any one day by persons engaged in the construction of the Post Office Department equipment shops building, at Fifth and W Streets, NE., Washington, D. C. This order shall take effect from and after this date.

Woodrow Wilson.

The White House,

6 July, 1917.