Executive Order 2559-A

Under authority contained in the Naval Appropriation Act approved March 4, 1917 (Public No. 391, 64th Congress), whereby it is provided—

"That in case of National Emergency the President is authorized to suspend the provisions of law prohibiting more than eight hours labor in any one day of 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 rates to be paid for at not less than time and one-half for all hours worked in excess of eight hours."

It is hereby ordered that the provisions of the Act approved June 19, 1913, limiting the hours of dally service of mechanics and laborers on work under contracts to which the United States is a party are suspended with respect to all contracts for ordnance and ordnance stores and other military supplies and material, contracts for buildings under construction or to be constructed at the arsenals, and contracts for fortification work during the pending emergency and until further orders. This order shall take effect from and after this date.

Woodrow Wilson.⁠

The White House,

24 March, 1917.