Executive Order 504

by President of the United States

1. All Departments of the Government under the supervision of which public works are being constructed are hereby directed to notify the representatives stationed at such public works to report at once to their respective Departments all cases in which contractors or subcontractors on works now under construction have required or permitted laborers or mechanics in their employ to work over eight hours in any one calendar day.
2. All Government representatives in charge of construction of public works are further directed that it is part of their duty to report to their respective Departments each and every case in which laborers or mechanics are required or permitted to work over eight hours a day on the works under supervision of such Government representatives. Wherever reports showing work in excess of eight hours a day are received by any Department they are to be referred to the Department of Justice for appropriate action.
3. All Departments of the Government under the supervision of which public works are being constructed by contract are further directed to have their respective legal officers prepare and forward to the President a list of such statutes and Executive Orders as have a direct bearing on contracts for the construction of public works, and with which bidders on such works should be made acquainted.

Theodore Roosevelt.

The White House, September 19, 1906.