Townsley v. United States

The plaintiff was an employee of the Panama Canal. During the period here in question, March 28, 1934, to August 31, 1939, he was, successively, operator or leverman, chief operator, and master, of the dredge Las Cruces, which was operated by the Government in the Canal. He was employed and paid on a monthly basis. He worked eight hours per day, six days per week. He claims that under Section 23 of the act of March 28, 1934, 48 Stat. 522, forty hours per week was set as the regular work period for his job, and payment of time and a half for overtime was directed, hence he should have been…