SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
OCTOBER TERM, 1907. 
No. 107. 
CURT MULLER, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR 
v. 
STATE OF OREGON. 
BRIEF FOR DEFENDANT IN ERROR. 
LOUIS D. BRANDEIS, 
Counsel for State of Oregon. 
""· 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

	Pages	
Laws of the Several States in Force Limiting the Hours of Labor of Adult Women...	1-8	
ARGUMENT……………………………………………………………………………………	9, 10	
FIRST PART – Legislation Restricting the Hours of Labor for Women………………….	11-17	
I. THE FOREIGN LEGISLATION………………………………………………………	11-15	
II. THE AMERICAN LEGISLATION…………………………………………………….	16, 17	
PART SECOND – The World’s Experience upon which the Legislation Limiting the Hours of Labor for Women is Based………………………………………………………...	18-112	
I. THE DANGERS OF LONG HOURS………………………………………………………	18-55	
  A. CAUSES………………………………………………………………………………….	18-27	
    (1) Physical Differences between Men and Women………………………………….	18-23	
    (2) The New Strain in Manufacture…………………………………………………….	24-27	
  B. BAD EFFECT OF LONG HOURS ON HEALTH…………………………………….	28-46	
    (1) General Injuries from Long Hours…………………………………………………..	28-36	
    (2) Specific Evil Effects on Childbirth and Female Functions……………………….	36-42	
  C. BAD EFFECT OF LONG HOURS ON SAFETY…………………………………….	42-44	
  D. BAD EFFECT OF LONG HOURS ON MORALS……………………………………	44-46	
  E. BAD EFFECT OF LONG HOURS ON GENERAL WELFARE…………………….	47-55	
    (1) State’s Need of Protecting Woman………………………………………………...	47-51	
    (2) The Effect of Women’s Overwork on Future Generations………………………	51-55	
II. SHORTER HOURS THE ONLY POSSIBLE PROTECTION………………………….	56	
III. THE GENERAL BENEFITS OF SHORT HOURS…………………………………….	57-64	
  A. GOOD EFFECT ON THE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH, HOME LIFE, ETC……………..	57, 58	
  B. GOOD EFFECT ON THE GENERAL WELFARE……………………………………	59-64	
IV. ECONOMIC ASPECT OF SHORT HOURS……………………………………………	65-84	
  A. EFFECT ON OUTPUT…………………………………………………………………..	65-77	
    (1) Shorter Hours increase Efficiency, and thus prevent Reduction of Output…….	65-75	
    (2) Long Hours result in Inferior Quality of Product…………………………………...	75-77	
  B. EFFECT ON REGULARITY OF EMPLOYMENT…………………………………….	77-79	
  C. ADAPTATION OF CUSTOMERS TO SHORTER HOURS…………………………	79, 80	
  D. INCENTIVE TO IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURE…………………………..	80-82	
  E. EFFECT ON SCOPE OF WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT………………………………	82-84	
V. UNIFORMITY OF RESTRICTION………………………………………………………..	85-91	
  A. ALLOWANCE OF OVERTIME DANGEROUS TO HEALTH……………………….	85, 86	
  B. UNIFORMITY ESSENTIAL FOR PURPOSES OF ENFORCEMENT……………..	86-88	
  C. UNIFORMITY ESSENTIAL TO JUSTICE TO EMPLOYERS……………………….	89-91	
VI. THE REASONABLENESS OF THE TEN-HOUR DAY………………………………..	92-103	
  A. OPINIONS OF PHYSICIANS AND OFFICIALS……………………………………...	92-99	
  B. OPINIONS OF EMPLOYEES………………………………………………………….	99-102	
  C. OPINIONS OF EMPLOYERS………………………………………………………….	102, 103	
VII. LAUNDRIES………………………………………………………………………………	104-112	
  A. PRESENT CHARACTER OF THE BUSINESS……………………………………..	104-106	
  B. BAD EFFECT UPON HEALTH……………..…………………………………………	106-109	
  C. BAD EFFECT UPON SAFETY………………………………………………………..	109	
  D. BAD EFFECT UPON MORALS……………………………………………………….	109-111	
  E. IRREGULARITY OF WORK…………………………………………………………..	111, 112	
CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………….	113