The daily union., 1852-09-07

sssippi that have offered this amendment in accord
anee with petition signed by these aborers com
mee OF their number deputed BY them. waited on my
colleague and myself and presented their memorial ask
ing for extra compensation This amendment Ia offered
in accordance with that memorial.
Mr. ADAMS. have not had an answer TO my ques.
ton asked whether the superintendent does not make
bis contract with these aboers and whether he has not
power TO increase their compensation II he should think
properl
Several SENATORS Certainly
Mr.. DOUGLAS | do not know why the laborer is
not entitled TO increase OF pay much the clerks and
other employees OF The government The unusual price
OF provisions IN this city certainly renders II necessary
in their case IN that o the clerks that they shoad have
larger pay The urged for this increase in re
gard 10 clerks and applies with much greater
force to the abofer and mechanic. Tor We all know that
much greater proportion OF their earnings has go for
the necessares OF life than that OF the clerks who receive
higher pay II this Is not sound argument in favor OF
increased pay TO the aborer il certainly shows that the
whole thing Is wrong II we to increase the salaries
at all we should commence with those which are the
lowest and II any to be omitted, they should be
those which are the highest. | hope that amendment
will be adopted.
Mr. WELLER A very short answer to all this ar
gument in favor OF the aborer is. that the contractors
who employ these aborers have the power to increase
their pay whenever they choose; but the head OF de
partment who employs clerks has no such power The
salary OF each clerk is fixed and let his merits be what
they may. the head OF department has no power
ward them He in no better position than the idle
Inefficient and in this respect has nducement put
forth his energies. 1t is not 30 with the aborer. TO him
composition open and he can at all times find the value
OF his labor
| Mr. SHIELDS. The object Of nv amendment is to in
crease the pay Of those whose salaries are regulated by
law take il for granted that the superintendent will.
whether you egislae IN regard to this matter not, in
the necessity Of the case, because we Jay down. rule
which think he will follow shall vote for the amend
meni OF the senator from Maryland, although scarcely
Mr. DAWSON. Do understand that this amendment,
is to increase the compensation in all tie workshops, and
arsenas and nayyyards n the United States, or is it
only TO apply TO the city of Washington
Mr.. SHIELDS. Only 10 those in the city OF Washing
ton.
Mr.. DAWSON. And what is the difference between
those engaged in the arsenal and navy yards here and
those eng in similar establishments Again.
Mr.. President, suppose we are now about to carry
out the principle which has been adopted by the present
Congressl mean The abandonment OF the contract sys-
tenn, and TO pay every man according TO the imagined
value OF the services he has rendered. that hereafter
man can enter into contract with the government un-
less he reserves the right OF having his pay increased
As understand ii, these laborers are paid by the day.
they do not receive sufficient compensation the agent
who employs them ought to be instructed to pay what ia
reasonable and just How we here undertake to pay
an individual who hires himself by the dayl II he
agrees to work for 80 day. it is supposed that that is
the full arket value Of his labor; and how
dertake to increase his remuneration twenty per cent
above that? There seems to me to be an ncongruily
about this. and in my judgment will be the OF in
Producing much confusion. go for full pay to all the
ldboreTs who are employed any OF the govern
ment works. But this is bad way to attempt to esab-
it, and il this rule is to he applied to the arsenal aud
navy yard in the city of Washington, think il should
extend to every similar establishment in the United
States.
| Mr. DAVIS. merely wish 10 ask whether it is right
that the government Of the United States shall give
for labor than individuals able TO ay and whether
the whole tendency OF this system is not to disturb the
arrangements OF the labong community, and induce
worklngmen to come here because this is privileged
place in which labor is paid at higher by the gov.
eminent than il is possible Tor individuals to pay The
whole operation of this amendment, my opinion, is TO
disturb the condition OF the laborng and TO press
tta II al
of rivalry with private employers that am not disposed
| 10 encourage.
| The question was taken on the amendment TO the
amendment, and 1t was rejected The question then
Cured on the amendment, and division there were
| ayes Is, noes 20.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
| Mr., BRIGHT oher the following amendment:
"For grading and paving with round the carriage
OF Pennsyvania avenue from Seventeenth
R. ok creek setting eub-sones on each eide thereof a,
reayng the hag iootways at the intersection of the
streets, $40 0oO"
That amendment proposes 10 improve the avenue from
the War Department 10 the western limits OF the city,
which now, you may say is nothing but one continuous
mud hole II Is recommended by the Committee Tor the
District Of Columbia.
/ Mr.. BRODHEAD. believe that this amendment was
rejected last evening. wish 10 inquire whether it
! be in order now /!
Mr.. BRIGHT That is not the same amendment at ALL
curbing it,
| The amendment agreed to- on divsion-ayes 80,
noes not counted.
| MIR DOUGLAS. | offer the following amendment as
addition TO the item Of Sl25 900 for printing and bind
| ing:
"Popdsd That in settling the for the printing
OF the Thryhf-t Congress- hall OF the by
the joint Tesoanon Of 1919 be allowed exceeding the
amount that would be paid under the respective
II settled by the prices named IN the bi OF the House Oh
Representatives. which passed the sst of July last Ia
regard TO the public printing estimating the paper at the
actual cost thereof, TO be paid Of any money In the
treasury not Otherwise Appropriated"
Mr.. HAMLIN. | want to know under what authority
that amendment gets in here
Mr. DOUGLAS Under The rule ] offer il 10 the ap-
propra on IN The bill for The contingent expenses OF the
two houses and part OF these contingent expenses is
for prnling-for work being done for the
year The work is still going on.
Mr.. HAMLlN. | rise to a question Of order. ! am
uader the impression that this amendment is not adms
sible, as It rehtes to a private claim.
The PRESIDING OFFICER, (Mr. Foor in the cbar)
The Chair is OF opinion that the amendment is admis.
sibls
MIR. HAMLIN. Then, desire 10 say that, il the
amendment passes, il will give the OF last year
increase OF more than 100000 beyond the contract
prices 1 know what say. | have the papers in my
possession TO prove every word OF it, And say further
that the contractor has pfese nted account OF his
debit and credit exhibit Of the cost OF the work,
either TO Congress TO the committee; and from my
own knowledge OF printing, can state that although he
NAV have lost a small sum OF money through mpru-
dence, careful printer would not have lost single dol
lar under hs contract, in my judgment II the Senate,
however at this late hour OF the sesson, persists pay
ing this OF 100000, desire 10 wash my hands
of the whole affair
| Mr. CLEMENS. Mr.. President -
Mr.. PEARCE. Will my friend from Alabama give
way to me for a momentl rise to point OF order.
| Mr. CLEMENS. have but word 10 say. when |