Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-24
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
WEDNESDAY,, June "a.


SENATE The Chair presented memorial of
the Soldiers and Sailors Union Of Washing
ton, asking the enactment into a law OF the
House eight-hour bill Laid on the table.
Mr.. Johnson presented "a memorial of the
Mount Vernon ladies' Association, asking an
appropriation Of $4,000.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported, with amendments, the bill to re-
move causes in certain cases from the State to
the United States Courts.
Mr.. Howard introduced n bill relating to the
freedmen's Bureau. and providing for its dis
continuance. Referred TO Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
Mr.. Conness called up the bill to make e,ght
hours legal days work for all mechanics and
laborers in the employ Of the United States.
Mr.. Sherman moved an amendment, that I'M.
less otherwise provided by law, the rate OF
wages paid by the United States shall be the
current rates for the same labor at the same
time at the place Of employment.
MI. Conness opposed the amendment. The
bill as it stood now was no loss 10 the United
should rise in his place and object TO IL. 1t was
time that the bone and muscle Of this country
should receive some encouragement
Mr.. Sherman was in favor OF equal rights,
and he did not see why man should get more
because he worked for the Government than if
he worked for an individual, and that was the
spirit OF his amendment AS this bill now stood
ir gave special pri ivileses to those who worked
for the Government, which was wrong aud
Impolfic. Ii eight hours is to be considered a
days labor let il be SO, but do not make tue pay
Of the men OF this country worked more than
eight hours, and there was no successful man
VINO did not labor more time than that every
Mr.. Hendricks was in favor of the bill as it
now stood and opposed TO the amendms snt. He
thought that eight-honrs Of faithful labor was
enoueh Tor amy man, He thought the action
Of The Government in making eight-hours q
legal days work would be good example tor
private employers. -sfr. 81
MIR. Morton was also opposed TO the amend.
As "A Il, n lp 10
This was an experiment, and fair trial
should be given u. Ii was commended thar as
much WORK could be done ia eight ouse as in
ten, as the laborer will be so much more re-
fresheG by his longer rest as to be able 10 " ork
With so m uch greater vim TO
Dir. Stewart argued that a man would live
than in a day of ten. -
Mr.. Conkling asked il the bill could no, be
modlned so as TO include Senators, il this re-
ductiOn OF labor was to prolong life If 10
hours labor per day was traught with danger
10 human lie. he supposed he might as well
bid an aGectionate farewell to his friends II
Mr.. Stewart said there We're plenty yoluu.
teers ready tor Senatorial labor, but there was
not so much competition in the other branches
of industry.
Mr.. Cole was in favor of giving laboring men
opportunities Of self Improvement.
Mr. Wilson stated that he had worked IL
hours day as a farm hand, and Is as me.
chanIc, but he favored this bill. tor the reason
that the amount OF work 10 be performed was
not the most important con sderaticn hut TO
produce race Of American men and women
strong IN both nina and body.
Mr. Moiril (Nt) believed this bill an A..
tempt 10 obtain votes, and 20 degrade working.
men by deprivmg them of the privilege of max.
ing contracts Tor their laOor TOR whale YER
amount OF tune and money they choose. The
WoiKlr gmen would find that 1t injured them.
and they would prevent the measure from re-
isulfing TO the advantage of any political party
The morning hour expiring the order of the
day was postponed by a vote OF 81 10 %, and the
pending bill proceeded with.
Mr.. Buc kalew thought the amendment would
prevent theGiovernment from obtaining skilled
labor.
: M. Fessenden said the plain auesti ON was
whether the Government should pay twenty
per cent. more than other ps ople, and ss.d
his opinion that politicai considerations were
animaiing both sides OF the chamber in sup.
porting this bill. He was opposed to rayn
lating labor by law or OF attempting 10 rryu-
late intellectual development. The next thing
would De an attempt 10 maxi six hours davis
work. The Senator from Massachusetts lNr
WIlson) speaks of having worked thirteen and
hftten hours day, and he Certainly looks no
worse for II. No attempt is made, or no one
dreams OF regulating the time OF iabor OF pro-
1esionai men, who often work sixteen and
eighteen hours III their Offices.
Mr.. Ferry SAID thI- whole cry OF eight hours
was started not by the workingmen, but by
clamorous demagogues in the search for votes
IL was positive injury 10 the workiugman
ana We're De one " that class he would resent
any attempt by the q overnment 10 Regulate the
pIIce or the time OF his labor. The WORKING.
men and their employers could better arran "
this matter among themselves. The idea OF the
IoVernment, m rhss free Republic, undertaking
10 control labor con- tracts wa one which shonI Id
NOT De- entertained Tor 4 moment
1he question was then taken on the amend .
follows:
Tsas-Messrs. CaIt.II, Corbeu, Davis. Ei.
munds, Ferry, Fessendrn, Howard, Morrill, az
1ne., Noiriii OF W, Patterson Of N. H., Ross,
sherman, Sumner, Van Wrinkle and Will
liams-15.
Noss-Messrs Buckalew. CoIp, ConkImg.
Gonness, Crasin, Dixon, Doolittle Harlan,
Morgan, Norton Nye, Patterson OF Tern
Pomeroy, Ramsey, Stewart, Upton and viii.
son-21.
The bill was then passed, As follows
TdS-Messrs. Buckalew, Chandler, Cole.
Conkling, COnness, Cragin, Dixon. Doolittle.
Fowler, Harlan, Hendricks, Howard, McCrrery
son OF N. II. Patterson o: Tenn. Ramsay,
Rots, Stewart Thayer, Upton, Wade, Wi.
i'y, Williams, Wilson, and Yares-29.
Ndys-Messrs. COrbetL Da Wis Edmupds Far
ry, Fessenden, NJ ryan, Morrill, OF VT. Pome.
roy, sherman, Sumner, and Van WnkIe-lI.
AbseEt0r MOI Nottng-Messrs. Anthony, Ray.
ard, Cameron, Cattell, Drake. Frelinghuysen,
Grimes, Henderson, Howe, Johnson, Norton,
Eickers-16.
Mr.. Sherman suggested that the title Of the
10 give certain Government employees twenty.
hNe per cent. more than is paid TO the same
class OF employees ia private EMPLOY"
Mr.. Conness.-OL, that is only an eccentri
city OF the Senator'S
The unfinished business. being the I<acisla.
nvs, Executive, anG Judicial Appropriation
Bill, was then taken mp.
HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATIvEs.-Thp Sneaker
laId before the House communication from
The Secretary Of State, in relation TO Messrs
Moran and Costello, who had been arrested
and sentenced for alleged crimes committed IN
England. Referred 20 Committee on EDreIgn
Affairs.
Also, communication from The Paymast,r
General, giving estimate OF amount OF money
required 10 supply deficiences in the appropri.
alton for carrying out the reconstru ctIon acts
Tor The current fiscal year, ana, also, estimates
OF appropriations required for the ensuing
year. Referred To Committee on ApproprIa.
items.
Mr. Scofield (Pa) rose 70 a privileged qres.
tIoE, and desired 10 make a report from the
Committee on Elections.
Mr.. Brooks IN. } made point OF order
that under the rule hitherto adopted, and pend.
ing the consideration OF the tax bill. no on -iness
was III order except reports Of committees
from enrolled bills In explaining this order
last Monday ihr Chair said but two things
were excepted, which Were veto messages from
The President and applications Of members =
be sW oru IN under laws previously legisiaied
upon by Congress. Under Tins ruling, Mr.
Brooks submitted IL was not IN order tor The
Honsr 10 entertain the report of the CommIrta-
op Elections at The present time.
Tne Speaker overruled the po.Rc Of oY..-r,
~ BE- reporter, for he had ruled with 80. ciai
rat A ,h.t mia