The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-05-20
The Eight Hour Law Middle.

When a man whose business it is to le,
gislate for the country undertakes to pre-
pare bill reducing the number Of hours
each day that an employee of the govern
ment shall work, from ten to eight, without
any corresponding reduction of pay, it would
seem to be very easy task for him, II his
intentions are honest, to express his mean
ing in language that cannot be mistaken
Congress passed an eight hour law, but
the Secretary of the Navy has construed 1t
to mean, that for eight hours work there
shall be deduction of one .ffh Of the pay
that was allowed for ten hours work. The
Attorney General, Mr.. Hoar, has given
written opinion on the subject, in which he
sustains the view of the law taken oy the
Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Borie, being
appealed to by the workmen employed in
the several navy yards. to modify his con-
structioh of the law, replies that if Congress
means he should pay as much for eight bours'
labor under the new Law as for ten under tie
old, it must sag so. There is great excite
ment in the navy yards and government
workshops over the matter. The President
has been asked to interfere. but what can he
do in the face Of the opinion # his Attorney
General
Henry Wilson has been bawlipg himself
hoarse in Massachusetts, in attempting to
show that Congress did not mean to do what
Mr. Hoar says the law plainly expresses on
its face. Wilson contends that the radical
party is founded ON "the rock of.ages" and
contains within itself all the brains of the
country. He is a member of the Senate and
advocated the passage of the law. If the
intention of Congress was what he declares
it to have been, why did not his fertile ge-
MUS make it plain to the intellectual pigmies
of the Senate Such bungliug legislation
might naturally be expected from Penn
sylvauia Legislature, but coming from so
able body as Congress. it is huge bur
lesque. 1t is gratifying, however. to learn
that the difficulty is about to be solved from
quarter least to be expected. A committee
of the employees of the government at Phil
adephia have addressed letter to John W.
Geary, informing him that the decision Of
Borie and Hoar has exhibited a tendency
toward the defeat of the republican party in
our fall campaign" and imploring him to
use all the influence and power at his com
mand "that may affect the President and
officers Of his Cabinet to consideration of
the subject of the reduction of pay under the
eight hour law" etc Gearv replies that, in
his opinion. it is as plain as mud that what
ever the law may express. Congress never
intended that there should be any reduction
of the pay, and in conclusion consoles the
committee as follows: You nay, therefore,
rely upon my support of this view of the
subject at all times and wherever my influ-
ence may extend" There is sublimity of
rdicule in thus enisting the Websterian in
tellect of Geary in the novel effort of explain
ing to Grant and his Cabinet the true intent
and meaning of law which has already re-
ceved a judicial construction by the law off
Ger Of the government. Such an anomily
could only occur under radical administra-
tion. 1t remains to be seen whether Borie
and Hoar will maintain their position, or
whether Geary shall triumph.