Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-04-23

tournament OF the Senate lssc night lett things
In IN interesting but not satisfactory condi-
ton. Senator Sprague lfkened Senator Abbot,
to . puppy, and the latter arose to inquire if
Senator Sprague meant It, but unfortunately
the Senator from Rhode asland was not in his
seat, and so the question remained unanswer-
ed. The Senator from North Carolina, how
ever, declared that ne would get "sausfac-
Tion." This stimulated curiosity to know how
he would get it-wherner by the duello, fisti-
cuff, or ''sassing back" Would Sprague rec
ognize the "code" if IN yited He is said to be
q good shot, but as e Northern man, he might
not approve that style OF settling his difficulties
Abbott, too, is 8 northern man, q native OF New
Hampshire, and probably might have the
northern ideas in regard TO "murder made
easy" by the code. But yet when the blood is
mp people do not always act upon their moral
convictions. So there were Iumors afioat this
morning that the belligerents had gone out Of
town for hostile interview. Rumor even fixed
thetlme. at p. m, that senator Sprague swal-
lowed his hasty cup of coffee for one, without
cream, ana stepped into his carriage with his
pistol case, at the corner Of 9th and f streets.
But the morning wore on without giving fur
ther strength to the report, and later IN the day
II was ascertained by watchful guardians OF
the law, anxious to avert bloodshed, that Mr.
Sprague was engaged, in his usual noncha.
liant Sir Charles Coldstream manner, in read
ing the numerous commendatory letters
brought him by every mail. And so far from
having sanguinary ideas in his head he was all
upon hospitality intent. preparing to Assist at
dinner party this evening.
THE EIGHT-HoUR q QUKsTIoN.-The Attorney
General, under date OF April 2l. 1869, in reply
10 letter from the Secretary OF the Navy,
gives the following opinion:
Hon 4. T.. Boris Secretary of the Ndru,-Sir; I
nave the honor to acknowledge the receipt OF
your letter Of April 3, 1869, in which you ask
my opin ion upon the true meaning and effect
whichi fixes the number OF hours constituting
days work of laborers, workmen and
mechanics in the employment of the United
States, taken in connection with the act of July
16, 1862, which provided, That section eight of
the act further to promote the efficiency OF the
navy, approved December 81, fs61," be amen ded
so as to read as follows: THAT the hours of
labor and the rate OF wages of the employees in
the havy-yards shall conform as nearly as is
consistent with the public interest with those
OF private establishments in the immediate
mined by the commandments of the navy.vards,
subject to the approval and revision Of the
Secretary of the Navy"
ect was inlly CONSIDERED in an opinion sy SnT mS
predecessor in office, Mr.. Evarts, to the Pres
Ident, on the 25th Of November, 1S6s, to which
l beg leave to refer you,' and from the conclu.
slons OF which i see no reason to differ.
In my opiEIon the statute of June 25, 1865,
has nothing to do with the compensation to be
pald to wofkren in the navy yards, and leaves
the act Of July IL, 1862. The provision that
eight hours shall constitute days labor has
no tendency whatever to show whether the
day labor thus established shall be paid at a
lower or higher rate than the day of ten hours
labor, or at the same rate. The rate Of COM
pensatiOn is still left by law to be determined
under the rule prescribed by the statute Of
July III, 1862, as TO icon form as nearly as is
consistent with the public interest; with these
OF private establishments in the immediate vi
Cinity OF the respective Yards, to be determined
by the connmah dants OF the navy yards. subject
Of the Navy"
If the private establishments in the neigh.
borhood employed their hands for Il We hours a
day, only, there would obviously be no justice
In reducing the wages OF those employed IN the
navy yards for eight hours to the amount paid
by the day in private establishments: and the
law intended no such result On the other
hand, find nothing In the statute which re-
quires You to pay the same price for eight
hours labor which private establishments pay
for ten or twelve unless the amount of service
rendered or the quality Of the work make the
fewer hours IN the navy yards equivalent in
lIshments, or fer some other reason make il
consistent with the public interest.
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
f. Il. HOAR. Attorney General.
Secretary of the Navy issues the following cir
cular letter TO comman dants of navy yards and
stations
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April
-, ls69.-SIR The act OF Congress approved
June 25th, 1865, constitutes eight hours days
work for all iaborers, workmen, and mechan-
les employed on behalf Of the Government.
While thus establishing the length OF a days
work, Congress omitted 70 repeal the act OF
July 1G 1862, requiring the wages of employees
in the navy yards TO conform as nearly as is
consistent with the public interest with those
Of private establishments in the Immediate Vi
cikity Of the yard. Until these laws are re.
pealed the Department must abide by them.
The Department has no authority to extend
the hours OF labor by making more than eight
hours days work; but 1t has the right TO EN-.
ploy mechanics, workmen. and laborers extra
hours, and to pay them pro rata for such extra
labor.
Where, therefore, NECESSITY exists tor extra
labor. you are al liberty to exercise your dis
cretion IN the matter, SO as to assist the work.
ing classes, and At the same time do justice TO
the Government.
Very respectfully, A. f. BORIR,
Secretary OF the Navy.