The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-10
LEGISLATING FOR LABOR.
THE MOUSE on OETTCTfL TIOLATIONS
or THE EIGHT-HOUR Law.

or TIE EIGHT HOTK Law.
Remarks by Cox, Butier. and Banks-The OIL
uing-Ke Iiey on the Tnrin BiI-rhe SEN
ate's secret session -The Indian Biii Passed
Lively Debate over the bankrupt Law.
WASHINGTON, May 9-ln the House, Mr..
Goodc Dem. Va. from the Committee on Ed
uca,on and Labor. reported aIoint resolution
providing that eight hours shall constitute
days work, and forbdding any reduction in
tho wages OF workmcn laborcrs. and mechanics
employed by the United Suites on account oil
the reduction Of the hours Of labor.
Mr. Cox Dem. NJ " offered an amendment
directing all the heads OF departments and
officers of Government TO enforce the Eight
Hour law as long as IL remains unrcpealed.
Adopted.
Mr. Eden Dem, Ill inquired why the law
did not apply to all laborcrs, and Mr. Goodc re-
Piled that Congress had no authority over Ia
borers not employed by the Government.
Mr.. Cox said that. one-ifth Of the hours being
cut Off. onc-iith more workingn"n could be
employees and there never had been a time
when II was moro necessary that Congress
should do something for the good Of the work
ingmcn.
Mr. Butler Rep. Mass thought the reason
tho Eight Hour law was disrogardcd was that
there was no penalty attached TO it, He hoped
Congress would remedy this. lie wanted moro
powder and ball in the administration OF the
laws.
Mr.. Banks rep. Mass said tina, n great deal
had been said recently about workingmcn re-
sistng laws. The Government was setting an
Infamous and scandalous example Of disregard
Of the law II the agents OF tho Government
were allowed TO force upon labor what the law
absolutely forbade. The law was based on the
philosophical theory that in the long run u man
could do as much work in eight hours as In ten.
Mr. Dunno Rep Mimi inquired why the
joint resolution would be obcycd my better
than the law on the statute books; To- which Mr.
Cox replied that the Secretary Of the Navy want
ed Congress to construc and enforce the law
MIR. Phillips tRcp.. KAN and Mr.. Southland
Dem.. Ohio spoH1 in favor Of the resolution.
and II was passed.
Mr.. Reagan Dem. Tex asked to have his hill
10 regulate inter state transportation 10y rail-
road nndo n special order for Saturday. Oh
lection being made he said the bill should oc-
cupy the morning hour until the House grew
sick Of il motion TO table. 10y Mr.. Beebe
dem. " y. was rejected.
Mr.. Thompson NRep, Pa. speaking in
support Of the bill. said that last season 49,.
100000 barrels Of oil produced in PENNSYLVANIA
had been shipped to the seahoard. The estab-
llshed rate Of TRANSPORTATION wassl.j1 per barrel.
which should have given To the rgilroad com
the other sl3.5OO.uoO having gone into the
pockets q an unscrupulous ring The ~
prOpos Il to abolish that system. Although III
teen years ago coal oil had been unknown To-
commerce 81 now stood second on the list oi cN-
ports. cotton being first IL brought hack more
gold to this country than al the wheat, Hour.
bacon. hoof, lard. lumber. tobacco. or any other
article exported. This and every interest oi ne
country was being crushed 10y tho unjust dis-
elimination of th" RAILROAD companies. Tho
bill WAS in the interest Of these COMPANIES them-
solves they should be prevented from commit
ting suicide.
The hill was made the special order for Sat
Mi Patterson Dem. Co reported back the
Senate hill authorizing citz"ns Of Colorado.
Nevada. and the Trrritorl "s - Tell and remove
timber on the public lands for mining and do
such lands shall Mi be open 10 railroad cor
porat ohs for the cutting Of timber was adopted.
On mot IA II Mr Wright Dom. Pa the
Cooper Of New York.
The House wen, into Committee Of the Whole
MI. Kellsy Rep. pa;l. a member ofthe Com
mittee on Ways and Means. said that Mr.. Wood.
epss. ' had Jciinrdd & eSpn ilose E prn!p@s
or the probable results; and had remitted that
OF The people had asked congress 70 revise
the tarin The loom and spindle w VIZ.
s e." Scs S We're the ont "T IN "1 The
The captains Of industry by thousands were
bT im lI ns"k ntd WHIT mt into paupc P
Ism. They had appealed 70 c uIr"ss ~ relieve
them. but not on" Oi them had suggested that II
could be done hy q revision Of the WriH IN the
Interest of foreign producers who were sup
planting. mrreAanis in New York and else
where nr, Wood, like Frank enstein, hal ere;
ated monster If which he WAS ienornnt and
which he knew not how 10 control. Mr.. tn 'k"r
had talked free trade. hut a Virginia weed was
protected IN the Till ~ a ~ per cent. duty.
Tho nj sence Of n spcrin' free list was fatal
defect the bill was ridiculous abortion. The
committee had no partir ular malice against
anybody. bur general malice against all indus
tries. II had run a muck among American
manufacturers lie denied Mr. MooNs state
ment that tho bill had received the assent Of tho
iron and steel trade. The hin involved royo-
luton Industry stood appalled,. With the
FORCES furnaces. and factories entirely closed.
how would the working people be fed, and what
army would keep them in order Scrihbers
had bestowed on him sohrqut which h.
cherished" on Pig Iron" No one could tell
whether the pending bill would m = promote
free trade or protection. In closing, Mr. Kelley
spoke of the testimony which the Crit"d states
had given 10 the world, IN the Centennial EXhi-
bition. Of the value Of the prot tive system in
developing the resources Of "a nation and the
attributes Of a people.
Mr. Harris D'm.. On - n member Of the Com
mttee on Ways and Means made a speech in
favor of the bill after which the committee rose
and the House adjourned.