Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-09
House of Representatives.
EIGHT HOUR LAW BILL KILLED,

WASHINGTON May S.-The bill to enforce the
eight hour law was taken up as the business of
the morning hour and Mr.. Kelley argued that
80 long as that law uurepealed every work.
ing man in government employment forced to
work ten hours for days wages was defraud-
ed of his legal rights. But the condition of
things since the passage of that law had chang
ed greatly. Now capital could not find safe
and profitable employment IN productive in
dustries, and labor was starving, The condl- |
ton of the world in that res pect was pitiable.
If this was due to overproduction, which he
denied, then in Gods name let it be stopped
If eight hours labor produced too much let the
time be reduced to six. Either that should be
done or the doctrine of Nautilus should be &C
cepted and the increase of population stopped.
He was opposed to that. If two hours toll
was enough to sustain a workingman and his
family, the working time should be reduced to
two hours. but if eight or ten hours labor had
the effect of reducing the laboring classes to
poverty want and death, then IN Gods name
Let the hours OF labor be reduced.
The bill was opposed by Mr.. Mcmillan as not
being in the interest of the tviling millions
but adverse to that interest. He moved an
amendment that it shall not apply to the past.
Mr.. Goode, who reported the bill, spoke IN
its advocacy, taking the ground that Congress
would set a bad example if 1t permitted OH
GERS of the government to disregard the plain
law.
It was also further advocated by Mr.. Cox,
who said no one asked or dare ask in the face
of the voters of the country for repeal of the
eight hours law.
After some further debate the bill was lald
upon the table, 103 to So.
A vote was then taken by yeas and nays on
the motion to lay on the table the motion to
reconsider the vote by which the bill was laid
on the table. The vote resulted ny yeas and
81 noes, thus effectually killing the bill.
The SILVER BILL.
The silver bill was taken up, and Mr.. KIM
nell offered an amendment fixing the weight
of the silver dollar at 460 instead of 4l21s
grains.
posed the bill, arguing in favor of the single
standard. He argued the legal value of gold
and silver coin had always been and must be
held subordinate to the bullion value, ana ina!
it was impossible to maintain two mlnts OH
fering in intrinsic value.
was determined.
Mr.. Foster replied it was regulated by Tn
law of supply and demand. He quoted iron
the remarks of Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, II
1872, in the same line of argument, and aske'
Kelley how gold coin could be kept in tn
country when the difference between gold AM
silver was fixed by law at Is to l.
Mr. Kelley retorted by asking Mr.. Fisher no,
single standard could be made of that meta
which huctuated SO much as gold did. ID
added that he would retain both gold and silve
coin in the country by putting them not at
to Is, (which expes gold or le to l. ,.whic
France and the Latin union to use both meta
Unfortunately. and would enable the Unite
States to avail themselves of both.
Mr. Fisher-Then l understand the gentl
man not to hold to the views which he expires
ed in 1872. Am 1 correct?
MIR. Kelley-I humbly confess that L ha
learned something since 1872.
Mr.. Fisher said he was reminded of tn
Young man in scriptures who was born bin
but had his sight given him, and who sal
II report to the incredulous | know tt
whereas was once blind. now l see.'. 3
he suggested that Kelley had better rise a
.av. HOnce did see these things, but now
am stone blind" Uaughter.)
Mr.. Kelley desired to reply but Fisher
clined to yield further and proceede ed with
speech. He characterized the bill as fra
and cheat, which would
ROB THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.
Il was also in some respects free trade me