National Republican., 1879-05-09
HOUSE OF REpREs ENrArIyEs.


Immediately after the reading of the journal tho
House resumed the consideration of the bill for the
enforcement of the eighthour law.
Mr.. KELLEY said that he thought that the passage
OF the eight-hour law was mere evasion Of duty
by Congress, because II had passed the law but had
not determined whetheror not days wages should
be paid for eight hours work.
Mr.. MCMILLAN offered an amendment, providing
that this act shall only apply to future labor or con-
tracts, mud not to any pnst labor or contract He
expressed himself as absolutely opposed TO the bill
but If II were TO pass he wanted 1t to pass in the
least Objectionable form II was not in the interest
Of the toiliug millions, but was proposition to tax
the toilng millions for the benefit OF few toilng
hundreds. .a... .... .f .|.
Mr.. GooDE spoke in favor of the bill Congress
should not set bad example by permitting officers
of the Government TO disregard plain law
Mr.. Cox supported the bill. Tho law should be
dare ask for in The nce of the voters OF the coun-
try Let Congress enforce the law before Il gave the
woringmen nm excuse to revolt in any direction.
He asserted that experiments had shown that more
work could be done IN eight hours than in ten
hours This bill should be passed in the interest of
fairness and justice and in the interest of the work
ingmen Of the country, who had petilionod for It's
passage.
Mr., TmLMAN supported Mr.. McMlans amend.
passed s3OOOOOo or sIOOOO6O would be taken out of
the Treasury. Claim agents would be clamoring at
the doors of the Treasury.
Mr.. CANNON (Ill.) moved to lay the bill on the
table. Agreed to--yeas, 103; nays, 50.
Mr.. Cox endeavored to obtain the yeas and nays
but they were refused He, however obtained the
yeas and nays on the motion 10 lay on the table the
motion TO reconsider, and the motion was agreed to
yeas 1877; nays 81.
So the motion toreconsider was laid OH the table,
thus cfiectualy killing the bill.
Mr.. NEAL presented the protest Of certain Indian
delegates against the establishment of territorial
government for the Indians. Referred.
The House then, at li5, took up the bill TO amend
The laws relating to coinage and coin and bullion
certificates.
Mr.: KIMMEL offered an amendment increasing, the
weight of the silver dollar nom 4l2l4 grains to 400
grains.
Mr.. FISHER spoke in opposition to the bill md
hvoring the amendment offered by Mr.. Kimmel
Mr.. KELLEY said he would retain both gold and
tlver coin in the country by putting them, not at
fifteen to one (Which expels the godl nor at sixteen
10 one (Which expcls silver but at fifteen and half
10 one which enabled France and the Latin Union
10 nse both metals coincidentnlly and indiscrim-
nntely, and would enable the United States to avail
themselves Of both.
Mr. FISHER. Then understand the gentleman
not to hold to the views which he expressed in 1872.
Mr. KELLEY. humbly confess that / have
learned something since 1872.
Mr. FIsiER said that he was reminded of the
young man in the Scripture. who was born blind but
had his sight given 10 him, and who said in reply
Blu! he suggested, that Mr. Kelley had hetcr rise
ana say once did sec these things fairly; but
Mr.. KELLEY desired TO reply, hut Mr. Fisher de.
clned TO yield further, and he proceeded with his
speech. lie characterized the bill as a fraud and n
cheat which would rob the people Of Amcrlcn. Il.
was also In some respects ireetradc measure and
he would commend that fact TO the attention of his
colleague tMr. Kclcyl
Mr., KELLEY hoped that the gentleman would
demonstrate his proposition.
Mr.. FISHER, continuing his speech, said that only
about "a per cent OF the trade of the country WINS
the silver in France and Germany was brought TO
this country not 100 part OF per cent Of the trade
Of this country would be carried on In that metal.
las n
dead weight. Referring TO the number of writers
on te subject OF finance he said that in every com.
bnnkrup,s, who had never been able to manage
their own little affairs, but had wives who were
able TO take IN washing. or plain sewing while
they had leisure time TO dlscu,sihe financial affairs
OF Il great nation They thought they knew all
about the great financial question. The gentleman
from Indiana tAlr De La NlntyrJ had introduced n
bill here npproprGtng Sl,OOOO00,0OO for great in
tCrnnl improvements.
Mr., DG la MATyR. Tie association OF the remark
nbOut the man with the hardworking wife with
lhe gentleman from Indiana is simply contempt
Mr.. FISHER so!d that there were men In his dis.
trict who wanted thousand millions, too, not 10
construct canals but 70 construct M airline 10 TIE
moon, 10 see whether IL was composed of green
cheese
Mr., FISHER, | came here elected by my cons,..rr.
ens on this Platform, ana II was the first time my
district was ever carried bya Republican.
Mr.. WEAVER. Thai was good for you, carried
mime the other Way tor the irst time.
Mr.. MILLS intended 10 vote for the bi but lie
would like to see II amended In some particulars.
il was not just response TO the demaad OF the peO.
pic Tor ull restoration of silver 10 coinage aud its
mi inreS,iuTc with nll the functions OF money.
lle characterized the decentralization Of silver rs
lhG most gigantic crime ever committed against the
ioIllng labor Of the country. The present bill had
III NOne provision which The people deslled-thut
was provision for nh iuCrensc Of the volume o!
money but COngfcss tEOuld 90 fnrthCT-il should
eau IN me lhfte hundred and kiXty millions OF
bonds now Iell by national banks
lie cohteNueu lhni TIE Government had the right
10 lny lis Hebts IN either gold or silver and inas.
much Qs the silver was sixteen cents cheuper than
The gold II was tO the Interest of The nnonla thnt
those debts should DO paid In silver, He did moi
see the necessity Of the provision of the bill for to
issue OF SILVER certificates. There were too many
favor of having but three kinds of dollars-the
gold, the silver, md the Treasury note-and OF
making each of them n legal tender for all dpbts
and clothing each of them with the same nlnc.
tons as money. II was said that the effect Of un.
limited coinage Of sllyerwould be to drive gold out
gold would leave the country. twas to the inter.
est OF the people to maintain silver standard nm.
III lhey were out of debt
Mr. CHlITENDEN opposed the bill as the most vi.
olcnl ana ineXcus0blc assault on the integrity ana
WclinIc Of the American people ever made IN Con-
pose the covert iniquiy and rascality OF the meas
nrc, lie proceeded TO critiCisc and rldlcule De N
haiyr as the beloved apostle and high priest OF
lhe HleenDeckers,, and az having prayed recently
irom the Clerks desk that the good Lord would
take them all To heaven, and then strnightwny
made Il frantic effort from his own seat TO make Il
warm Tor infamous and hclbom bOndholdcrs' '
llnughterl lie was glad TO see that "uniqup OlaN
divine In his seat, for lie belonged 10 class who
rarely heaI9 preaching. ma who suffered severely