The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-11-25

the present time, solely because IL recognizes
the benefit to the employe and Cabinet,
bureau, army and navy officers have been
conspicuous and preverbial In opposition to
it. The friends of the eight-hour law, In
and out of Congress, in its enactment, con :
sdered II one of those great strides made
by modern progress in the last half of the
nineteenth century, in the interest of the
people.
President Van Buren's order of 1910,
recognizing ten hours, Is now universally
accepted by both public and private en-
ployers, without question, evasion or
abridgmcnt
There was pending in the Senate, last ses.
sion "a joint resolution, passed bya thirds
vote Of the House, which provides for the
enforcement Of the act of Congress of June
%, 1868, known as the Eight-hour
Law
Senator Bruce, of Mississippi, was tho
chairman of committee having the matter
in charge, and pretended to be heart and
soul in favor Of its passage through the
Senate, but he failed to bring the matter
up, and the session died, and the resolution
was never taken from the calendar. 1t is
believed by many that had Senator Bruce
exerted the proper energy no trouble would
have been experienced in pushing the
|
President Arthur, who is regarded by the
workingmen ms u thoroughly just and up
right man. will, it is thought, demand the
enforcement Of the oight-hour law.
A representative of THE CRITIC, while
in the Navy-yard the other day, met sew
eral workingmen who were earnestly dis
cussing the eight-hour question. Said one
gentleman who has served the Government
faithfully for more than forty years in the
blacksmith shop Of the yard, After hav.
ing carefully studied this question, have
come to the conclusion that more can be
and is done in eight hours than in ten
When the eight-hour system was in vogue
/ observed that the men worked with n
will, and worked steadily during the entire
time. No man, in my opinion" continued
the old veteran, ais physically able to labor
diligently ten hours day. Under the present
ten.hour arrangement the men are bound t
rest at least two hours q day.if not more
They feel keenly that they are denied theil
rights. Eight hours is legal days work
made so by act of Congress, and until tina
law is repealed by that same body, tn,
workingmen of tho the various navy-yard
will continue to feel dissatisfied"
The employees of the yard seem to hav,
the most implicit confidence in Presiden
Arthur, whom they believe will undo wha
| was uOne ny inc Hayes Administration
They ask for no more than what properly
and lawfully belongs to them, and it seem
very unjust that they should be compelled
to toll ten hours day when the law spe
officially says that eight hours shall consti
tute days work.
A strong effort will be made at the com
ing session Of Congress to have the widow
Of the late George Lawrence, who was kille'
by the recent torpedo explosion, pensionet
by the Government. The two mon, Georg
Gates and Marion Thompson, who were in
; jurcd at tho same time, will also probabl.
be provided for in some way. The nava
officers in the yard are determined to pusl
the matter as soon as Congress convene!
Something ought to be done in the matter.
The present chief officers of the yard ar
r Commodore Pattison, Capt. A. A. Semmes
( Constructor Samuel II. Pook, Commander
II. l.. Howison and r. D. Evans, Medica
Director j. II. Taylor, Medical InspectC
II. G. Nelson, Surgeon A. A. Hoehline
Pay Inspector f. c. Crosby, Chief Enginet
Philip Inch and Civil Engineer A.
Mcnocal.