The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-06

members of the assembly Judiciary CONS
mittee laughed at the bill when they saw
it on the printed files of the assembly.
They said that the legislature could not
interfere with private contracts. In this,
they were sustained by recent decision
of The court of appeals declaring the act
prohibiting the making of cigars in tene-
ment houses unconstitutional, and on the
ground that the legislature could not pass
law to prevent individuals from con
tracing TO labor where they pleased, and
to labor as long as they pleased if that
labor was not detrimental to public health.
As piece of buncombe, however, the
conductors and drivers twelve hours bill
was passed in the assembly with laugh.
When it reached the senate it was referred
to the senate committee on cities, where
ii was allowed to sleepuntil near the close
of the season. A majority of the mem
bers of the committee were opposed
to it at first, on the ground that
it was not worth the paper it was
printed on. Assemblyman Earl went
to Senator Daggett, who was a
member of the Senate Cities Committee,
and asked him to prevail upon the COM
mittee to report the bin favorably Mr..
Daggett replied: Il cannot see how
can ask the committee to report bill so
clearly unconstitutional. fit i5 enacted,
it Will do the conductors and drivers no
good. 1t will not have the effect of
shortening the hours OF their daily labor 3"
When the session was nearing its close,
Governor Cleveland's name was more
prominently and more generally named
for the democratic nomination for presi
dent than at any previous time, and 1t
struck Senator Daggett and Senator
Gibbs, chairman of the Cities Committee,
that it would be good republican party
move to report the bill favorably. procure
its passage, and subject it to the Governor.
who would be compelled to veto it, to ig>
nOrant popular clamor. At an informal
talk between leading republican assem-
blymen and senators at Kenmore hotel,
Albany, during the later part of April or
beginning of May, it was conceded: First
That the bill was a humbug, but ought
to be pushed to passage. Second-That
as a clap trap measure it would take well
with the people. Third-That the Gov
ernor would be compelled to veto it be-
cause it interfered with the rights of both
employers and employees, or, in others
words, because it is humbug. Fourth
That if he did veto it, the lahoring men
would stigmatize him as 4 creature of
corporations, and good handle could be
made of it in opposing his election as
President if he was nominated by the
democrats. So the bill was passed by
republican senators. they knowing that
there was not provision in it which was
constitutional and that if the Governor
performed his duty he would veto it, and
he did on the following grounds;
L fail to see any geed purpose to be
gained by this bill. 1t is distinctly and
palpably class legislature, in that it only
applies to conductors and drivers on horse
railroads. 1t does not prohibit the maxi
ing of contract for any number of hours
work and if it does it is an interference
with the employers as well as employees
rights. Ii the car drivers and conductors
work fewer hours they must receive less
pay; and this bill does not prevent that.
| cannot think this bill is in the interest
of the workin gman.'