Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-01
THE MATTER Of BACK PAY
Interest of VIM. Prentiss i'm the ISL
and WOrkmen.
His Effort to Obtain Information and
the Reply he Receives something
of a Dampaner on the Gest Crew
Charges.

The home man hobby which the .Gest
cohorts have been riding about this end
of the district SO industriously to the ut-
ter neglect of the interests Of the lower
portion of the district, and the wild asser-
lions they make that Mr.. Gest alone un-
derstands the island workmen's wants,
and that he alone can carry their petition
to successful action on the part of the
house, has been exploded by the volunta-
ry and unsolicited effort on the part of
Mr.. Prentiss to ascertain the exact status
of the workmen's claims, and the reasons
why they are allowed to rest unattended
to in the house Anxious to gain all the
information possible concerning the
measure which involves their claims, and
to learn if the democratic members of
that body were really responsible for the
delayed action, Mr.. Prentiss on Sept. %
last, wrote Hon VIM. M. Springer on the
subject, and the appended correspondence
shows the real status Of the bill.
the reasons for its present posi-
ton and stamps as political lie the
claim that the bill received its opposition
wholly from the democratic side of the
house as MIR Cannon is one of the foremost
republican congressman. Read Mr.. Prem
tiss' letter;
Hon. W. M Springer NJ. c., Washington. D. C:
MACoMB, H., Sept. %. 1sSs:-My
Dear Sir: A measure is pending in the
house or before some committee at least,
| appropriatlng money to pay workmen in
government employ for extra hours put
in by them above eight hours day
| This is very important matter to many
men in this district who have been EN-.
ployed by the government at the arsena
on Rock Island. Mr.. Gest and his
friends are endesvoring to make it sp'
pear that he and the republicans in bott
senate and house are, and have been do
ing all possible to have the measure pas
and become a law; but it is claimed tina
the democrats in the house are endeavor
ing to kill it by delay, etc, and do no
intend to allow any such measure to pas
the house. Now. if l correctly under
stand the facts, justice would give thes
men the extra pay asked for and pro
posed in the said measure. and if such
the case, certainly hope that the demo
Gratis in congress will not be responsible
for its failure to become a law. Certainl
if the government should be liberal mo
TO say just) to any class, il should be to tn
workingmen. viii you kindly inforr
me as soon as convenient, how this ma
J ter stands, and who is responsible for th
delay of this measure. Hoping that jus
tics may soon be done these men, | re
main very respectfully yours.
VIM. PRENTIss.
Congressman Springers reply will |
, read with equal interest:
HOUSE. OF REPRESENTATIVES..
WAsHINGr n, d G., October 8, 1888.
, | Hon VIM. Prentiss, Macomb, H.:
My DEAR SIR: The measure to whiC
| you refer cannot possibly be passed du
D ing this session of congress. There is I
quorum in the house, and one objectiC
P will defeat everything, and there are
number of persons in the house vel
much opposed to the bill. Mr.. Canno
of Illinois. was one of the principal o
ponents of the bill. and the opposite
+ comes from both sides of the house. tt
difficulty about the bill is that nobot
can give the slightest idea of how muC
|, is involved in it, and it will precipits
Itiea running over twenty years
- the history of the government, and W
|, involve many millions of dollars. no
you may be successful in your electio
and will be very glad to assist YOU in al
k way in my power. l am, very truly youI
= VIM NJ. SPRINGER.