The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-18
EIGHT HOURSAW
THE SENATE PASSES THE BILL TO
ADJUST ACCOUNTS.

A Vote OF IS Yeas to % Nays Settled
the Matter-Senator Brown on the
Negative Side-Senater Colquitt Did
Not Vote-Provlsions OF the Bill
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE senate to-day
resumed consideration of the bill providing
for the adjustment OF the accounts of labor
ers, workmen and mechanics employed by
the government under the eight hour law
Mr.. Reagan opposed the bill. 1t had been
claimed for it, he said, that it was in the
interest OF the laboring mea. If it were in
the interest of all laboring men aud in
volved no improper principle he would vote
for it, but as it was in the interest Of few
labOring men at the expense of many it
would not have his support. The bill was
but one small step in the direction Of class
legislation and he hoped it would not pass.
MR.. STEWARDS AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Stewart supported the bill, and
offered an amendment to prohibit any
officer OF the government making any CON
tract or arrangement whereby any work
man, labOrcr or mechanic shall work more
than eight hours day, except in special
emergencies. Mr. Stewards amendment
was rejected by vote Of Is yeas to 20
nays.
Mr. Dawes moved to amend by insert
ing the words; "Whethor engaged at a
price per Gay, or on piece work, or on task
work" THIS was agreed to. Mr.. Dawes
also agreed to insert the following words:
Any assent or alleged agreement to
receive a less amount or to work longer
time required as condition of being
employed to the contrary notwithstand-
ing" This was rejected
The bill was then passed by vote of 25
yeas TO % nays, as follows:
Yeas 1Iessrs Blair, Bowen. Cameron. Chan
der Cullom, Davis, Dolph, Farwell, Faulkner,
Frye, Hale, Hawley, Hoar, Kenna, Mitchell,
Palmer, Sabln, sawyer SDooner, Stewart,
Stockhrd%e, Teller, Turpie' Voorhees, and Will
son of Iowa o.
Nays Messrs Bate, Beck, Berry, Blodgett,
Brown, Butler Can, Cockrell, Coke, George,
Gibson, Gray, Hampton, Hearst. Jones of
Arkansas, Mcpherson, Pasco, Pugh, Reagan,
Vance, Vest and Walthall- %.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The first section provides that whoever,
as labOrer, workman or mechanic, has
been employed by, or on behalf of the gov
eminent Of the United States since June
25, 1869, hhe date of the act constituting
eight hours days work. whether engaged
at price per day, or on piece work, or
task work, shall be paid for each eight
hours he has been employed as for a full
days work without any reduction in pay
ON account of a reduction in the hours of
labor.
The second section says that labor so per
formed in excess of eight hours per day is
hereby referred to the court of claims, to be
adjudicated upon the basis that eight hours
constitute days work, and is to be paid
for at the price per day rs provided for in
the first section of this act, and judgment
given against the United States in favor of
each claimant of the amount found due, to
be paid as other judgments of the
court of claims against the United States
and no statute of limitation made or receipt
given for a less sum per day than the full
price for days work az provided in the
first section of this act shall bar the right
of recovery; provided that all suits under
this act shall be commenced within two
years from and after its passage, and any
number of said claimants may join in the
same suit; and, provided further, that any
amount allowed under this act shall only he
paid to such claimant in person or to his
personal Representatives