The daily critic., 1890-05-31

{ owe much 20 vour generation and Won
ought TO De honest and pay the debt
THE VIOLATED LAW.
During the Cleveland administration
the Republicans became indignant be-
cause Democratic officials. following, as
they lid too often, in the footprints Of
their Republican predecessors. neglected
or refused TO enforce the Eight hour
law.
Oneof the results of this Indignation
was The enactment Of a law directing
the enforcement of that law in the
Government Printing Office. In obeii-
eucc 20 This Congressional order the
Eiehthour law was enforced 10 that
Office until the Harrison administration
set 81 aside. And now. in the Govern
ment Printing Office, and in other parts
of The civil-service, the Eighthour law
IS being utterly jisregordcd -aagrautly
violated
Observing this action Of The Bepubli.
can administration, the Federation of
Labor Union Of the District of Colum
hia, in session February 19, 1890.
adopted the following resolutions, which
were forwarded TO President Harrison
under seal of that organization.
Whereas at The earnest solicitation Of the
organized .workIugmeu of the United
states q law was passed by Congress in
lSGS. and approved by President Johuson,
as follows.
Eight hour. shall constitute a days work
Tor all laburers, wurkmeu and mechanics
who may be employed hv or ON behalfOf the
Government of the United states.
Aud whereas the spirit and intent Of said
law, as clearly shown by the petitions OF
Workupmcn and the debates iu Congress,
was TO prohibit the employment OF work
men more than eight hours per day on Gov
ernmeut work; and
Whereas Hon. Henry W. Blair, chairman
OF the Senate Committee on Education aud
Labor, IN a speech delivered in the Senate
on March ;, 1SSS, said:
This Eight hour law. enacted bv tile
United states and placed ON the statute
books with as much de6nueness and solem.
nifty as law against crima has been de-
Nherately and persistently and wiCkedly
violated by the executive officers almos,
from the beginning. Never has there been
any considerable degree Of success IN ex.
torting from these unwilling executive
oWcers OF the Government compliance with
their own duty In this regard.
And whereas this body has satisfactory
evidence that the Eight-hour law Is now |
being deliberately and persistently and |
violated by the executive officers /
Of the Government therefore
Res0lred, That the Federation Of Labor |
MONS Of the District Of Columbia respect |
fully requests the President Of the United |
states TO order executive officers OF the |
.HOVDTnmnUt Tn nufprra aufI los ktF
libiting the employment Of workmeu on /
public work more than eight hours per /
lay except iu cases where % may be neces- /
'arl Co extend the time TO save or prevent |
he destruction Of life or property by fire or
lOod
In response TO the communication on.
losing the esoluton quoted above. Mr.. |
p. w Halford, private secretary to the
President, writing to the secretary Of the |
Federation under date Of February ~.
1890 stated that the President had re.
'eiyed the resolutions, and had directed
lIm 10 say that should the matter come
,efore him 1.-THE President for his official
action Il will have his careful atten.
ion"
The Federation, in It's innocence of
'residenti methods and requirements.
lad believed that by sending to His
lxcellency the resolution herein set
.orth, It had brought the matter Of fla-
grant and persistent violation Of the
Eight hour law before him for his OH
,ial action; but, In abundance of dis
,retion, the Federation concluded to re.
main "at rest" for awhile and observe
he effects of its action of February 1s.
40 effects having become visible to
he naked eye Of the Federation, il
prepared the memorial published In
rHE Critic a few days ago, and,
by this paper, called the Presl-
lent's mind to specific violations Of the
aw In letter as well as In spirit
This memorial was put into the hands
If President Harrison by Mr. Thomas s.
Denham, the President Of the Fedora
ion, who was informed by his
zxeelleney that he would ascertain
whether the law was being enforced or
Iiolated and would take whatever ac.
ion he deemed 10 be necessary in the
premises.
And now, the Federation Is waiting
gain AT rest" TO ascertain what effect
he second section of its action in the
.ight-hour metter is going TO have
The Federation is a patient organiza.
ion, and II will not fail to permit pa
ience 10 do IFS perfect work.