Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-26
THE EIGHT.HOUR LAW.
Labor Representatives Appear Before
the House Committee on Labor.

THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW.
Labor Representatives Appear Before
the House Committee on Labor.
DIRECTING TO THE STRIKING OUT OF THE PEN
Atty CLAUSE FROM THE WADE BILL TO ENFORCE
THE EIeHT-EouR LAw-vARroUs VIEWS OF THE
woRKINGMEN.
The committee on labor gave a hearing this
morning to representatives Of the Federation
of Labor and Mr.. ]. S. schulties Of the Knights
Of Labor to protest against the Wade
bill to enforce the eight-hour law in
its present form. Before the committee
from the legislative committee of the
Federation OF Labor were E. H. Thomas, z. W.
Oyster and l.. H. Patterson, while Mr.. Schulties
represented the same committee from the
knights of Labor.
The delegation pointed most Of their oppo-
sition to the action of the committee in strik-
ing out section Of the Wade bill, which pre-
scribed penalty for violation OF the law. II
was their opinion that the loss Of this section
left the bill worthless. Things were prohibited,
but no punishment was prescribed for violation.
HISTORY OF THE WADE BILL.
The Wade eight-hour bill, asst is known, was
introduced in the House last March. II was
drawn up mainly through the efforts Of Mr.. J.
L. Kennedy of the Typographical Union, who
submitted it to Mr.. Wade BY request. The
bill provides that eight hours shall
constitute days work for all laborers, work
men and mechanics employed now or hereafter
on behalf of the government, except IN cases
Of extraordinary emergency which may arise
in time Of war or in cases where il may be
necessary to work more than eight hours to
construct public works, preserve prop
erty or prevent the destruction Of
human life. Whenever any contract is made
on behalf of the government with any person
for the performance of any work the contract
ing parties shall agree that eight hours
shall constitute days work for
all laborers, workmen and mechanics
by the government at work required by such
contract 1t is provided that no laborer &C.,
shall be employed more than forty-eight hours
In any six consecutive days, except
as provided. penalty not less than $50 and
not more than 81 900, and 81 600 for each sue
ceeding offense was provided for violation OF
the law by any officer Of the government or any
person acting for him or any contractor.
This was the bill as originally introduced,
but last month the committee on labor re-
ported the bill to the House, after having
amended the bill by striking out the last clause,
which provided the penalty.
MR.. OYSTER IN HIS REMARKS
Typographical Union had Endorsed the bill, he
believed; they Endorsed only the principle of
eight hours. The bill would repeal all previous
laws and legalize just what the laborers were
protesting against.
OTHER SPEAKERS.
Mr.. E. a. Thomas followed Mr. OYSTER. The
original trade bill, he thought, was about the
thing wanted. The penalty section of the bill
nsfi nfa1 ifs 70 no l.
had been greatly surprised at the action Of the
committee in striking the section out
Mr.. Cornell Of the committee at this point
said he did not believe the reported Wade bill
amounted to the paper it was written on.
Mr.. Oyster-"That's what the Federation of
Labor believes and what we are sent here to
say"
MIR. Thomas-"That's not SO. We are sent
here to object to the amendments to the bill
DIR. Oyster remarked that the resolution of
the federation denounces the Wade BILL and
MIR. Thomas replied that the objection was to
striking out the penalty clause.
VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE TARouHAR.
Mr.. Farqnhar of the committee thought the
working men would get their eight hours as a
days work without any help, although
he did not mind helping the
good cause on. The first of last
May had shown their great strength. The
Wade BILL he thought. was we'll enough IL the
penalty clause was put back.
THE LABOR MINIS LIST.
Mr.. L. n. Patterson told how the legislative
committee of the Federation of Labor had
presented a list of thirty names to Speaker
Reed at the beginning of the session as men
acceptable to them for the committee on labor.
Eight of the present members Of the commit
tee were on that list and they thought they had
a right to expect that the original Wade bill
should be reported from the committee.
MIR. Connell thought changes should be
made in the bill to make it more binding.
MR.. sCHULTEIs OBJECTED
to the portion of the bill allowing work over
eight hours in cases of extraor-
binary emergency, &c. He thought
the language too loose and the
cases where extra work could be done should
be specified. The bill should also be amended
IN the language providing that eight hours
should constitute days work on premises
owned Or occupied by the government. &c.
The contractor could hire land across the street
and work his men at government work as long
as he pleased.
THOUGHT THE PENALTY CLAUSE SHOULD BE
RESTORED.
Mr.. ]. L. Kennedy thought the penalty
clause should be put back. The Typograph-
lcal Union had Endorsed the bill on
the statement from him that Mr..
Wade had assured him that on the door of the
House he would move to amend the bill by
reinstating the penalty clause.