Telegram-herald., 1891-02-08
EIGHT HOUR LAW.
The Senate Engaged in Consider
ing the Measure.
A Number OF Amendments Acted
Upon - Estimates as TO What 10 J
VIII Cost if Passed.


WAsursGros, Feb. THE Senate
on Friday resumed the consideration
of the House bill for the adjust
ment of accounts of laborers. workmen
and mechanics arising under the eight
hour law, and was addressed by Senator
Morrill, (Vt) in opposition to il. Sen
ator Stewart New argued in favor Of
the bill.
The amendment reported from the
committee on education and labor was
read. II strikes out of the House bill
the proviso that il shall be operative
whenever the Court OF Claims shall
find that the work or service was per-
formed under any contract, express or
implied, and the workman has been
paid therefor the amount agreed upon.
Senator Sherman (O.) said that he
would vote for the bill as IL passed
the House. He considered il an ex-
cellent bill. recognizing as it did the
general principle that eight hours were
a fair days labor. but not denying the
right of men to work more hours If they
chose.
Senator Vest tMo.) moved TO amend
by inserting the words without duress
or coercion of any sort by any officer of
the Government"
Senator Blair (N. H. opposed the
amendment and suggested the substitu-
ton Of the words undue influence.
Senator Ingalls, (Kan-) inquired
whether any estimate had been made
of the amount involved in the bill.
Senator Cockren (Mo.) said that an
estimate made by a distinguished mem
ber Of the House of Representatives
gave the amount at $50. 900, 900. Senator
Vest said that Senator Morrill, had
given his estimate at $4,000. 600, and
that Secretary Whitney had said
that for the Navy Department alone
the amount would be $4,000, 900.
By unanimous consent Senator Blair
withdrew the committee amendment
and offered as q substitute for the
House bill the one passed by the Sen
ate last Congress. 1t directs payment
of days pay for every eight hours
work of Government employees since
June, 1865, when the eight-hour law
was enacted. The Court of Claims is
TO adjust the claims on that basis, and
no statute of limitation and no receipt
for money shall bar the right to re-
cover.
Senator Dawes (Mass.) moved sub
stitute for that offered by Senator
Blair. 1t directs the proper accounting
officers of the Treasury to readjust the
accounts of Government worlimen on
the basis of eight hours for days work
and appropriates the amount necessary
for their payment.
1t was agreed that the bill should be
voted on to-day. Senator Dawes modi-
fed his amendment by striking out the
appropriation and instructing the ac-
counting officer of the Treasury TO re-
adjust the claims and report the result
to Congress. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.--Considerable
discussion arose in the Senate at the
morning session over Senator En-
munds' (Vt.) resolution providing for
night sessions of that body during the
remainder of the present session, with
a recess from Q 10 p. m. The yeas and
nays were demanded. the vote resulting
80 yeas, 16 nays.
The eight-hour bill was then taken
up. Senator Blair IN. H. offered an
amendment limiting its application to
employees Of the Navy, War and Postal
departments. He had obtained additional
information as to the amount involved,
showing that It was about -, 200, 600,
as follows: Navy Department, s3.0Oo.-
900; War Department, $685. Post
Office Department, $4,000. The labor
performed in the naval service had been
done under written order promising
remuneration for extra hours