Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-07
NATIONS CAPITAL.
Republican Victory Over Free
Coinage Amendment.
Denial OF owensby's Tsstimouy Before
silver Pool Invsssisation.

Denial OF owensby's Tssttmouy Before
silver Pool investigation.
WAsHISaroN. Feb. 6.-In the Senate,
Mr., Blair at the reqaest OF the Wage
Workers Alliance introduced = bill to es.
tablish . department Of cooperation negro
colonies. II wss referred to the committee
on education aud labor.
Mr., Cali introduced bill from the same
source, TO frea the peopis from debt, T"
Referred TO the finance committee
The naval appropriation bill was reported
with suudry amendments, and Mr.. Hale
gave notice that he wanted TO ask the SEN
ste to take il up tomorrow or at fsrthest on
Monday.
Mr.. Hswley Offered resolution, which
was agreed to, calling on the President for
correspondence in reference to the senior
naval officer presen. at San Jose de Guste-
mala on the occasion of the arrest and kill
ing of Gen BArrundia and the action Of the
Of the navy department..
Mr.. Morgan addressed the Senate in
support of the bin reported from the CON-
mittee on foreign relations to aid in the
construction OF the Nicaragua Maritime
canal.
At the conclusion Of Mr., Morgan's speech
the Senate resumed the consideration Of
the House bill, providing for adjustment OF
accounts of iAborers, verkmsn and
mechanics arising under the eight heur law,
and vas addressed by Mr.. morrill, in op-
position of 1t
Morrill, said he had conviction tina, the
eigbt-hour law of 1868 was Fundamentally
wrong. the attempted resurrection Of II in
a pending measure instead Of being bene-
ficisl to the clsss to which 1t wss specially
intended to benefit would infic. upon
that class and country at large q
grave and possibly an irreparsble injury
He referred with approval to the state.
ment of Edward Atkinson, that the eight
hour Law would work in the interest Of
capital against labor, would he psrnicious
and would result to great disadvantage to
labor. Some the eories, he said, m gbt BE-
scientifically refuted. but unsound political
theories often waited for refatation untiI
their operation brought disaster. The set.
tlement Of claims agaioss the the govern
ment. under the eight hour.law, from 1868
to 1891 would cost millions, ME es-
navy department alone, having been
for some years since, three millions,
Pending measure not asked for, or
promoted, rs far as he knew, by the best
workmen, or those longest in public
service. These content with steady EN-.
ployment, and with wages promptly paid
that were not less than maximum wages
paid throughout the country for eQusl skill
H. Yy.sA
ment should not set an
Example OF Prodigaiitv,
where no state, city or town could afford to
follow. II the bill became law it would
ensuIe removal and change Of all day
lsborers ard mechanics in the service Of
the government at every change Of the
national administration. The civil service
law would not protect them, the members
Of congress would be instrumentalities Of
their removal. The hours of labor in
foreign countries are from 10 to IL hours,
yet it was the immigrants from these
countries who were chief sgi.ators for
the sight hour law, although many we're
receiving double the wages they re-
ceived in their own countries. Free
born Americans are not hungerlng for
s hour day labor. What they wanted was
more work and more pay. The eisht-hour
scheme, IL generally adopted. would sepa-
rate the larger half Of the workingmen OF
the country from the smaller half, en-
pioyed mainly in large workshops and fac
ioriee while those owning farms or work
ing thereon would still work 10, IL, and
often more hours day. With gateway
leading to less work and more pay, the
the pressure for employment in favored
trades could only be restricted by the ex
clasion OF all new men and apprentices
Those trades would combine and become a
cloee corporation with no new subscribers
The farmers would object to building up
of favored class either By national or
state governments at their expense. With
an eight hour law American markets would
be opened to the products Of foreign coun
tries, and the exports Of the eight hour Law
would ba necessarily impossible. Ary gen.
eral law or infexibie rule on the subject
would usurp the place of free will and per
sonsl indedenience.
Stevars argued in favor Of the bill He
rad been of the opinion for years, he said,
that the reduction in the hours of labo'
would be for the advantage OF
the country. He believed the time
wss not far di.tan, when il would be un.
necessary for the lsboripg men to work a.
much RS eight b ours day The progress
of the world for the last 30 or 40 year,
hss showd that men
Havs Esen Doius Too Much Dyudsery
ard not enough thinking. The passage d
the pending bill would be tho c'owniIs ac
~ ~ hn tor N.sNs
Hampshire (Biair), who would SO eoor
leave the ,enate, but only, he had M
doubt. to return again.
The amendment as reported from the
committee on educa,ion and labor read
Strikes out of the Houte bill the rfoyiso
that il shall no. be operative vhenevev =
court Of claims shall fod work or servi ,e
performed under any contract. express OF
implied ard. ard that workmeo have beer
paid therefor the amount agreed npcn.
Sherman said he would vote for the bill
ss it bad passed the House He considersl
il an excellent bill. recognizing, a. 1t did
the general principal thar eight hours va,
a fair days labor, and not denying the riah
OF men 10 work more hours IL they cboose
and to make contracts.
The bill was laid aside informally.
House ameD1mtuts % tu" Senhte OIL ~
a..7 end the act forfeilirg certsin railrosd
land g-au,s we're presented and concurrei
| 10. The bill nov gees to the President.
The consideration Of the eight hour bill
| wa. ihsn resumed. Considerable debate
arose a. to the amount Of money involved
in the bill. Blair put 1t not over 81 ,2G0.
COO. and Cockreii said the estimate mad
by distinguished member of the Hous
gave the amount a. $50, 600 600. Evar1
characterized the bill IS .
Psltry. QuibbIins Evasion
OF the real question at issue. There va
no doubt - TO the intention Of Copares
when it passed the eight hour law in 1868
After the issue Of Pr sident Grants pro
clamasion 10 May. 1863. directing the OBJ
ssfvance of The law, 500, 600 was paid Il
re-aojassBent between the passage Of th'
! set and the issuance Of the proclaim ton
| Ia obedience TO tie demands that came 4
the senator for justice TO labor, they oagh
| to aiiou vorkmen TO 20 to the court o
cisims aod ask that court to say what hs'
been the inten'ion Of Congress in psssioI
the original eighthour Law. II the Senar
| put itself on record as in favor Of suc
bill it would stultisy every member Of II
II it wss desirable that court claims shoul
take cognzsnce Of such claims, all this