St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-08
LABOR BILL REJECTED.
Eight-Hour Measure Buried in
the Committee of Education.


the Committee of Education.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Mr. Blair, in
the senate, modified the substitute Of
fered by him yesterday by adding a
proyiso that the act eight hours for
laDorers) shall apply only to laborers.
workmen and mechanics employed in
the army, navy and poSt0dice depart
ments. or work strictly connected with
military, naval and postal service,
but on suggestion further modified
the substitute by emitting all ref
erence to the postoff1ce departments and
by adding the words. "And not borne
upon any annual roll" Mr.. George
opposed the bill. He said that he did
not like to appear before the senate
and people as resisting any just claim
that any laborer, however humble,
might have on the treasury of the
United States, He had, after examina-
tiOn, reached the conclusion that the
bill. If it becomes a law. would be
nothing more than mere bounty paid by
the treasurer to class of labOrerS who
had better pay and better places than
the great mass of laborers of the coun-
try. Mr.. Dawes modified his amend
ment by making it take effect from the
4th Of March, 1877, instead of june %,
1868; and also by adding to it provls-
ion that payment shall be made directly
to the claimant or to his legal represen-
tatives. He also struck out the refer
ence to piece work.
Mr.. Blair accepted this. and withdrew
his substitute. Mr.. Harris said that the
bill could not possibly be put in any
shape that he could entertain the idea
of supporting it. In point of morality,
it rose no higher in dignity than the
claim of the highway robber who
thought he possessed the power to seize
mans purse. Mr.. Cockrell argued
against the bill. which had been held,
he said, iii terrorem over the senate and
house. No greater fraud had ever been
attempted to be imposed on legislative
body i'll the name OF the tOiling millions.
Mr. Davis amendment was agreed to
without division. Mr.. Cockrtll moved
to amend 1t by provso that the act
shall not be operative whenever the
department shall find that the work was
done under contract, express or I'M
piled, and has been paid for. Mr.. Frye
said tine adoption of that amendment
would kill the bill. Mr.. Harris said that
If the amendment were not adopted the
bill would be mere grab at the treas
ury.
Mr.. German agreed with Mr.. Frye
that the adoption of the amendment
would destroy the bill and that the bill
might as we'll be laid on the table. Mr..
Plumb favored the amendment. The
amendment was agreed to. Finally,
after a number of amendments had
been acted upon, some of which were
adopted and others rejected, and the
question being on the passage OF the
bill. Mr.. Wolcott said he fancied that
all senators had the same quality of
sympathy with 1aboring mer. and
thought that it was about time TO have
sympathy with the government. The
bill was an absurdity and he moved it
be recomitted to the committee on edu-
cation. The motion was agreed to-
yeas u, nays "a.
Before the vote was announced and
when Mr.. Blair learned how it stood
26 to 25-he changed his vote from no
to aye, and then moved a recOnSldera
tion. Mr.. Harris moved to lay that mo-
tion on the table, Pending action on it,
however, the death of MI. Phelan, of
Tennessee, was announced: and Mr..
Harris offered the usual resolution OF
regret and coincidence, as we'll as reso-
luton for the appointment of commit
tee to attend the funeral. Senator's
Harris, Jones, of Arkansas, Faulkner,
Stockbridge and Pierce were appointed
such committee, and as furtner mark
of respect the senate adjourned until
Monday at IL a. M.