The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-25
RIGHTEOUS BILL LOST.
the senate Gives the Measure One Less
Than the Vote Required.

The Senate Gives the Measure One Less
Than the Vote Required.
OLYMPIA, Feb. 24-[Special THE cele-
brated eight-hour bill was again defeated
in the Senate this morning. 1t was
Adams bill that passed the House last
week, and, coming up to the Senate, was
defeated by what the friends of the bill
termed slight attendance. Rutter then
gave notice of reconsideration, and the
measure came before the Senate again this
morning, creating long and wordy debate.
The bill provides that eight hours labor
shall constitute a legal days work on all
work done by and for the state or any
county or municipality therein. It will be
remembered that the Senate SO amended
kinnear's original bill that it included all
corporations, firms or individuals, and
when it reached the House the committee
to which it was referred recommended that
1t be indefinitely postponed. Then Adams
introduced his bill. similar to Kinnear's,
and it passed the House.
Owings opposed the measure. He said
If the friends ofsthe bill would show him
why man who worked for the govern
ment was any better than man who
worked for On individual, or why the tax
payers should be made to pay 20 per cent.
bill.
Claypool doubted the efficiency of the
measure in ameliorating the condition of
labor. Still, if this bill will not iniure
anyone-and he thought it would MOTT
ought to pass.
President Wilson took the floor and
urged the passage of the bill. He called
attention to the express promise of the
last state Republican platform, and said
that he held that political promises ought
to be kept.
Eshelman asserted that many of the
leading labor union men had informed him
that they did not want this bill passed.
Rutter of King replied that there was
ate petition from all parts of the state
containing thousands of signatures, all
praying for the passage of the bill. He
hoped it would pass.
Drum stated he would support the meas
ure because he believed that it was q step
ing to the establishment of Compensation
on the hour system"
Kinnear held there was q demand for
the passage of the bill.
Claypool agreed with his colleague from
Pierce.
Owings offered the following amend-
ment: Provided, that nothing in this
act shall be construed so as to affect any
public works in this state"
Several senators earnestly opposed the
amendment, but it was adopted.
kneeland then made great speech. He
denounced the whole scheme as political
buncombe. "The laboring classes, how
ever, would not be satisfied with the treat
ment accorded them by people who were
merely looking in the direction of the next
election. They were becoming more and
more nauieated as the days went
by because they were daily be-
coming more intelligent. They would no
longer be satisfied with the fallacious
hopes held out to them"
/. At this point those opposing the bill
were caught mapping. Owings had stepped
into tie smoking-room and was chuckling
over the success attending the introduce
ton of his amendment, when Claypooi
arose and moved to reconsider the vote by
which the amendment was carried. The
motion was seconded and quickly carried.
Owings attempted to get the floor at the
last moment but was tribe too late.
The chair declared several senators who
were seeking recognition out of order, and
the bill was placed on final passage. Nine
votes were cast against and seventeen in
favor of it. Eighteen being constitu-
tional majority. it was declared lost. Fol-
LOWING ia the vote.