The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-29
Amended in the Senate by Its
Enemies and Passed.
MADE TO COVER ALL LABOR
In Its Present Shape 1t Would Ac-
complish Nothing at ALI.
Extraordinary Apportionment Bill Pro-
posed by Lewis County Statesman
Application OF Proceeds of Tide Land

OLYMPIA, Jan. 2S.-TSpecial THE Sem
ate today, by a vote of IS to 10, passed the
bill declaring that eight hours shall con-
stitute legal workday on all work done
by and for the state or any municipality
therein, or for any corporation. firm or in
diyidual. Favorable action on bill to Sc
cede from the Union would not be much
more startling news TO the general public
than the announcement of the passage of
this sweeping bill. 1t came up on S. b.
NO. 3, by Senator Klnnear, declaring that
"eight hours shall constitute legal work
day on all work done by and for the state
or any municipality therein" which was
called up on third reading. Senator Kin
near had hardly begun his explanation of
the provisions of the bill when Senator
Drum asked him if the bill related to con-
tract labor on such work.
Then Senator Long, in most vehement
language, declared himself heartily OPP
posed TO the passage of any such measure.
He said it was not fair to merely take in
public work. ''If any bill at all is passed, !"
said he, why not take all work inP I
don't believe in bidding for the votes of
the laboring element in this style
This brought Senator Rutter of King to
his feet. with fire in his eye. He said if
the gentleman from Lewis would but re-
member the platform adopted at the con-
vention he was nominated in he would
readily see that this bill was but carrying
out the promises of not only the Republi-
can but other parties, TO the laboring
classes.
Eshelman said he was in favor of incor-
porating all classes of labor in the bill and
IL /, fe,x, <>f ate
kinnear felt hurt by the assertions of
Long and Eshelman, and eloquently de-
Tended his bill. He said it would be inn
possible to pass any bill declaring that
eight hours should constitute legal days
work on any but public work, and speeches
in opposition to this bill were made for the
sole purpose of defeating it.
Long asked if it was right to make class
legislation and discriminate against any
laboring man, whether on public work or
on the farm.
kinnear retorted that no intelligent per-
son ever claimed any such thing before.
Labor on public works and on any work in
the city was entirely different from that
on the farm, and the senator from Lewis
knew it as we'll as any one.
Senator Baker, the quiet young man
from Pierce, who had listened in silence
during the debate, took the fioo- and as
tonished every one by offering the follow
ing amendment:
That after the words; "for the state or any
municipality therein" the words 'or for any
corporation, firm or individual" be inserted, SO
that it would read: declaring that eight hours
shall constitute legal days work on all work
done by and for the state or any municipality
therein, or for any corporation, firm or iDdi-
yidual"
Kinnear claimed that such an amend
ment should not be passed under any cir
cumstances, and made an eloquent plea for
the bill as originally introduced.
Claypool said be had been raised on
farm, and was also member of labor
union. He could not see why the state
should be the only one to be held down by
the eight-hour law, for if it is fair in one
place it is in another.
Frink said he was not politician, and
knew nothing about the promises of either
party, nor was he member of any labor
union, but he was a manufacturer and
thought he knew how the eight-hour law
would affect hiring labor. Il want to be
placed on record, said the senator from
King, 'as being in favor of eight hours
constituting days labor in all kinds of
work and in every place.
Baker, in reply to the insinuation that
his amendment was merely introduced TO
defeat the original bill, said that such was
not the case, and if any bill regulating a
days work was passed, one taking in all
classes of work, would be the only one he
would support. therefore his amendment.
Forrest asked Baker if his amendment
was intended to include wives and servant
girls.
Baker replied that such was not his in
tention, but if the Senate so wished he
would not have any objections to incorpor-
ating that provision in parenthesis.
McCroskey said he had gotten into so
many bad habits since coming TO Olympia
that he didn't know but an eight-hour law
would compel him TO get To- bed earlier,
therefore he would support the amend
ment. in order that he might square him
self with his constituents when he re-
turned home.
Rutters motion to indefinitely postpone
the whole business was defeated.
On motion of Drum, the following was
added to section 2: Provided, that the
provisions of this act shall not apply to
| the parties to any contract which shall not
have been terminated prior to the taking
| effect of this act. f"
| Drum then moved that the bill be con-
sidered engrossed and placed on final pas
| sage.
| A motion of Dyer to lay on the table was
| defeated by vote of l. To II.
| Fasterdav offered an amendment, but,
| receiving no second. it was not considered.
Long thought it best to defer final action,
| and moved that the bin come up as q
special order at 2 O'Clock tomorrow, but
| the motion Was lost.
Drum and Kinnear got in few words
/ edgeways before the secretary began 10
| read the bin for final passage.
Then Rutter made a forcible speech
| hoping 10 defeat the amendment or put of
passing il in some way. He said that he
! as every one knew, was in favor Of the bill
as originally presented, but since 1t had
| been enlaseulated he would oppose it if il
was the last thing he ever did. He said
| that there was no consistency whatever ir
| the amendment; that if it were passed Z
! mighty howl would emanate from tbs
farmers all over the state; that there were
| certain seasons in the year when the
| farmer could not maintain his farm undel
such law. The amendment let the very
| life-blood out Of good measure, and Il
| would be shameful to give it any consider
alton whatever
kinnear nlasIe Speecii much 10 th'
same effect, and added that the pur
| nose of the amendment was to XIII the bill