Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-11

OF the house OF representatives gave the
amount as $50. 000.0
Mr.. Blair said that it was his purpose,
after getting vote on the committee
amendment, to move as substitute for
the bill the one passed by the senate in
| the last congress.
Mr.. Ingalls, asked him why he did not
| offer that substitute now.
Mr.. Blair aid that if there was no OBJ
| ton he would do so.
Unanimous consent having been given,
Mr.. Blair withdrew the committee amend
ment and offered as substitute for the
| house bill the one passed by the senate
| last congress. II directs payment of a
| days pay for every eight hours work of
| government employees since June 1858,
| when the eight hour law was enacted.
The court Of claims is to adjust the claims
| on that basis, and no statue of limitation
and no receipt for money shall bar the
| right to recover.
Mr.. Dawes, (rep.. Mass. moved a
substitute for that offered by Mr. Blair.
1t directs the proper accounting officers
OF the treasury to readjust the accounts
of government workmen on the basis of
eight hours for days work, and appro-
! payment TIE difference between his bill
and that of the senator from New Hamp-
shire was, Mr.. Dawes said, the difference
between something and nothing.
At the Saturday session Mr. Blair mod
| fed the substitute offered by him the
previous day by adding proviso that
the act shall apply only to laborers,
workmen and mechanics employed in the
srmy, navy and post Office departments
on work strictly connected with the mil
itary, navy, and postal services.
Mr.. Allison, (rep Iowa. asked Mr.
Blair whether it was understood that all
| post office employees who had worked
| more than eight hours day during all
these years were to be included.
Mr.. Blair replied in the negative 1t
only applied to laborers. workmen and
mechanics, and did not include clerks or
watchmen. He subsequently modified
his substitute by emitting all reference to
the post Office department He further
modified it, at the suggestion of Mr.. AL
| lison, by adding the words land not
borne upon any annual pay roll :"
Mr.. Cockrell inquired as to the number
of persons to whom the bill would apply.
Mr.. Dawes, rep, Mass. J said that he
could not answer the question; but his
estimate was that $4,000 600 would pay
all claims
MIR. Allison moved to amend Mr..
Dawes amendment by making it take eff
feet not from June 25, 1868, (the date of
t he eight hour law, but from March 4
1877, Cup TO which time there has already
been rea6J ustment of accounts Ar.
Dawes accepted that amendment and
modified his own proposition accordingly
Mr.. Dawes further modified his
amendment on the suggestion Of Mr..
Dolph, by adding 10 it provision that
payment shall be made directly to the
claimant or to his legal representatives
be also struck out the reference to piece
work. and made some remarks in favor
of his own amendment as against that Of
fered by Mr.. Blair. which he intImated
was more in the interest of claim agents
than of claimants.
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 1t rose higher in Dig
nifty than the claim of the highway rob-
Der. who thought he possessed the power
to seize mans purse.
Mr.. Blair, in order to show his good
feeling towards Mr. Dawes, withdrew his
| own amendment and accepted that offer
ed by the senator from Massachusetts.
The question was taken on Mr. Dawes
amendment, and it was agreed to without
division
Mr.. Cockreil moved to amend it BY a
proviso that the act shall not be opera
tive whenever the department shall find
that the work was done under a contract.
express or implied, and has been paid
for.
Mr.. Frye (rep,, Me Ut ia well under.
stood that the adoption of that amend,
ment would practically kill the bill
Mr. German dem, Md agreed with
Mr.. Frye that the adoption of the amend
ment would destroy the bill and that the
bill might as well be laid Oh the table
Mr., Plumb rep, Kan } took differ
ent view OF the question, and favored the
amendment. If the principle were es-
tsblished of paying men more than the
government had agreed to pay them, be
would want that prime pie applied to the
two and half millions Of men who had
served in the army during the war under
financial conditions that changed from
day TO day.
MIR. Blair moved to add to Mr. Cock
reils amendment the worde, but 70
agreement either as to price or time shall
be within this proviso that was exscted
by any govrnment officer as q condition
| of employment or retention in the public
| service"
Before action was taken on that mo-
ton MIR. German moved to lay Mr.. Cock
| he
to-yeas, %; nays, 2S
MI Blair withdrew his amendment. but
Mr.. Allison renewed it. and it was dis.
agreed to--yeas, "a; nays. 80 On Mr.
Cockrelps amendment il was then agreed
to-yeas. 20; nays, "a
MIR. Morrill, moved to add to the subs
stitute an appropriation of $4,000, 600.
although he had no doubt. he said, that
it would cost good deal more than that
| He did not want to conceal what the sen
| ate was doing in passing the bill