Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-07
AGREE OR GET OUT.
Ihs Affirmative Given the Gov.
eminent Employees.
DEBATING THE EIGHT-HoUR CLAIMS


blair Declares That the workmep Had
to Agree to Ignore the Law or Quit
Worlds Fair Talk in the House-But-
terworth Defends Chicapo-A Vote
That Is Claimed to Have Settled the
Hash of Free Coinage This Session
Official Notes
" AsHiNGToN CITY, Feb. THE senate
yesterday had a long debate on the bill to
ioemhlfy government employees for work
IN excess OF eight hours since the eight
hour law was passed by congress- Nor
rill made a long speech in opposition to
the bill, in which he took general ground
against all eight-hour moves and laws.
ana SAID that the American laborers did
not want shorter hours, but more pay.
Stewart argued in favor of the bill. He
had been OF opinion for many years, he
said, that reduction OF the hours of Ia
Dor would be for the advantage of the
country. He believed that the time was
not far distant when it would be unneces.
sary Tor iaooring men to work as much as
eight hours day
The Question of Duress.
Sherman said that he would vote for the
Pill as 1t passed the house. He eonsid-
cred it an excellent bill, recognizing, as
1T did, the general principle that eight
hours was a fair days labor, but not de-
nying the right of men TO work more
hours if they chose, and to make con-
tracts. But where contracts had been
made to work nine or ten hours day, why,
he asked shall not such contracts be OBJ
served?
Spooner remarked that the contracts in
question had been made under duress.
Sherman denied that there had been any
duress about it, or that American work
men could be forced to enter into con-
tracts against their will The contract
having been made he could not under
stand why they should not be observed,
unless there were some slight shades of
demagoguism in the bin.
very deep shades" Cockrell observed
Compulsion al the Navy Yards.
Blair said that after the eight-hour law
went into effect the officials of the navy
yards and arsenals informed the workmen
that if they would only work eight hours
day they would either be discharged or
their wages would be diminished accord
ingly. Under that sort of compulsion the
workmen agreed to labor more than eight
hon a day. The plain facts were known,
and they were that the workmen. in order
30 avoid being turned off signed the agree
ment to work ten hours THE point of
this debate was an amendment by the
senate committee striking out of the
house bill the words "any contract ex-
press or implied" the intention being to
make the decentralization absolute with
out regard 10 contract.
Some Substitutes Offered.
The bill refers the claims to the court of
claims and Ingalls, said it was a ouibbling
evasion OF the whole matter The inten-
shon of congress in passing the eight hour
law was plain and ought to be carried out.
Blair said that if there were no objection
he would move as substitute for the bill
the one passed by the senate in the last
congress. Unanimous consent having
been given, Blair Withdrew the committee
amendment and offered as a substitute for
the house bill the one passed by
the senate last congress 1t directs
payment OF a days pay for every
eight hours work of government employees
since June, 1868, when the eight-hour law
gas enacted. The court of claims is to adj
Just the claims on that basis Dawes
moved substitute for that offered by
Blair. 1t directs the proper accounting
officers of the treasury to readjust the ac-
counts OF government workmen on the
basis of eight hours for days work. and
report the result to congress, Nobody
seems to know how much it will take to
pay these claims