The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-08
NOEXTRAPAY WINDFALL
THE SENATE RECoMNdITS THE BILL
TO THE COMMITTEE.

TO THE COMMITTEE.
Senator Cockrell Denounces the Bill
as Measure to Plunder the People.
The Motion That Sealed the Meas
ure's Fate Made by Senator Wolcott.
. Blair Moves Reconsideration.
WASHINGTON, Feb. TN the Senate
this morning, on motion Of Mr.. Hiscock, the
House joint resolution to correct an error
of punctuation in the tariff act was taken
up. It amends paragraph 362, as to cables,
cordage, etc., SO as to include in the paren-
thesis only the words except binding
twine."
Mr.. Carlisle contradicted an assertion
that the error was clerical one, and as
serted that the paragraph in the enrolled
bill coincided exactly with the paragraph
in the original bill and in the conference
report He could see, however, the injustice
Of imposing tariff tax of cents pound
on fax and only ~ cents pound on twine
manufactured from it, and he would there
fore make no opposition TO the passage OF
the joint resolution. he thought the rate
of duty ought to be IS per cent, as it was
under the old rate, instead Of so per cent,
as the resolution proposed.
Mr.. Berry objected, and the joint resolu-
tion went over till Monday.
NIGHT SESSIONS TO BE HELD.
The order for night sessions submitted
yesterday by Mr.. Edmunds was taken up,
discussed and adopted. Under the order as
voted the Senate will, during the residue OF
the session, meet at IL O'clock a. m., sit till
d. m, and then take a recess till D. m.
The House bill for the adjustment of the
accounts of workmen, laborers and me-
chanics under the eight-hour law was taken
up.
After several notifications Mr.. Blair's
amendment, offered yesterday, was withs
drawn in favor of that of Mr. Dawes.
Mr.. Carlisle asked Mr.. Dawes what he
meant by the provision in his amendment
applying to piece work, as well as to WORK
by the day.
Mr.. Dawes confessed that he could not
very we'll explain why it should apply to
piece work, but he had found that in the
House bill and had simply adopted it.
TIME OF TAXING EFFECT.
Mr.. Allison moved to amend MIR. Dawes"
amendment by making 1t take effect not
from june IS, 1865 tthe date of the eight
hour law, but from March 4, 1877 (up to
which time there has already been a read
justment OF Rccounts).
Mr.. Dawes accepted that amendment, and
modified his own proposition accordingly.
ment, on the suggestion Of Mr.. Dolph, by
adding to it provision that payment shall
be made directly to the claimant or to his
legal representative. He also struck out the
reference to piece work.
Mr.. Harris said that the bill could not pos
sibly be put in any shape that he could en-
| terrain the idea of supporting it. In point
OF morality it rose no higher in dignity than
| the CLAIMS of q highway robber. who
thought he possessed the power to seize q
| mans purse. W
| CoCKRELL DENoUNcEs THE BILL.
| Mr.. CockreIl made an argument against
the bill, which had been held, he'ssid, In
terrorem over the Senate and House. Nc
greater fraud had ever been attempted tc
| be imposed on legislative body
in the name of the toiling millions
1t was not bill for the great
| mass Of those who toiled by
the day and by the night, but was bill for
the benefit OF the select, favored, aristo.
cratic, governmental class-ofiicials of the
| government who now claimed to be masters
| of the great masses of the country. In the
course of his speech Mr.. Cockrell ridicuied
the assumption that men who worked ten
hours day were under duress-that they
were forced to do it.
RoBBING THE MASSES.
"Poor deluded creatures" he exclaimed
"they come here aud plead the baby act
and ask that they shall be paid IS per cent.
more for their work than other men got for
like work at the same time. There is nc
| these pretended claims. They are not
claims. They do not rise to the dignity OF
claims. In the name of the taxpayers, in
| the name of the farmers and laborers of the
| country, protest against this bill of legal
| lied robbery which takes from S3, ,000, ,0c0 to
$50, ,O00, 900 out of their pockets for the ben
eft of class Of 5000 favored govern
mental workmen."
DAWES AMENDMENT AGREED TO.
The question was taken on Mr.. Dawes
amendment, and it was agreed to without
| division.
Mr. Cockrell moved to amend it by pro-
viso that the act shall not be operative
whenever the department shall fnd thai
implied, and has been paid for. This wa.
agreed to-yeas 26, nays "a after long
debate, in the course Of which it was
asserted and denied with equal positiyeness
that its effect would be to kill the bill.
Mr.. Morrill, moved to add to the substi
tute an appropriation of $6,000,000, al
though he had no doubt, he said, that Il
would cost good deal more than that. II,
did not want to conceal what the Senate
was doing in passing the bill.
Mr.. German said that after the adoption
of Mr.. Cockrells amendment there was nc
necessity for making any appropriation, a
nothing would be expended under it.
Mr.. Morrill's amendment was agreed II
without q division.
OTHER AMENDMENTS AGREED TO.
Other amendments were agreed to as fol
lows: Providing that no contract for the pal
ment of any claim shall be recognized by am
official Of the government; striking out tht
words which prohibit reduction of pay OF
account of reduction of hours Of labor not
withstandiug contract stipulations; adding
as an additional section, a proviso givinf
to laborers and material men, on govern
ment works, done under contract, lien OF
moneys due by the government; prohibit
ing the exaction of CONTRACTS as condition
of employment or retention in the public
service.
The bill was then reported to the Senate
and all the amendments were agreed to
except Mr.. Morrill's appropriation amend
ment. That was rejected by vote of 2
to 25.
The bill was ordered to be read a thirt
time-yeas 90, nays 10.
THE BILL ORDERED RECoMMITTED.
The question being on the passage of th
bill statements were made by severa
senators as to the reasons for their votes
| Mr.. Wolcott fancied that all the senators hac
the same quality OF sympathy with labor
1 GhoA -