Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-20
THE EIGHT-HOUR BILL.
Labor Representative Hope to Have
Passed This session.

Labor Representative Hope to Have II
Passed This session.
The Federation Of Labor at . meeting last
night adopted q resolution earnestly requesting
the Senate to consider and pass during the
present session House bill No. 1887, known as
the eight-hour bill, which has been reported
favorably from the committee on education and
labor. Mr.. E. W. Oyster was instructed to pre-
sent the resolution today to Senator Carey,
chairman Of the committee on education and
labor, and request that he present 1t to the
Senate. The representatives of labor organiza-
tons who have been advocating the measure
are confident Of favorable action on the bill by
the Senate, when 1t viii require only the Presi-
dents signature to make 1t q law. One thing
that gives them hope is the fact that, a. they
believe, the political situation helps them. One
Of them mentioned to q STAR reporter today
that the eight-hour hw Of 1868 was passed Just
before presidential election. The democratic
House having passed the BILL the labor repre-
sentatives believe the republican Senate will not
care to assume the responsibility Of defeating
the measure So they think the chances for the
passage Of the bill are good. The preamble to
the resolution of the Federation OF Labor re-
ferred to sets forth that Sin 1868, 81 the earnest
solicitation Of workingmen, a law wasenacted, the
intent and purpose Of which was 10 reduce and
per day. that 'said law has, from the day Of
Its enactment, met with the bitter hostility Of
government officers, by many Of whom 1t has
been fagrsntly violated and evsded;" that lit
Is evident that the executive branch Of the gov
eminent will not enforce the existing eight-hour
law in accordance with its true spirit and intent
unless compelled so to do by additional legisla-
tion;' that s'the House Of Representatives, by
request Of more than million organized work
ingmen Of the country, has passed q bill (H. r.
No. $3.50 which, II concurred in by the Senate
and approved by the President, will remedy the
defects in the present law and secure its en-
forcement."
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The pending bill is urged because the exist
ing law is held to be imperative. Senator
Carey q report on the bill says: 1.-THE bill un-
der consideration, it il believed, contains pro-
visions which will compel its enforcement. IL
Will in effect extend the provisions Of the ex-
isting law to those employed by the District Of
Columbia. and to any contractor or subcon-
tractor upon any of the public works Of the
United States or of the public works Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. It affixes penalty for any
violation Of the law. It makes IL unlawful for
any officer Of the United States government or
the District Of Columbia, or any contractor or
upon any Of the public works Of
the United States, TO require or permit any Ia
borer or mechanic to work more than eight
hours on any calendar day, except in cases Of
extraordinary emergency. It excerpts from its
provisions all contractors or subcontractors
that have contracts upon the public works Of
the United States that were entered into prior
to the passage Of this act"