Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-04
THE EIGHT-HoUR LAW.
Senator Cockr-ll Wants All the Department.
Employees to Come Under IL.


Az INTERESTING DEBATE IN THE SENATE YES
TERpAY BROUGHT Up BIT AREFEREScE TO TIL
GOVERNMENT PRINTING oFFIcE-sEvEKAL sESA
TORS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT
Ex-senator Cockrell could only have his way
all departmental employees would be required
20 labor eight hours each week day. There was
debate in the Senate yesterday on the bill to
bring about reform in the printing and dis
tribution Of documents and Senator Henderson
offered an amendment providing for the en-
forcement Of the eight-hour law for employees
OF the government printing Office. Senator
Henderson stated that Public Printer Palmer
has rigidly enforced the law and was a most
efficient officer, but the amendment should
nevertheless be adopted.
81 should like to ask the Senator" said Sen
ator Cockrell. IF he knows the custom there,
as 10 whether the employees who work by the
day go 10 the printing Office at the same hour
that they do in the other departments and
leave at the same hour"
Mr.. Manderson-I cannot give accurate in
formation or that subject. My impression is
that those who work by the day work by some
system Of reliefs, because during the session
Of Congress the public printing office Is OF
course at work both night and day.
eight hours form working DAY, and the
departments ignore the law by working SIX
hours and half day and they call that day
II eight hours be days work eight hours
work ought to be performed confess frankly
that have not any very great amount Of sym
patty with less than eight hours work, and II
we have prescribed that eight hours shall be a
days work we ought TO see that eight hours are
worked by the employees OF the government
IL is nothing but right and fair and just.
IL il not the number OF hours that the
great masses of the people en-
gagged in carrying on the business
OF this country work. for most Of them work
even longer than that when they are working
at their own affairs IL seems we hedge in by
an eight-hour law and then allow Six hours and
q half work to be performed and call that a
days work. That is the reason why asked az
TO whether the same custom prevails in the
public printing Office in regard to the hours OF
work that prevails in the executive depart
ments where the employees go in at o'clock
and go on. at 4, and have half an hours recess
for lunch?''
Mr.. Manderson-I do not think that is true
CT the public printing Office. i think the en-
ployes work eight hours a day
Mr.. Teller-I should like to inquire of the
Senator where the work is six and a half hours
Q day?
Mr.. Cockrell-It was so in the Interior De-
partment, understand when the distinguished
Senator from Colorado was Secretary Of the In
terror.
Mr.. Teller-I should ike to inquire il the
Senator understands tina; the statute which was
passed some years ago with reference to labor
ers applies to clerks in the departments!
Mr.. Cockrell-A great many of the employees
IN the departments have been here from time
immemorial nearly trying to get law to au-
thorize them again to sue in order that they
may recover compensation when they have
been at work in the navy yards aud other
branches OF the service, and i supposed it APP
Piled to employees Of the government, as it was
intended to apply in that way.
Mr.. Teller-I think if the Senator will reflect
n minute he will readily admit that under no
administration. either democratic or republi-
can, has there been any such rule applied to
the clerical force Of the departments.
Mr. Cockrell-H the Senator will Just per-
NIT me to interrupt him; / admit that under
the democratic administration the same rule
was pursued that had been pursued before. /
am not crIticising the Senator when he was
Secretary of the Interior. but am simply stat
ing the fact, that while are legislating here
to limit the hours of work in a day to eight
hours, We permit from 1900 to 5000 EN-
ployes OF the government to work SIX hours
and half and call that DAYS work.
Mr.. Teller-What time do the employees COM
mence work in the departments Of the govern
msnt now? At what time in the morning? AT
3 O'Clock. IL il not?
Mr.. Cockrell-At o'clock.
DIR. Teller-And they work until A?
Mr.. Cockreu-They work until and have
half an hour for lunch That Ieave the vork-
ing time SIX and half hours Exactly
Mr.. Teller-Ihat has been the custom from
time impemorisI The senator from Missouri
is the first person have heard suggest that the
eight hour law apnlied to that class 81 ,eonIe
i do not think it applies to them any more thsn
il does to the members of TINS body. That has
been the ruling of the departments. as saw
for MANY years. in every branch.
Mr.. CockreIl-Will the Senator permit me to
interrupt him there?
Mr.. Enthusiastically.
Mr. Cockrell-The departments nv axnrass
authority of Law have power to 6x the banrs
and therefore thew have Hxed tbesa hop-s II
il were not for that the eight-honr Law ,rouIJ
be inst "A comnnIsorv mon tber, 20 ~ e.,
nnfnber Of bours a. thev "a, ~ ~ -
They have fxea les Itused 20 he .,ah, ha,,.s
In the last twenty nv twenty-6ye raars ,ha
vork va. REQUIRED 10 he rs-tornad - ~
laction i. 10 the dane,,r,sn.s - - y ~
Law long before any eight bopr Law 49, go
passed and the law ant6ori-sS tba dsn.r,r,a',,.
10 6x the humber Of bonr. tbe s,n,,Iosas ai,~,,iS
work
Mr. Teller-That is what was about to
saw, that the law authorizinv the beada Of
dan.~tra,,a e. e. a.
Sf~ '" ~ WIG huHoer VI nourS
was passed long before the elght-hOur law.
rafararca a., ,ha 1o,a-..ao..- Tn
- " nc eePsi saes Inc eish'-
hour law was passed for the purpose OF
.ne men VINO iaoor principally
49,. LAY farus anu .n"1 elass OF occupa,