Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-25
THE EIGHT HOUR BILL.
Congressman Cables Efforts for the
Back Pay.
Full Text Of the Measure Before
Congress-Tne Matter Piacedin
ITS Most Comprehensive
shape.

Congressman Cables bill providing fer
the adjustment of accounts of lsborers
arising under the shour law, which was
read in in the house twice on Feb. /, re-
ferred TO the committee on labor and or
dered printed, is most concise yet COM
prehensive statement of the just demands
of the workingmen who have so many
years waited patiently for congress to
award them their dues. The bill is pre-
seuted in full:
A bill providing for the adjustment of
accounts of laborers, workmen and me-
chanics arising under the S~hour law.
Be it enacted By the senate and house
of + representatives. of the United States of
America in congress assembled. That
whoever, as a laborer, workman or me-
chsnic, has been employed by or on be-
half OF the government of the United
States since the 25th day June, Eighteen
hundred and sixty eight, the date of the
act constituting eight hours days work,
and has not been paid the full price of a
days work for each eight hours he has
been so employed shall have the right to
bring suit in the United States court of
claims to recover such deficiency; and
the said court is hereby authorized to
take jurisdiction of all such cases
without regard to the lapse of time. and
if in the opinion of the court, he was
under the said act of June 25, Eighteen
hundred and sixty eigb: or any existing
law. entitled to the full price OF 8
days work for eight hours labor or ser
vice, adj acste them upon the basis that
eight hours constitute days werk, and
for that length of service the claimants
shall be entitled TO recover the full price
of days work, whatever that may be,
less the amount he has already received
ard in that ratio for any fraction of a
day if, in the opinion of the court such
wss the meaning of the ssid act of June
25. Eighteen Hundred and Sixty eight,
or any other existing laws and if any
thing is found to be due. judgment shall
be given against the United States in
favor of each claimant accordingly.
SEC 3. That NJ payment heretofore
made of less sum per day than the full
price OF days work as provided in the
first section of this act, shall effect the
right of recovery nor shall any terms subs
mitted 10 by any such laborer, workman
or mechanic whether for piecewock, stint
work. task werk or any other kind of
work affect such right: Provided that
the said court shall fad that such terms
either in the number of hours labor re-
quired to be performed in calendar day
or in the rate established for such piece
work, stint work, task work, or any
other kid of work, required the per-
formsrce of more then eight hours labor
in each calendar day to earn the full price
of days work, as set forth in
the first section of this act, and that such
terms we're made since the passage of the
act of June %, Eighteen hundred and
sixtY-eight, constituting eight hours
days work. and are inconsistent with the
first section of this act and exscted by
any offices of the government as q condi>
ditiou Of employment or retention in the
public service. Provided, That all suits
under this act shall be commenced within
two years from and after its passage. and
any number of claimants may join in the
same suit, and provided further, That any
such parties as well as the United States
shall have the right of appeal to the SUI
prame court of the United States.