The Bessemer indicator., 1893-02-04
FOR TWO WEEKS PAY.
What the Colorado House OF Repre-
sentatives Think of it as Re-
ported by the Denver
Npys

l
News.
| The house went into committee OF tho
whole with Hunter IN the chair, on
house bill No. 60, providing that wages
must be paid in cash or cash check at
least once in two weeks, and payment
must be made up to time not over six
days before the time OF payment.
Wooton spoke for the passage of the
bill and said injustice was done laborers
in coal mines. He showed scrip issued
by the Colorado Supply company which
were orders on the company store for SO
much IN goods. The company had men
around to pick up the scrip at 10 per
cent discount. 1t was an outrage that
men should have to mine 2,4OO pounds
of coal for ton at 80 cents and then
sell scrip alta discount OF 10 pei cent
Last session similar bill was killed in
the senate and years ago one got as far
as the govsrnor-Routt, he thought
and was vetoed. The state Of affairs
was special and gross injustice to the
coal miners. 1t had also been proven
that il the miners were paid in money
instead Of store orders they could get
cheaper goods at outside stores.
Ammons meved that the payments be
at least monthly instead Of every two
weeks.
Herr Of La Plata said he was in the
coal mining busineas, and, while he
favoren the abolition OF scrip and the
stopping Of the discouating of the mems
pay, he favored monthly payments, be-
cause most coal miners after pay day
are not much use for three or four days,
and two pay days month meant great
loss Of time. He thought man leaving
or discharged should be paid at once.
Mcknight of Pueblo said that under
the rule Of monthly payments some
store keeper at times got frightened and
tied up the whole of mans wages for q
month with garaishee. Two weeks
payment would get things down to
cash basis and put stop to this hard
ship.
Grow Of Fremont pointed out that
many firms did not pay till the middle
of the month, so that men worked with
out pay for forty-five days. The mer-
chants on cash basis could sell 25 per
cent cheaper. When mon had earned
money it was just they should have it.
Humphrey Of Ell Paso said the law
would be great detriment to other
classes Of employers than coal mine
owners. He instanced farmers, railroads
etc. The railroads couldn't pay on the
9th Of the month.
Jenks OF Eagle said that to harmonizs
labor and employers he would favor the
bill with the amendment as the most
acceptable to all, except that he would
move that the time allowed bo ten days
inf tead Of six.
Carney OF Ouray supported the bill as
originally offered. He held that labor
ers Should be paid promptly, and that
two weeks was long enough. Men with
money in their pockets could lend it out
if they wished, and come to have frugal
and industrial habits and not to lose
time after each pay.
LOMBARD of Pueblo spoke of the Bss-
semer works where 1900 men are paid
on the 18th of each month for the work |
of the previous month. Franklin Nc
Nsagh OF Chicago and two or three
Pueblo men have organized the Colo
rado Trading company, which sells
goods to the men and pays per cent to
the steel company on all money it
collects. A man having eaaned s75. gets
say receiptsd bill for $40 and $35 in
cash. 1t was absurd to suppose that
the per cont came from anywhere but
the pocket Of the laborer. From actual
experience the cost OF groceries at the
supply company was 20 percent higher
than elsewhere, and a man with money
could not obtain goods anywhere else.
He opprssd the amendment to a
month.
Moore Of Las Animas spoke for two
weeks payments. Sweeney would like
to see payments that way also, and
favored the bill, but feared it was not
constitutional. 1t provided for punish
ment for non-paymsnt, which he feared
was contrary to section 2s5, forbidding
punishnent for debt.
Mr.. HUMPHREY 8 SUBSTITUTE.
Humphrey OF Ell Paso had substi-
tuts, to the effect that railways be OK
ceptsd from the law.
Bromley sarcastically suggested that
farmers be excepted, and Lowell thought
rapchers and stockmsn should be count.
cd out.
Carnahsn delivered an essay On the
impossibility Of court collecting fines,
for lack Of Jurisdiction, and argued that
imprisonment for non payment of q fine
would be Imprisonment for debt.
Lennsrd suggested that the constitu-
tienal lawyers read "Bleak House," and
learn the difference between inprison-
msnt fer debt and imprisonment for q
fns. Section 285 had nothing to do
with this matter. As for railways with
headquarters in Chicago not being able
to get their money here within six days,
he thought they could very we'll sstab
lish branches Of the psymaster's depart
ment here.
Ammons opposed the two weeks pro-
vision and said it would strikd blow at
the farmers worse than all the good it
would do to Others. He favored pro-
hibition Of payment in store orders. On
behalf Of the farming. lumber and rail-
way interest Of the state he opposed the
two weeks clause.
Grow said il the money was put into