The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-17
SECOND EDITION.
4 O'clock.
THE FFTYE|GHT HOUR BILL
Taken Up as The Special Order by the
House Of Representatives.
GENERAL WILSON'S CRITICISM.
Senator FIR Q ans Bill to Prevent the In
PRODUCTION of Infectious Diseases
Judiciary Bill Made special Order
Act Against Track walking Passed.

tfOuuCtlDn OI lnfottious
Judiciary Bill Made special Order
Act Against Track walking Passed.
There was a little routine business
transacted this morning in the lower
branch of the general assembly before IL
m. which was the hour set for The
special order-the 5S-hour law.
THE HOUSE.
After the reading of the journal the
bill was taken up. 1t provides that
minors under 10 years of age and women
shall not be employed more than nine
hours and forty minutes every day in
any manufacturing or mercantile estab-
-isnment, IN no case shali the weeks
work exceed hfty-eight hours. The ex-
teptions to the operation of the law are
working over hours in orler to make u p
Tor time lost owing to stoppage of ma
chinery or for repairs or other similar
losses of time. The penalty is So for
each offense to be levied upon uch Of
Tending employer or uch guardian or
parent as shall permit minors To be I'M
lawfully employed.
Mr.. Mulholland explained that a SINH
lar law Is In force in Massachusetts, n
1t has worked no harm TO employers.
K. II. WILSON, moved that further ac-
ton on the bill be deferred until
Wednesday OF next week.
Mr.. Brown objects.
Mr.. Brown said that the members of
the house had sat patiently yesterday
until late in the day enacting private
legislation with the understanding that
the final adjournment might be taken
this week. IL as evident hat Mr.. Will
sons motion was made so,ely with the
idea Of putting 1t over until such a time
as the general assembly should have
adjourned. 1t was equi, alent to NOV
tDg for indefinite postponement.
X. ii. Wilson, will withdraw my
motion then, Mr.. Speaker, and / move
that the bill be indefinitely postponed il
that will suit the gentleman.
Mr.. Mulholland remarked that IL the
majority wished to announce to the
laboring classes that there is no ~le0isla-
ton Tor them he was perfectly willing
that they should do 80.
General {. A. Wilson criticised that
clause OF the bill which included in its
operations any mercantile Establish
ment." He believed that there were
grave reasons why the law should no Le
enacted. The cit, OF Providence is now
growing more rapidly han ever be- ore
and its growth depended largely upon
Ako Oil oil CitIkA
employed In such establishments this
bill would make many changes that
would be highly detrimental to the in
teresls OF all concerned.
Chairman Jencks.
Chairman Jencks of the committee ex-
'lsined that contrary to the opinion of
Mr.. Brown, the committee believed that
the provisions of the bill did apply to
every establishment, whether private or
. corporation. The law was general in is
scope and included every woman anu
child under 10 in the state.
Mr.. Jencks further explained that hear
tngs had been given especially for the
purpose Of giving the mercantile estab-
lishmeuts oppoi tunity TO speak. and no
represent alive # any such establishment
aps cared TO oppose It's enactment.
D~emagogical in Purpose.
K. II. Wilson said be was opposed to
this bill as he was opposed to every other
kind of labor legislation. 1t was pro-
posed mainly for the demaxoQical pur.
pose OF appealing to the labor vote. 1t is
based upon the principle that employers
are hogs and that they maltreat their
employees. IL IL based upon the idea that
there are different classes in this coun-
try with different degrees of power and
that Legislation Is necessary TO protecG
enc class aga INST another.
He understood that this law applied
only to corporations, for he did not
think that the state had the right to
enact laws that would interfere with
the rights Of individuals to make con
tracts with other individuals. Thus ex-
planned the law would apply to Callen-
der. McAuslan g. Troup and would not
Apply TO Shepard a. Co. or to other small
m 4 nFlVata GnnRarna Nr AA.lgn. ~.
planned further defects in the law
and said that many Of its provisions were
very carelessly drawn, were very proba-
bly, unconstitutional n AS such could
not be enforced.
A Touch of Socialism.
Mir. Blodgett explaine d hat this bill
struck at the great question that is Mt
che very foundation OF all socialism. 1t
rental function OF the state should be
exercised. It touched the deepest
social questions OF the day and
he doubled his ability to decide
as TO the extent to when this parental
function should go. Nevertheless the
precedent OF legislation showed that the
stale had never hesitated to exercise its
rights In that line, and thus far, go far as
he could See, no harm had come OF snch
legislation. On the contrary, IL had
seemed TO be generally acceptable. So
that, with all the light o~btainable, he
felt he was prepared 10 support the gene
raj principle Of the bill, though he had
doubt on the point just noted and as TO
the economic effect Of it upon lasorer
and employer.
Mr.. Wilson withdrew his motion TO
fndehn: tely postpone.
Mr.. Allen moved tD reconsider the bill.
A roll call show,d q noes. % ayes.
Il. III. Wilson moved TO strike out that
section relating to mercantile establish
ments" So voted 30 TO 10.
"A Few other vague clauses were
stricken out and the motion Was made to
strike u the worl "conclus. ve.n
whereby the certificate OF a parent or
guardian should be made conclusive evil
drnce as to the age Of such minor in any
ease before the court. Passed.
- bill Vas then pissed.
SENATE.