The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-27
IN STATE LEGISLATURE.
The House Passed the Nine
Hour Bill This Noon.
ITS PROVISIONS MODIFIED SOME.
The Senate Authorized Pawtucket TO
Issue Bonds TO Construct "a New
High School Building-Other Mat
ters i'm Both Branches.

"Where is Speaker Owen?" was the joint
inquiry OF the majority and minority
leaders half hour after Joe Mullen had
rung the tocsin. IL was understood that
he had started from his Office on time, but
he did not materialize nor did he
send his labor manuscript. So
DIR. Garvin and Brer Honey
consulted as the result of which Reading
Clerk Conley called for nominations for
Speaker pro tenn. Mr.. Cottrell OF New
port was selected and ascended the throne.
DIR. Garvin called from the table the
nine e-hour bill, and strange 10 relate he
desired TO impart more symmetry TO the
bill by Offering sundry verbal amendments
TO sections one and two. The most i'm
portant changes are in section
two where the nine hour per
day restriction is eliminated and
the general limitation OF d hours
in each week is retained. The object OF
this amendment is TO make the bill
more liberal by making il OPP
tional with the store keepers
to fix the hours of labor so as not TO in
terfere with holiday arrangements. The
amendment further provides that in mer-
camille establishments for the six secular
days next preceding December %, in each
year said employees may be employed not
exceeding II hours day. These amend
ments were adopted. The section as
amended reads as follows:
SEC. 2. No minor under 16 years OF age
and no woman shall be employed in labor
ing in any mercantile establishment
more than fifty-four hours
in any one week. And every
employer shall post in a conspicuous
place in every room in which such persons
are employed printed notice stating the
number OF hours work required
OF them on each day OF the
week, the sum total of which shall not ex-
ceed 81 hours as aforesaid. And the en-
ployment of any such person for
longer time in any day than
as stated in such printed notice
shall be deemed violation of this section,
unless II appears that such employment is
to make up for time lost on some pre-
vious day OF the same week in conse-
quence OF the closing of the mercantile es-
tablishment in which such person was en-
ployed: Provided that for the six secular
days next preceding Dec. % in each yea
said persons may be employed not exceed
ing II hours each day.
DIR. Garyin then spoke briefly in defense
of the bill. He said that the majority of
the operatives were satisfied that there
would be no corresponding reduction of
wages by the reduction of hours of labor.
He had something further to add about the
OF supply and demand as effecting the
wage system.
Ninc-Hour Bill Passed.
Promptly at the hour of II, DIR. Garvin
called for the roll on the bill as
amended and II was passed by vote of 81
ayes TO II nayes as follows:
Ayes - Speaker Owen, Messrs. AL
drich, George T. Brown, Gilman Brown,
Clarke, James B. Cottrell, George F. Cot
trell, Crosby, Dimond, Garvin, Gates,
Greene, Hayward, Hazard, Honey, Horton,
lnman, johnson, Luther, McOsker,
Mowry, Mulholland, Mumford, Murray,
Robinson, Percy ID. Smith, Samuel Smith,
Syvestre, Wardle, West, Whipple, Will
marth--37.
Nays -Messrs Allen, Blodgett, Bowen,
Cambell, Fish, Fournier, Stephen M.Greene
Heydon, Henry F. jerks, John Jenckes,
Kenyon, Pierce, Ray, Tallman, Thresher,
Ward, Wilson III
Absent and not voting g-Messrs. Arnold.
Barber, Bullock, Cole, Dodge, Eastwood,
Clifford, Hall, Hanaford, Hill, James l..
jerks, Mccarthy, Potter, Rathburn, Sim
mons, Sweet, Walker--17.
SpeHker owen enltfeu tne cnalnDer just
as the last name had been called and his
name was recorded in the affirmative. He
refraiped from oratory in explanation of
his vote.
To Prohibit Supreme Court Decisions.
Representative Mulholland introduced
a resolution proposing an amendment TO
the constitution of the State annuling the
provision in the organic law which author
izes the Supreme Court 10 give written
opinions on questions OF law when re-
quested 10 by the Governor or either branch
OF the General Assembly. The resolution
was referred TO the committee on special
legislation.
Nom Forfeiture Of Wages.
Representative Greene of Woonsocket