The Washington times., 1894-05-26
FALSE IN ALL ITS PHASES
Substitute Labor Employment Bill
Prepared by the Commissioners.
FEDERATION DENouNcEs IT
The "Poor" Employers and the Injustice Done
Them by the Eight-hour Proposition-Ths
Bond Proposition in Favor Of the Moneyed
Few-The Commissioners Reasoning.

The following addresses to the public, pre-
pared by joint committee of the Federation
of Labor and District Assembly &C, wa
adopted by both bodies:
To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Senate bill 1851, entitled bill to provide worh
for the unemployed persons within the District
OF Columbia by providing for comprehensive
system Of sewer and street improvements and
the employment of laborers thereon 'at q daily
wage OF 81 90 for Ell eight hours work and which
appropriated 81 ,0O00 for the purposes Of the
bill, has been dsapproved by the District Com
1nissioners, to whom the bill was referred by the
Senate Committee on the District of Columbia
As the bill contemplated much needed i'm
proyements and the utilization Of our unem-
ployed labor, 1t was regarded favorably by those
who have any regard for the moral, social, and
pecuniary condition OF a large number OF our
residents When, therefore, the Commissioners
disapproved the bill, drafted a substitute, and
forwarded it to Congress, with statement as an
excuse for legislation which is an insult to labor
and highly vicious In principle, the Federation
of Labor and District Assembly 66, devoted to the
best interests of the District, have deemed it a
duty TO protest against the passage OF the sub
stitute bill and to publicly question the state
ments made by the Commissioners in their letter
of transmttaL
These gentlemen object to 81 so per day for
eight hours work being paid laborers on the
Improvements, because in their opinion ''it
would result in great hardship to the employers
OF labor in the District"
IL Is apparent tnat these gentlemen nave not
the slightest consideration for the thousands
who are suffering great hardships," imposed
upon them by an industrial condition which
forces upon the wage-worker idleness or the
very restricted opportunity 30 work long hours
at a rate of wages barely sufficient to exempt
him from the operation Of the vagrant law. 1t
is this condition the Commissioners would have
legalized at this time, because, as thcy state,
thousands of idle men would be glad to work
for 81 for ten hours IL opportunity were given"
This is simply an argument for vicious legisla-
ton, which takes advantage of the necessities
of the thousands of worthy working residents of
this District; 1t Is an attempt to befoul the
statutes by legalizing an Industrial condition
which is neither creditable TO the state or our
civilization.
If the Commissioners were imbued with less
Of that spirit which characterized their ilustri-
Gus prototypes, the triumvirs of Rome, they
would not indulge in insincere expression OF in
terest in the unemployed, and then advise n
legal measure which will prohibit the laborer
from securing better wages at reduced hours.
Every laborer," they say, "employed at a
less rate would individually demand the rate
established by the bill, and IL his demand should
not be acceded to he would quit his present en-
ployment. While the right of the aborer TO avail
himself of any law and free opportunity to i'm
prove his condition is tacitly admitted, the Com
missioners have positively advised that the
opportunity be legally restricted.
If, then, these gentlemen are sincere in their
regard for the interests of the employers of
cheap labor; IL they are convinced that 10 cents
an hour is a sum sufficient TO maintain n social,
which would give durability TO the state and
honor TO the republic, we suggest that they draft
an additional section to their bill which should
read: mo laborer employed upon private work
who is being paid less than 81 per day of ten
hours shall be employed by the Commissioners
upon any public work, and the request Of any
laborer for work shall not be considered unless
he produces release signed by his last en-
ployer. This section shall not be construed
as TO prohibit the working of the chain gang"
Were this legalized a squeeze in wages could be
successfully maintained and the profits to those
employing labor would be largely increased
AS the contemplated improvements would
largely enhance the value Of property along the
lines of improvement, why should not those
whose labor makes the wealth increase be per-
mitted TO share in this increase, to the extent at
least of a wage which would enable them to live
above a condition of semi-pauperism? And
finally, as though there was not enough Of in
Justice in a condition which forces men under
stress of hunger to labor long hours for small
wages. hampered by legal shackles, it is further
to impose upon them a bonded-debt
burden of 81 10000
This is n scheme TO license a horde of bencfici-
aries, who will stand with outstretched, itching
palms along the industrial way for half a CEN
tury, and have paid to them an annual tribute
Of per cent of the earnings OF labor. 1t is n
vicious scheme TO extort from the people $3.50
to secure the loan OF 81. When the account is
finally closed and II is ascertained that 3ll $4,000
was paid on final liquidation, the fact viii then
be self-evident that the many will be poorer and
the few richer.
Inc Dlll suggested Is III narInOuy Win OF
past legislation which has debauched justice.
outraged the defenseless, made millionaires of
the few, and paupers of the many. IL is more
over an effort for special legislative violntior of
The national eight-hour lawwith which they have
never been in sympathy. Perhaps the very acute
,an distinguish tie difference in principle es be-
tween the legal violation of law and the ordinary
but the eternal fact remains that as
The law places the lawless under ban, n
suggestion Of licensed violation by whomsoever
made will merit and receive the censure of en-
ightened public sentiment
The action of the Commissioners in this mat
.er should forcibly bring to our attention the
gery important question of the Mobilization of
he residents Of this District with the valued
and necessary privileges Of American citizen
ihip. We're not denied the right Of self-rov-
were we citizens instead of subjects by
he power Of the franchise, we could retire 10
harmless privacy our CGser, our Crassus and
,ur Pompey.
Signed: MILFORD SPoHN,
T. j. REA,
T. Il. PYwEIL-
WILLIAM L DEwAET,