Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-29
PAY is PROBABLE.
The eight.hour Men to Receive
Their Dues.
THE OUTLOOK SEEMS FAVORABLE.

ON Labor Of the House, which WIN Prob
ably Bring asolutIon OF the Much vexed
Question.
The Rock Island arsenal emp loves
seem in a fair way to receive their
long withheld back pay under the
o-hour law. At all events, the COM
mittee on labor OF the house, through
congressman Lawrence McGann,
mas formulated report favorable to
those interested, which, if adopted,
VIII insure a speedy solution of the
much vexed question.
The Bill.
The full text of the bill on which
the committee on labor to whom it
was referred has decided to report
favorably. is appended:
BE it enacted by the senate and
house Of representatives OF the
United States Of America in congress
assembled. That whoever has been
employed by or on behalf of the gov.
eminent of the Emitted States since
the 25th day of June, 1868, as labor
or, workman or mechanic, and while
IN such employment worked more
than eight hours per day shall be
paid for the extra time he worked
while so employed at the rate OF
wages agreed upon for days work
and the proper accounting officers
are hereby directed to adjust the &C.
counts to all such laborers, workmen
and mechanics, and pay the same in
conformity with the provisions OF
this act; and sufficient sum OF
money for that purpose is hereby ap-
propriated out Of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated.
That il any claim under the pro-
visions of this act shall be elected
by the said proper accounting Off
GERS, the claimant is hereby author
lied ut any time within one year
after such rejection, to commence
proceedings to cover the same in the
court of claims. and judgment against
the United States in favor OF such
claim, il any shall be paid out OF the
appropriation aforesaid: provided,
that and such party, as well as the
United States, shall have the right OF
appeal to the supreme court OF the
United States, and provided further,
that any number of claimants may
Join in the same suit. and the court
may find in favor Of some and against
some, as in law and equity, may be
right. and both claimants and the
United States shall have the right to
appeal to the supreme court of tn,
United States, irrespective of tn,
amount claimed.
Status of the Matter
The bill relates to the subject mat.
ter that has been taken up from time
to time through the various sessions
OF congress, and accompanying the
bill referred to. is the extensive and
valuable report of the committee on
education and labor of the senate oil
the Fifty-second congress, with re.
commentator that the house bill, as
amended. do pass.
The senate bill recites that memo.
rails and petitions have been pre-.
sented during many years. asking
that some law be enacted for the ad.
iustment of these claims; that con-
gress enacted the S-hour law nearly
"a years ago; that the language OF
the act is plain. its object being to
make eight hours constitute Il full
days work for all laborers. workmen
and mechanics who should hereafter
be employed in behalf of the United
States, and that. notwithstanding
this clear and explicit law, those who
acted on behalf Of the government in
many cases, failed to acknowledge
its promises, and laborers. workmer
and mechanics were compelled to la.
Dor 10 hours for the same compensa.
ton as if they had beer
required to labor but eight
hours only. The law, in
some instances. was observed. bu,
as n rule. was disregarded. The
bill speaks of President Grants pro
clamation relative to the law May
10, 1869, and the little accomplished
by it. and the various efforts made
in behalf of the measure since.