The morning times., 1896-03-09
EIGHT-H0UR llW CLAIMS
Facts Brought to Light by the
Bill TO Adjust Them.
ACT Has BEEN DISREGARDED
In Spite OF Executive Proclamations
Its Provisions Are Violated and IN
Many of the Claims Compulsory
Extra Labor Il Alleged-Question
Of Its Enforcement Al Difficult One.

The House Committee on Labor, in IA
vorahly reporting the bill providing for
the adjustment of accounts OF laborers,
workmen and mechanics, arising under
the eight hour law have embodied Il report
prepared by Senator Carey on similar
bill in the Fifty-SecOnd Congress.
The report shows that III the quarter of
n century. during which the eight hour
law has been operative, fits provisions have
III most instances been utterly disre garded.
Even an executive proclamation by Presi-
dent Grant did not secure its enforcement.
The following extracts are taken from
Senator Carey's report, indOrsed by the
House Committee on Labor:
Bills for the adjustment OF claims aris-
ing under the eight hour law have, re
peatedly been before Congress, and have
more than once received favorable consid-
GRAFTON in the Senate and House.
Memorials and petitions have been pre-
sented during many years asking that some
law he enacted for The adjustmen nt of these
claims. Testimony has been taken bearing
upon the various questions nvoIvcd, and
extended reports have been made by the
committees Of the House OF Representa- tives
and the Senate. The Senate report in the
FOrty-ninth Congress is replete with the
facts, and is herewith annexed and made d
part of this report.
ObJEb Or III l. Lam
Congress enacted an eight-hour Ia w.
nearly twent y-four years ago. The Ian
qua ge of the act is plain, and its object was
undoubtedly 10 make eight hours constitute
a full days work for all laborers, worknIen,
and mechanics who should thereafter be
be employed on behalf of the United States.
Notwithstanding this clear and explicit
| law, those wnuactedon behalf ofthe Govern
meut in many cases failed TO knuwledge
its provisions, and laborers, workmen and
mechanics were compelled 10 labor for
ten hours, and for the same compensation
as if they had been required to labor for
eight hours only.
The Jaw in some instances was observed,
but as a rule was disregarded. On the
| 10Th day of MAY. 1869, nearly q year
| after the passage of the cight-hnur law
President Grant by proclamation called
| attention TO the law. and directed that no
| reduction should be made In the wages o
those employed by the day by the Govern
ment, such as workmen, laborers and
mechanics, OH account % the reduction
| OF the hours OF labor.
| This proclamation accomplished but
| little. 1t was not observed or followed
| Another proclamation was issued by the
| President in 1872, four years after the
| passage OF the act, calling attention to
! the violation of the provisions of the law,
| ana directing bllhI al OF
] Executive Departments OF the government
| having charge OF the employment of the
! laborers, workmen, and mechanics employ
| ed by or on behalf of the government OF the
| United States to make no reduction in the
wages paid by the government, by the day.
| to such laborers, workmen, and mechanics,
on account of the reduction of the hours of
| labor.
LAW REITERATED.
| Congress appears to have been besieged
with petitions praying for the passage OF
relief bills because of the violations OF
| the act and the failure OF Officers and those
having charge eofthelaborers, workmen, and
mechanics to carry out its provisions. In a
deficiency appropriation bill passed May
| Is, 1872, section in the following words
appears:
| Sec. 2. That the proper accounting
Officers be, and are hereby authorized
| and required, III the settlement OF all ac
| counts for the services of workmen, labor
! erS, or mechanics employed by or on
| behalf OF the government OF the United
| States between the 25th day Y OF June / S6S
| the date OF the act constituting eight
| hours days work for all such laborcrs
workInen, and mechanics, and the 10Th
| day OF May, 1863, the date of the prUcla
| nation OF the President concerning such
pS:, TO settle and pay for the same with
| out reduction on account OF the reduction
or the hours of labor by the said act
| was the sole cause OF the reduction OF
wages. and a sufficient sum for said pur
| pose is hereby appropriated out OF any
money in the Treasury not otherwise ap
propriated.
Under the provisions of the latter act
| some of the accounts were adjusted and
| the parties in interest paid. In the other
| cases there has been no adjustment of these
| accounts. These claims have been from
time to time pressed for payment. Many
questions are now involved for which the
| lahorers, workmen and mechanics who did
the labor are in nowise responsible.
WHERE CLAIMS HOLD GOOD.
'tThey allege that in some instances they
laltored for ten hours under conipulsion;
in other cases with the understanding that
the government would sooner or later pay
| them for the extra hours of labor per
| formed in excess OF the eight hours CON
| stituting days work.
I'm other cases the workmen were ig
norant of the law. Whether it was ex
pedent to pass the original act the com
| mittee is not now called upon to discuss
It is d law of Congress, and should have
been observed and enforced. The commit
tee believe that the pa ssage of the bill as
| amended will do justice, though tardy. Il
large class of citizens. 1t will enable
them to at least have their claims passed
upon by court on a statement of fac
| under the law and the proclamations q
the President issued because of the non
| observance OF its provisions.
"There can be no reason why all the
questions involved should not be tried anc
fully determined, and the committee rec
ommend that the bill do pass
|
| Constable Shot a Negro