The evening times., 1898-11-05
THE DEMANDS OF LABOR
The Eight Hour Bill May Be-
come a Law.
THE VIEWS OF Mr.. GOMPERS
The Proposed Legislation Embraces
Many observation-disclosures Re-
Session OF COngress-EarIy Action
Hoped for-Senator Whites Bill.

The friends of organized labor believe
that labor Legislation will occupy a rea-
sonable share of the attention of Con-
gress at the coming session. President
Gompers. of the American Federation of
Labor. is expending his energy in urs -ng
workingmen throughout the Republic to
promote the passage of the eight-hour
bill, the anti-injunction bill. the convict
labor bill and the seamen's bill
President Gompers said today that he
believes that the sentiment in Congress
is ripe for the enactment of a general
eight-hour lay. On january q last Rep
resentative Gardner introduced d bill en-
titled "A bill limiting the hours of daily
service of laborers, workmen and me-
chanics employed upon the public works
of, or work done for. the United States
or any territory or the District OF CO.
lumbia." The bill was referred To the
Commmittee on Labor, which repo-t d it
back to the House with the rec1mmenda-
ton that il be passed.
The bill was reported TO the House on
April and was passed May II. with an
amendment provides that the bill shall
not apply to public, military or naval
works or defenses in time of war"
The bill was reported 10 the Senate on
May Is, and was then referred TO the
Committee on Education and Labor The
representatives of organized labor found
II difficult to secure a meeting OF that
nrhi H. might ne
considered Owing TO the importuning OF
various members and of Senator Kyle a
| meeting was called for June l6 to hear
! the opponents of the measure.
/ A hearing, lasting five hours, was held,
/ at which the representatives of various
manufacturing interests were heard. The
report OF this meeting was not ordered
printed until June %, and it was impos-
sible to secure another meeting Of the
committee until June %, at which time
the bill WIS reported with amendments
but without recommendation.
The amendments added the emergency
and war clause to the second section and
! further amended the fourth section so as
! not TO apply Ito the transportation OF
mails, merchandise or passengers, or to
any common carrier in any way.
/ Senator cannon was given tIdi VI
/ the bill at the instance of its advocates,
and made several unsuccessful attempts
TO bring the bill up during the closing
| days of the session. On Wednesday, July
6 Mr. Cannon moved that the Senate pro-
] ceed to the consideration of the hill. Ihe
| motion was lost by a vote of Is TO %
! Those who voted for the bill were: Sena-
tors Allen, Berry, Butler, Cannon, Clay,
Daniel. Faulkner, Harris, Heittield, Nc
! emery McLaurin, Mitchell, Pasco, Petit
grew Roach. Teller, Turpie and White
! There were forty-two senators not Vot-
| ing
! Although Mr. Gompers expects much
! antagonism he is hopeful that the bill
( may become a law at the approaching
/ session.
The officers of tie American Federation
of Labor feel confident that the bill in
| troduced at the last session, entitled "A
| bill to protect free labor, will he passed
| at the next session. This is the bill pOpu
| ularly known as the 'anti-cOnvict bill
1t was introduced on January by Rep
/ resentatfve Southwick and was ordered
reported favorably to the House. 1t is sal
by the advocates of this measure that the
desire for Ii on the part of employers anc
employees alike will insure its passage.
| The seamen's bill is that entitled "A bill
to amend the laws relating to seamen, foi
the protection of such seamen, and to pro
mote commerce" 1t was introduced b!
Senator White of California, al the ex
! traordinary session on March 16 1884, 4
hearing was had on this bill on March /
before the committee on commerce. Al
additional hearing was held on May s. L
I was then referred to the subcommittee oil
shipping. Labor people say of this bill
that although. as il was reported, ii is no
all that is desired, yet it marks a step IL
the right direction.