The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-22
WORK OF THE HOUSE.
Two Important Labor Bills Passed
After Brief Discussion.

After Brief Discussion.
WASHINGTON. May 21.-The House to-
day under suspension Of the rules passed
two important bills reported by the COM
mittee on labor-one to extend the eight
hour law to all laborers employed under
contract on government work and the other
to prohibit interstate traffic in prison made
goods by bringing them under the jurisdic-
ton Of the police powers Of the State. The
former bill is designed to carry the law of
1892 to it's logical conclusion. The convict
labor bill caused some sharp inquiries from
members OF the Southern States. where
prison labor is employed in the fields and
in the mines, but upon assurances that it
would not interfere with the production of
coal, cotton or lumber, the opposition was
not pressed.
At the opening Of the session Mr.. Payne.
of New York, the floor leader of the ma
jority, offered joint resolution for a sine
die adjournment of Congress on Wednes-
day, June 6. The reading Of the resolution
was greeted with round Of applause. At
Mr.. Payne's request the resolution was
referred to the ways and means committee.
Mr.. Gardner, of New York, chairman Of
passage, under suspension of the rules. of
the bill reported by his committee to limit
''the hours of daily service of laborers and
mechanics employed upon work done for
the United States or any Territory or the
planned that the bill would compel all gov
eminent contractors to have their work
done on the eight-hour system and would
correct the law OF 1892.
noy1 IF he
power of Congress to deny an American
citizen to contract to sell ten hours of
labor a day If he chooses. He was sin
cerely in sympathy with every effort Of
organized labor to improve and elevate its
condition. but would not agree that an
American citizen, is incompetent to make a
contract for his personal services. After
number of speeches in its favor the bill
was paSsed-151 to "a
Mr. Gardner then moved the passage un-
der suspension of the rules of the bill to
prohibit interstate traffic in convict-made
goods and to clothe the States with the
power to regulate their sale.
Mr.. Bailey asked why the committee had
not included in its bill provision against
trust-made goods. 1T Is fact that trust
made goods" said he, ''are vastly more in
furious to labor than convict-made goods"
Mr. Gardner explained that matters relat-
ing to trusts were not within the jurisdic-
ton of the committee on labor.
Mr.. Williams, of Mississippi asked Mr..
Gardner If he would accept an amendment
to include trust made goods.
mo, would not replied Mr.. Gardner.
cit would not be germane and 1t might de-
stroy the bill"
Mr.. Lentz Of Ohio, supported the bill
It was as proper that a State should take
care of its convict-made goods as that it
should take care of it's convicts. But he
insisted that Congress should go further
and include a provision against trust-made
goods He declared that the Republicans
dare not accept Mr.. Williams amendments.
1.-The trusts" said he. Ito whom you offer
up your prayers for revenue in the coming
campaign will not allow you" Applause
on the Democratic side.l The bill was
passed without division
A bill was passed to admit the publica-
tons of State agricultural departments to
the mails as second-class matter.
Conference reports on the agricultural
and fertilization appropriation bills were
adopted
The conference report the army ap-
preparation bill was rejected because the
House conferees had agreed 10 an item to
appropriate 5000 for n library I'm Manila.
The bill was sent back to conference. At
n m the House adjourned