The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09

May 81, 1900, after nine hearings before
the House Committee on Labor
Eight OF these hearings were given
to the representatives of the Carnegie
Steel Works, the Bethlehem Steel Works
Goth in the Ste.3 Trust, and both man
ufacturers OF armor plate), the Midvale
Steel Works, the Newport News Ship
building Company, the New York Ship
building Company, the Bath Shipluiiding
Company, and the Union Iron Works ami
other firms who contract with the Uni
ted States Government. The comhittee
of the Federation of Labor at once pro-
ceeded to work for the passage of shc bill
through the Senate. They state with
great particularly the trickery, treach
cry, and broken pledges they encountered
on all sizes from Republican Senator's
Those Senators VINO voted TO smoth-
er the bill in the committee were Re-
publicana-Allison, Baker, Beverage,
Chandler Deboe Fairbanks. Foraker
Foster. Gallinger, Hale. Hanna Hans
borough Hawley, Kean. Lodge, McComas
Mcmillan. Plat of Connecticut, Platt OF
New York. Proctor Quarles Ross. Scott
Seweil. Shoup Simon. Thurston, Warren
Wetmore, Wolcott, and Stewart One
Democrat. Mr.. Vest, voted with the Re
publicans.
Those who voted to rescue the bill from
the committee were: Democrats
Bate. Berry, Culberson, Daniel. Harris.
KenBey. Lindsey. McEnery, Mallory.
Money. Sullivan. Taliaferro, Tillman. and
Turner. Republicans-Bard, Carter, Clark,
Cullom, Jones Of Nevada Mcbride. Mason.
Nelson, Penrose, and Teller Populists-
Butler, Heitfeld, and PettigTew. Two of
the Republicans voting with the Democrats
on this labor proposition are supporting
Bryan and Stevenson, namely, Jones of
Nevada and Teller.
Appeal From Gompers
when the effort was making to dis
charge the committee from the considera-
tion of the Eight-hour bill, that it might
be put upon its passage, Samuel Gompers.
President of the American Federation of
Labor, an organization embracing 500, 900
skilled workmen. addressed the following
letter to each member of the Senate:
Even casual examination of the bill
will demonstrate its eminent practical
biiity and its freedom from any provi-
sion against the interests OF the people
or the policy and interests of the Gov
eminent. That the principle involved in
this bill for a shorter workday is eco
nomically and socially right and Just is
not even questioned by Is opponents; that
the demand for the eight-hour day is
I'LL q ssal dlIbAlSl hilG AblitiS VI the Culltu
States cannot be questioned. In the Ian
guagc of one OF the most prominent citi-
zens of our country. the eight-hour day
is as great a shibboleth and principle
with the working people of the United
States as is the gospel to the devoui
Christian and the Declaration of IEde
pendenee to the patriotic American"
- What is true Of the Eight hour bill
is equally true of the bill to regulate
prison labor.
q" 1t is said hat there Is now not SUI
fcient time to pass this bill at the pres
ent session OF Congress. II is not out of
place TO say that there is grave sus-
picion in the minds of many working peo-
pie lat unless the bill does pass before
this session of Congress adiourns their
interests have been trifled with and their
cre,ulity imposed upon. There can be no
question but If there is a real disposition
to pass this bill 1t can be enacted. ample
hearings and arguments having been had
thereon.
. The wage-workers of America who
are expecting relief viii be unable to IN
derstand why it Is not granted when the
Congress has power TO do so. There can
be no question but that the failure to
gran, This relief at this session of Con
grssi will contribute largely 10 destroy
tEe belief held by earnest, thinking, con
sentative workers that when their griev-