The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-11
EIGHT. HOUR BILL DISCUSSED.
THE SHIPRCILDERS PROTEST
AGAINST ITS PASSAGE.
watkins Delegates ~ the Capitol Urging
the C1sip,s Of Labor Upon Susceptible
Senators - Senator McCOmss says
That He IL In sympathy win the Bill.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l0.-IThe eight-hour
bill IL giving grave concern to the Republi-
can leaders in Congress, particularly In
he Senate. j; has passed the House OF
Representatives and is now being con-
-idcred by the Senate Committee on Labor.
which evidently intends to report It favor
ably 70 the Senate.
The same Influences that favor the en-
actment of antitrust legislation and that
are in sympathy with the cause Of the
striking anthracite coal miners are At work
in behalf Of the eight-hour bin. Walkin 8
delegates nre daily at the Capitol urging
the claims of the iaboring men upon those
senators who are disposed TO be susceptible
to Influences Of that kind, and the oppon-
cnts Of the measure are beginning TO think
that tho only way to kill 1t will he. IA in
he case of the Statehood bill, to prevent
il from being brought to vote. Some
OF the more conservative among the leaders
Of the Senate regard the bill as more danger
Gus than any which has come before the
senate. and are prepared to put parlia-
mcntary obstacles In the way of It's con-
sideration
The interest TO the proceedings to-day
was centred in a discussion Of that clause
ia the bill which exempts from its provision
such materials a. NAV usually be bought
in open market, whether made to conform
to particular specifications or not" Senator
McComas held thai the exception was very
broad and covered many things which the
contractors contend come under the terms
Of the bill
senator Proctor said that stone and lum-
Der. to meet the peculiar demands of the
Government specifications, could not al
ways be bought in the open market. apply
ing this specifically to wood and stone for
structural purposes, and he asked the chair
man u they would be exempted as mate
rial according To the wording Of the bill
The chairman said he thought SO. Senator
Proctor said he did not think Senator
MCtomas's Interpretation would be ac-
cepted by the courts This aroused the
Chairman, who said.
Il have been In sympathy with the eight
hour movement for the last ten years. and
] therefore consider this measure very
meritorious one. and II shall have my sup
port unless II can be proven that 1t Is revolt
t'onary and injurious to the laboring
people.
Judge McCammon. representing the
Cramps snipyard, III explaining the posi-
tion Of the manufacturers. said they were
rot opposed to an eight hour system, but
did object to AL arbitrary eight hour law,
which would not only cause them to lose
ursettle the labor question. He pointed
out the Injustice of tho act toward the
Government contractors. illustrating how
tho bill would work 10 their detriment
where two ships were being built, one In
a private VAR; and the OF her by the United
States. the latter being able 10 buy material
il. TIE open market, regardless Of al eight
hour law. and the contractor being strictly
confined to the pro visions Of such measure.
bc'ore tie committee adjourned a letter
was read from Henry G. Morse. president Of
tie New York Shipbuilding Company, pro-
testing against tho passage Of the bill, the
writer saving that under an eight hour
law the cost Of what we would have to
export from this country would increase
from 20 10 rs per cent. with the possibility
sc exporting being effectually prevented,
NO individual increases his wealth by
consuming all he produces writes Mr.
Noree. and the same is true Of the coun-
Try at large