The Washington times., 1902-04-28
The Laws in the Various States.

terence IN hours.
The Laws in the Various States.
Mr.. Gardner applies to the case in issue
the laws OF the different States making
an eight-hour day. He remarks, in his
report:
"A gentleman of responsibility, and with
exceptional opportunity for observation,
has borne testimony that the shortening
Of the workday has banished blue Mon
day
The action of the labor committee.
when it is made public. will again re-
yive renewed interest in this bill. Its
final disposition by Congress will affect
laboring men all over the country, as we'll
as millions of dollars of capital invested
by contractors who are filling Govern
ment contracts.
The contractors have asserted, ever
since the bill was framed. that should 1t
become law the Government will be
forced into manufacturing its own guns
and armor plate. as well as building war
vessels. The steel manufacturers and
shirbuildcrs are a unit in declaring
against the possibility Of turning out
work Of SO high degree of excellence as
TO pass Government inspection under the
severe conditions imposed by the law
carrying with IL a time limit on all work.
They also contend that the bill imperiis
the basic principle on which the Repub-
tic was founded. the absolute right OF
man to do as he pleases with his time and
labor.
The bill has twice passed the House and
both times died in the Senate. once In
committee. But the labor leaders. nota-
bly, Mr.. Gompers. intend TO make the
most strenuous efforts to secure its pas
10 lab
ers contend there is not man in the
country who would not welcome its pas
sage. although number OF Cramps
workmen testified that an eight-hour law
would work great hardship to them.
owing TO the time they lose during the
winter months.
Reduction in Wages Inevitable
All the Government contractors say that
il the bill is passed il will mean an in
evitable reduction in wages. These con-
tractors state that they are not against
an eight-hour system. but consider it
socialistic tendency to make it manda-
tory on a man that he shall not work
more than eight hours, no matter what
his pleasure may be in that direction.
and If the bill becomes Law they will
carry ii 10 the Supreme Court to have its
tested
Judge J. X. McCammon, who represents
number of Government contractors. has
sent a letter 10 the Labor Committee, in
which he says:
Il would call your attention to an ex-
tract from President Roosevelt's speech
at Charleston, S. c., short time ago, in
which, in discussing the relations between
capital and labor he said among other
things.
e Our laws must be wise. sane. healthy.
conceived in the spirit of those who scorn
the mere agitator. the mere instigstor Of
class or sectional hatred; who wish JUS
tice for all men, who recognize the need
Of turning, as far as possible, TO the old
American doctrine OF giving the widest
possible scope to the free exercise OF in
dividual initiative .-..
This application" remarks Judge Nc
Ito the Sight-hour law is OBJ
vious. This bill does interfere with the
freedom of a workman 10 do his utter
most amount without interference with
old American doctrine of giving the widest
possible scope to the free exercise of in
dividual Initiative"
1t is current opinion among many Con-
gressmen who are interested in this bill
and hope for its passage that owing TO
the more important matters now pending
before Congress and the short time left
for legislation, that the bill will not be
considered this session.