The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-19
The 8.H0UR BILL
An Interesting Discussion Going On
Before the Senate Committee
@ on Labor.
Cramps shipyards and Other Large
s. Manufacturers Are Strongly
Fl Opposed TO the Measure.


From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build
ing, Washington.
Washington. Dec 19.-There were two
positive declarations made the other
morning before the senate committee on
labor, which is considering the eight-hour
bill. Senator McComas Of Maryland, the
chairman. announced that he was in full
sympathy with the bill, and would support
1t as meritorous measure. unless it could
be proven to him that it would work an
injury to the people it. sought to benefit.
EX-Judge Joseph K. McCammon. repre-
senting the Cramps shipyards and other
large manufacturing interests. said very
positively that if the act was placed
on the statute books Of the United States
Its constitutionality would be tested in
the courts. The interest of the proceed
hgS Is centering In an analytical discus
sion Of that clause In the bill which ex
empts from the provision Of the act "such
materials as may usually be bought In
open markets. whether made to conform
to particular specifications or not" Sen
ator McComas holds that the exception is
very broad and covers many things which
the contractors held came under the bill.
Senator Proctor of Vermont was promi
nent in the debate and persistently in
terrogated Senator McCdmas as to his
fnterpreta ton of the language as framed
In the bill. The New England senator's
questions were deliberate and to the point,
amd seemed to bother the chairman con-
6tderably, he finally closing the cross
Examination by saying. The exceptions
aze very broad, and that will have to
stand for my general answer
It appeared from Senator Proctors
I4tatements that the lumber and quarry in
tarests of this country, especially in Yer
mont, are considerably exercised over the
prospect Of the eight-hour bill becoming
a. law, which condition they assert would
greatly injure these industries. Senator
Proctor said that stone and lun1 Der to
meet the peculiar demands of government
specifications, could not always be bought
in open market. applying this specifically
to wood and stone for structural purposes,
and asking the chairman if that would be
exempted as material according to the
wording Of the bill. The chairman said
he thought so, and In disagreeing with
him. Senator Proctor said h, did not think
Senator McConas' Interpretation of the
bin would be accepted by the courts. This
aroused the chairman and he expressed
very fnrcibly his sentiments on the bill.
r. IT have been III sympathy with the
efght-hour movement for the last ten
years." he remarked. land I therefore
consider this measure a very meritorous
one. and it shall have my support unless
it can be proven that it is revolutionary
and injurious to the laboring people,
Senator Proctor pursuing his line pf
argument, said that in his opinion the
bill as framed even effected the sale Of
musical instruments to the government,
which we're very often made to special
der for army bands.
You could hardly term a horn ma
terial.' could YOU asked the sena tor.
Whereupon Senator McCcmas said that
the exceptions were very broad. Judge Nc
Cannon in explaining the position of
manufacturers, said they were not OPP
posed to an eight-hour system. but did
object to an arbitrary eight-hour law.
which would not only cause them to lose
thousands of dollars, but would forever
unsettle the labor question. File pointed
out the injustice of the act toward the
government contractors, illustrating how
the bill would work to their detrinent
where two ships were being built. one
in a private yard and the other by the
material in the open market, regardless
of eighthour law, and the contra ctor
being strictly confined to the provisions
OF such a mea sure
Before the committee adjourned. let
ter was read from Henry G. Morse.
president of the New York Ship Building
company, protesting against the passage
q the bill, the writer saying that under
an eight hour law. the cost of what we
would have to export from this country
possibility of exporting being effectually
wealth by consuming all he produces"
writes Mr.. Morse, land the same is true
of the country at large