The copper era., 1903-03-05
PACKARD AND RICE
GAVE WAY
Eight Hour Bill With the Life Cut
Out OF It Will Pass.

The four weeks contest in the legis-
lature over the 8-hour bill came TO an
end at 6 o'clock last evening, says the
Phoenix Republican OF the 9th. This
is the conclusion warranted by the re-
suit 1f the caucus OF mem bers OF the
council which completed its labOrs a.
that hour. The contest ends in u
compromise. The s-hour bill which
passed the house will not be the bill
which will reach the governor. The
house bill will be so emasculated that
its authors will hardly know it. As
passed by the representatives, IL pro-
vided that eight hours should cOnsti-
| tute days work in mining generally
not only in work under ground, but
| in the reduC. ion OF ores. so that labor
ers in mills and smelters and cyanide
| plants and at other surface work
around r2ines were included. The new
bill will cover underground work only.
II is understood that when the bill
comes up in the council it will meet
little if any opposition. This is not,
however, because a majority Of the
mem bors consider it a wise measure.
On the contrary, large majority con-
slider il very unwise. Almost without
exception, in talking privately, cOun-
cilmen condemn it as project filled
with certainties Of great danger to
the mining industry. They admit that
it will inevitably discourage invest
ments and retard the development Of
prospects. 1t is pointed out that the
mining business in Arizona is still in
its infancy, and while there are a num-
Der Of fully developed and producing
mines, there are many hundreds OF
properties which are yet in the pros
pect stage. In discussing the bill un-
der the seal OF confidence, members
explain that the average prospect is
develOpe by small force OF men and
that the work is light as compared
with regular mining, and that to
make it unlawful to work more than
eight hours day will not only make
it longer hy 20 per cent to develop
prospects, but will so increase the cost
that il will be difficult to engage capi-
tai for development work. 1t is con-
cedcd that the law when in force will
act as wet blanket on the speculative
and Investment public. 1t is conceded,
also, that as applied to the producing
mines it will work an injury to the
territory.
AS is quite generally known, the
great bonanzas in the territory are eX
tremely few. The mines which are
now yielding good profits are made to
do so largely through economical and
careful management. Stockholders in
these mines, finding their expenses in
creased and the profits reduced will, it
is admitted, be slow to make further
investments in the territory. In short,
it is freely conceded by all the intelli-
gent members of the council that the
compulsory enforcement of an eight
hour day comes at least ten years too
soon for the good of the territory
This is the belief Of all the republican
members and practically all the demo-
Gratis. 1t is admitted, finally, that
there is little demand for such law
from the masses OF the miners, the
clamor coming altogether from pro-
fessional labor aGitators, and it is
who have stood out for drastic eight
hour law that its ultimate effects would
call down the curses of the miners and
pros pcctOrs upon the authors of the
law. Notwithstanding all this, it is
explained by democratic members of
the council, one after another. that
they are acting because of pressure of
political nature.
Probably the best satisfied man
among the democrats is Eugene Ives.
Mr.. Ives has been basiug his hopes OF
a political future on the passage OF the
eight hour bill. and although the stub
bornness of some OF his democratic
colleagues, notably Mr.. Packard and
Mr.. Rice, has caused him great deal
of uncasiuess. he has insisted and
boastcd that eventually he would drive
them into line. Mr.. Ives, il will be
remembered, was member of the
council two years ago, and the eight
hour bill of that session was defeated
through the strenuous efforts of him
self and Mr.. Shannon. Mr.. Shannon
explained his course at the time by the
statement that he had large sale of
mining property pending. and the en-
actment OF an eight hour law might
defeat the sale and frighten away the
prospective purchaser entirely. The
sale went through. Following the
Twenty legislature. the labor agi-
tators made so much noise that MesSrs.
Ives, Shannon and Blair became fright
ened and saw their finish, as they
thought, unless they could restore
themselves 10 the favor of the labor
bosses. and it has been well under
stood that Mr.. Ives sought re-elec-
tiOn to the council for this single pur-
pose. 1t has not been assumed by any
BODY that his real sentiments on the