Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
MANY OPPOSE BILL
Senator Allison blur dened With
Letters About Fig h Hour Day.
BOWEN GAINS IN POPULARITY
LATE Young Invites Congressman La.
cey to Speak at Banquet Of Grant
Club in Des Moines-Iowa Editor
Attend Lincoln Banquet.
IBY H. J. MAHIN.l.

BY H. J. MAHIN.]
Washington, d. c., Feb. 20.-For the
last several days Senator Allison has
received hundreds of letters daily
from manufacturers over the country
opposing the eight hour bill. The
eight hour bill is, as has been before
explained, a measure providing for
law under which laborers on govern
ment contracts shall not work over
eight hours a day. The labor unions
as a general thing favor the bill. 1t
applies in it's present form only to
government work, but the manufactur-
ers of the country are aroused over 1t.
They declare it, to be a dangerous pre-
cedent. 1t is alleged that the question
of personal liberty is involved when
the government steps in with law
affecting the time of working hours,
the wages paid, etc. On this account
the bill will have much opposition in
the senate, though it also has its
friends. 1t is not known whether or
not it would pass if it should be sub
mitted at this time, and with so many
other matters pressing it may not be
brought before the senate till the next
congress.
-
Some discussion has been raised re-
Gently as to where MIR. Bowen was get
ting his pay for representing Vene--
zuela in the negotiations at Washing
ton. Mr.. Bowen is the United States
minister to Venezuela, and as such is
paid by the United States. He stated
frankly the other day that he was re.
ceiving $4,000 from Venezuela to pay
his expenses. A strange story is told
in regard as to how this sum was Sc
cured 1t is said that it was furnish.
ed by a subject of Germany, Vene--
Zuela's worst enemy. When Mr.. Bow
en- was ready to leave the public treas
ury was empty and there was no ST.
600 forthcoming. 1t was sought to
raise the sum by subscription but that
failed. Pressed for time the govern
ment finually interested one of the
largest and wealthiest German mer--
camille houses to advance the money.
Mr.. Bowen is Immensely popular in
Washington and it is said that he has
developed powers of diplomacy that
will cause him to be sent to some
post of much more Importance than
Venezuela, possibly China.
Hon. Late Young when in Washing
ton invited Congressman Lacey to
make a speech on Henry Clay at the
Grant club banquet in Des Moines
April 16. The club has been having
regular meetings this winter, at which
a speech was made by some promi-
nent orator or a famous public charac-
ter. Mr.. Young was given carte blanche
as to inviting the speaker for April
16, and he selected Major Lacey, who
has accepted and will undoubtedly
make this meeting one of the most in
teresting of the season. There is,
by the way, hardly more popular
Iowan than LATE Young who visits the
capital. He has wide acquaintance
with public men that assures his hear
ty greetings wherever he goes. He is
as much at home in the White House
as he is at the secretary of the treas
ury's Office or in prominent committee
rooms at the capitol. Before coming
to Washington Mr.. Young attended
the Lincoln banquet in New York.
Every person had been personal
friend of Lincoln with the exception
of two. One was Ida Tarbell, who
wrote the history of Lincoln and the
other was LATE Young. Mr.. Young
could not forbear joking Miss Tarbell
(who is only about 35) over the fact
that they both looked rather young to
have been personal friends of Lin
coin. A gentleman who attended the
banquet and heard the speeches wrote
letter to a friend in Washington in
which he said that while all the
speeches We're good he was best pleas
ed with that of LATE Young, the edi-
tor from Iowa"
Washington, D. Co. Feb. PA prom
inent politician who was at the White
House recently when Speaker Hender.
son called and who remained in the
room during private conversation
between the President and the speak
er, says that the story of strained re-
iations between Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Henderson is made out of the
whole cloth. When Mr.. Henderson
came in he was warmly greeted by
the President, and the latter, as he
held his hand, took occasion to con
graduate him on the development OF
legislation in the house of representa-
Gyes. Il think that there has been
more important legislation since you
presided over the house." said the
President, than at any time since the
civil war" 1t was high compliment
for Mr.. Henderson, one of the highest
that could come to him, and he was
obviously pleased. Many rumors OF
trouble and strained relations have