The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-18

The advocates of the bill represented, he said, that the government should not take into consideration the question of whether such legislation would result in additional expense to the government by increasing the cost of contract work.
 'But put it to you gentlemen as of flcers of this government, where Is this going to stopT' said Mir. Davenport, rep resenting that the labor leaders now argued the propriety of the proposed legislation because of similar legislation in the past and he warned the commit tee that should this bill become a law they would make further demands on the strength of the same.
 There is no stop short of the exercise of the absolute power They are teach ing widespread disregard of the rights of others" said Mir. Davenport, bitterly, equally entitled themselves to the pro- lection of society, and they are teaching widespread disregard and disrespect for law" -e..-- ,--. a In this connection Mfr. Davenport quoted from a very remarkable declara- tion of principles promulgated by the Boston Eight Hour League, demanding an amendment to the patent laws requir- ing all patent articles to be manufactur- ed by eight hour labor and that all con-
 
 shall bae done on the eight hour system. It also demands that manufacturing cor porations shall adopt the eight hour sys- tenn or surrender their charter and that no person under .N years of age shall be employed more than eight hours a day, under any circumstances
 ''Is 1t wise to embark the government on this course ?": demanded Mir. Daven- port. ''1f the United States exacts condi- tions from its contractors to work their men only eight hours a day what will you say when these gentlemen demand that the same regulations shall apply to patents? and what will you say when they follow with the demand that the railroads and corporations engaged in in- terstate commerce shall not work their employees more than eight hours a day?"
 You are getting far from the purpose. by discussing hypothetical bills to come before future Congresses" interrupted Chairman McComas.
 ''Not at all." earnestly, responded the witness. By the enactment of this law you make 1t absolutely impossible to re- fuse to enact similar legislation along this line"
 You refer to spprehensions of what may come hereafter" continued Senator McComas. "We would be glad to have you discuss the present bill before the present committee"
 ''The certainty that such legislation will be requested and that, in view of the enactment of this bill, this committee and Congress will be in no position to re- fuse it, was the reply. makes 1t in- perative that the committee should not adopt this bill unless 1t is willing to adopt the general principles of such legis- lation."
 The witness pointed out that by this legislation Congress proposed to say to the workingman: You shall not work more than eight hours a day" The friends of the bill recognized the un- constitutionality of attempting to do this directly and therefore sought to do 1t in- directly. He had never heard any one but labor leaders favor the restriction of a mans right to work.
 1T want to ask you how you can sus- tain such a bill in fairness, justice and equality and how you can expect any one to live and do business under it's provls- ions?" He also brought out the difficulty of enforcing the provisions of the bill and the injustice to the contractor who was compelled to guarantee the actions of the sub-contractor and yet. would have to defend his contracts with the sub-con- tractor before a jury in State or federal court, while prosecuting his claim against the government, before the Court of Claims.
 'Dou you mean to say" asked Senator Stone in surprise. "that under this bill the contractors will be liable to penalties for work done by sub-eontractors working more than eight hours a dayT'
 Why. certainly" replied MT Daven- port. That Is what the bill is for You put tho contractor between the upper and neither nnillstones."
 Judge J. K. Mccammon. representing the cramr Ship Yards of Philadelphia and the Carnegie Steel Company of PittsburE suggested to the committee the advisability of obtaining a full report from the Secretary of Commerce and Labor as to the probable effect of such legislation and other information on the subject before action should be taken on the bill.
 Senator Stone notified the committee that on March 23rd and 24th. delegations from Kansas City and St. Joseph. Mo, would appear in opposition to the bill. R. H. Watkins. A H...A4.. oR Mr nalxar a- Az-!