The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-22
BITTER FIGHT COMING
ON E|GHT-HOUR BILL
Champions of the Measure and
Manufacturing Interests in a
Great Trial of Strength.
NO WAY TO COMPROMISE

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. H.-Backed on the
one hand by the labor organizations OF the
United States and opposed on the other
by manufacturers and commercial bodies
generally, the eight-hour BILL in all prob
ability, will precipitate one of the bitterest
contests of the session when II Is brought
into the House of Representatives. No bill
now under consideration In either house OF
Congress is receiving more serious thought
than that providing an eight-hour day in
concerns handling government contracts.
Heretofore this measure has been taken
up by the committee on labor. considered
for time, reported, and then passed by
the House. The indications are that this
time difficulty will be experienced in get
ting the bill through the lower branch OF
Congress. Opposition to il in the past has
been half-hearted and without life. Now
it faces strenuous opposition. Its opponents
are not confined to the manufacturers who
secure government contracts. Nearly all
commercial bodies and associations of man
ufacturers are lined up against 1t.
According to a prominent member of the
House committee the labor organizations
are fighting directly for an eight-hour day
tracts, while their ultimate objects are a
universal eight-hour day and the adoption
of a policy requiring the government to
make it's steel, build it's own ships. and do
all other work now done under private con-
tract.
President Samuel Gompers, of the Amer
lean Federation Of l. Dor, presented his
side of the case to the committee in a
II, -
ings on the bill, which will be continued
for several weeks, nothing particularly new
is expected to be developed, as the ground
has been gone over thoroughly In the past.
The most interesting phase of the situa-
ton at this time is the determined fight
that is being waged against the bull by
manufacturers not interested In government
work. ID. M. Parry, president of the Ma
tional Association OF Manufacturers, is rep
resented here by Marshall Gushing, of New
York, secretary of the organization. He
has appeared before the committee, and
has been very much In evidence in WASH
ington since the committee on labor began
| its sessions.
The suggestion has been made that there
was a possibility that the committee might
make an adverse report A leac'ng MEM
Der of the committee Is authority for the
statement that the bill undoubtedly will be
brought into the House with favorable
report. Then, IL is expected, public atten-
ton will be directed TO the measure as IL
1.-The difficulty is that there is no possi-
| blity of compromise" said a member or
| the committee. "A principle is involved
| II IS either right or wrong. The labor or
| ganizations contend that IL is right. Their
opponents declare that IL is wrong. Now
| Congress must step in and declare by legis-
| lative enactment what Is the correct thing
| to do.
There is probability that d. NJ. Parry
may be asked to appear before the COM
| mittee. He is recognized as an authority
on such questions as the one now. under
| consideration, and whatever he might say
on the subject would receive attention,