The Colorado statesman., 1905-01-28
EIGHTHOUR BILLS
IN THE COLORADO LEGISLATURE
Bills of Messrs Stephen and Rowan
Are Both Before Labor Commit
tee of the House.

Denver, Jan. 27.-When the House
yesterday took up the adverse report on
H. B. 40, the Roberts eight-hour bill,
the Democrats made determined efs
fort to have the committee report
turned down. MIR. Rowan declared
that the Stephen eight-hour bill had
been so amended that it looked like
30-cent bill. If his bill was to meet
with death he wished it to be an honor
able death, not to be smothered in
committee as the labor committee had
decreed.
Mr.. Breckenridge appealed for the
life of the Rowan bill. The eight-hour
bills were, he thought, the most impor-
tant to come before the assembly, and
all that were introduced he wished to
see on the calendar and given just the
same consideration as all other bills
of the same nature.
Mr.. Stephen, chairman of the labor
committee, said that he was willing to
consider all the eight House bills to
be sent to his committee. Both politi-
cal parties were, he said, pledged to
secure the enactment of a just eight
hour bill, and he intended to see that
such bill was passed by the House.
Mr. Street said that he had noticed
pretty strong lobby about the House
working for certain eight-hour bills and
against others. He wanted to see the
House settle the matter speedily and
justly and without the aid of any
members of the paid lobby.
Mr.. Garcia argued that the House
had plenty of eight-hour bills and too
many of them would confuse the men,
bers and take up too much of the time
of the committee on labor.
Mr.. Frewen asked the chairman of
the labor committee haw many eight
hour bills had been introduced in the
House. Mr.. Stephen said that three
bills mad been put in, but two OF them
were practically the same, so that
really only two bills had been pre-
sented.
Mr.. Frewen then appealed to the
House not to sidetrack Mr.. Rowan $
bill, but that it be considered with H..
B. l, the Stephen bill.
Mr.. Cannon declared that he was in
favor of having the Rowan bill placed
before the House to be considered with
H. B. l. AS far as he knew now he
Mr. Breckenridge urged the House
not to take up all the time in useless
dispute. The attitude of some of the
members seemed to be to talk as much
of the time as would be allowed. He
urged the House to take up the labor
bill in committee of the whole and not
put in the time in talking. Some of the
talk over the bill appeared to be be-
cause Mr.. Rowan wished his name at
the head of the bill. AS for his part
he did not wish to see the name of Mr..
Rowan there. The bill should have the
name of J. b. Stephen, as Republican
member of a Republican House. Mr..
Breckenridge asked that the labor COM
mittee be asked to take the eight-hour
bills and decide on what should be
done. 1t was unfair to the House to
have the labor committee divided on
the report of the eight-hour bill of Mr..
Stephen. He thought if further time
was given the labor committee the
members would be able to agree en-
one report.
The discussion closed when Mr..
Hoyt moved the previous question and
all the motions and amendments were
put to vote. The motion to refer H. B.
40. by Rowan, to the labor committee
met with almost no opposition on the
vote.