The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-03-17

gross. the chairman OF the COIllIIAIleo
having the bill in charge, the Hon. Mr.
Littauer of New York, the man known to
be hostile to organized labor. attached a
rider to it abolishing the eight hour day
in the work on the Panama canal. The
blu was passed by both houses before the
persons interested had an opportunity to
make protest.
There was nothing left for organized
labor, but to appeal to the President, and
Mr. Gompers wrote as follows:
HON. THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
President Of the United States,
Washington, D. G.
Satisfactorily there will be placed before
you for your consideration the bill COM
monty known as the Urgent Deficiency
Bill. The bill has been amended in the
Senate and will go to conference. There
Is one provision of the bill, however, which
has passed both the House and the Sem
ate. hence will be placed before you as
part Of the bill. 1t is found in the follow
ing language:
The provisions Of the act entitled "An
act relating to the limitations of the hour
Of daily service of laborers and mechan-
les employed upon the public works Of
the United States and the District of Col
umbia." approved August 1, 1892, shall not
apply to alien laborers employed in the
construction of the Isthmian Canal with
in the Canal zone.
Your attention is respectfully called to
the fact that In this most unusual fash
ion that Is, as a rider to the Appropria-
t1on Bill. a principle that has been enun-
ciated by the Federal Government since
1868, by joint resolution. by proclama-
States, by enactment into law, is pro-
posed to be swept aside, without hearing
Of the parties particularly In interest, and
at whose instance the first and contin-
ued action Of the government was taken
Persons desiring these changes over
principle and fundamental law have sug-
suggested and urged it's enactment, while
those who stand for the present law, and
who have thus far vainly asked for Its
extensin have been given mo opportuni-
ty for hearing, remonstKancs or protest
I Iila WOfkillf Hp1t 20 Tlxss.
ognixe that our gOvafgIln ellt is GOf6iilitted
to g law undertaking the construction Of
the Panama Canal, connecting the At
lAnitc and Pacific ocenas that 1t In one
Of the most important public works ever
assumed by any nation; that 1t is de-
signed to be American in ownership and
control, and should as far as possible, be
American also in construction. Early last
year your attention waa respectfully
called to the fact that there are number
less working people in the United States
and its possessions adapted in every way
to the class of work necessary in cor
structin the canal and suggested that
our people be employed thereon.
With other associated with me I have
tried to be helpful TO the government
and the officers in charge so that no un-
necessary impeachment will be placed in
: their path in the performance of their
work.
AS you know efforts were made by
some In charge of the canal construction
work to rule that the eight hour law does
not apply to the work of the Panama
Canal construction; that the attorney
general has given an opinion contrary to
that contention. The eight hour law ap-
plies thereto, and to overcome which Con-
Rress has passed upon the provisions Of
the bill declaring that the provisions of
the eight hour law shall not apply "to al
len laborers employed in the constructions
of the Isthmian Canal within the canal
zone"
1t Is submitted to you that it is mis-
conception for anyone to claim that the
application of a longer work-day than
eight hours in torrid zone can either be
Federal Government by resolution and
law placed the eight hour law upon the
statute books, it declared a fundamental, ;,
and economic principle, as well as enact
ed statute, and surely If an eight hour
work-day was deemed wise and economic
IN the comparative temperate climate OF
the Unite States, it must appeal with
greater IJrce that 1t is essential that a
longer work-day should not apply in a
territory under a burning sun and in q
miasmatic atmosphere.
1t Is urged that, inasmuch as the pro-
vision referred to applies to alien laborers
that, therefore, Americans need not con-
Germ themselves. That, however, can
have no place in our consideration, for in
truth then the eight hour law should not
apply the alien laborers who are now EN-.
ployed by the government or on work
performed for the government of the
United States
All who are acquainted with the ener-
waiting influences of torrid climates upon
Workmen realize that they do not and can
not possess the energy and activity OF
workmen in moderate or temperate clim-
ates, and surely because men are physi-
cally weaker and are made weaker by
reason or climatic conditions can not be
argued in favor Of their being required or
permitted to toll longer than eight hours
In a day TO enact into law a provision
applying to alien workmen that is deemed
unwise and inhuman for Americans. ia an
exhibition Of total disregard of human y
life.
1t has been wisely said: "rhat if von
want to get the most work out of a man
IN the shortest possible time YOU NAV
work him "a hours day. If you want to
get the very best work out of a man. then
ne should not be permitted to work moro
that eight hours any day" To saw that
men, any sort Of men. can do more work
and better work inhFnore than eight honr.
a day than they cSh under an eight hour
work-day is to flagrantly fly in the face
of every industrial experience.
In view of the foregoing, as well az
further information which can be given
should you desire it on behalf of Ameri.
can la)or, I respectfully protest agains,
, the provision referred to being enacted in
70 law, and urge that You may see the